wd-50

I went here in the winter - everything was very thoughtful and thought-provoking. I don't know why the reviews are so low for this - I found it to be really very good food!

Buying "an experience" is something I’ve often hear people in the food service industry talk about. At wd-50 this is certainly the case. I had read much about Wylie Dufresne's newest restaurant, including the praise from many major NY publications and also reviews from some customers on sites like this that were unhappy with the value of food for money. When you go to wd-50 you are paying for high quality ingredients, labor and expertise, (which I can imagine is quite a bit more substantial that that for you're average fare) and service (some of the best I have encountered in New York. Our waiter was an absolute gem - knowledgeable, attentive but not at all pretentious or overassertive). You are also paying for the imagination, creativity and ingenuity. Honestly, if you are looking to walk out of wd-50 stuffed to the brim, then this is not the place for you - yes, the servings are small. Similarly, if you shudder at the thought of exotic or non-tradition taste combinations. stay away (I thought delicious, by the way)! This is a restaurant for people who are truly excited by innovative techniques, interesting tastes and unique combinations. It offers a one-of-a-kind experience. you’ll pay for the privilege but if you’re into it. it’s worth every dime. PS I highly recommend you ‘make a night of it’ and try the tasting menu with wine pairings.

I had heard about WD-50 from several people and from reading about it in the press. So my friend and I decided to spend our evening there last night. WD: wrong decision. First of all, the tables were extremely cramped together, only inches apart from each other. When we asked if we could be seated at a bigger booth, we were told they were reserved for four or more people, but the booths remained empty during our entire meal--no one sat there all night. A big turnoff right away which set a tone for the entire evening! It was not so much the "on the edge" cooking that turned me off (everything was edible) but the miniscule portions. and the prices! I eat out a great deal at many different restaurants, and I have never had smaller portions fed to me for bigger prices in quite a long time. And nothing was outstanding enough to merit the costs. I truly expected much, much more from this place, both on my plate and in my wallet.

Yes...the food is wonderfully inventive and absolutely delicious. BUT...to serve portions as small as they do, at the prices they charge, I believe that it must be a joke, or pure contempt for the customer. Despite all the "regular" complaints about upscale restaurants, I have never really walked out of a $100+ meal hungry- until WD-50. It's disgraceful, really. The food is so good and created with such skill and care, it's a shame that they have such little regard for their customers to serve it in such small quantities. I obviously will never return because of it. Let me be a little more clear: the portions were not just "on the small side". They were MINISCULE. My pickled beef tongue appetizer consisted of two TINY slices of tongue and a square of fried mayonaisse the size of one die. The $29 scallop entree consisted of two very small scallops. The $17 shrimp cous-cous appetizer consisted of a TEASPOON of cous-cous (I am not joking). Wily Dufresne may be a genius in the kitchen, but he has a long way to go in learning about satisfying his customers. Two thumbs WAY down.

Wylie Dufresne is a genius...our meal was an adventure from start to finish. I tried it recently because New York Magazine ranked wd50 the 4th best restaurant in the city, and it totally lived up to expectations, especially the pork belly and the foie gras.

I wanted to like it, I swear! My fiance chose this place to celebrate our anniversary. Thank god I at least got to have a good time with him, because the food was the least pleasureful I've tasted in a very long while. Simply put, there's a reason chefs don't put certain foods together, and Wd-50 needs to think about that before trying to change the way taste buds work.

I was really hoping for a much better experience at WD-50; the food was good, but I was anticipating something more, especially given the high price, small quantities, and reputation. The price and quantity could have been fine if the food were to have really made me say "wow"... Sadly, this was not the case; as I said the food was good, bordering average. In the end go if you want, but you can do much better for much less. (I had the Foie Gras appetizer, Pork Belly entree, Caramlized Banana dessert, and a Sprite Cost with tip USD 78.00)