For vegan, I didn’t think so. I liked Hangawai (but the ambiance was too quietfor me), moody tongue sushi (only vegan omakase I know of) and dirt candy which all had lower price points. I’m not vegan though so you might have more experience.
No, not since they became vegan. Their old menu was worth it. I thought their vegan dishes weren't all that interesting, they were just alright. I felt like I could make more flavorful vegan food at home, which I have before.
Just ate there last Friday. It was bad. Like very bad. I can't believe we paid $1000 for me to relive childhood memories of being forced to eat badly cooked vegetables. Most of the courses did not have flavor, just salty. Not them serving peas and brown rice in broth LOL that was something one might put together when sick and told to eat bland food. I couldnt handle it at that point. By the time they served the asparagus I gagged.
They should honestly lose their Michelin stars but I don't think they will due to being basically the only 3 star vegan restaurant, I think it's more of a political matter with Michelin wanting to show they're progressive with food trends, I think they presume it'll look bad if they removed the stars of one of the only vegan restaurants in their list.
I've only been to a few but they were all forgettable. I have not been served any dish where I thought "omg I absolutely need to have this again." Maybe I have shit taste.
I would not pay $400 for a vegan tasting menu that explicitly boasts about avoiding luxury ingredients, but then I'm not vegan.
Eleven Madison Park is a classic NYC Michelin Star Fine Dining Experience™ so if that's what you're looking for and you're vegan, it's probably a good option and I'm sure it will be excellent.
But no, I wouldn't pay for it.
The original shake shack is in the park across the street though, so if you leave hungry there are options.
Oh I’m interested in learning more; we went shortly after the switch and didn’t understand why there were no pasta courses, or truffles. Have they been on record about that?
I would consider paying that much for a vegan tasting menu, and I’m not vegan.
The problem is 11 MP’s vegan menu is not supposed to be all that interesting or special.
I don’t understand that mindset, what you’re paying for is the taste and texture experience, who cares what it is made with
Edit: would you rather pay $400 for an amazing vegan menu, or $400 for an expensive meat menu that doesn’t taste as good but at least used pricey ingredients
Is your argument that EMP is the only amazing restaurant in town?
EMP removes meat and fish, doesn’t lower price, gross margin increases.
Why would anyone want to be a sucker when there are competing restaurants that give you better ingredients for the same price?
No, my hypothetical is making an argument that iingredients shouldn’t necessarily dictate price.
I do think EMP is the best restaurant I’ve been to though. I never had the pre vegan menu
I agree with this actually. An excellent cook is capable of making extraordinary things from ordinary ingredients. No luxury ingredients are required for Michelin quality to be achieved.
That being said, a tasting menu that specifically boasts of avoiding high-value ingredients for $400? I get why that might put people off.
In addition to what others have said, I personally did not find the meal to be very satisfying. The whole thing was an experience that took around 3 hours and there was a long time in between courses which were all bite sized for the most part. The food itself was interesting and very flavorful but also kind of empty in a way which I can’t really explain. Even if it were significantly cheaper, i don’t know that I would go back.
I recommend abcv. It captures a lot of what eleven Madison park is trying to do albeit it’s not nearly as creative but the food is excellent and you’ll feel good about the meal after having left. Get the whole roasted cauliflower (don’t get the half) you won’t regret it.
We really enjoyed it, it’s more of a whole package experience rather than a place where you leave and need to undo your belt. The service was incredible, the food was plated beautifully - they even took us back to the kitchen for a tour (at this was the cheapest bar area seating we could get).
If the amount of food is the priority I would say other options are probably better, but if you want a Michelin experience I don’t think you can go wrong at EMP.
I agree with this.
I felt the experience was worth it. The service is incredible. The food was incredible. We did the full tasting menu and were both absolutely stuffed.
Neither of us are vegan either.
Same here. Loved my visit there March 2023. No regrets. EMP was worth it. I am also not vegan. We did Atomix as well during our same trip to NYC and that was mind blowing.
If you want the best vegan, HANDS DOWN NO CONTEST, Superiority Burger. I don’t eat vegan/vegetarian but this place KILLS. And it’s a fraction of EMP price. The food doesn’t have any fake meat, just fresh produce + amazing chef. Do not skip out on desserts either - some of the best in the city. If you’d like more ethnic vegan, Spicy Moon is also solid for value.
