What it's like to eat a $225-per-person, 3-hour dinner at Eleven Madison Park, the best restaurant in America
<img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/55365993ecad04bf1a514ef6-1200-924/eleven-madison-park-6.jpg" border="0" alt="Eleven Madison Park">
Eleven Madison Park was just named the best restaurant in America, and we can see why. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">With Michelin-starred chef Daniel Humm at the helm, the French-influenced bistro serves exceptional greenmarket cuisine that surprises and delights.</span>
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Food blogger Julian Fang captured the experience of dining at Eleven Madison Park in spring 2011, for his website Jewelz. He opted for the 11-course tasting menu, which today runs three and a half hours long and costs $225 per person.
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">While the menu has changed, the decadence remains. We've shared a selection of Fang's photos with permission.</span>
<h3>Daniel Humm's award-winning restaurant is located in Manhattan's Flatiron neighborhood, on Madison Avenue between 24th and 25th Streets.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/553a3befecad04e031439044-400-300/daniel-humms-award-winning-restaurant-is-located-in-manhattans-flatiron-neighborhood-on-madison-avenue-between-24th-and-25th-streets.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The Art Deco-styled dining room features floor-to-ceiling windows and whimsical floral arrangements that reach to the high ceilings. </h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/55394293ecad0488212d5feb-400-300/the-art-deco-styled-dining-room-features-floor-to-ceiling-windows-and-whimsical-floral-arrangements-that-reach-to-the-high-ceilings.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>But let's get to the food. Eleven Madison Park only offers a tasting menu, preceded by light amuse-bouches. First up were these bite-sized cheese gougéres, served warm and sprinkled with salt.</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/553942926bb3f7714e5577b3-400-300/but-lets-get-to-the-food-eleven-madison-park-only-offers-a-tasting-menu-preceded-by-light-amuse-bouches-first-up-were-these-bite-sized-cheese-gougres-served-warm-and-sprinkled-with-salt.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>As diners snacked on the pastry puffs, they perused the exhaustive beverage menu. A 2006 Arnot-Roberts syrah wine was selected.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/553942936bb3f72f4d5577b3-400-300/as-diners-snacked-on-the-pastry-puffs-they-perused-the-exhaustive-beverage-menu-a-2006-arnot-roberts-syrah-wine-was-selected.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>After the wine arrived, a narrow tray of hor d'oeuvres followed. Let's take a closer look at each.</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5539429169bedd4d2c83f31c-400-300/after-the-wine-arrived-a-narrow-tray-of-hor-doeuvres-followed-lets-take-a-closer-look-at-each.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>If you like your vegetables best prepared as ice cream toppings, the playful carrot marshmallow is for you.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/55394292eab8eab738ac5d5a-400-300/if-you-like-your-vegetables-best-prepared-as-ice-cream-toppings-the-playful-carrot-marshmallow-is-for-you.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The tuna tartare blended textures and tastes.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/55394292eab8ea9d38ac5d58-400-300/the-tuna-tartare-blended-textures-and-tastes.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Over the years, Eleven Madison Park has made its famous foie gras seared, cured, and made into pudding. This preparation came topped with an asparagus gelée.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/55394292eab8eaf839ac5d57-400-300/over-the-years-eleven-madison-park-has-made-its-famous-foie-gras-seared-cured-and-made-into-pudding-this-preparation-came-topped-with-an-asparagus-gele.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The more recognizable egg quiche tartlet featured mouthwatering (and expensive) morel mushrooms.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5539429169bedd0f2e83f318-400-300/the-more-recognizable-egg-quiche-tartlet-featured-mouthwatering-and-expensive-morel-mushrooms.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The crispy sweetbread-stuffed cornet added a bit of crunch.</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5539429169bedd8a2d83f318-400-300/the-crispy-sweetbread-stuffed-cornet-added-a-bit-of-crunch.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Wine glass empty? Swap it out for a mint julep with a bouqet of mint leaves so large, you could wear it as a hat at the Kentucky Derby.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/553942936da8111d78e5e1c6-400-300/wine-glass-empty-swap-it-out-for-a-mint-julep-with-a-bouqet-of-mint-leaves-so-large-you-could-wear-it-as-a-hat-at-the-kentucky-derby.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Bread service signaled the beginning of the official meal.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5539429769bedded2b83f31b-400-300/bread-service-signaled-the-beginning-of-the-official-meal.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The warm, flaky rolls were made richer by goat and cow milk butters.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/553942956bb3f7344d5577bb-400-300/the-warm-flaky-rolls-were-made-richer-by-goat-and-cow-milk-butters.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The first course, Sterling Royal Caviar, came nestled with spheres of smoked sturgeon and salmon cream.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/55394293ecad04d8252d5fe0-400-300/the-first-course-sterling-royal-caviar-came-nestled-with-spheres-of-smoked-sturgeon-and-salmon-cream.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>This course features three different ingredients at three different temperatures: Santa Barbara sea urchin, custard with green apple, shellfish ragout. Together they make a decadent, sour, briny, and somehow great combination.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/553942936da811ad75e5e1c6-400-300/this-course-features-three-different-ingredients-at-three-different-temperatures-santa-barbara-sea-urchin-custard-with-green-apple-shellfish-ragout-together-they-make-a-decadent-sour-briny-and-somehow-great-combination.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Here's what the dish looks like once you've cracked the surface.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/553942946da8118f77e5e1c6-400-300/heres-what-the-dish-looks-like-once-youve-cracked-the-surface.