Eleven Madison Park

The email I wrote after we walked out before meal service even ended: Dear Mr. Brown, I wanted to reach out about our recent dinner. We came in excited for what should have been a seamless three-star experience, but unfortunately, it missed the mark on multiple levels. We purchased the beverage pairing expecting thoughtful pairings with each course, but it felt like we were just served a selection of wines. There was no explanation from the sommelier about how each wine complemented the dish – though he may not have had the chance, given that food wasn’t arriving in sync with service. We flagged the pacing issue to one of the attendants who said a captain would come by, but no one did. Instead, more wine was poured while we sat waiting with no acknowledgment that service was off. When food did arrive, it lacked the consistency expected at this level. One dish in particular was so heavily salted on one side and bland on the other – it was clear the kitchen didn’t check for balance. There was also a mix-up with dietary restrictions, where a gluten dish was placed in front of the person who doesn’t eat gluten. Small details like this are critical. What stood out most was watching the table next to us, seated at least 30 minutes after we arrived, finish their meal while we were still on our fifth course. At that point, we asked to end the meal early because the experience felt so poor. We were told dinner would be comped. Walking out mid-meal at a three-star restaurant should never happen and appreciate how you stepped in.

I am not sure how anyone could give less than 5 stars. From the minute we walked in to the minute we left everything was perfect. From the attention to detail from the servers, the friendly nature of everyone we encountered and the food itself, it was just phenomenal! I have a gluten allergy and they took every precaution to make sure I was able to enjoy a stunning culinary experience. We celebrated our anniversary here and I just cannot say enough about how great our time was. Ps. We were able to meet Daniel Humm and he was extremely nice.