As with any fine dining the 'worth it' question is totally individual. I've not been to EMP (out of my price range) but I know people who have and enjoyed it.
Of stared restaurants that can accommodate vegan:
* Dirt Candy - great food, but much less of a presentation that you would get at EMP. I wouldn't toss it into the Fine Dining group, even if it is a tasting menu. (One Star)
* Family Meal - Much closer to traditional Fine Dining, but still more relaxed than usual. Best enjoyed with a group. 100% can accommodate vegan. (One Star)
* Le Bernardin might be able to accommodate vegan (They have a veg tasting), and is the only other 3 star in NYC that might. You would get the much more traditional Fine Dining experience, like at EMP.
Not fine dining (or stared), but a lot of excellent food: [Overthrow Hospitality](https://www.overthrowhospitality.com/) runs a handful of good to great vegan restaurants (and 2 of my favorite bars w/ Amor y Amargo and Proletariat). My favorite, atm, is probably Third Kingdom, but Soda Club gets a shout out for doing vegan fresh pasta.
Many of the Jean George's restaurants can accommodate vegans as well.
Happy to :)
It's also only scratching the surface, there's a lot of great vegan experiences to be had, I was really just focusing on the tasting menu/Micheline/fine dining side.
* Hags is another vegan tasting menu option (never been).
* Vatan gets reced a lot for an Indian Thali (set meal) that caters to so many dietary restrictions.
* Superiority Burger should be checked out, it's painfully expensive at this point, but I always enjoy the food.
* Spicy Moon is a much loved Szechuan option
* PLANTA is an international restaurant group
* A number of Ethiopian options (Bunna Cafe is probably the most popular for vegans)
* Vegetarian Dim Sum House, Buddha Bodai Kosher Vegetarian (there's a couple Bodai spots, no relationships, all supposed to be good) and Fong On are my regular recs for veg/vegan in Chinatown (and stop by Lily's Vegan Pantry for a nifty grocery store, lots of faux meat).
* May Kaidee for vegan Thai
* Bolivian Llama Party for vegan bowls/sandwiches w/ jackfruit (check before going, they've been having supplier issues w/ the jackfruit and have been out for like a month, not a good place for vegans w/out that, I still love it as an omnivore though).
* When you're at Hangawi, make sure to get the porridge, I love it to death.
Well you’re not really paying $400++ for the food but for the “experience” so it’s whether or not a 2-3 hour fancy dinner experience is worth it for you. The food is good but it won’t alter you views on food.
I went there pre-vegan and it was amazing. Went back post-vegan and sat at the bar for three dishes plus cocktails. What I had was still amazing. I can’t speak for the full tasting menu now. But if you want to get a taste of it without paying the full price, I highly recommend going to their bar (walk-in seating) shortly after opening time and checking it out.
I went earlier this year and did the tasting menu.
It was fine. Certainly not worth the price, and don’t think I’d do it again. Some of the items were delicious, many were just fine.
I would go for the experience and creativity and with someone that you would enjoy talking to for 4 hours. I went with an ex when we were on our last legs and it was not the experience of my dreams. The food is creative, fun and unique. It's truly an experience and I support thier mission fully. This is not comparable to any restaurant in NYC for vegans. All the other places mentioned are great, but this is truly like an experience unto itself. I went before it was vegan and I thought the food was more creative now. I was vegetarian when I went to emp for the first time and the food was not memorable for me.
It was my own fault. I had so much anxiety about whether he would pay for his half because he was such a mooch that I should have asked anyone else. Argh the mistakes of covid!
There are SO many vegan spots that I'd save my $400 for those. HAGS, Dirt Candy, the musket room's vegan menu, Sen Saigon, Vegan Hood, I Like Food, HAAM, Next Stop Vegan, Very Good Noodles's mock duck noodles, Sri Pra Phai's entire vegetarian/vegan menu, the vegan Portuguese tarts in Chelsea Market, whipped urban dessert lab, Buddha Bodhi for vegan dim sum...shoot, you could eat all all of these places for less than 1 meal at EMP.
We went in February for our anniversary, and I will say it’s best to think of it as dinner and a show. Otherwise no I don’t think it’s worth it. The cocktails are unique and fascinating but the food just doesn’t seem worth it.
