Degustation

The Scene – A 16-seat wood bar surrounded by stone walls and floors make up the extraordinarily intimate setting of this tasting room, formerly a Japanese grill and Korean kalbi bar. Unsurprisingly, the spot fills up fast, primarily with couples and practiced palates looking for a casually special night out. – – The Food – Spain and France are the centerpiece, as is young, inventive chef Wesley Genovart, who holds court behind the bar while dazzling diners with inspired creations like magically light croquetas, perfectly crisp on the outside, and oozing with a soft…

Read full featured review

Editor's Tips

Save Money:: The tasting menu--$50 for five courses--is a gourmet bargain.
What to Drink:: The small but well-chosen wine selection is available by bottle or glass, with some good values such as an Italian rose from Alois Lageder for $7 glass and $35 bottle.
The Extras:: Try sister (and neighboring) restaurants Jewel Bako, Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar and Jewel Bako Makimono.

Write a Review

User Reviews (26)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“Everthing was really understated and the seats and atmosphere are beyond comfortable.” “The food and the ambiance at Degustation are terrific!” “would not take a first date there because of the limited food selection but it's a great place to take someone you've been with a while for a romantic evening out.” “The ambiance in Degustation is very romantic (albeit very small) and the food is incredible.” “small plates are taking over the city but this is another example of a fun spot with great food and a great experience and I would highly recommend giving it a try.” “But the lighting is low, decor much resembling a romantic, very elegant sushi bar, and overall just beautiful.”
dessert	100.0% positive	“The grilled strawberries were good but almost too small (3 small strawberries for two of us) and the chocolate mousse with caramel gelee and banana is better on paper than in your mouth.”
drinks	100.0% positive	“We each got a glass of wine, fairly good prices.” “The restaurant is beautiful as well, and very intimate with seating for only 16 around the kitchen area which is like a fusion between sitting at a sushi bar and watching "Iron Chef" at the same time.” “The kitchen is open and surrounded by bar seating (the only kind of seating), and they have a nice set-up where the waitress stays behind the bar and the chefs deliver your food after you have watched them prepare it.” “Great wine list with reasonable prices by the glass (8-13).” “Also had an excellent bottle of wine, which was especially nice given their relatively small wine list (6 bottles of red all priced $30 to $60).” “The wines were great - we had 4 different kinds total, my fav DEF was the ONIX PRIORAT.” “Wine list full of great spanish wine to boot!” “But the lighting is low, decor much resembling a romantic, very elegant sushi bar, and overall just beautiful.” “There was also a great wine selection and the waitress was more than happy to help us pick a wine that would best suit our meal.” “satisfying meal for two with a couple of glasses of wine costs about $100.”
food quality	92.8600025177002% positive	“great food.” “Poached eggs with serrano ham was ohhhh soooo good.” “We got the chef's 5 course taster and each dish was just awesome.” “satisfying meal for two with a couple of glasses of wine costs about $100.” “The food foremost is amazing, the staff is impeccable and caring.” “This place is amazing - every single dish is delicious.” “We were anxious and ready to enjoy another fabulous food experience from the Lambs.” “small plates are taking over the city but this is another example of a fun spot with great food and a great experience and I would highly recommend giving it a try.” “Jack does it again, simply divine food, service - we loved it.” “Otherwise, if you're in the mood for a delicious and unique meal, this is a great stop.” “went with a very good friend tonight, and we started out with the grilled shrimp and croquetas, both of which were fantastic!” “The kitchen is open and surrounded by bar seating (the only kind of seating), and they have a nice set-up where the waitress stays behind the bar and the chefs deliver your food after you have watched them prepare it.” “When we finally did sit, the food was outstanding, and our server did a great job of making up for our horrible beginning, and that was no easy feat given how frustrated and hungry we were.” “Also, the owner who I met after my amazing meal was more than just a guy happy for the business - he was genuinely pleased that I loved the place.” “There was also a great wine selection and the waitress was more than happy to help us pick a wine that would best suit our meal.” “The flavor combinations are both interesting and delicious, the menu is intriguing and diverse, and the presentation of each plate is pristine.” “Horrible service renders food quality irrelevent.” “The lamb was absolutely the perfect cap to the meal.” “would not take a first date there because of the limited food selection but it's a great place to take someone you've been with a while for a romantic evening out.” “The food and the ambiance at Degustation are terrific!” “Some other good dishes were the croquettes, the stuffed calamari and the suckling pig.” “Great food that, in the end, may be worth the wait.” “We next had the scallops, which were absolutely superb with a tomato-garlic sauce and tasty mushrooms (which I normally don't like!)” “The short-rib stuffed squid was stellar as well, though I was slightly less crazy about the roast beef "sandwich," which, though still excellent, was my least favorite of the dishes.” “The ambiance in Degustation is very romantic (albeit very small) and the food is incredible.” “The pork was so amazing we ordered a second plate.” “And the food: really, really good food.” “The restaurant is beautiful as well, and very intimate with seating for only 16 around the kitchen area which is like a fusion between sitting at a sushi bar and watching "Iron Chef" at the same time.” “In particular, the lamb loin was absolutely amazing.” “You go to enjoy the experience and eclectic flavors, not to have a full meal.” “My favorite dish was the sea scallops.” “The scallops, and seafood were divine.” “BUT I mean a really nice, cool setting (a la Casa Mono) where you can see your food being prepared by skillful, friendly food artists (yeah it's corny, but they are amazing).” “But the lighting is low, decor much resembling a romantic, very elegant sushi bar, and overall just beautiful.” “White asparagus with chaterelle mushrooms was extraordinary, as was lamb loin, foie gras with figs, slow poached egg with jamon, seared scallops.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“There was also a great wine selection and the waitress was more than happy to help us pick a wine that would best suit our meal.” “would not take a first date there because of the limited food selection but it's a great place to take someone you've been with a while for a romantic evening out.” “The flavor combinations are both interesting and delicious, the menu is intriguing and diverse, and the presentation of each plate is pristine.” “Wine selection is also quite good and service is very friendly.”
overall	100.0% positive	“would not take a first date there because of the limited food selection but it's a great place to take someone you've been with a while for a romantic evening out.”
return potential	100.0% positive	“Overall, a great experience and I can't wait to go back!”
service	83.33000183105469% positive	“When we finally did sit, the food was outstanding, and our server did a great job of making up for our horrible beginning, and that was no easy feat given how frustrated and hungry we were.” “The kitchen is open and surrounded by bar seating (the only kind of seating), and they have a nice set-up where the waitress stays behind the bar and the chefs deliver your food after you have watched them prepare it.” “The food foremost is amazing, the staff is impeccable and caring.” “Wine selection is also quite good and service is very friendly.” “Jack does it again, simply divine food, service - we loved it.” “There was also a great wine selection and the waitress was more than happy to help us pick a wine that would best suit our meal.” “BUT I mean a really nice, cool setting (a la Casa Mono) where you can see your food being prepared by skillful, friendly food artists (yeah it's corny, but they are amazing).” “Service was so attentive as well.” “Horrible service renders food quality irrelevent.”
value	83.33000183105469% positive	“Rioja was also great, and the prices were decent.” “Great food that, in the end, may be worth the wait.” “We each got a glass of wine, fairly good prices.” “Great wine list with reasonable prices by the glass (8-13).” “The restaurant is set up with one huge C shaped table surrounding the kitchen area so you have to look to your side to talk to your date.” “There's no excuse for having to wait 30 min when you arrive on time for your reservation, especially for a place as pricey as this restaurant.”
wait time	0.0% positive	“White asparagus with chaterelle mushrooms was extraordinary, as was lamb loin, foie gras with figs, slow poached egg with jamon, seared scallops.”

