By: Kat Bein By: Kat Bein | July 15, 2024 | Food & Drink,
Tired of the same old restaurants and ready to explore the culinary world in your area? This curated list of best tasting menus across the United States has you covered!
Tasting menus allows chefs to curate your dining experience, crafting multi-course events that change with the seasons and highlight the best of their skills and ingredients. From Atlanta to Las Vegas, there is no end to the delicious cuisine that hones in on a variety of flavors, techniques and cultural flavors.
See also: Celebrate Summer With These BBQ Recipes By Chef Omar Tate
Whether you’re a foodie hunting down the newest Michelin star or looking to find a great place for a night out with friends, this list has something to explore on your next vacation—or staycation.
Atlanta - Lazy Betty
999 Peachtree St.; 404-975-3692 / Website
Located in Candler Park, this family-owned restaurant was built around the tasting menu experience. Named after the Hsu siblings’ mother, Lazy Betty allows diners to choose between a four-course and seven-course experience, with vegetarian options and wine pairings. The open-concept kitchen affords the chance to watch as your meal is carefully prepared, giving the ultimate culinary experience. Previous menu items include roasted dry-aged duck with apple cider, foie gras pithivier and fermented apple mostarda. For more fantastic finds in the Atlanta area, check our full list of best tasting menus!
Aspen - BOSQ
312 S Mill St, 970-710-7299 / Website
Indulge in head chef Barclay Dodge’s tasting menu at BOSQ. Choose between a four or five-course experience, or go for the seven-plus experience, with frequent changes throughout the seasons to match the culinary team’s inspiration. The cocktail program mirrors this seasonality, and the wine list focuses on small, family-owned wineries—because BOSQ is also small and family owned! For more delicious eats in Aspen, check out the full list!
Boston - Asta
47 Massachusetts Ave.; 617-585-9575 / Website
At the intersection of traditional and modern lies Asta, the upscale New American eatery where rustic exposed brick and shining stainless steel come together. The tasting menu speaks to elegance and simplicity, artfully plating bold flavors and changing monthly at the chef’s discretion. Try delicate, flowery vegan fare or something more robust, like duck served with chocolate gastrique, parsnip and black trumpets. The great food doesn’t end here; check out the full list of best tasting menus in Boston!
Chicago - Alinea
1723 N. Halsted Street / Website
Co-owners chef Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas team up at one of the world’s best restaurants, and there’s no telling what boundary-pushing dishes are ahead. Up the ante and book the Kitchen Table, which offers a front-row seat to all the chef action. Check the full list of Chicago eateries and keep the food tour going!
Dallas - Uchi
2817 Maple Ave.; 214-855-5454 / Website
Tucked away in the Arts District, Uchi offers a sleek, nontraditional take on Japanese cuisine. Chef Tyson Cole and head sushi chef Paul Ko execute a spectacular menu, from hot and cold tastings, makimono and yakimono; to tempura, sushi and sashimi. Order omakase-style with three different tasting menus: the 10-course chef’s tasting, six-course signature tasting and various vegetarian tastings. Expect decadent dishes like the Hot Rock with wagyu beef and ponzu, or the Sakana Mushi, seasonal white fish with mushrooms, broccolini and tom kha. For more tasty treats, check the full list of best tasting menus in Dallas!
Hamptons - The Hampton Maid
259 East Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays; 631-728-4166 / Website
In addition to its breakfast and brunch services, The Hampton Maid now serves the R.AIRE tasting menu. Created by chef Alex Bujoreanu, the six-course meal uses the best local ingredients to create a worldly exploration of flavors and traditions. This is for the adventurous eater. To explore more great eateries in the Hamptons, check out the full list!
Hawaii - Pai Honolulu
55 Merchant St., Honolulu; 808-744.2531 / Website
This innovative restaurant features seasonal kaiseki-style course menus. These menus allow guests to enjoy a variety of dishes that capture the essence of its playful and beautiful cuisine. For more delicious meals on the island, take a look at the full list!
Houston - Degust
7202 Long Point Road; 281-707-4623 / Website
Co-chefs Javier Becerra and Rico Mackins fuse Spanish and Mexican Cuisine with Japanese culinary techniques at Degust. “Mi casa es su casa, ” they say, hoping the customers are left with the feeling of comfort and family as there are only three seatings a night at an intimate, 20-person round table. A seat at this table is $75 with an optional beverage pairing for an additional $45. Opening menu items include gulf fish, cilantro and blue corn, and a salsa flight served with duck carnitas, short rib, and pork al pastor with red corn tortillas. Find more great menus in Houston by checking out the full list!
