:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Spend-Less-Michelin-Restaurants-FT-DGTL0126-Quince-Bolinas-Bar-c4378de9b0b640ac994f3316d7b53de3.jpg?ssl=1 "5 Michelin-Starred Restaurants That Accommodate Walk-Ins")
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One of the best parts about a multi-hour, multi-course meal at a fine-dining destination is the anticipation. You typically have to plan ahead and make reservations weeks or months in advance while drooling over photos and videos to get excited before the big day. And when the date finally arrives, you barely eat all day to build up hunger and save stomach space for the feast that’s about to ensue.
But equally as enjoyable as planning for something special is spontaneity: walking into a restaurant you pass by, popping in at a moment’s notice, and dining on a whim. Here’s the thing: Fine dining and spontaneity don’t have to be mutually exclusive. There are plenty of mutli-Michelin-starred spots that offer a bar or lounge where you can come as you are, walk in, and experience the restaurant in the form of a la carte, an abridged tasting menu, or sometimes, the full-on experience. Here are a few examples of legendary establishments across the country serving up fine dining without requiring foresight.
Le Bernardin (New York City)
Photo by Daniel Krieger
Imagine walking down 51st Street and casually stepping inside Eric Ripert’s multi-starred (that’s three from the Michelin Guide and four from The New York Times),l legendary institution that is Le Bernardin without a reservation. One wouldn’t necessarily think about doing that — but you could. The restaurant has eight bar seats and 16 lounge seats where you can walk in and order a la carte off the lounge menu (yes, you can get the iconic tuna and foie). And let’s just say you wanted to do the full experience, you could request the full chef’s tasting menu and they’ll accommodate.
Eleven Madison Park (New York City)
Photo by Jason Varney
Fancy carnivores across the country rejoiced when Daniel Humm announced he was bringing back meat late last year at Eleven Madison Park, which pivoted to entirely plant-based in 2021. Finally — they could sink their teeth into the restaurant’s signature crispy skinned honey lavender duck once again. But get this: You can order that a la carte at the bar right now, where EMP holds space for walk-ins on the whim. In addition to a la carte, there’s a special Bar Tasting that can be accompanied with pairings, both wine and/or nonalcoholic.
Quince (San Francisco)
Photo by Oivind Haug
When pasta expert and chef Michael Tusk and his wife Lindsay renovated and redesigned Quince in 2023, they made sure to include a special place for walk-ins dubbed the Bolinas Bar. The space consists of a whopping three-seat bar along with a salon which has four tables that can seat two to four guests. Here diners have options: a la carte, an abridged four-course menu, or go full gastro tasting menu, YOLO.
Saison (San Francisco)
Photo by Joseph Weaver
Saison — the restaurant started by Joshua Skenes that sparked the live-fire revolution we saw in kitchens all across the country (and the world) shortly after it opened in 2009 — is led by chef Richard Lee these days, who is continuing the legacy and doing a mighty fine job (the sea urchin toast tastes as good as ever). Tuesday to Thursday, there’s a bar and lounge area that accepts walk-ins, where you can have a shorter bar experience, an abridged tasting menu, or the whole shebang.
Providence (Los Angeles)
Photo by Daniel Collopy
It’s become even more difficult to book a table at Michael Cimarusti’s Hollywood seafood temple that is Providence ever since the restaurant earned its third Michelin star last year — it’d be difficult to plan a meal there if you tried. Luckily there’s a tiny, four-seat bar that takes walk-ins. There’s only one seating at 5:45 p.m., and the bar only offers the full tasting, so even with your spontaneity, you may want to plan on being there a little early.
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