Daniel Humm is a Swiss chef renowned for his innovative approach to fine dining. He is the owner of Daniel Humm Hospitality and gained international fame with Eleven Madison Park, which achieved 3 Michelin stars and...
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★★★★★ Five Stars
During a trip to New York City, one of the places I had on my list was Eleven Madison Park. I was in town visiting schools and sightseeing, and I decided this would be a great opportunity to experience something completely different from my usual restaurant choices. Fine dining is not something I do often, but I wanted to see what one of the most recognized restaurants in the country was all about.
From the moment I walked in, the experience felt special. The dining room was elegant and beautiful without feeling intimidating. The staff was professional, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. They took the time to explain each course, the ingredients being used, and the inspiration behind many of the dishes.
The food was unlike anything I had experienced before. Every plate looked like a work of art. Some of the ingredients and flavor combinations were things I had never tried and probably would have never considered ordering on my own. What impressed me most was how much thought went into every detail. Nothing felt rushed or thrown together. Every course seemed to have a purpose.
One of the highlights was being able to try the meat options after the restaurant had recently made changes to the menu. The flavors were incredible, and everything was prepared with a level of care and precision that was easy to appreciate. Even when I was eating something unfamiliar, I found myself enjoying it.
The bread service, desserts, and small touches throughout the meal showed why this restaurant has earned such a strong reputation. The presentation was stunning, but the food delivered on flavor as well.
Another memorable part of the evening was getting the opportunity to visit the kitchen. Seeing the operation behind the scenes and watching the team work together was fascinating. It gave me a greater appreciation for the amount of effort, coordination, and skill that goes into creating an experience like this.
This was much more than just dinner. It was an experience. New York City gave me plenty of great memories during that trip, but Eleven Madison Park stands out as one of the most memorable. If you have the chance to visit, go in with an open mind and enjoy the journey. It is not just about eating a meal. It is about experiencing creativity, hospitality, and craftsmanship at the highest level.
This review is a treasured memory of my visit to Eleven Madison Park in 2017, before they transitioned to a plant-based menu. Having previously dined here in 2013 and 2014, this was my third visit, and sharing this meal with my family made it an incredibly special and unforgettable experience.
Even back then, securing a reservation was famously difficult. It required a deposit, and changing or canceling was no easy task, making the booking process quite a hurdle. However, every single moment at the restaurant made it entirely worth it.
The dishes were the pinnacle of sophistication—healthful, deeply satisfying, and a true feast for both the eyes and the palate. The flavors were absolutely magnificent. Furthermore, the hospitality was genuinely warm and welcoming, creating a perfectly comfortable and relaxing atmosphere despite its prestigious reputation.
I haven't had the chance to visit since they became a fully vegetarian restaurant, but I am very much looking forward to returning and experiencing their new culinary chapter. A timeless icon of New York dining!
We have always wanted to come to Eleven Madison and when they re-introduced some meat to the already amazing plant-based menu, we knew it was time. Wow. The most important thing to note is that the service was spectacular. This, for us, was the most important factor. There was an elegance and sophistication to the service that was helped by the perfect atmosphere. The food was incredible and just surprises you with each bite. Dishes you might never order on your own will totally surprise you. The duck was incredible and the lobster tail was the most tender and flavorful I have ever had. By far the most amazing dish was what I believe was a plant-based take on Caviar service. It was incredible. If you have the opportunity, this is the Michelin 3 that you should not miss.
Eleven Madison Park redefined what fine dining means in New York and then redefined it again when they went fully plant-based. Daniel Humm took one of the most celebrated tasting menus in the world and rebuilt it from scratch without animal products and somehow made it even more creative. The multi-course experience is a journey through technique presentation and flavor that challenges everything you think you know about vegetables grains and fruits. Each course arrives like a small piece of art and tastes even better than it looks. The sunflower butter with sourdough bread is so good that it could be the entire meal and you would leave satisfied. The dining room overlooking Madison Square Park is one of the most beautiful restaurant spaces in the city high ceilings natural light and an energy that is both serious and joyful. The service is beyond anything I have experienced elsewhere every member of the team is knowledgeable passionate and genuinely invested in your experience. They explain each dish with enthusiasm that is contagious. The wine and beverage pairings are inventive and perfectly matched. This is a restaurant that asks you to trust the kitchen and rewards that trust completely. Whether you agree with the plant-based direction or not you cannot deny the ambition and execution. Eleven Madison Park is not just a restaurant it is a statement about what food can be when creativity has no ceiling.
A very disappointing experience.
The table was near the door, and the cold air hit my back the entire time. The place is a large room that offers no intimacy, with resounding acoustics.
The first course was bread with onions, with a butter that
had a very strong flavor. The
second course was rice with a super spicy sauce. My palate was completely on fire, making it impossible to truly savor the subsequent courses. The cold dishes were frozen, and those that were supposed to be hot were lukewarm. Dessert was a granita, also covered in the aroma of the Amaetroc di Saronno.
No dish offered the opportunity to savor the true essence of the products, except for the mushroom one, which really highlighted the product.
The staff was attentive and kind, and even the chef, who conducted the table tour, was very helpful and friendly.
Maybe we Italians have a different cuisine, but I believe that an experience in a starred restaurant should excite and convey something. This is what's missing.
