Ranked No. 4 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2019 (they were no. 1 in 2017) and wreathed in stars (three from Michelin and four from The New York Times), “Eleven Madison Park” has also picked up numerous other accolades such as the Grand Award by Wine Spectator and even appeared in an episode of “7 Days Out” on Netflix. Quite understandably, my excitement to dine there was off-the-charts.
However, as special as the entire experience was (the service alone deserves a blue ribbon), not every single course in the 5-course Bar Menu ($175 per person before taxes) took my breath away - and that was a bit of a bummer.
Perhaps it’s because I have been spoiled by too many excellent meals at several restaurants in Singapore. Or maybe, it’s just a personal thing because taste is terribly subjective. Despite that tiny glitch, I still had a wonderful time and found most of the dishes very, very good, with the first-to-arrive Eggs Benedict-inspired caviar, the third course of lobster with coriander sauce, the main of Aged Duck as well as the lemon and black sesame dessert being my favourites. I am sharing about them in detail in separate posts.
What I found particularly fun and engaging though was the mini kitchen tour which incorporated a little game. We were given three sodas to sip and had to guess which of the three spices laid out in front of us were used in which drink.
The belly-warming apple whisky they served at the end of the night along with a mixed chocolate pretzel, was really lovely too.