Red Medicine: Prix Fixe vs. Off The Menu

[cincodemayo1]

Looks like I'll be taking the girlfriend to Red Medicine for her birthday. It'll be both of our first times eating there. I'm all for a great dining experience but I'd love to keep the cost as low as possible.

I was looking at their website, and it really doesn't look all that crazy expensive if we were to order off the menu. I'm guessing we'd order something like 2 small plates, 2 cold plates, 2 hot plates, dessert, and a round or two of drinks.

Are we better off doing that? Or should we go with a prix fixe menu? I called and spoke to someone yesterday, but I didn't get much details except for them saying that there is indeed a prix fixe menu that we select when we come in. After reading a bunch of the threads on here, it looks like our options are either a $60 prix fixe or an $85. Does anyone know the differences?

Also, if we do decide to just order off the menu, what are the must order dishes besides the Heirloom Rice Porridge?

Thanks for the help.

[jaykayen]

The dishes are so filling, it only takes a few dishes to be full, and you have to save room for dessert. I think you would save money going a la carte.

[Porthos]

Or pass on the drinks and choose from their nice selection of Rieslings. I can usually find something nice between $60-$75 a bottle. Which is probably the same cost as 4-5 drinks.

[FranklinJefferson]

My first time at RM back in September 2011, we simply called ahead with a request for a tasting menu w/ wine pairings and gave them a budget of $150 per person... What came out was 8 savoury courses, 3 dessert courses, and 6 different wines.Additionally, we had a couple bespoke cocktails at the bar which were included. Think there were also some mignardises!
It was also the most phenomenal dinner I've experienced here in L.A.

I'm sure they can create something incredible if you give them some parameters.
And aside from the Rice Porridge, the last time I was there (early July), they had just started serving a Corn Pudding - I believe they called it Sonoma Corn but it looks like it may be the Sweet Corn that appears on their current menu. Do. Not. Miss. This...

[mrsjoujou]

We really enjoyed the Indian eggplant, so unique and tasty, loved the crab dish, such a great combo. Akaushi beef was tasty. The only thing we didn't care for was the Birch ice dessert, because it was too sweet. It was refreshing, but too sweet and we could not end our dinner on that note and ordered the coconut bavarois.Enjoy your dinner.

[mrhooks]

Looking at others's reports on the prix fixe, it looks like everything they got came from the regular menu, but it's a little cheaper than ordering the same things a la carte. The $85 was described as 5-7 savory courses and 2? desserts.

Order the Brussels sprouts with fish sauce. For desserts, the gage plum and the coconut bavarois seem to be the two popular ones here. I really loved the rhubarb. The bavarois is the only one currently on the online menu.

[Servorg]

Prix Fixe info here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8462...

[cincodemayo1]

Thanks for the link. A bit confused though...so with the $85 prix fixe, would we EACH get all of those dishes (2 cold dishes, 3 hot or Large format, 3 small plates and 2 desserts) - meaning there would be a total of 20 dishes for the two of us? Or would we just share the 10 dishes mentioned for $85/person?

Also, if the $85 is 5-7 dishes, how many is the $60 prix fixe? Can't seem to find much info on that one...

Thanks again!

[Servorg]

We ordered ala carte, but even the smaller plates were ample for sharing. So I feel safe in assuming that you both don't get a separate item. 10 dishes would be split between the two of you (and that would be A LOT of food in my opinion).

[cincodemayo1]

That's what I was assuming too. I think we might end up just doing ala cart, but we'll definitely take a look at what is offered on the prix fixe for the night.

[mrhooks]

My friend and I split 5 savory dishes and each ordered a dessert. It was plenty of food. If we were famished, we probably could have done one more dish, but that's about it. We don't have particularly large appetites.