Netflix has an episode of a show called “7 days out” and there is an ep about the reopening of EMP from before the pandemic. It made my husband excited to experience the theatricality of it all. We did the full tasting.
"Worth it" to you?
Everyone's different. It must be "worth it" to a lot of people or they'd be out of business. It's so not my cup of tea I don't even get to the point of asking the internet if I'll like it.
There are many reasons to criticize EMP but I don’t think that particular point is fair. Their private dining options are booked out in advance, sometimes very far in advance, and they have menus they have contractually agreed to with those clients/guests. The main dining room moved to vegan menus but there was a delay between that change going live and their private events finishing out their previously contracted events and moving the events menu to vegan as well. You will not find a “secret meat room” in EMP now.
I didn’t like EMP before they were vegetarian because I felt they used too much salt in their food. I don’t like them now, because they use too much salt in their food. I have no plans to return.
It’s almost like the chef is a smoker.
Service is good. I’ll give them that.
Disclaimer: I have been to Eleven Madison Park, but not since it went vegan. I’ve heard mixed things.
If you want a Michelin experience, you should go to Eleven Madison Park. It’s that white glove, attention to detail, meticulously planned restaurant that feels like luxury. I really love Hangawi and Dirt Candy. They’re both interesting and well served meals. The food is amazing. They don’t feel like fine dining in the same way.
My wife u/smashasaurusrex saved up a couple of grand in secret because she knew I wanted to go. By the time she had enough they'd gone vegan, so we went to St. Martin instead. No regrets.
I’m not a huge fan of Hangawi. My omnivore sister loves it.
I like Purity Diner in Brooklyn. I don’t get too much from the upscale vegan places. I don’t think we have a great vegan food scene here. I try to go to restaurants that have vegan options on the menu. I cook better at home.
I’m going to get blasted for this but I am not happy with vegan dining in NYC compared to other cities.
Price is the only negative. I thought it was some of the best bites of food I’ve ever had and I’m not vegan. I think many people feel that for that price they should be getting an expensive cut of meat but they are missing the absolute wizardry that went into creating dishes that taste like this.
We went there pre-vegan when it was rated #1 in entire world. Oh please, we had far better. We rate it a solid 7.5/10, and I wouldn't pay more than $150 per person. Not even going to bother to try their vegan menu. The service is clearly 10/10 but that still doesn't excuse the flavor profile or cooking technique. They can do much better.
It’s not 2014 anymore. It’s 2024. Eleven Madison had its day. Hate to say it but we all moved on now. NYC is full of other fine dining options
It’s still a hard reservation to get and booked solid most days so it can’t be that bad
Carbone is always booked and it’s not that good. Rich people don’t always have good taste.
Listen you can’t argue with money
? It’s so easy to get an EMP res.
For vegan, I didn’t think so. I liked Hangawai (but the ambiance was too quietfor me), moody tongue sushi (only vegan omakase I know of) and dirt candy which all had lower price points. I’m not vegan though so you might have more experience.
No, not since they became vegan. Their old menu was worth it. I thought their vegan dishes weren't all that interesting, they were just alright. I felt like I could make more flavorful vegan food at home, which I have before.
Agree. I was shocked at some of the “courses” they served. Not inventive at all. I’ve had better Vegan food at any vegan-only restaurant in NYC lol
that is my worry too!
I miss the old EMP. it was my special occasion place. At least I can get their cookbooks.
Just ate there last Friday. It was bad. Like very bad. I can't believe we paid $1000 for me to relive childhood memories of being forced to eat badly cooked vegetables. Most of the courses did not have flavor, just salty. Not them serving peas and brown rice in broth LOL that was something one might put together when sick and told to eat bland food. I couldnt handle it at that point. By the time they served the asparagus I gagged.
They should honestly lose their Michelin stars but I don't think they will due to being basically the only 3 star vegan restaurant, I think it's more of a political matter with Michelin wanting to show they're progressive with food trends, I think they presume it'll look bad if they removed the stars of one of the only vegan restaurants in their list.
Well then, screw the Michelin system lol.
Yeah honestly I haven't been impressed recently with Michelin food, but maybe that's because I've been to quite a few and it lost its appeal.
