What if we told you that you could circumvent a certain three Michelin Starred restaurant’s $225/person tasting menu and perpetually packed reservation line on pretty much any given night of the week? Impossible, right? Well, not so fast, because we here at Harden have stumbled upon the best kept secret in the rarefied world of Manhattan fine dining–the bar nook at Eleven Madison Park. At anytime that the refined restaurant is open, diners can drop by the five table bar nook and order à la carte from a choice of four appetizers, four entrees, and three desserts. The best part is that because most people do not think of Eleven Madison Park as the kind of place where you just casually drop in, there is rarely ever a wait for a seat–although, waiting at the restaurant’s exceedingly comfortable bar and downing a few masterfully crafted cocktails is not exactly unpleasant. Of course, the food is just as delicious as anything offered on the tasting menus–try the foie gras terrine layered with braised red cabbage–and the service is just as legendary. While dining in the bar nook is not exactly cheap, it is certainly less expensive than any of the tasting menu options.
11 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10010
(212) 889-0905