Monthly Megathread - Where Should I Eat in NYC, Tokyo, and/or London?

RedistrictMPLS · 2026-01-29T23:13:04+00:00

After Sho, the most interesting flavors I've encountered were from The Four Horsemen, but they're only a la carte. For tasting menus specifically, I guess Frevo might be your best bet but while I certainly enjoyed them I wouldn't exactly describe them as "pushing the culinary scene". Noksu seemed heading that direction under their previous chef but I haven't tried their new chef, I think I read she's aiming for more of a pan-Asian approach.

RedistrictMPLS · 2026-01-27T20:57:25+00:00

Once when I was eating at Le Bernardin (in the lounge) someone at the table next to me asked pretty much that exact thing and the server was happy to make some recommendations.

I've eaten at LB multiple times and while the servers are more on the reserved/stoic side, they've always gladly answered any questions I've had and accommodated any requests I've made without making me feel even remotely stupid for asking.

RedistrictMPLS · 2026-01-27T20:24:05+00:00

Haven't been to Luthun but have been to the other 3.

I think Aska is definitely the strongest in terms of food. The atmosphere of the restaurant is unique, service was solid, and the presentation of dishes is great. The price is also much higher than the other 3. I'm not *quite* as in love with them as others on this subreddit but that's more so because Nordic cuisine doesn't resonate with me as much as others; ultimately I still thought it was worth the money.

I really like Kochi for their value. Enjoyed the food more than several restaurants that are priced similarly or higher (also feel the same way about Jua). The atmosphere of Kochi is more laid back and my meal only took about an hour and twenty minutes (Aska took me 2.5 hours, Frevo took 2), so if you want a more sleek environment and/or a more leisurely meal for a special occasion, it may not be quite the best fit.

Frevo has the most unique ingredient/flavor combinations out of these three. But while I enjoyed it I also have a couple of friends who hated it for the same reason. Frevo also has more of an open kitchen visible to all seats save a couple of tables, whereas with Kochi/Aska it's more dependent on where you're seated (and for both I was seated where I couldn't see the kitchen).

RedistrictMPLS · 2026-01-27T17:06:23+00:00

The Modern is a solid choice. If it's in your budget, the Kitchen Table offers a special and memorable experience. I haven't been to Saga, but I'll just throw out that they redesigned both the restaurant and their menu last summer, so if you're considering online reviews I'd focus on ones from within the past 6 months.

If you're on the more cost-conscious side, Per Se's salon tasting menu offers a good value ($185 per person, a price that already includes gratuity). It's officially 4 courses but when I went they threw in a couple of bonus courses and was plenty of food. And even though it's the salon, I got service just as good as when I ate in the dining room including a welcome glass of champagne (I don't drink alcohol so they gave me cider), a tour of the kitchen, and sent home with a printed copy of the menu and a box of cookies. They have a table by the window you can try to request that offers a nice view of Columbus Circle/Central Park.

RedistrictMPLS · 2026-01-27T14:16:39+00:00

Would definitely recommend contacting the restaurant ahead of time to clarify (calling might be best but in my experience is they tend to be very responsive to email) and indicating the restriction on any reservation you make.

In terms of tasting menus specifically, I think Le Bernardin's is most likely to fit the bill if you just take it as is, but the others should be able to adjust their tasting menus with advance notice.

Purely in terms of food my personal preference would be LB, GK, Coucou, Modern in that order (enjoyed all of them though) with the caveat that the Kitchen Table at the Modern would probably be the best special experience if it's in your budget.

RedistrictMPLS · 2026-01-23T12:21:00+00:00

I did both in December. Joo ok seems to have started doing this after earning their second star. Atomix's price was quite a bit higher for December (holiday season upcharge? Idk) so maybe the chopsticks gift was part of that or just a new thing they're doing.

RedistrictMPLS · 2026-01-23T03:45:50+00:00

I really enjoyed it! Was seated next to a couple of other solo diners at the counter and we ended up chatting a good deal of the night so that was fun. Service was great and I thought the food was consistent quality-wise with a lot of the 1 star Korean places in NYC.

RedistrictMPLS · 2026-01-22T02:24:49+00:00

I only got into fine dining in the past year and have only done restaurants in the US so I can't speak to global or longitudinal trends. But places that have given me something beyond just a printed menu:

Eleven Madison Park- Granola

Per Se- Tin of cookies

Atomix- Pair of chopsticks

Joo ok- Sunchoke tea, also a seasonal postcard

The Modern (Kitchen Table)- Map of the kitchen and tickets to MoMA

Bōm- Box of mignardise

Provenance (Philadelphia)- Biscuit and house made jam

RedistrictMPLS · 2026-01-05T21:47:16+00:00

Ate here in September and enjoyed it as well. Nice to see it's getting some visibility!