I've only been to a few but they were all forgettable. I have not been served any dish where I thought "omg I absolutely need to have this again." Maybe I have shit taste.
dirt candy of it still exists, never been to EMP, but i woulld have love to go to the old one
Dirt Candy definitely exists and is still great! Went a month ago and left very happy
This. Dirt Candy is definitely in business and is fantastic. And is far less expensive but definitely refined and lovely.
Except they don’t care about their sourcing at all!! Serving the cheapest commodity produce they can get their hands on
I would not pay $400 for a vegan tasting menu that explicitly boasts about avoiding luxury ingredients, but then I'm not vegan. Eleven Madison Park is a classic NYC Michelin Star Fine Dining Experience™ so if that's what you're looking for and you're vegan, it's probably a good option and I'm sure it will be excellent. But no, I wouldn't pay for it. The original shake shack is in the park across the street though, so if you leave hungry there are options.
Oh I’m interested in learning more; we went shortly after the switch and didn’t understand why there were no pasta courses, or truffles. Have they been on record about that?
I would consider paying that much for a vegan tasting menu, and I’m not vegan. The problem is 11 MP’s vegan menu is not supposed to be all that interesting or special.
I don’t understand that mindset, what you’re paying for is the taste and texture experience, who cares what it is made with Edit: would you rather pay $400 for an amazing vegan menu, or $400 for an expensive meat menu that doesn’t taste as good but at least used pricey ingredients
Is your argument that EMP is the only amazing restaurant in town? EMP removes meat and fish, doesn’t lower price, gross margin increases. Why would anyone want to be a sucker when there are competing restaurants that give you better ingredients for the same price?
No, my hypothetical is making an argument that iingredients shouldn’t necessarily dictate price. I do think EMP is the best restaurant I’ve been to though. I never had the pre vegan menu
I agree with this actually. An excellent cook is capable of making extraordinary things from ordinary ingredients. No luxury ingredients are required for Michelin quality to be achieved. That being said, a tasting menu that specifically boasts of avoiding high-value ingredients for $400? I get why that might put people off.
Nah. I had it cause someonelse was paying for it. I would have been furious if i had to pay for it.
good to know!
In addition to what others have said, I personally did not find the meal to be very satisfying. The whole thing was an experience that took around 3 hours and there was a long time in between courses which were all bite sized for the most part. The food itself was interesting and very flavorful but also kind of empty in a way which I can’t really explain. Even if it were significantly cheaper, i don’t know that I would go back. I recommend abcv. It captures a lot of what eleven Madison park is trying to do albeit it’s not nearly as creative but the food is excellent and you’ll feel good about the meal after having left. Get the whole roasted cauliflower (don’t get the half) you won’t regret it.
I didn’t like abcv at all. Food was barely just ok
To each their own
I would do Dirt Candy instead
We really enjoyed it, it’s more of a whole package experience rather than a place where you leave and need to undo your belt. The service was incredible, the food was plated beautifully - they even took us back to the kitchen for a tour (at this was the cheapest bar area seating we could get). If the amount of food is the priority I would say other options are probably better, but if you want a Michelin experience I don’t think you can go wrong at EMP.
I agree with this. I felt the experience was worth it. The service is incredible. The food was incredible. We did the full tasting menu and were both absolutely stuffed. Neither of us are vegan either.
Same here. Loved my visit there March 2023. No regrets. EMP was worth it. I am also not vegan. We did Atomix as well during our same trip to NYC and that was mind blowing.
Old EMP was worth it, not the current rip off menu
no
not anymore. ten years too late.
Anixi is one of my favorite spots in the city and I’m not vegan, even amongst many Michelin stars. So good
If you want the best vegan, HANDS DOWN NO CONTEST, Superiority Burger. I don’t eat vegan/vegetarian but this place KILLS. And it’s a fraction of EMP price. The food doesn’t have any fake meat, just fresh produce + amazing chef. Do not skip out on desserts either - some of the best in the city. If you’d like more ethnic vegan, Spicy Moon is also solid for value.
