Tuesday, May 06, 2008
When I returned from California last week, I was randomly searching on OpenTable to make a reservation for me and Kate. I searched for Per Se, which I do somtimes just to see the "full" message. But somehow I got a 9pm reservation for just 2 days later. I couldn't believe my eyes. Everything was going my way last week.
The dinner was the most incredible meal of my life, definitely worth every single penny. Or more even. First of all, the service was perfect, of course. It wasn't snobby at all. Everyone was really friendly even though we were 30 years younger than the average person in the room. Before dinner we tried to get a drink at the Mandarin Oriental and were turned away by the snobby hostess.
Dinner was a 9 course meal. And that doesn't count a couple items before the first course, and a couple things after dessert. The menu is set but you can tell them things you don't like or are allergic to and they are happy to substitute items.
Nothing was super experimental, which surprised me. It was all very simple, yet spectacular. Every single course was perfect in taste, quantity, and presentation. Things you may think you don't like, you will *love* because the preparation will be far better than any other place out there.
It sounds like a lot of food, and it was, but surprisingly you don't leave feeling stuffed or uncomfortable. I think it's because all the food is fresh and high quality, not at all greasy.
We had oysters and caviar, I did the foie gras supplement which was phenonmenal (even Kate loved it), there was fish, shrimp, duck, beef, and some great desserts.
The other part of the meal was the wine. I just asked for wine pairings, "3 or 4 glasses" and didn't know what to expect. Believe me, they weren't stingy on the wine. If you finished your glass before your next course, they just gave you a little more. Awesome.
Really once you stepped through the door, you weren't worried about what to order or what to drink, or how much each glass of wine would be or how many to get... You just walk in, know you're paying for the best, and they give you the best.
Without a doubt an incredible experience and I recommend it to anyone who has the chance. I would love to return another time. We're eating at Bouchon in Yountville in 3 weeks!
The dinner was the most incredible meal of my life, definitely worth every single penny. Or more even. First of all, the service was perfect, of course. It wasn't snobby at all. Everyone was really friendly even though we were 30 years younger than the average person in the room. Before dinner we tried to get a drink at the Mandarin Oriental and were turned away by the snobby hostess.
Dinner was a 9 course meal. And that doesn't count a couple items before the first course, and a couple things after dessert. The menu is set but you can tell them things you don't like or are allergic to and they are happy to substitute items.
Nothing was super experimental, which surprised me. It was all very simple, yet spectacular. Every single course was perfect in taste, quantity, and presentation. Things you may think you don't like, you will *love* because the preparation will be far better than any other place out there.
It sounds like a lot of food, and it was, but surprisingly you don't leave feeling stuffed or uncomfortable. I think it's because all the food is fresh and high quality, not at all greasy.
We had oysters and caviar, I did the foie gras supplement which was phenonmenal (even Kate loved it), there was fish, shrimp, duck, beef, and some great desserts.
The other part of the meal was the wine. I just asked for wine pairings, "3 or 4 glasses" and didn't know what to expect. Believe me, they weren't stingy on the wine. If you finished your glass before your next course, they just gave you a little more. Awesome.
Really once you stepped through the door, you weren't worried about what to order or what to drink, or how much each glass of wine would be or how many to get... You just walk in, know you're paying for the best, and they give you the best.
Without a doubt an incredible experience and I recommend it to anyone who has the chance. I would love to return another time. We're eating at Bouchon in Yountville in 3 weeks!