WD~50 Review

I've been wanting to try Wylie's restaurant for a while but am broke, so when a friend told me that you can get any 2 courses for $25 at the bar, I was ecstatic. Don't get me wrong, it's still pricey as the portions are really tiny but it's a great way to feel like you're ballin on a budget. Everything was wonderfully prepared- we got primarily meat dishes and the quality of the meat was top notch. The preparation was on point. The flavors were delicious but subtle. That being said, nothing really blew my mind and none of our 5 dishes really showcased his use of molecular gastronomy (maybe our fault?)

We ordered:
-duck breast
-rabbit leg
-beef tongue
-egg drop soup with uni
-wagyu flatiron steak

The hype led me to expect a cutting edge tasting menu that would blow my mind; as it was, the courses were well put-together and enjoyable (my stand-outs being the popcorn vacherin and chilled egg drop soup) but not spectacular. Service very charming, though, although the space is a little serious and gloomy for my tastes.

This place truly was fantastic. I look forward to whatever Wylie does next. I still think about the shrimp and grits.

i have eaten here several times and the experience is always the same., fantastic.

51 clinton was still my favorite of his restaurants, at least when this chef was there. this menu is just too innovative and seems to just overshoot the fine balance of flavor that makes new american cuisine delightful.

If you want a truly creative evening of food, this is the place. It's important to know that even though this place is all about molecular gastronomy and the "science" of food, it's still very delicious. The staff are great.

staff is helpful. food in mu opinion was not fantastic but decor and staff was very nice.

It was good but maybe my expectations were too high because it didn't blow my mind ... It was more of a one time thing for me.

i don't understand the buzz. food is a bit too creative (and expensive) go to the bathroom before dining--you may get lost in the basement.

I can see people not finding the food here particularly good, but I can't see anyone saying that the food here is not interesting. This is definitely something everyone should try at least once.

A hip, innovative semi-molecular gastronomical experimental resto.

The only strictly molecular gastronomy place in NYC. Some of their more impressive options are the rabbit wrapped in chicken skin and pretzel coated beer icecream finisher. It is expensive, but whenever I can afford it, I will be back to try the entire tasting menu.

And as an important note, at the bar you can get any two dishes for $30, making it possible to try anything, without trying everything.

had a fantastic meal at the restaurant until leaving when the i guess RM who looks like the monopoly man calls me to the side and askes why i leave a small tip... im from the uk and wasnt too sure how much to leave.. $15 ... didnt think that was a bad one.
ruined the evening and even tho im a chef and loved the food... im not gonna ever go back,.. totally out of order for a last minute table of 1!!!

Intellectual food that challenges your mind and surprises your palate. A very fun and interesting experience in a genre of its own, but don't come here craving comfort food (or even when you're too hungry to appreciate the flavor and texture combinations). Instead, come with an open mind and some curious friends and sit back for a memorable experience!

Their 7-course tasting menu offers a fantastic feast to your taste buds. The creative use of ingredients combined with their beautiful presentation provides a surprising dinning experience. If you're so lucky to be seated towards the back of the restaurant, you also get to peek into their open kitchen and witness how some of these delicious dishes came to be. If you so choose, you may also add additional course from the full tasting menu (their "pho gras" from the full tasting menu is an unusual presentation, but the dish holds very well together). Great food, terrific service, and a wonderful dinning experience.

Good but not great. Most dishes were served colder than necessary and some items were egregiously lacking salt.

Fantastic. Food was genius and service was superb.

This was my first trip to WD~50, but wont be the last.
The "From the Vault" tasting menu was packed with fun dishes and overall pretty inventive and tasty. My favorite dishes were those based on the breakfast theme: scrambled eggs savory course, and the French toast dessert. I certainly want to come back and try some others.

I recently went here to celebrate a special occasion and went all out with the 12 course tasting menu. In reading the menu online, I didn't catch just how inventive some of the courses would end up being - like the everything bagel (with the bagel really being made of ice cream) served with salmon threads and a crispy cream cheese. It really *did* taste like a bagel, yet none of the components are presented the way you'd expect them to be with the name of the dish, or even in the form remotely close to what you'd associate with them. I loved the way it messed with your mind. Our server was another story altogether but I'm trying to separate the two. Wine selection was nice - many options at varying price points, which I appreciated.

