Tasting menu or not, that is the question

David Moore
Aug 4
2 min read

Where the plate takes centre stage and the chef directs the drama.

Eating out has become the new theatre. It’s no longer just about food – it’s about performance, creativity, and spectacle. Everyone wants to see the latest show in town, and the critics are ready with their pens as soon as the curtains rise on a new restaurant.

Yet, few stop to consider the heritage behind the structure of the dining experience we now take for granted. Marie-Antoine Carême and later Auguste Escoffier, two legendary giants of French cuisine, laid the foundations for modern fine dining. Escoffier’s innovations, particularly the brigade system and the formalisation of meal courses (from amuse-bouche to dessert), still shape the way kitchens operate today.

Modern restaurant kitchens are now playgrounds for brilliant, creative minds. Hospitality is no longer a fallback profession – it’s a calling, a dream for many aspiring chefs. And for some, that dream is realised in the pursuit of a Michelin star at restaurants like Pied à Terre.

Perfection on a plate – but at what cost to the diner?

Many of these culinary talents now favour a fixed tasting menu format. At Pied à Terre, we offer both a vegan and an omnivore tasting menu, side by side. But across the industry, some chefs have become so focused on achieving culinary perfection that they’ve sacrificed flexibility. In some restaurants, if a diner can’t eat a particular ingredient, they’re simply asked to skip that course – no substitutions allowed.

That, to me, is where hospitality falters. True warmth in service means inclusivity. It means making everyone feel welcome, not excluded.

As someone who’s dined extensively and at many of the world’s finest restaurants, I’ve come to value the freedom of choice. I often find myself asking: Does this place offer an à la carte menu? Because sometimes, I’d rather enjoy just a beautifully crafted starter and main, instead of a full tasting experience.

At Pied à Terre, we believe in giving the diner the choice. Whether it’s a tasting menu or à la carte, the decision is yours. Control belongs to the guest, not the chef.

And whatever you choose, every dish can be paired with a glass of wine, a non-alcoholic cocktail, or a carefully selected beverage to enhance your experience.

All options are available at London’s longest-standing Michelin-starred restaurant: Pied à Terre, 34 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, W1.

Tip-top.