eleven madison exterior
Welcome To Eleven Madison Park!
Yes, it’s located on the edge of New York’s Madison Park, and it’s one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world!
It recently landed at #5 on the “World’s Best” restaurant list, and we had the chance to eat there!
Daniel Humm is the executive chef and co-owner of Eleven Madison. Humm and his partner, General Manager Will Guider have made Eleven Madison Park a “must try” destination for foodies.
It has been called one of the world’s best restaurants, and we were ready to find out for ourselves!
Welcome To Food Paradise!
We arrived and were seated quickly – you do not receive a menu, since it is a “tasting menu” the Chef tweaks based on the seasons…however, you DO get a menu – here is how:
Enjoy Your Menu!
The restaurant has a unique way of sharing the menu: it is given to you after the meal in a cool round tin – with the menu printed on a circular paper inside like this!
After ordering drinks, we were ready to dig in to our food. The serving team was phenomenal, very communicative – pacing the delivery of food expertly…and here is how it began:
“Black And White”
The menu begins with a nod to New York City, home to the classic “black and white” cookie – but here, they deliver it in a small box as your first amuse bouche:
That’s because these are savory cookies with apple and cheddar! Next up is a stack of containers:
“A Tower Of Tastes”
Here is what you have delivered in a towering box, then deconstructed: A fava bean croquette…
Whitefish salad is also served, with a collection of vegetables to dip…and you are also given a morel foam bite with rye crisp:
Finally, you receive a wellfleet oyster with caviar! Next up is one of their most creative dishes:
“Caviar Benedict”
This is the restaurant’s version of “eggs bendict with caviar”, served in a similar container to the menu – a rich egg custard topped with shaved egg yolk and caviar – and the cutest and smallest english muffins you’ve ever seen!
Up next was a chance for each of us to try something different – alex opted for a clean dish:
“Fluke”
This delicate fish is marinated with peas and grapefruit – light but incredibly flavorful…my option was also incredibly flavorful…just not as light!
“A Taste of Foie Gras with Spinach Leaf”
Hey, I’m always a sucker for foie! This was warm poached foie, absolutely silky smooth and delicious…
As you can see from the circular menu, next up was a fun take on a pot pie:
“Lobster Pie”
The Lobster was served butter-poached with morels and peas…and then, one of the most amazing preparations of the night showed up:
“Pig’s Bladder Asparagus!”
Um….WHAT!?!?!?!? Well, what you see here is a giant inflated pig’s bladder!
Yes, this is an asparagus dish! You see, it has been braised with potato and black truffle inside of a pig’s bladder!
After dressing it down with the broth, they cut it open and leave you with a beautiful plate of asparagus and truffle!
More food keeps coming, as you can see by the circles! We enjoyed two different wines throughout the meal as well:
“Spring Lamb”
Next up is lamb served multiple ways with romaine, garlic and broth…we each had our own plate and then mixed and matched for more flavor!
You are served new potatoes with flower, and morel mushrooms with custard and spring garlic on the side!
Now, it was time to head into dessert!
“Triple Cream”
Yes, this cheese course is a Gougere – served with rhubarb, sorrel and green garlic – and then, a special presentation for Alex’s birthday!
“Malt”
This ice cream is served with pretzel and chocolate, followed by chocolate that is a test – you get four bars of chocolate like this:
“Name That Milk!”
That’s right, you are given a slip of paper to try and match the chocolate with the animal that provided the milk!
We didn’t get them right, but it was fun to try! Finally, a box of chocolates ended the meal, with a nice apple liquor and bag of goodies to go!
A Circular Menu Unfolds!
Here is the entire menu – a keepsake for us to take home and discuss forever!
And what a meal: unique presentations, incredible flavors, expert staff and a fun environment – it wasn’t like dining in a “food museum”, it was playful and festive…
It reminded us of another Three-Michelin starred restaurant in New York, Chef Thomas Keller’s Per Se…fun, playful and incredibly inventive…you can read more about Per Se here:
We have also eaten at the legendary French Laundry in Napa Valley as well:
We were lucky enough to be part of the restaurant’s 20-year celebration…you can see it here:
Finally, here is a look at some of the incredible Michelin restaurants that are doing special “pop ups” all over the world – bringing signature dishes like this to foodies everywhere:
Check it out here:
Leave me a message to let me know what you think of Eleven Madison Park!
