When it comes to dining in NYC, there are almost too many restaurants and trends to try, so we’ve made it easier by highlighting one current trend: Gastronomic Restaurants. Molecular Gastronomy, also known as modernist cuisine, is a style of cooking that can double as a science experiment, using techniques like liquid nitrogen flash freezing, syringe infusions, and carbon dioxide foams. Here are the best Gastronomic restaurants near FiDi for you to try.
77 Worth Street, New York, NY
This two Michelin star restaurant is an elegant experience for all patrons who visit, with their tasting menu that exemplifies their advanced culinary skills and techniques. While their menu is continually evolving throughout year, the quality remains consistent, and audiences have referred to the dishes as “a piece of art.” Whether it’s a lobster roll piped between two pieces of dry yeast meringue or cracked egg ice cream being presented as a physical cracked egg, the restaurant’s use of molecular gastronomy does not go unnoticed. Past menu items also include lamb neck with celery root and lemongrass, Kaluga Caviar with creme fraiche, brioche and chive, and spelt sourdough rolls with yogurt butter. Regardless of what you order, prepare to be entertained.
84 2nd Ave, New York, NY
Opened by Chef Ruben Rodriguez as a love letter to his mother, Nai is an East Village gem that provides visitors with expertly crafted Spanish tapas. Whether you’re eating from the tasting menu or are ordering ala carte, Rodriguez’s Galician flavors are sure to please and leave you wanting more. Highlights of the menu include their Patata Brava, Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, and 45 Day Aged Prime Ribeye Katsu. In past tasting menus, dishes such as oysters with lemon foam and olive oil spherification utilized molecular gastronomy techniques, making the dishes more exciting and interactive. To find out what unique textures and experiences you can get from Nai’s current tasting menu, you’ll have to go and see for yourself.
176 Perry St, New York, NY
If you’re looking for a restaurant that seamlessly blends French, American and Asian cuisines and ingredients, then Perry St is the place for you. Led by father and son duo Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Cedric Vongerichten, each dish is guaranteed to be uniquely delicious and visually eye-catching. Visit them for dinner or brunch and experience the wonderful flavors of Perry St. Dinner menu items include homemade ricotta ravioli, seared wild black sea bass with roasted maitake mushroom and aromatic basil broth, and fried green circle chicken with creamed corn, cilantro, and scotch bonnet sauce. For brunch, try any delicious item from their menu featuring crispy French toast with bacon and rhubarb jam, and soft scrambled eggs with rupert cheese, broccoli, dill, and fermented chili.
11 Madison Ave, New York, NY
If the view of Madison Square Park alone isn’t enough, then the tasting menu at Eleven Madison Park is sure to please. Featuring a completely plant-based menu, this 3 Michelin star fine dining restaurant has been serving New Yorkers since 1998 and has been given 5 stars by the New York Times twice. Past tasting menus have featured a build-your-own carrot tartare with rye toast, butter poached lobster with butternut squash, and baked Alaska that is lit at the table. Each dish is beautifully presented in its own unique way that will have you hesitating to dig in. The next time you’re looking for an upscale meal that has been described as “art in edible form,” stop by Eleven Madison Park.
Written by Sabrina Rollings