Las Vegas - Le Cirque
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd.; 702-693-8100 / Website
With two Michelin stars and a AAA Five Diamond rating, Le Cirque has reopened its doors at Bellagio Hotel & Casino. Available for reservations Thursday through Sunday, the French favorite returns with world-renowned chef Dameon Evers—an alum of Thomas Keller's Bouchon Beverly Hills, Gordon Ramsay's namesake eatery in West Hollywood and Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak—at its helm. Guests can select from a six- or 10-course tasting menu, which can also be served vegetarian style, or opt for a three-course pretheater menu for a quicker yet equally satisfying dining experience. Fan-favorite menu items include the gateau of Hudson Valley foie gras, an almond cake featuring layers of foie gras; poularde roti, a chicken stuffed with truffle sausage and bacon; and decadent ganache chocolat beurre noisette bursting with chocolate ganache, Harry's Berries and Sicilian pistachio. To check out the full range of great Las Vegas menus, check out the full list!
LA - Providence
5955 Melrose Ave.; 323-460-4170 / Website
After 17 years, two Michelin stars and a constantly sold-out menu, Providence has truly taken sustainable seafood dining to a new level. With constantly changing chef’s tasting menus including a new vegetarian option, this restaurant consistently serves up a bar-raising experience for modern American seafood restaurants—thanks to chef and owner, Michael Cimarusti and co-owners, Donato Poto and Crisi Echiverr. From oysters and caviar to Tai sashimi and black cod, chef Cimarusti says it best: “We only use wild-caught, sustainable products, mostly from American waters and look to highlight their finest qualities.” For more great meals in Los Angeles, check out the full list of best tasting menus in the area!
Miami - Kyu
251 NW 25th St., Miami; 786-577-0150 / Website
With the kitchen helmed by executive chef Yaniku, KYU brings modern Asian grilling to the eclectic area of Wynwood. From uplifting chilled crudo to the items from the wood-fired grill, experience a diverse tasting menu at the upscale urban eatery. Inclusive of its iconic cauliflower and grilled duck, the one-of-a-kind experience showcases culinary creativity at its best. Serving as the cherry on top of the palate-bursting experience, the team is committed to fine dining along with sustainable and green practices. Check out the full list of best tasting menus in Miami here!
NYC - Odo
17 W. 20th Street / Website
Join Chef Hiroki Odo on a tasty journey that combines modern culinary techniques with a respect for each and every one of the products. This upscale restaurant offers a seasonal kaiseki tasting menu and a sushi omakase selection. Its famous cocktails deliciously complement the flavors of the generous sushi portions for an overall unforgettable dining experience. For more fantastic food in NYC, check out the full list!
Orange County - Marche Moderne
7862 Pacific Coast Hwy.; 714-434-7900 / Website
Located in Crystal Cove Shopping Center, this chic French eatery offers a five-course tasting menu complete with inventive small plates. Taste French delicacies from chef-owners Florent and Amelia Marneau—including the famous brown butter chestnut chicken with black truffle tapenade, and burnt honey yuzu with white chocolate and lemon confit. Check out the full list of best tasting menus in Orange County for more great spots!
Philadelphia - At The Table BYOB
11 Louella Ct., 610-964-9700 / Website
If you’re interested in chefs who push boundaries, explore husband-wife duo Alex and Tara Hardy’s six-course tasting menu from their eatery, At The Table. Diners can bring along their favorite wines to complement New American and French dishes that have all been updated with modern twists. We recommend the foie gras served with brioche, pistachio, cherry, fish sauce caramel and lobster sabayon. Check out the full variety of Philadelphia food with the full list of best tasting menus in the area!
San Francisco - Atelier Crenn
3127 Fillmore St.; 415-440-0460 / Website
Taste the three-Michelin star brilliance of Dominique Crenn’s culinary artistry at Atelier Crenn. Reserve a Moveable Feast session and journey through a 14-course tasting menu while exploring the restaurant space. For more San Francisco delicacies, check out the full list!
Scottsdale - Cafe Monarch
6939 E. First Ave.; 480-970-7682 / Website
The prix fixe menu changes weekly and always features New American influences and seasonal, local ingredients. All servers are certified sommeliers who participate in weekly wine tastings to ensure optimal pairing recommendations. Cafe Monarch is by reservation only and offers accommodations for patrons with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free preferences. Check out the full list of best tasting menus in Scottsdale!
Silicon Valley - Ritual at Manresa
320 Village Lane, Los Gatos / Website
Taste the Michelin-starred and critically acclaimed flavors of Los Gatos' Ritual at Manresa. Featuring new American cuisine, the chef's tasting menu, made with the finest hyper-local ingredients of the season by executive chef David Kinch, can be paired with fine wines upon request. Keep the Silicon Valley food tour going by checking out the full list of menus here!
Washington D.C. - Pineapple and Pearls
715 Eighth Street SE / Website
Embark on an evening of fine dining that turns the tradition on its head. This elegant yet playful tasting menu is composed of four large courses served in an atmosphere that says "party on!" It's unlike any two-Michelin star restaurant you've yet experienced, to be sure. Check out the full list of best tasting menus in the D.C. area!
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Photography by: FilippoBacci / Getty