Skip to content

Top Navigation

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Recipes & Cooking
  • Drinks
  • Travel
  • Holidays + Events
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Lifestyle
  • F&W Pro
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • F&W Classic Insiders this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Food & Wine Books this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Food & Wine

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Explore

    Explore

    • F&W Cooks

      F&W Cooks

      Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Read More
    • Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Read More
    • 50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Read More
  • Recipes & Cooking

    Recipes & Cooking

    See All Recipes & Cooking
    • Chicken
    • Comfort Food
    • Breakfast + Brunch
    • Salads
    • Desserts
    • Vegetables
    • Pasta + Noodles
    • Chefs
    • Meat + Poultry
    • Soup
    • Appetizers
    • Side Dishes
    • Fruits
    • Seafood
    • Special Diets
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Steal This Trick
  • Drinks

    Drinks

    See All Drinks
    • Wine
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Coffee
    • Juices
    • Beer
    • Champagne + Sparkling Wine
    • Tea
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    • Wine Regions
    • Restaurants
  • Holidays + Events

    Holidays + Events

    See All Holidays + Events
    • Valentine's Day
    • Halloween
    • Passover
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • Gifts
    • Super Bowl
    • Easter
    • Thanksgiving
    • New Year's Eve
    • Holiday Entertaining
  • News
  • F&W Classic

    F&W Classic

    See All F&W Classic
    • F&W Classic Insider
  • Video
  • Lifestyle
  • F&W Pro
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • F&W Classic Insiders this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Food & Wine Books this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Nine Tasting Menus You Can Actually Afford

Nine Tasting Menus You Can Actually Afford

By Food & Wine Updated August 30, 2016
Skip gallery slides
FB Tweet
G by Mike Isabella in Washington, D.C.
Credit: © Greg Powers
The latest restaurant trend that’s sweeping the nation? Multi-course tasting menus that won’t break the bank. San Francisco is leading the charge, though you’ll find worthy spots from coast to coast. Here, a few of our favorites.This piece originally appeared on Travel + Leisure.
Start Slideshow

1 of 9

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Babu Ji in New York City

Babu Ji in New York City
Credit: Courtesy of Babu Ji

1 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 9

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

The Progress in San Francisco

The Progress in San Francisco
Credit: © Ed Anderson

What it is:

Family-style meal from the State Bird Provisions team. The whole table has to agree on what to order (except for dessert).The price: Six courses for $65.The menu: Dishes run the gamut of cultures: everything from Thai basil curry oil-marinated raw albacore to “everything” roti with smoked soubise, vinegared squash and summer herbs to grilled cauliflower with smoked prune romanesco.

2 of 9

3 of 9

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Trestle in San Francisco

Trestle in San Francisco
Credit: Courtesy of Trestle

What it is:

A tiny, new Jackson Square spot from Hi Neighbor restaurant group (Stones Throw; Fat Angel).The price: Three course for $35 (not too good to be true).The menu: Simple yet inspired dishes like a falafel salad (with crispy lavash, cucumber, tzatziki, and mint) and sausage-stuffed roast quail, which comes with grilled peaches, Red Russion kale, farro, and quail jus.

3 of 9

Advertisement

4 of 9

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Mina Test Kitchen in San Francisco

Mina Test Kitchen in San Francisco
Credit: Courtesy of Mina Test Kitchen

What it is:

A special Middle'terranea menu—the first in a pop-up dinner series—at Michael Mina’s restaurant. It’s running through the fall.The price: Family-style meal for $45 (tickets available online).The menu: Consider this an introduction to eastern Mediterranean cuisine, showcasing the flavors of Israel, Turkey, Egypt, and Lebanon.

4 of 9

5 of 9

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

AL's Place in San Francisco

AL's Place in San Francisco
Credit: © Molly DeCoudreaux Photography

What it is:

A Mission District hotspot from chef Aaron London (hence the “AL”).The price: Family-style meal for $60.The menu: You’ll get options from the “cold/cool” section (shelling beans, eggplant mayo, blackberry vinegar, and green fig), “warm/hot” (campanelle with heirloom tomato, goat’s milk gouda, and basil), and sides like pork belly with galangal soda, bok choi, and roe.

5 of 9

6 of 9

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Aster in San Francisco

Aster in San Francisco
Credit: Courtesy of Aster

What it is:

Casual and creative California cuisine from chef Brett Cooper and local favorite Daniel Patterson.The price: Four courses for $59 (includes tip).The menu: Dishes like potato-black pepper dumplings with maitake mushrooms, peas, and yogurt, and local halibut with radish, sunflower seeds, nectarine, and basil are refined yet approachable.

6 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 9

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Sbraga in Philadelphia

Sbraga in Philadelphia
Credit: © Michael Persico

What it is:

Seasonal modern American run by a Top Chef star.The price: Four courses for $55.The menu: Current dishes include beer tartare with toast, cherry peppers, and sharp provolone; spaghetti with king crab, tomato butter, and calabrian chili; and octopus with potato, olive tapenade, and piri piri. For dessert: Caramel bavarian with blueberry, hibiscus, and oat crumb; or olive oil cake with strawberries, fromage blanc, and sorbet.

7 of 9

8 of 9

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pubbelly in Miami

Pubbelly in Miami
Credit: © Juan Fernando Ayora

What it is:

Asian-inspired gastropub in Miami Beach.The price: Seven courses for $39.The menu: Diners select dishes from separate sections, including “flour + water” (think duck confit ravioli and short-rib gyozas) and “pig out” (pork cheeks with potato foam and steak frites).

8 of 9

9 of 9

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

G by Mike Isabella in Washington, D.C.

G by Mike Isabella in Washington, D.C.
Credit: © Greg Powers

What it is:

A sandwich shop that transforms into a modern-day Italian spot at night.The price: Four courses for $40.The menu: Classics get a 21st-century twist: lasagna Bolognese is punched up with lemon-basil ricotta, while the squid-ink pasta comes with clams and smoky bacon breadcrumbs.

9 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Food & Wine

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 9 Babu Ji in New York City
    2 of 9 The Progress in San Francisco
    3 of 9 Trestle in San Francisco
    4 of 9 Mina Test Kitchen in San Francisco
    5 of 9 AL's Place in San Francisco
    6 of 9 Aster in San Francisco
    7 of 9 Sbraga in Philadelphia
    8 of 9 Pubbelly in Miami
    9 of 9 G by Mike Isabella in Washington, D.C.

    Share & More

    Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Food & Wine

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Food & Wine
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithFood & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Food & Wine. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Nine Tasting Menus You Can Actually Afford
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.