10/24/10

for viewing rather than eating

by slinki

Oh, please.. Do not come here hungry. Do come here if you are in the mood for gastronomic art (of the visual kind) and a decent glass or two of wine. If you do come hungry, you will feel tortured and teased. Unless of course you are used to spending $22 for a tablespoon of lobster ceviche or the like. The worst part is a wait staff who can't admit that the portions are silly, leaving us feeling that WE were the ones who were crazy. In desperation, after trying several (yes, I know this is tapas) dishes, we finally ordered the cheese plate which at least comes with a comparatively copious dish of pita points. This mercifully allowed us to skip stopping for slices on our way home.

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

02/23/09

what a disappointment

by scoottncl

We were recommended to come here and we were so disappointed. We had to wait an hour for a table we reserved and when it was ready..they still made us wait. And the service was just unbearable..the only saving grace was the food

Pros: food
Cons: service,management

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

12/01/08

I wouldn't go back

by barrr82

There's no excuse for having to wait 30 min when you arrive on time for your reservation, especially for a place as pricey as this restaurant. The food was OK--way too much salt and really nothing special. Another negative for me was the relatively stuffy atmostphere and clientele.

Cons: customer service,atmosphere

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

10/12/08

Just Cozy...

by marknelson81

Everthing that I tried on the menu was delicious. I couldn't dislike a dish, even if I wanted to. Granted, I haven't tried everything on the menu, what I did have was great.

The service was also spectacular. Extremely attentive and knowledgeable about the various wines and will give you an honest opinion about the dishes they serve.

What could possibly be a drawback would be the pricing of the place. It is a little bit on the pricier side, as there are a few different tapas joints that would dent the pockets too much... but honestly, it's well worth it if you got some cash burning in your pocket.

Pros: food,service,wine list
Cons: small

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

06/17/08

Horrible service renders food quality irrelevent.

by sf6

We had a reservation at 7:30. Arrived a bit early. One couple was leaving, an we were informed that they'll set the place for us. No one else was waiting. Then a couple of middle-aged ladies who obviously were regulars march in, point to the place that's being set for us and say "we'll take that". The host then informs me that these ladies were ahead of us and that it would be another 15 minutes. Come on. I know you have to take care of your regulars, but don't take me for a fool. I told the host that he made a mistake, but he genuinely did not care. No food is worth this kind of treatment. Of course we left, and would never go back. Odd how it's always the "fashionable" places that think this kind of treatment is acceptable. You'd never get this at Jean Georges or any place that had the least bit of grace. (and neither Jack nor Grace has any, by the way) Little wonder their restaurants keep closing.

Pros: It will probably close soon.
Cons: There are enough idiots in this city to keep it open despite the atrocious service.

helpful (0) not helpful (1) comment share

Write a Review

See more Degustation reviews

Degustation

Hours:

Price:

Category:

Payment Methods:

Restaurant Special Features:

Cuisine:

What People Are Saying About Degustation

Kathleen Squires

Contributor

Editor's Tips

10/24/10

for viewing rather than eating

by slinki

02/23/09

what a disappointment

by scoottncl

12/01/08

I wouldn't go back

by barrr82

10/12/08

Just Cozy...

by marknelson81

06/17/08

Horrible service renders food quality irrelevent.

by sf6

The Details on Degustation

Place Categories:

Things To Do Nearby Degustation

Lists In Manhattan

Recent Reviews In Manhattan

More Info

Contact

More Navigation

Partner Sites: