Eleven Madison Park Vegan Review: A Dietitian’s Take

I've been dreaming of eating at Eleven Madison Park for years. As a registered dietitian and a huge foodie, a vegan restaurant with three Michelin stars was at the top of my bucket list.

I booked a trip to New York to see Harry Styles, which was already the vacation of a lifetime. But when in NYC, you might as well go big, because who knows when the next visit will be… I say this after I've been multiple times, lol.

Since I was traveling with my other half, I decided on a whim one night that we were going to have the nicest dinner of our lives. There was just one catch. Eleven Madison Park had added meat back to the menu, and I wasn't sure the experience would still be as amazing as I'd built it up to be in my mind.

What you're probably here for is the big question: is it still worth it for vegans. My honest take as a vegan dietitian: abso-freaking-lutely! The plant-based tasting menu is still the default, and the details are so well thought out.

What is Eleven Madison Park?

Eleven Madison Park is one of the most famous fine-dining restaurants in the world, and for plant-based eaters, it's legendary. It also happens to be in my favorite city, New York.

The restaurant sits in Manhattan overlooking Madison Square Park and is run by chef Daniel Humm. This man can cook, and he's backed by an incredible, highly skilled team that brings his vision to life.

Eleven Madison Park opened in 1998 and has held three Michelin stars since 2012. In 2017, it was named the best restaurant in the world.

Then in 2021, it reopened after the pandemic with a fully plant-based menu, becoming the first restaurant ever to hold three Michelin stars while serving entirely plant-based food. That changed in October 2025, when meat and seafood returned as options, though the menu is still mostly plant-based.

Booking and Logistics for Eleven Madison Park

I booked on August 22 for a September 10 reservation through Resy, which is how Eleven Madison Park takes reservations. No early times were left that day, so we ended up with a 9pm reservation for the Bar Tasting, which was fine for us because it's 6pm in Phoenix and New York never sleeps. 

The reservations open on the first of each month for the entire following month. For example, all of November opens on October 1. If you want a specific day or time, set a reminder and book as close to the first as you can, if you don't care too much about the time there are some weeks before.

It is important to know that your reservation is prepaid and nonrefundable. Eleven Madison Park doesn't allow cancellations or rescheduling, so if your plans change, you won't get your money back.

Gratuity isn't included in the prepaid price. You tip at the end of the meal, and we left 20%.

Bar Tasting vs. Full Tasting Menu

Not sure which to book? Here's how the two options compare.

	Bar Tasting	Full Tasting
Price	$244.97 per person (including tax)	$385 per person
Courses	5	7 to 8
Length	2 hours	2 to 3 hours
Where	Lounge Tables	Dining Room

*Prices as of September 2026.

We sat at a table in the lounge, which also has some lounge chairs. It still felt like the full experience, just a shorter version. The tables are smaller and more dimly lit than in the main dining room.

Our Bar Tasting Menu

The menu changes with the seasons, and much of the produce comes from Magic Farms, the restaurant's own regenerative farm in Upstate New York. Here's what our September menu looked like. Funny enough, it featured tomatoes, and I just happened to be wearing a tomato skirt.

Course One: Magic Farms Celebration

Our first course was all about tomatoes. In the front, heirloom tomatoes in red, orange, and yellow were arranged in a pinwheel. They came with tiny basil leaves and a light broth.

In the back was a tomato tart with a crispy, cracker-like base topped with fresh tomatoes.

The tomatoes were so fresh that my other half, who isn't a big fan of tomatoes, even liked them. He said he would eat tomatoes more if they always tasted like that! My favorite was the tart. The crispy base with the fresh tomatoes on top was perfect.

After the tomato course, we were also served a tomato-based mocktail. It was a really interesting way to carry the tomato theme into a drink. It was savory, similar to a Bloody Mary, but completely clear, almost like pure tomato juice without the color.

Course Two: Sunflower

This was one of my favorite courses. It was so fun, and it was the most visually stunning course I've ever been served.

In the bowl, there are sunflower hearts in white wine vinegar, served on little silver skewers. Then two laminated loaves of bread with buttery, flaky layers that pulled apart. It was hands down the most delicious bread I've ever had. I wish I had more! It came with plant-based butter shaped like a sunflower, with balsamic vinegar in the center.

The main dish was served on a bright yellow plate: a ridged roll with a pastry shell thinner than puff pastry, filled with beans seasoned with epazote, a Mexican herb, and lined with real sunflower petals. It was delicately crisp on the outside, creamy on the inside, and delicious.

Course Three: Potato 

Okay, this course might be tied for my favorite. It was so creative. A crispy, hasselback-style potato came with a smooth potato purée, a spoonful of tonburi, and a scoop of plant-based cream topped with a tiny white flower. 

Tonburi is also called "land caviar." It's a Japanese delicacy made from the seeds of the kochia plant. It wasn't fishy at all, just savory, with a little pop that I'm told is just like real caviar. I wouldn't know, since I've never had it

I made sure to get a little of each in every bite, and it all came together like the creamiest, most elevated potato I've ever had.

Course Four: Poblano Pepper

The menu listed this course as poblano pepper with seitan and coriander. The roasted poblano was stuffed with seitan and served with a bright green sauce and a slice of pickled onion topped with dill. It was hearty and reminded me of a tamale.

Course Five: Berries

Our server described this as a rice pudding with granita, and I'll be honest, I was a little disappointed. Rice pudding and shaved ice didn't sound like a grand finale for the nicest dinner of my life.

The rice pudding base was so creamy and rich, and the granita wasn't icy at all. It was light and smooth. On top were fresh raspberries, golden raspberries, blueberries, and a little yellow berry with tiny green leaves. Everything was so fresh that I completely changed my mind and ended up really enjoying it.

Added Bounus

The meal didn't end with dessert. To finish, we got a digestif: a vermouth-style mocktail poured tableside, plus a sesame chocolate pretzel. I love chocolate, so the pretzel was a nice surprise. It wasn't too sweet, a little savory, and just a touch salty.

The vermouth-style drink was very strong in flavor and not my favorite, but I loved it for the vibe.

Final Verdict: Is Eleven Madison Park Worth It?

For vegans, yes, absolutely worth it. Even with meat back on the menu, the plant-based tasting menu is still the heart of the experience.

As a dietitian, what I loved most was that every dish felt elevated, with amazing ingredients, while still featuring real plant-based proteins like beans and seitan. The meal was hearty. We left full and didn't get hungry again a little while later, which isn't always the case with fine dining.

It's definitely an experience, and we each left with a jar of the cherry pistachio granola, which, if you know me, is my favorite. I even created my own Eleven Madison Park granola dupe recipe so you can make it at home.

Who should go: Eleven Madison Park is perfect for vegans celebrating a big occasion and for foodies who want to see how creative plant-based food can get. It's worth it if you have room in your budget for a splurge meal.

Who might want to skip it: If you're on a tight budget, it's probably not the right fit. It's also not ideal if you prefer a classic entrée-style meal to a tasting menu, or if you're short on time, since even the Bar Tasting takes about two hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

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