If you’ve ever been to an extremely posh restaurant for a taster menu....

[ItchyScratch]

DH & I are soon going to be going on our first night away in MANY years (lost count)

We decided to push the boat out and book a very fancy restaurant (I mean these days you’re lucky if we can manage McDonalds)

The restaurants we are looking at are those type that do a 7 course taster menu, usually about £100+ per head.

My first question is- what was your experience like and do you recommend it?
We are thinking you only live once and to try it out. Just don’t want to be disappointed and think we wasted money.

My second question- the websites for the places I’m looking at don’t show a drinks menu but do say there is a choice of a paired wine tasting menu (£75 each! What!!) but neither of us drink wine (I would be drunk after one glass)
But the only other option is named as a ‘non alcoholic flight’ and that’s £48 each- god knows what you get for that!
So what did you do?

I’d be embarrassed to call or email and ask as I’m sure their usual customers would be well accustomed to their ways and would have no qualms in paying £48 each for some unspecified none alcoholic drinks.

Thanks in advance- from someone desperately trying to experience being rich/posh

You'll be fine to have other drinks.
Enjoy! Will be lovely. I love a fancy tasting menu as a v occasional treat.

There's absolutely no need to buy the paired drinks menu, many people don't. I've done many of these things and only opted for the paired drinks menu a couple of times. Each time I've regretted it. Much better to pick what you actually want to drink and drink it at your own pace! Don't feel nervous, their job is to make you feel like you're the business so they won't be looking down at you...but even if they were they wouldn't bat an eyelid at you not doing the drinks menu as lots of people don't like it, myself included. Have a great time! X

DH treated me to the Fat Duck's Christmas tasting menu last year. Hand on heart it was one of the best experiences of my life, I will never ever forget it.

Please dont be embarrassed to ask questions, your money is as good as anyone else's. Just try to relax and enjoy it. I cannot imagine tattoos being a problem.

Ok I think I am decided on No.1 at the balmoral.
It has a Michelin star and is the most expensive of the choices at £110pp but YOLO hey?

I love tasting menus. DH & I have enjoyed many of them worldwide. Apologies as none in Edinburgh so I can't add to the recommendations of the ones that have availability for you

Enjoy!

I’d highly recommend Aizle, particularly if you’re not someone who regularly eats at super posh restaurants and are worrying that you might feel out of place.
Aizle is really small, almost cafe like. Totally unpretentious and the lass that served us had tattoos and a really cute, slightly punky haircut. They were so, so friendly and chatted to us all about the food. It was the most wonderful food too. Loved everything about it.
Their tasting menu is £70 at the moment and they definitely have a normal drinks menu as well as the pairings.

Once when I was there, tbere was a guy wearing a backwards cap.
From what I could tell he behaved impeccably, and was v polite, but wore that.
Clearly nothing was said to him.
It didn't bother me at all.
That was unusual though, most people dress up but you really don't have to.

Just seen your update & loomed at the menu, sounds delicious!

@ItchyScratch

Can anyone tell me if tattoo sleeves on show would be frowned upon? Maybe even not allowed?

Absolutely not frowned upon.

The whole point of these places is top class food AND top class service.

By the latter I don't mean snotty imperious waiting staff.

Really good service is all about making the diner feel relaxed, welcome and appreciated.

Just make sure you follow the dress code (if they have one). Generally I've found people like to dress up because it's an occasion but most dress codes are IME pretty relaxed.

No one will care if you have tattoos, pink hair, piercings etc etc. You're a customer and they want you to enjoy the experience.

@ItchyScratch

21212 though!!!

Sorry I have just got all nostalgic about "back in the day"

Tasting menu 85 quid though.......

Me and DH do a Michelin started tasting menu every other month. We are off for one tonight in fact! Always a great experience. They often take hours to get through which I love and you will get additional amuse Bouches etc. Take the lead from your waiter. There's nowhere to go wrong.

They will bring a menu for you to look at and leave on the table and it's traditional to order a pre dinner champagne or cocktail. Choose mocktail if you like they won't bat an eyelid.

We always have the paired wines as it's part of the experience for us but you could order a single glass of wine for your whole meal. Sommeliers are there to help so don't be afraid to let her know you only want one and what would she suggest that would be right for the whole meal. They should always give you price range options and don't be scared to declare something too expensive.

Tell them if there's something you don't eat or allergies. I immediately tell them I will not eat foie gras as it's often a staple in amuse bouches (I fact I think Michelin require FG to be presented to actually get a star!) and they always have alternatives.

Have fun!

Oh and you will be full by the end. We always are. Everything is so rich even if it looks like a tiny mouthful but it's designed to be savoured. There's always some idiot who scoops up the taster on a fork and eats in one go and declares it 'finished' but you don't sound like that kind of person!