Broadly amazing and excellent experience. Beautiful restaurant. Great bar selection. Friendly staff, fun view into the kitchen. Astounding menu items. Deconstructed eggs benedict and other molecular antics were visually stunning and tasty. Desserts equally incredible and concluding with cocoa powder in a sealed chocolate envelope. Would like to return as often as possible.

this was my first serious molecular gastronomy adventure, and i still think back fondly about trying to sneak in a picture of every dish, like f*(* tourists. the staff even asked if we are in the service industry.

My meal at WD-50 is hands down the best meal I've ever had. I did the 12 course tasting menu with wine pairing and everything was incredible. In fact, I always tell people that the food made me giggle, it was so whimsical and interesting that it not only appealed to my palate but also to my funny bone. I also got to meet Wylie who was in the kitchen that night....I may have told him he is a rock star...because lets face it..he is!

Great staff and food was solid, but a little disappointing for the hype. I went in expecting an experience a little closer to those I've had at Alinea in Chicago, but went through not getting quite the same experience. We did get a tour of the kitchen after our meal and it was pretty amazing how amazingly clean and organized it was.

Excellent! Perfect for the low key downtown gastrophile.

WE LOVE IT HERE: Chef Dufresne, WD, is today what Jean Georges was when he first started 20 years ago. Last time, I asked our server to amaze me and bring me dinner. Now I didn't have to as we chose the 6 course dinner.....which was amazing. Not so expensive either @ $75. Dale has gluten issues and they handle that with grace and skill and respect.

Now all-tasting-menus-all-the-time which is a good thing! Ask for a cocktail pairing!

They're extremely passionate about the food they prepare for you. And it shows.

If you must go, do so with a group and reserve a booth or table in the back where all the action is. Problem ceilings should be addressed. The front part of the restaurant is lackluster with bland tables and plastic chairs in need of a 'Gordon Ramsey' redux. Service was not always consistent. All food very flavorful and very fresh. Very pricey, but very perfect food and drink. $37 for a half glass of red wine (!)

Do you constantly change the telly? Do you skip to the next great song after only a minute or so? If you like to dabble in a little bit of everything that is awesome then wd~50 is for you, and if you don't then you should still try it! There is something fantastically simple about a tasting menu and this place doesn't disappoint. Every dish was expertly crafted and just the right size to give you a full taste but still left room for the next track on the playlist. If you brought your appetite or it is your first time here then I suggest you opt for the bigger tasting menu, otherwise the smaller one will suffice. Oh, and this goes without saying, yes on the wine pairing.

All thee who trust in Wylie shall be rewarded. Don't get caught in in all the molecular gastronomy nonsense- great food is great food, and wd-50 has great food. You may not know what it is, and it may look different than you think, but every plate that comes out of that kitchen is beautiful and tasty. It's not cheap, but it's an experience.

Famous for molecular gastronomy and their eclectic menu, but you shouldn t overlook their cocktails - especially the Snow Globe!

The best part of the meal were the drinks...but then again you can just probably order at the bar without actually eating the food and have the same time. This is why I gave it an okay and not higher because the food was not worth the value.

inventive american food. the chef is able to make extraordinary food out of ordinary ingredients - a testament to his vision, creativity and skill.

Definitely for the adventurous eater! Wylie doesn't disappoint with a menu full of interesting flavor combinations and preparations - I dream about the duck pastrami! The service is quite helpful as well!

I am a big fan of Wylie Dufresne's style of cooking and compliment his creativity at WD-50; unfortunately, I was less than impressed with his actual food. The dishes all look unbelievable but the taste does not match. The places is on the pricier side, especially if you do the tasting, so one would expect out of this world food at $140 a head. One thing I did enjoy was the dessert tasting where you can get 3 or 5 desserts. If you like fancy desserts that are unlike anything you typically see, I would suggest just coming here just for that.

