My New York itinerary was very much fluid and tentative except for two musts that I have pre-booked waaay in advance – Wicked and a meal from a Michelin-starred restaurant. For a Michelin-virgin, this was a bit tricky because a) there’s so many options to choose from, b) I have my finances to consider, and c) I wanted it to be perfect – after all, it’s my first and most likely, my only for the time being. Let me share with you how I chose my first Michelin-starred restaurant, how much it cost me, and what the experience was like. Hopefully, if you’re a foodie like me, this makes you go “hmmm” and helps you plan your own Michelin encounter. It’s not as painful as it sounds, I promise!
If you’re on a budget, opt for lunch (or early supper). Fine dining restaurants usually offer set meals at comparably lower prices, so obviously, my third-world wallet’s first order of business was to find out which places offered lunch deals. A simple google search led me to this link and since it’s a bit outdated, I went to visit the individual websites of the restaurants listed there. I immediately felt an affinity towards Bouley and Jean-Georges (oui, oui!), so I dug deeper aka: read reviews and Trip Advisor comments. Ultimately though, it was the Zagat ranking that sealed the deal for Bouley. It was in the Top 2 spot, with Le Bernardin ahead of it with an extra point for service. They were both tied with 29/30 for food, whereas Jean Georges had a 28. Bouley comes out more reasonably priced too because you get 5 courses for USD55 as compared to two for USD49 at Jean Georges, three for USD39 at Jean Georges’s “casual sister” Nougatine, and three for USD80 at Le Bernardin. (Side edit: Please note that Bouley has 1 Michelin star, whereas Jean-Georges and Le Bernardin have 3). And guys, let’s not get started on dinner prices. I previously mentioned here that you can save tens of dollars when you avoid dinner, but I was wrong – you can save hundreds of dollars.
On the day of my reservation, I made my way to Duane Street excited for what’s to come. I was rather early so I walked around the area for a bit until it was time to step into the apple-scented waiting area of Bouley. I’m glad I arrived before the other patrons coz I was able to snap some pictures of the gorgeous dining room. But enough of that, let’s go straight to what you really wanted to see – the food. I’ll let the photos do the talking from this point. Don’t scroll with an empty stomach! 😛
I’m a bread person. No, I’m a carb person. Okayyy, I’m a food person in general. But the point is, I love bread. Bouley made the bread lover in me super happy. You will soon find out why…
I have to say that I really enjoyed my meal. The food was delicious, service was superb, and the restaurant was really pretty. And, yes, I dined by myself too! Although it would’ve been nice to enjoy the atmosphere with someone dear, I have no regrets going on my first Michelin-ranked restaurant alone. Instead of it being like “oh shit, what will people think of me?”, for me, it felt like “OMG the food is sooooo good!!!” and “awww yeaaahhh I’m awesome!” #selfconfidence hahaha
And for those people who are scared of eating alone but want to try it, let me be the first to tell you that nobody cares. The groups were all engrossed with each other – or if you’re in a delicious restaurant, THE FOOD – anyway. They are not watching you. In fact, if you’re set in a cozy corner with a full view of the entire dining room like I was, it’s you who gets to watch them. If you want to, and if you’re not too busy admiring your food, at least.
So there you have it. I hope you enjoyed this post even a quarter of as much as I enjoyed my visit to Bouley. You don’t need to drop a fortune to experience dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Sure, for us normal people, it isn’t really peanuts. But if you’re a foodie and it’s a priority for you, with research and preparation, it is POSSIBLE to do so without starving yourself before and after your meal.
PS: Please note that the prices mentioned above does not include taxes and tip yet. Best to check their website and contacting them directly should you plan on visiting. 😉
Everything looked so delicious! Kudos to you for going alone, I am trying to do that more often! It is definitely a confidence builder. What was on top of the tray that came with your latte? Great post!
Kat ♥ http://www.pastelwhimsy.com
Thanks! You should do it! 🙂 It's sugar, I think. Or some kind of sweetener, haha
Wow… Naubos mo lahat yun? ?
Hahaha! Yes, tita! :)) Tasting menu, so not so big portions 🙂
Everything looks super yummy! I would definitely check this place out when I make a trip to the USA. As a coffee junkie, I love the look of that latte! Great review 🙂 x
♥.•*¨ Amanda Says ¨*•.♥
Thanks, Amanda! You should, it's super reasonable given the topnotch quality of the food and service you receive. 🙂