Mansi Kothari

Review of Thomas Keller, Per Se

We went for the five-course, vegetarian tasting me...

We went for the five-course, vegetarian tasting menu. Every dish was intentional and inventive. The service was excellent - the staff even brought out a few extra treats off the menu for us to try. We took a tour of the kitchen afterwards, and it was impeccable. Everything is so orderly, and the precision comes through in the food.

On the downside, we did feel a bit rushed. The staff kept checking in to see if we were done yet. This was unexpected given the price and ambience of the restaurant. The restaurant decor is a bit old-fashioned. We had one dish (trumpet royal mushroom "a la bordelaise") that felt like it was trying to imitate the look, feel, and taste of a meat dish (like steak and potatoes) instead of showcasing the vegetable.

Overall, I'd highly recommend the experience for a special occasion.