59078 Tue Mar 16 18:03:43 -0800 2004 6 2 Los Angeles Area 0 310471 Having learned about tasting menus (and so many other things) from this site, which place has the best tasting menu? Prix-fixe menus also? Tue Mar 16 18:03:43 -0800 2004 0 skooby-doo 1 310475 Man this is so hard. The best? Can you limit the choices somehow, cuisine, area, price range, with wine pairings? If not, then who's the best painter and what's the best song in the world, ever? Kinda broad. That being said, I'd say Melisse in santa monica. And btw, any frenchy place with notice might make you a Menu de degustation, OR a menu au plaisir du chef. And you negotiate the price. Usually a largish party, like at least 5 or 6. And everyone gets the same thing. That's the trade-off. Tue Mar 16 18:10:49 -0800 2004 310471 0 Jerome 1 310485 I think Melisse does a FANTASTIC tasting menu, especially their Chef's Carte Blanche menu. Truly great. Other TOP NOTCH tasting menus that we have enjoyed have been at the following: Valentino (PRIMI Tasting Menu) Spago Water Grill Napa Rose (smaller, about 4 courses, but larger portions) All worth trying out. I would recommend that you try them all, and give us your thoughts! It may take a while, but it sure would be fun! Most of these places also do offer wine pairings. Tue Mar 16 19:01:45 -0800 2004 310471 0 woo! 1 310509 Bastide. I can't say that I've tried them all (not even close), but the chef's menu I had there (along with wine pairings) was one of the best dining experiences of my life. It'll set you back, but I thought it was worth every penny. Tue Mar 16 21:14:07 -0800 2004 310471 0 jnovgirl 1 310548 Expensive, but the Prix Fixe dinner at the Studio (Montage Resort and Spa) is one of the best. I guess you can call it a tasting menu also because they allow you to add (for a price) or substitute items (I asked for a gruyere instead of their menu'd Tasmanian Bleu) they have available that day. Plus, the view in that room is of the Pacific Blue! They are only open for dinner - except Saturday and Sunday, the have a Prix Fixe lunch menu. Wed Mar 17 11:08:09 -0800 2004 310471 0 kc girl 1 310554 I experienced a wonderful dinner at Union in Santa Monica w/ their tasting menu. The wine pairings were not only a perfect compliment to the food, but very reasonable. Wed Mar 17 12:11:47 -0800 2004 310471 0 Paige H. 1 310652 There are no tasting menus on the West coast to best Thomas Keller's at the French Laundry, with 23 courses and almost every one different for a table of three, it is the experience of a lifetime. In LA, the Bastide tasting menu is balanced in taste, but some dishes begin to border on whimsy with layers of lobster gelee, etc. Great poissonier pan searing of fish, though, and the presentation is very European. Spago has a very enjoyable menu, and Valentino can compose tremendous menus for you with great ingredients. In the Japanese arena, I still think Matsuhisa has the highest end omakase presentation. Wed Mar 17 19:39:27 -0800 2004 310471 0 liubird