Twenty courses, three hours, a brigade watching your every bite. A tasting menu has rules nobody prints. Here they are.
Arrive on time, and slightly hungry
A tasting menu is a performance with a start time. At FZN in Dubai the evening moves through three rooms in sequence; at Nobelhart & Schmutzig the counter starts together. Arrive ten minutes early, skip the big lunch and do not fill up on the bread, which will be excellent and will keep coming.
Say everything at booking
Allergies, dislikes, a vegetarian guest, a birthday: tell the restaurant when you book, not when you sit. A kitchen like Lafleur runs a full vegan menu in parallel; a counter like Masa cannot swap the fish it flew in from Tokyo. Surprises at the table are the one thing a tasting menu cannot absorb.
The pairing is part of the design
Sommeliers build the pairing for the sequence of the menu, and at places like Silvio Nickol or Rutz the pairing is half the reason to come. If you want a bottle instead, say so early so the sommelier can suggest one that survives twelve courses. Non-alcoholic pairings are now serious at most of the houses in this guide; ask.
Phones, photos, conversation
A quick photo of a plate is accepted almost everywhere; a flash, a tripod or a video of the chef is not. Some counters, Nobelhart among them, discourage phones altogether. Talk to the staff when they present a course; they trained for this, and the story of the dish is part of the dish.
Pace yourself
You are not obliged to finish every course, but the kitchen notices patterns. If the pace is too fast, say so; if it is too slow, say so too. A three-hour menu at Eleven Madison Park or Trèsind Studio is designed for the table, not for the clock.
Leaving
The bill arrives when you ask for it, never before. Tip according to the country, see our Tipping Guide, thank the kitchen if the room allows it and do not ask for a doggy bag. Then walk; you will want to.
Try it
Tipping GuideEnter the bill and the country.Dinner BudgetTasting menu or à la carte, wine by the glass or the pairing, two people or eight: the Dinner Budget estimates the bill per person in your city and compares it with the other eighteen..Frequently asked questions
How long does a tasting menu take?
Two and a half to four hours. Counters with a fixed start are usually faster than dining rooms.
Can I skip courses?
You can leave food, but the kitchen will not usually remove courses from a fixed menu. Ask for the shorter menu if one exists.
Should I dress up?
Smart casual is enough in Berlin and Copenhagen-style rooms; the palaces of Paris, Monaco and New York expect a jacket.