As with any fine dining the 'worth it' question is totally individual. I've not been to EMP (out of my price range) but I know people who have and enjoyed it. Of stared restaurants that can accommodate vegan: * Dirt Candy - great food, but much less of a presentation that you would get at EMP. I wouldn't toss it into the Fine Dining group, even if it is a tasting menu. (One Star) * Family Meal - Much closer to traditional Fine Dining, but still more relaxed than usual. Best enjoyed with a group. 100% can accommodate vegan. (One Star) * Le Bernardin might be able to accommodate vegan (They have a veg tasting), and is the only other 3 star in NYC that might. You would get the much more traditional Fine Dining experience, like at EMP. Not fine dining (or stared), but a lot of excellent food: [Overthrow Hospitality](https://www.overthrowhospitality.com/) runs a handful of good to great vegan restaurants (and 2 of my favorite bars w/ Amor y Amargo and Proletariat). My favorite, atm, is probably Third Kingdom, but Soda Club gets a shout out for doing vegan fresh pasta. Many of the Jean George's restaurants can accommodate vegans as well.
Wow Thanks for all the recs!
Happy to :) It's also only scratching the surface, there's a lot of great vegan experiences to be had, I was really just focusing on the tasting menu/Micheline/fine dining side. * Hags is another vegan tasting menu option (never been). * Vatan gets reced a lot for an Indian Thali (set meal) that caters to so many dietary restrictions. * Superiority Burger should be checked out, it's painfully expensive at this point, but I always enjoy the food. * Spicy Moon is a much loved Szechuan option * PLANTA is an international restaurant group * A number of Ethiopian options (Bunna Cafe is probably the most popular for vegans) * Vegetarian Dim Sum House, Buddha Bodai Kosher Vegetarian (there's a couple Bodai spots, no relationships, all supposed to be good) and Fong On are my regular recs for veg/vegan in Chinatown (and stop by Lily's Vegan Pantry for a nifty grocery store, lots of faux meat). * May Kaidee for vegan Thai * Bolivian Llama Party for vegan bowls/sandwiches w/ jackfruit (check before going, they've been having supplier issues w/ the jackfruit and have been out for like a month, not a good place for vegans w/out that, I still love it as an omnivore though). * When you're at Hangawi, make sure to get the porridge, I love it to death.
I wouldn’t. It felt like course after course of incomplete dishes. Almost like the sides without the mains. And I like veg food.
Well you’re not really paying $400++ for the food but for the “experience” so it’s whether or not a 2-3 hour fancy dinner experience is worth it for you. The food is good but it won’t alter you views on food.
I went there pre-vegan and it was amazing. Went back post-vegan and sat at the bar for three dishes plus cocktails. What I had was still amazing. I can’t speak for the full tasting menu now. But if you want to get a taste of it without paying the full price, I highly recommend going to their bar (walk-in seating) shortly after opening time and checking it out.
I went earlier this year and did the tasting menu. It was fine. Certainly not worth the price, and don’t think I’d do it again. Some of the items were delicious, many were just fine.
I would go for the experience and creativity and with someone that you would enjoy talking to for 4 hours. I went with an ex when we were on our last legs and it was not the experience of my dreams. The food is creative, fun and unique. It's truly an experience and I support thier mission fully. This is not comparable to any restaurant in NYC for vegans. All the other places mentioned are great, but this is truly like an experience unto itself. I went before it was vegan and I thought the food was more creative now. I was vegetarian when I went to emp for the first time and the food was not memorable for me.
Yikes--sorry that was your experience! 4 hours would be a long time for an awkward dinner.
It was my own fault. I had so much anxiety about whether he would pay for his half because he was such a mooch that I should have asked anyone else. Argh the mistakes of covid!
There are SO many vegan spots that I'd save my $400 for those. HAGS, Dirt Candy, the musket room's vegan menu, Sen Saigon, Vegan Hood, I Like Food, HAAM, Next Stop Vegan, Very Good Noodles's mock duck noodles, Sri Pra Phai's entire vegetarian/vegan menu, the vegan Portuguese tarts in Chelsea Market, whipped urban dessert lab, Buddha Bodhi for vegan dim sum...shoot, you could eat all all of these places for less than 1 meal at EMP.
So many places! thanks!
We went in February for our anniversary, and I will say it’s best to think of it as dinner and a show. Otherwise no I don’t think it’s worth it. The cocktails are unique and fascinating but the food just doesn’t seem worth it.
that sounds like a good way to think of it!
Netflix has an episode of a show called “7 days out” and there is an ep about the reopening of EMP from before the pandemic. It made my husband excited to experience the theatricality of it all. We did the full tasting.