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The garden pea and mint lollipop arrives in a glass vase filled with grass. </h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/55394294eab8eafd3eac5d57-400-300/the-garden-pea-and-mint-lollipop-arrives-in-a-glass-vase-filled-with-grass.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Eleven Madison Park prides itself on serving locally grown foods. The Spring Out of Winter course pairs freshly harvested asparagus with Jamón Ibérico.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5539429469bedd912d83f318-400-300/eleven-madison-park-prides-itself-on-serving-locally-grown-foods-the-spring-out-of-winter-course-pairs-freshly-harvested-asparagus-with-jamn-ibrico.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Another gorgeous foie gras preparation, this melt-on-your-tongue foie gras torchon accompanies tête de cochon, pickled spring vegetables, and horseradish.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/55394295eab8ea8639ac5d59-400-300/another-gorgeous-foie-gras-preparation-this-melt-on-your-tongue-foie-gras-torchon-accompanies-tte-de-cochon-pickled-spring-vegetables-and-horseradish.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Tender, buttery Atlantic Halibut was seared with smoked spring garlic and crayfish. </h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/553942956da811ee76e5e1c6-400-300/tender-buttery-atlantic-halibut-was-seared-with-smoked-spring-garlic-and-crayfish.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Each course topped the last. A colorful plate of poached Nova Scotia Lobster featured "young" carrots, ginger, and vadouvan-spiced granola.</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/55394296ecad0476252d5fe1-400-300/each-course-topped-the-last-a-colorful-plate-of-poached-nova-scotia-lobster-featured-young-carrots-ginger-and-vadouvan-spiced-granola.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The Earth and Ocean course combined land and sea influences. Nearly unrecognizable as chicken, a slow-cooked poussin was served with Hawaiian blue prawns and seaweed.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/553942966da811a675e5e1c6-400-300/the-earth-and-ocean-course-combined-land-and-sea-influences-nearly-unrecognizable-as-chicken-a-slow-cooked-poussin-was-served-with-hawaiian-blue-prawns-and-seaweed.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Four different preparations of Colorado lamb accompanied the large, pink, herb-roasted cut in the center of the plate. The lamb ravioli, lamb sausage, lamb short rib, and sweetbreads proved there's no wrong way to eat it.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/55394296eab8ea8839ac5d57-400-300/four-different-preparations-of-colorado-lamb-accompanied-the-large-pink-herb-roasted-cut-in-the-center-of-the-plate-the-lamb-ravioli-lamb-sausage-lamb-short-rib-and-sweetbreads-proved-theres-no-wrong-way-to-eat-it.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>A dining room manager delivered the star of the meal, the Muscovy duck stuffed with lavender and glazed with honey, to the table.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/553959de69beddcd21834ca7-400-300/a-dining-room-manager-delivered-the-star-of-the-meal-the-muscovy-duck-stuffed-with-lavender-and-glazed-with-honey-to-the-table.jpg" alt="" />
Photo by Flickr user T.Tseng.
<h3>He carved the bird and plated it right there, so other diners could watch on and drool. The choicest morsels were served alongside asparagus, ramps, and strawberries.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/553942966da811a375e5e1c6-400-300/he-carved-the-bird-and-plated-it-right-there-so-other-diners-could-watch-on-and-drool-the-choicest-morsels-were-served-alongside-asparagus-ramps-and-strawberries.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Next, a fromage cart pulled up table-side. The server doled out a selection of artisanal cheese based on the diner's preferences.</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5539429769bedd582983f31a-400-300/next-a-fromage-cart-pulled-up-table-side-the-server-doled-out-a-selection-of-artisanal-cheese-based-on-the-diners-preferences.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>These adorable raisin walnut bread sticks paired well with the cheese assortment.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/553942956bb3f76e4e5577b5-400-300/these-adorable-raisin-walnut-bread-sticks-paired-well-with-the-cheese-assortment.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Dinner now transitioned into its final stage: dessert. The "Soda Pop" — which actually made a popping sound with each bite, thanks to a helping of Pop Rocks — was constructed out of tangerine foam frozen with liquid nitrogen.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/55394297ecad0476282d5fe0-400-300/dinner-now-transitioned-into-its-final-stage-dessert-the-soda-pop--which-actually-made-a-popping-sound-with-each-bite-thanks-to-a-helping-of-pop-rocks--was-constructed-out-of-tangerine-foam-frozen-with-liquid-nitrogen.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>An interesting take on the milk and cookies, the Milk and Chocolate course combined dehydrated chocolate mousse, caramelized white chocolate sorbet, browned milk solids, and other rich cocoa textures.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/553942976da811ce76e5e1c7-400-300/an-interesting-take-on-the-milk-and-cookies-the-milk-and-chocolate-course-combined-dehydrated-chocolate-mousse-caramelized-white-chocolate-sorbet-browned-milk-solids-and-other-rich-cocoa-textures.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The final course, a generous plate of macarons, offered an even greater variety of flavors. The macarons came in pink peppercorn with caramel, chocolate banana, peanut butter, coconut with chocolate ganache, Meyer lemon, toasted sesame with green tea, and grapefruit with fennel.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/55394297eab8ea4536ac5d57-400-300/the-final-course-a-generous-plate-of-macarons-offered-an-even-greater-variety-of-flavors-the-macarons-came-in-pink-peppercorn-with-caramel-chocolate-banana-peanut-butter-coconut-with-chocolate-ganache-meyer-lemon-toasted-sesame-with-green-tea-and-grapefruit-with-fennel.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Don't forget the parting favor: a small box of jellies.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/55396101eab8eac949d05ea3-400-300/dont-forget-the-parting-favor-a-small-box-of-jellies.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>It's easy to see why Eleven Madison Park is No. 1. Now check out the competition.</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5536551a6da8117e4f7bef00-400-300/its-easy-to-see-why-eleven-madison-park-is-no-1-now-check-out-the-competition.jpg" alt="" />
<h2>The 44 best restaurants in America »</h2>
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