Tuesday: Star Crawl

gravlax at aquavit

The Goal: Dine at five Michelin-starred restaurants in one evening to create an epic traveling tasting menu.

The Plan:

1. In the spirit of a traditional bar crawl, each component of the evening's feast will be consumed exclusively at the restaurant's bar or lounge. All food must be prepared by the same kitchen that serves the formal dining room.
2. The succession of dishes should reflect the natural progression of ingredients one might experience during a tasting at any one of the individual restaurants visited (i.e. lighter fare progressing to heavier proteins). 

The Tasting...

the bar at daniel

5:30 PM - DANIEL (2 STARS) 

chilled oystes en gelee at Daniel

Setting: A dimly lit lounge with a stunning backlit bar of Brazilian blue marble, behind which bartenders sporting double-breasted white dinner jackets and bow ties make stellar cocktails and pour expensive wine. Plenty of two tops and a few spots at the bar are available upon arrival.

Dish: Chilled Oysters "en Gelée," Fennel Mousseline, Sea Urchin, Finger Lime, White Sturgeon Caviar - Oyster, uni and caviar in each bite. How is that not gonna be perfect?

Drink: "Boot Legger" Cocktail Made With Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, Demerara, Smoked Cardamom, Orange-Angostura Bitters - Hard not to have two.

Bonus: Three Amuse-Bouches Riffing on Carrots and a Fantastic Bread Service

Total: $70 With Tax & Tip

lounge at aquavit

6:15 PM - AQUAVIT (2 STARS)

Setting: A bright, crisp space with Arne Jacobsen egg chairs and plenty of bar seating. Small groups gather for a quiet, casual post-work drink. A decidedly more laid back vibe than the lounge at Daniel.  

Dish: Gravlax, Hovmaster, Dill, Lemon - The best gravlax this side of Scandinavia.  

Drink: Tasting of Three House-Infused Aquavits: Horseradish; Mango, Lime & Chilli Pepper; Grapefruit & Lemongrass - The flavors definitely come through and are worth a try if you want something unique to the restaurant. Nice follow up to the cocktail from Daniel before moving on to wine.   

Bonus: More Complimentary Bread - You should probably lay off, but you're not going to. 

Total: $50 With Tax and Tip

tuna & foie gras at le bernardin

7:15 PM - LE BERNARDIN (3 STARS)

le bernardin bar snacks

Setting: An elegant, airy lounge with a wall of windows and a view of the expansive dining room. A few couples and small groups luxuriate at the tables, while the bar serves a pair from out of town and two gentlemen, one settling in for a full tasting, the other having a glass of wine over complimentary bar snacks. The bartender, somewhat awkwardly, addresses everyone with French honorifics and provides a saucer for your cell phone without batting an eye, perhaps as a reminder to put down your food camera and actually taste what has just been presented to you. Message received. 

Dish: Tuna & Foie Gras - A signature dish from Eric Ripert: Thinly pounded Yellowfin tuna, garnished with chives and extra virgin olive oil, draped over foie on a toasted baguette. Sick.

Drink: A Glass of Cotes du Jura Chardonnay

Bonus: A Trio of Complimentary Bar Snacks

Total: $75 With Tax and Tip

fusilli at marea

8:00 PM - MAREA (2 STARS)

Setting: The most lively bar of the evening and the only stop with a wait for a seat. The bar hosts solo diners in for a quick meal and tourists asking them for their New York City restaurant recommendations. If you're eating alone, you can nab a spot within 15 minutes, but couples were asked to wait for twenty minutes or longer. There are far worse places to linger with a glass of wine, but it can get crowded. 

Dish: Fusilli, Red Wine Braised Octopus, Bone Marrow - The famous fusilli. A must order on your first visit.

Drink: A Glass of Brunello

Bonus: Another Selection of Bread - Because you shouldn't eat olive oil with a spoon. 

Total: $72 With Tax and Tip

the salon at per se

9:00 PM - PER SE (3 STARS)

salmon coronet 

Setting: The salon room, which is virtually empty at this hour, save for the couple at the window seats overlooking Columbus Circle. Grab a stool at the long glass bar for a view of the high-rises out the window. 

Dish: All Day Braised Elysian Fields Farm's Lamb Breast, Marinated Fennel Bulb, Crispy Chickpeas, Arugula and Apricot-Mustard Sauce - Feeling full at this point, so thankfully the lamb is served as a true tasting portion. A delicious few bites. 

Drink: A Glass of Rioja, Selected From The iPad Wine List

Bonus: All the Signature Amuses Per Se is Famous For, Including the Classic Coronet of Salmon Tartare With Crème Fraîche, Parker House Rolls With Loire Valley Salted Butter and a Pair of Warm Gruyere Gougères. - Flavor Bombs.

Total: $77 With Tax and Tip 

One More: If you still have room for dessert, order the classic coffee and doughnuts, which is almost always available. The brioche doughnuts are dusted in cinnamon sugar and served with a cappuccino semifreddo.    

ESSENTIAL INFO:

-Total Cost: $344 per person for a dish and a drink at all stops. The final damage can definitely be less depending upon the amount of alcohol consumed and the dishes ordered. NB: All glasses of wine are normal pours and not the two ounce tastes you may be served with a set pairing, so splitting a glass with a companion might be a good idea for a course or two.  

-The total tour is just over two miles, so it is walkable over the course of five hours. Cabs are cool too. 

-Ladies, bring some flats (for the walking). Fellas, wear a jacket (required at Per Se, preferred at all the others). 

-While all the extra bread is amazing and incredibly hard to resist when offered, you would be wise to pass on at least one serving, as this is a marathon, not a sprint. 

-Since Aquavit is closed on Monday, Tuesday is the ideal night to attempt this traveling tasting, as the restaurants tend to get more crowded as the week goes on.