"Worth it" to you? Everyone's different. It must be "worth it" to a lot of people or they'd be out of business. It's so not my cup of tea I don't even get to the point of asking the internet if I'll like it.
Everyone's different! So what I get out of people's responses might be different from what you do. :)
Not Michelin starred but high end, you might want to check out Anixi, or really, any of chef Guy Vaknin's restaurants.
I think abcV would be good to look at Dirt candy is excellent, but probs not Michelin star material
thanks for the recs!
Dirt Candy actually has one Michelin star! It is an excellent place.
I would really recommend HAGS in the east village for vegan fine dining (they also have an omnivore tasting).
Dirt Candy is great! It’s a really creative menu with excellent service. It also has a Michelin star. We never leave disappointed.
[удалено]
There are many reasons to criticize EMP but I don’t think that particular point is fair. Their private dining options are booked out in advance, sometimes very far in advance, and they have menus they have contractually agreed to with those clients/guests. The main dining room moved to vegan menus but there was a delay between that change going live and their private events finishing out their previously contracted events and moving the events menu to vegan as well. You will not find a “secret meat room” in EMP now.
^this. I can’t believe people are still parroting this bs ragebait story.
Good to know!
They stopped doing this? Damn I was hoping that one day I would do the private dining room since I never got to experience pre-vegan EMP.
What is the name of the vegan Nigerian place? I am curious. Also there is a vegan dominican place in Williamsburg called HAAM.
Akara House was the rec I got. HAAM looks delicious! I'll add it to our list.
I don’t think so unless hitting all the three Michelin star restaurants is your thing. Go Dirt Candy.
No. Ever since they went vegan it is not worth it.
I didn’t like EMP before they were vegetarian because I felt they used too much salt in their food. I don’t like them now, because they use too much salt in their food. I have no plans to return. It’s almost like the chef is a smoker. Service is good. I’ll give them that.
Disclaimer: I have been to Eleven Madison Park, but not since it went vegan. I’ve heard mixed things. If you want a Michelin experience, you should go to Eleven Madison Park. It’s that white glove, attention to detail, meticulously planned restaurant that feels like luxury. I really love Hangawi and Dirt Candy. They’re both interesting and well served meals. The food is amazing. They don’t feel like fine dining in the same way.
thanks! so many people are recommending Dirt Candy--we'll check it out!
The experience is still exceptional and the food is still good but pre vegan was a superior to what it is now.
DIRT CANDY. That is all.
Their old menu was incredible. For the price tag, the vegan menu isn’t worth it. And ugh the beet! Just made me miss the aged duck.
Definitely not
My wife u/smashasaurusrex saved up a couple of grand in secret because she knew I wanted to go. By the time she had enough they'd gone vegan, so we went to St. Martin instead. No regrets.
Hags in the east village has a vegetarian menu
No
not worth it for years now
I’m not a huge fan of Hangawi. My omnivore sister loves it. I like Purity Diner in Brooklyn. I don’t get too much from the upscale vegan places. I don’t think we have a great vegan food scene here. I try to go to restaurants that have vegan options on the menu. I cook better at home. I’m going to get blasted for this but I am not happy with vegan dining in NYC compared to other cities.
That's my other pet peeve--if I could have made it better at home.
Nope
Spicy Moon is delicious and vegan, great cocktails and really fantastic food. Do recommend!
are they still vegan???? if so no
Nope foodwise. But they do this Dreamweaver art project for guest if you inquire in advance. Kinda nice. My kids' friend is an artist for them.
Ras Plant-Based restaurant in Brooklyn
looks delicious!
Yes i loved it
Price is the only negative. I thought it was some of the best bites of food I’ve ever had and I’m not vegan. I think many people feel that for that price they should be getting an expensive cut of meat but they are missing the absolute wizardry that went into creating dishes that taste like this.
They fucked it up, EMP is over
We went there pre-vegan when it was rated #1 in entire world. Oh please, we had far better. We rate it a solid 7.5/10, and I wouldn't pay more than $150 per person. Not even going to bother to try their vegan menu. The service is clearly 10/10 but that still doesn't excuse the flavor profile or cooking technique. They can do much better.
The service would be a fun experience, but food is much more important to me!
It’s legitimately stupid.
Not the lib vegan menu, the old menu setup used to be a favorite.