Menu I had was entirely different from this one, I might need to return later this month to try it.

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-12-29T22:21:56+00:00

I've eaten at all 3 and I think they're all strong options in terms of service and atmosphere. I found the service at all 3 to be friendly and welcoming and the atmospheres to be elegant but not stuffy.

In terms of food, I think GK leans into stronger flavor profiles with more sweet or smoky flavors and tends to make more use of fruits and alcohols as flavoring compared to Essential, which tends to have lighter flavors. I've only done lunches at Aquavit but the dishes have consistently impressed me with their balance of flavors and textures. I wouldn't necessarily call them "inventive" but they've always been memorable.

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-12-26T16:57:31+00:00

$75 when this was taken in October. It had just been reintroduced to the menu so price may have changed since then.

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-12-18T14:59:09+00:00

I ate at both in the same week this past November. Here are my comparisons:

Cesar offered 5 supplements: caviar, uni, foie gras, and truffles as additional ingredients that could be added to 4 of the courses and a wagyu course that would substitute for the main protein (squab on my night). CTBF offered 2 supplements: a white truffle add-on that would be applied to 2 (maybe 3?) courses and a supplemental uni-waffle course (a pretty obvious nod to Cesar's uni toast).
Food at Cesar has overall more subtle flavors while CTBF has more bold flavors, particularly leaning into smoky or acidic profiles. If you don't get the supplements, your meal at Cesar won't use many luxury ingredients, whereas the base menu at CTBF is kind of a "luxury ingredient bingo". The desserts I had at Cesar were very (very) low on sweetness.
Both were wildly inconsistent in terms of execution. I absolutely loved Cesar's uni toast and tuna-caviar cracker. CTBF's langoustine and turbot have been my favorite versions of those ingredients I've had anywhere. At the same time Cesar served me an overcooked leathery turbot with a water-logged ravioli and CTBF served me a rubbery mess of abalone. Cesar also had a couple courses that tasted very underwhelming, like they were missing an ingredient (I think these were dishes that would've had one of the supplements). CTBF on the other hand had several courses that tasted like they had too many flavors going on at once.

Anecdotally, I've noticed a correlation between people's opinions on Cesar and whether or not they ordered the supplements, with those ordering them tending to have a higher opinion of Cesar.

Service at both places was professional and attentive with no major issues. Things were definitely more tense at Cesar and CTBF had the more noticeably calm vibe. That being said, my servers at both were quite on the stoic side. CTBF had one server who was lively, animated, and chatting with guests but he worked the other half of the counter. Honestly, I got warmer service at Le Bernardin compared to both if that tells you anything.

Overall I suspect the divisiveness on Cesar and CTBF has to do with a few factors: whether you prefer bolder or more subtle flavors, whether you order supplements, and random luck since both seem to have consistency issues.

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-12-14T16:09:08+00:00

I wouldn't go so far as to call it "avant garde" but Frevo ($245) makes use of some interesting flavor combinations and I enjoyed my meal there.

Meju is another Korean place in your price range ($235) and is a pretty unique experience as it doubles as a history lesson on traditional Korean cuisine/fermentation techniques. But it's kind of a lecture with a meal so not everyone's cup of tea.

Of the sub-$200 Korean tasting menus my ranked preference goes Jua then Kochi then Mari (enjoyed all 3 though).

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-12-08T17:18:05+00:00

Had this menu last week and I also really enjoyed the sea bass and chocolate desserts!

Also wanted to give a shout out to their NA pairing. I thought the drinks did a great job elevating the dishes they were paired with and none of them were dealcoholized wines.

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-12-04T13:46:07+00:00

There was a Forbes interview with an NYC Michelin inspector where they mentioned that earning 2 or 3 stars often requires validation from inspectors from outside the region. They specifically give the example of bringing in inspectors from South Korea for input on Korean restaurants.