I would always get the flight. 100%. The wine makes the food taste better and the food makes the wine taste better. I've had tasting menus without the flight (driving) and I wouldn't do it again (I'drather pay for a taxi). I don't want to go as far as saying it's a waste of money without the flight, because it's still very lovely food, but it's significantly better value with. If you choose to go without then definitly don't choose the wine yourself unless you're an expert, ask for advice. We usually go to this kind of tasting a couple of times a year.

Tasting menus usually aren’t my thing. I find them too fussy and usually too much food. I’ve also worked out I don’t really like sitting there for hours and hours. My husband likes them a lot though so I’ve had a lot over the years.

Best one was Armani/Amal in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai - it’s an Indian restaurant and my favourite meal ever.

TBH if I was in Edinburgh I would go to Navadhanya - it’s also an Indian restaurant and it’s one of my favourite restaurants ever. The food is modern and so, so tasty.

I’m so glad I asked. Thank you ALL for every reply.

I no longer feel nervous about going- or about not having wine

I am hoping to get one booked tomorrow for when we go in October!

Another one coming on to say please don’t feel intimidated. We’d save up and go for big meals when we were in our twenties and it definitely want an everyday occurrence for us. As long as you are polite any good maitre-d or waiter will be happy to explain things to you.

Even when picking wines we’re happy to say we want a bottle at around X budget (well below their max price range) and what we like and they will suggest something. No shame in any of that and no shame in having a budget or doing something for the first time. Hope you have a lovely time!

We did it last year as a belated 10th wedding anniversary. Honestly the best night ever. We really pushed the boat out and stayed the night too. Honestly the best date we've ever had. The food was absolutely spot on. We did the wine pairing and they told you all about the wine as they served. I was pretty hammered by the end of the meal though and DH had my port.

We'll be saving to do it again! Tbh I'd rather do that instead of birthday/Christmas presents...

@PurBal
I really wish I liked wine but I just can’t stomach it. One glass is guaranteed to make me drunk and feel horrible for 24 hours. I’ve tried many times to wean myself on it aswell.... sob

We did this for my 40th birthday. It was amazing. We didn't bother with the wine flight though, just a bottle of wine.

There was another couple opposite us celebrating their 1st anniversary. They'd gone for the 10 course menu and wine flight. By course 6, they were noticeably drunk and the woman was struggling to eat the last couple of courses - each one is small, but you do get full up when they keep coming!

Yes loved it....we didn't do the drinks and they were really cool...just had a couple of different glasses each so shared 3/4 glasses between us due driving....they were really good at recommding to go with specific courses mainly drank water as weren't sure on other drinks going as well with the food..

Glad you’re feeling less nervous now. Have a wonderful time.

We ate at 21212 last year and it was very nice but was more a set menu than a tasting menu. I adore tiny tastes; I get bored with big helpings of the same thing, although a five course menu isn’t going to be that either!

We love a tasting menu and it’s a special occasion thing for us. The most amazing one we’ve ever had I think was in France, at a very modern Michelin 2 star place, sitting by the open plan kitchen watching the chefs at work. Every tiny thing was full of intense flavour. And I always skip lunch for tasting menus. I find them very filling.

@ItchyScratch
Same with the wine, I really hate it.
I'll eat pretty much anything but drinks wise I favour water, even at home.

@Malin52.
Are you on the UK?
I've never seen or had foie gras at either The Kitchin or Martin Wishart.
The only place I've had it was in a 5 star hotel in Switzerland, with no Michelin star.

Have tried a few in Edinburgh. Balmoral was ok but not the best. Kitchin is great but my fave is Martin Wishart definitely. Also loved the tasting menu at Timberyard. Hope you find somewhere!

I’m sure you will love it, really good restaurants make everyone feel at home, whoever they are. I’ve had a few tasting menus but I know now not to have the wine flight, it’s too much for me. In the past I’ve just either had a taste of DH’s wines as they come (always delicious) or asked for just a taste of each from the wine waiter (I assume they give DH less to compensate). Otherwise I drink sparkling water. Ive always wanted to go the the Balmoral restaurant, I look forward to your review!

I really disliked 12121 when I went, but it is a long time ago. Snooty service and pretty mundane, over sweet food, I don’t know if they still do their “signature” milk thing but they did not take well to me finding it unpleasant. In contrast, in a lovely restaurant in London the tasting menu dessert was not to my taste, it had a weird texture; a waiter saw my disappointed face across the room and appeared with a different pudding for me, no fuss and absolutely made the meal for me.

OP for naice drinks I would book into The Dome, the building itself is incredible and then for something a bit different The Boozy Cow is another great bar with fab cocktails.