Degustation
(212) 979-1012
239 E 5th St
New York,
NY
10003
40.7275
-73.9903
Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown
What People Are Saying About Degustation
The Editor
Kathleen Squires
Citysearch
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 potato, apple and serrano chile center. In his accomplished hands, surf and turf is ingeniously reinvented with short-rib stuffed squid; an ordinary roast beef sandwich becomes remarkable with sashimi-like rib-eye piled on toast and sprinkled with green herbs; and even simple grilled strawberries are transformed with ginger and eucalyptus. Astonishingly reasonable prices warrant that the third time should be the charm for this spot.
User Reviews
scoottncl
February 23, 2009
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
read full reviewbarrr82
December 01, 2008
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.
read full reviewmarknelson81
October 12, 2008
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.
read full reviewThe Details on Degustation
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.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Fine Dining, Date Spot, Notable Wine List
Cuisine:
Spanish, Tapas / Small Plates, Eclectic & International, French







