Eleven Madison Park, NY resto, goes plant based.

[scarlet knight]

Eleven Madison Park, one of the best restaurants in New York City is reopening. Their menu is going to be plant based. Do you think this will work with the expense account and special occasion crowd? Are younger patrons more into this cuisine?

[ashbaug2]

"It's a bold strategy, Cotton, let's see if it pans out."
- Pepper Brooks (Jason Bateman), Dodgeball

I would say vegan cuisine is the current "trendy" thing, and nothing spells trendy like New York and L.A., but to me it just feels more L.A. for some reason. Makes me wonder what will be on the menu... I'm sure smarter people than me decided to make the change, so I'm not one to judge.

Like a buddy of mine told me (I'm sure he got it from somewhere else), "If meat was so terrible, why do all the vegans keep trying to make their vegetables taste like it?"

[330ci]

Originally Posted by ashbaug2

"It's a bold strategy, Cotton, let's see if it pans out."
- Pepper Brooks (Jason Bateman), Dodgeball

I would say vegan cuisine is the current "trendy" thing, and nothing spells trendy like New York and L.A., but to me it just feels more L.A. for some reason. Makes me wonder what will be on the menu... I'm sure smarter people than me decided to make the change, so I'm not one to judge.

Like a buddy of mine told me (I'm sure he got it from somewhere else), "If meat was so terrible, why do all the vegans keep trying to make their vegetables taste like it?"

I could sworn it was that's a bold move cotton let's see if it pays off for them... looked it up and internet is split it seems. Strange

[ashbaug2]

Originally Posted by 330ci

I could sworn it was that's a bold move cotton let's see if it pays off for them... looked it up and internet is split it seems. Strange

You may be right, I was going off memory. According to my wife, my memory is terrible, although movie quotes used to be the only thing floating around in it...

[Thug]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

Are younger patrons more into this cuisine?

Younger people care more about sustainability. It's why the word & a few other buzzwords are now common in a lot of industries (fashion especially).

[GB-man]

What’s sustainable about fine dining and thousand dollar tabs in Manhattan lol

I’m getting old I guess. I can’t even say what I think of this because it would be unacceptable these days lol

[crew]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

Eleven Madison Park, one of the best restaurants in New York City is reopening. Their menu is going to be plant based. Do you think this will work with the expense account and special occasion crowd? Are younger patrons more into this cuisine?

Eleven Madison was on my list prior to the change. No longer. I’m sure I won’t be missed.
As to your question about "younger patrons" being a better target, I suspect you’re right. It’s not my style but it may appeal to a different demographic.

[subtona]

Lots of compelling data regarding plant based diet.

I am open to it but the biggest hurdle is finding tasty food to pull me away from pizza and burgers :)

One hard fast rule... no fake meat.

[scarlet knight]

We did dine there a few years ago to celebrate an anniversary. For one of the courses, they grated a carrot on our plate and called it “carrot tartare.” I said to my wife they are goofing on us. The carrot costs 29 cents, but the dinner bill was astronomical. A portent of the menu to come.

Overall, it is a beautiful place and a great (grate?) experience. But that grated carrot was weird.

[Atone]

Originally Posted by ashbaug2

Like a buddy of mine told me (I'm sure he got it from somewhere else), "If meat was so terrible, why do all the vegans keep trying to make their vegetables taste like it?"

I’m relatively certain taste is not the driving factor informing plant based diets.

[ashbaug2]

Originally Posted by Atone

I’m relatively certain taste is not the driving factor informing plant based diets.

Understood. That’s what some people call a “joke.”


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[Atone]

Originally Posted by ashbaug2

Understood. That’s what some people call a “joke.”


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I’ll speak to them all separately

[Chester01]

IDK, but the older I get and having eaten the fine dining circuit, there tends to be similarities among many and less truly unique. While I respect the creativity that goes into making the meals, the 200-300 bucks gone in 45 minutes and the fact that the food is not typically healthy (perhaps that will change with plant based) I just don't see the value in it any more.

[gnuyork]

Originally Posted by subtona

Lots of compelling data regarding plant based diet.

I am open to it but the biggest hurdle is finding tasty food to pull me away from pizza and burgers :)

One hard fast rule... no fake meat.

For me, it's butter and cheese. I already do not eat beef or pork.

[EEpro]

Great way to fleece rich folks for 10,000% markup on pennies/lb product.

[ashbaug2]

Originally Posted by Atone

I’ll speak to them all separately

I’ll send you a list to start, haha!


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[330ci]

As a vegetarian I couldn't imagine going out of my way to eat here so not sure how the general public will receive it, still alot of social stigma against not eating meat. Although if there's anywhere it could survive, I imagine NY or LA would be the place to do it.

[illiguy]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

Eleven Madison Park, one of the best restaurants in New York City is reopening. Their menu is going to be plant based. Do you think this will work with the expense account and special occasion crowd? Are younger patrons more into this cuisine?

No.

[brandrea]

Great, I can cross this off my list of restaurants to go to

[antbkny]

The best thing about 11 Madison park is that there’s a Shake Shack across the street

[Gary Busey]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Great, I can cross this off my list of restaurants to go to

Exactly


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[AK797]

I've eaten at their sister restaurant in Claridges London, below, and it was a fine dining experience, they even had mushroom butter with their bread which was a delight. Having a plant based set menu is fine but to make the whole menu vegan is Michelin madness, go woke go broke.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=729546

[Ferdelious]

Vegetarian is one thing but only plant based is setting yourself up for failure IMO. I could eat vegetarian Indian food 3-4 time a week but I know a lot of the flavor comes from ghee at most places.

[scarlet knight]

I enjoy vegan and vegetarian food for a change, but it is not my go to idea for a birthday or anniversary.

[enjoythemusic]

So cheaper than steak, right?

[WatchingAustin]

I ate here in 2018 and it was the WORST 3-star place I had ever been. The wait staff was rude and unwelcoming and the food not up to par. I remember having a lobster dish in which the lobster texture was like sawing through sandpaper. I had been to quite a few Michelin star restaurants and this was by far the worst.

Maybe going vegan will help them control quality.

[bremersm]

Cows eat grass. Grass is a plant. So...Steak is plant based.

Did I do that right?

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by bremersm

Cows eat grass. Grass is a plant. So...Steak is plant based.

Did I do that right?

Yep and one steak could easily be replaced in your diet with the energy in 3 bales of grass. Chow down!

[Jay (Eire)]

They have done more than change the menu, they are feeding thousands of needy people weekly since the pandemic began and are trying to expand on this. It’s a noble effort, and should be acknowledged.

The only questions to me will be does it taste good, is the service good. Given that service began just last night it will take some time for this to be determined.

This was one of the best restaurants in the world, they have reinvented and changed things up before and maintained high ratings and desirability. I wouldn’t write them off. And NYC, and their calibre and worldwide recognition, perhaps allows them a better chance than any of making this work.

Good luck to them.

[bremersm]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Yep and one steak could easily be replaced in your diet with the energy in 3 bales of grass. Chow down!

I will take the steak, Grass is for cows and pot heads.