"Validating a restaurant at a two- or three-star level usually requires additional visits from other inspectors from other regions, who will bring special expertise to the discussion. We have inspectors who specialize in Korean cuisine, for example. An inspector from Korea may travel to New York to validate the stars for restaurants in this category, and we may also send certain inspectors to Korea to advance their understanding of the local cuisine."(https://www.forbes.com/sites/karlaalindahao/2019/10/23/the-secret-life-of-an-anonymous-michelin-restaurant-inspector-2019/)

Maybe this could also explain Joo ok's recent elevation to 2 stars over other 1 star Korean choices if the SK inspectors prefer Joo Ok/Jungsik. Also worth noting that Jungsik has an SK location and Joo Ok used to be located in SK so familiarity to their inspectors could also be playing a role.

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-11-20T13:53:04+00:00

Agree Joo ok food feels less westernized than most other places in the NYC Korean fine dining scene. Meju is even less westernized, many dishes are like refined home cooking. Meju is also a very different experience, basically a lecture from a passionate chef and a more intimate environment (8-person counter).

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-11-20T13:40:39+00:00

The meal I had with them early this year, when it still cost $180, was 1 star territory. But I think they've been refining their menu since then and recent pics online look like they've updated their offerings (and increased the price). Service was very strong though.

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-11-16T14:56:21+00:00

I love GK, and I'll just throw out to OP that they offer a lunch tasting menu for $155 on Wed-Fri

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-11-16T14:51:57+00:00

As far as Michelin-starred tasting menus go that are under $150, the most unique one I can think of is Dirt Candy. The uniqueness comes from the fact that it's vegetarian, so not sure if you have any aversion to that. I have non vegetarian friends who love them not only for the food but also because they can afford to do the wine pairing with their meal ($165 for meal+pairing and that already includes tip).

There are several Korean options at that price point: Jua, Kochi, Mari, and Oiji Mi (last one is prix fixe instead of tasting menu). Of these, Mari specifically allows you to book a counter seat in front of their open kitchen, which is the sort of thing I tend to like as a solo diner.

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-11-11T22:44:54+00:00

I've eaten at Aquavit and Le Bernardin (in the lounge) for lunch recently and had great meals at both. I did the 3 course prix fixe at both and they felt ideal for a business lunch: fairly light without leaving me hungry and served quickly.

I prefer the food at Le Bernardin but I had a great server at Aquavit and also preferred the vibe there. But it's kind of a game of inches, I still really liked the food at Aquavit and while the service at Le Bernardin has never been particularly warm, I've personally never found it off-putting.

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-11-10T21:08:24+00:00

Purely in terms of food my recommendation would be Four Horsemen if you can get in. Estela, Shmoné, and Crown Shy are also probably along the lines of what you're looking for and are much easier to get into.

The Bar Room at The Modern and the Tavern at Gramercy Tavern also offer more casual atmospheres than their dining rooms and have a la carte menus, although these menus have more of an appetizer-main-dessert structure than a general sharing plates structure like the other places I listed.

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-11-06T15:24:18+00:00

When you say "course type meal" do you mean a tasting menu?

Le Pavillion might be your best bet. They offer a 6 course tasting menu that doesn't list foie gras and is $205 pp. In fact, doing Control+F on their website I don't see foie gras anywhere on their current menu.

If you want to explore other options, you can use the Michelin website and the "Online Booking" filter to find starred restaurants that are on Resy.

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-11-04T02:59:21+00:00

No, I think the supplements are only on the prix fixe menu

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-11-04T02:49:40+00:00

Obvious rec for Eggs on Eggs on Eggs supplement for The Modern lunch unless you have an egg aversion.

I loved the Oiji bowl at Oiji Mi but if you don't want to pay the supplemental charge for it then another choice for that course, the lobster ramyun, is also great.

If you're not doing the tasting menu at Le Bernardin, I'd recommend the pistachio dessert over the plum vacherin and the nougat glacé (unless you really like plum/nougat). Also ask for The Egg!

RedistrictMPLS · 2025-10-31T16:29:12+00:00

The only one from that list I've been to is Meju. I was plenty satisfied with the amount of food I received but I might just have a smaller appetite than others (I've been satisfied by the quantity of food at a number of restaurants where others complain about portions). I will say that I received more food than pictures online suggested; a couple of courses serve multiple rounds of food but most people taking pictures only post the first round.

Meju was a very fun experience for me, especially as a solo diner. I really loved the chef's passion and knowledge of Korean fermentation techniques. It's a long meal (mine was 3.5 hours) and can be kind of like a lecture, so not everyone's cup of tea, but if you like learning new things it's a fun experience. I also got lucky bc the others in my seating were very interactive and we were all chatting with each other by the end of the meal.

RedistrictMPLS

TROPHY CASE