Providence tasting menus

[crb2]

Going for the first time tonight. Is the full version worth it or should I just go for the 5 course menu? What about the pairings - have experiences been good or bad?

[Diana]

You could shoot the moon-forget the 5 and 9 course and do the chef's tasting menu. It could concieveably "break the bank"- but worth the $$ every time.

Drew always matches wines well, but I never do the official wine parings-I go once a year (due to finances) and I cant afford the pairings, and can't hold that mutch wine at my size-even with all the food

[crb2]

Thanks for the tips everyone. We went for the 9 course, with the pairings. The food was wonderful and the service was great. I really enjoyed the rather eclectic pairings, though in the future we will probably just get a bottle

[Diana]

what dishes were on the menu?

[crb2]

I wish I could remember everything in detail - I'm sure I am mis-remembering. Nine glasses of wine plus a glass of champagne to start made things a little hazy. Started with a tartare in a heart of palm wrap. There was a "lobster ravioli" which was some tail between two layers of yellow beet, with caviar stacked on top. So good it made me want to cry. An Alaskan salmon in a broth. Veal medallions. Scallops with wasabi creme fraiche. The cheese course. A rasberry sherbert on lavender gelaise (sp?) with a wine reduction. A pineapple and caramel popcorn finale. I am missing something...

[fdb]

Sounds wonderful already.....the last time I was there, one person insisted she wanted to have the special Australian lobsters cooked 3 ways...so that meant
the rest of the table had to order a la carte. :( Well, she was paying so what could I say? Turned out the lobster costed something like $95 by itself. It was a very delicious lobster but with that price tag, I would really rather have the tasting menu.

[slacker]

What's the price range for the Chef's tasting?

[Diana]

It starts at like $150 or something. maybe higher.

Call them and ask, they're very open about these things. Most of the meals they serve on any given night are tasting menus, or so they told me.

[terim]

We had the 9 course tasting menu a few days ago - liked the offerings over the 5. We aren't big eaters, so could not quite finish everything - but enjoyed it immensely and had room to polish off our dessert. Go for the pairings - we thought it was fairly priced and gave us a lovely variety of new things to enhance the whole experience. Enjoy!

[spicychow]

How much is the 9 course with the pairing vs 5 course?

Someone offered to take me there for dinner soon, and I don't want to break his bank. Thanks!

[bodie]

5 course is $80 per person - $110 with wine pairings
9 course is $105 per person - $150 with the pairings

[bodie]

I would say it depends on your appetite.

There is no shame in ordering a la carte - the dishes are almost always superb. Often, the a al carte menu looks so good that I become flummoxed into opting for the tasting menu.

The nine-course can be a bit much for me, portion-wise, but it is so, so good.

The five-course menu is more reasonable but never quite appeals to me as it seems somehow truncated compared to the nine-course.

Be sure to leave room for desert - it is a true highlight of the meal.

[stollingrone007]

You can't go wrong at Providence.
I've never had tasting menu. I've only ordered a la carte. But everything about Providence is perfect.
You can do no wrong.