Great food and service, but the decor is not exceptional...

Did the tasting menu and didn't regret it one bit. Believe all the hype and try for yourself. I will remember some of these dishes for the rest of my life, specifically his take on the everything bagel and the nyc falafel. While the components were not typical, when combined together, they really tasted like what they were supposed to! INCREDIBLE!

Molecular crazy experience for people that had enough of the regular tricks. Great food, though the service was very very slow. Prepare yourself for 3 hours meal with lots of pauses.

Continues to be a top location for modernist cuisine. Bartender always remembers me, even though I make it to Manhattan only once a year! Be amazed by Dufresne's inventions, but taste always remains the best.

I came here on a whim with my wife, i wasn't sure what to expect. The food really blew me away! The service was also great! BUT, the place did make me feel uncomfortable, i guess they took the name WD-50 to heart? The look of the place and seats just didn't sit right with me

Good meal but very over hyped. Interesting use of flavors and ingredients but in the end, I just wasn't sold on the results. Decor was average and service was attentive. I sampled a few wines, all of which were quite good.

All in all, if you are looking for an outside-the-box dining experience (and willing to shell out some cash) head on over to see what Wiley Dufresne has created. Otherwise, plenty of better options are out there for you.

The plating and flavor of the dishes definitely "blew-my-mind." I tried the tasting menu and each dish left me and my friend with a great discussion and wondering what is in the food and how each dish was constructed. My most memorable one is a bagel shaped cream cheese ice cream with salmon shavings on the side. It was an everything bagel that look and taste like a bagel, but fits on a spoon and goes down like ice cream. Now, how weird is that. And my favorite part is the desserts. There are two desserts at the end of the meal and the pastry chef remains my favorite up till now even after visiting Momofuku Ko, Jean Georges and other michelin star restaurants. If you want a fun and delicious meal, this is the place to go.

Also, since my friend wanted to take a picture with Chef Wylie, the host kindly went to the busy kitchen, asked for permission, and showed us to the back kitchen and gave us a kitchen tour. And of course took a picture for us with Chef Wylie. Wonderful experience.

Innovative food, relaxed atmosphere, friendly service. Excellent.

Came here to celebrate an engagement. MY engagement and glad we waited for such a special occasion to try this place we have heard so much about. Wylie Dufresne is well known in the culinary community and we're glad this gem is close by. Reservations are recommended and a big apetite is always recommended if you're going for the 13 course meal. Every dish is exciting. Though it looks small, you WILL be full. You can also opt for their smaller tasting menu of 9 dishes from the vault...their most popular dishes in one seating!

food is artistic with an interesting blend of unexpected flavors. who knew stout flavored ice cream would be tasty?

The cocktails are fantastic. However the food and service is highly variable and not worth the cost.

It's hard to argue that Wylie Dufresne is not one of the most interesting modern day American chefs, cooking up wondrous feats of science fiction style food. Utilizing molecular gastronomy in most of his a dishes, a technique that creates unusual textures for flavors we don't normally associate with. Such as Egg Yolk-Mashed Potato Ravioli with Cucumber and Caviar or a Bloodless Sausage made entirely of vegetables yet undeniably tastes like meat. There are only two options for the menu, a large 12 course tasting menu or a smaller 6 course, both with the options of pairing. If you plan on spending money at a place like this, go big or go home. And get the pairing, you won't regret it.

Bottom Line: One of the country's best chefs doing what he does best, make sure to go before it closes in September!

It could have been the dish I ordered or perhaps my lack of pallete for high end cooking, but with the hype that surrounded this place, I was left disappointed. I ordered their halibut, which camed in a bowl with consomme, mushrooms and some other vegtables. The halibut was fine but the consomme which everything was batheing in, did not suit my tastes at all. Also the mushrooms which were dried out, did not really complement the dish. If I were to go back it would be to try something different to see if they could redeem themselves. Most entrees will run into the 30 dollar range. Good ambiance and friendly wait staff. Beer menu is refined, with a few beers I've never heard of. Wine list is extensive.