- Joined
- Mar 19, 2014
Victoria & Albert's vs Eleven Madison Park
I recently visited both of these great restaurants and now it is time to compare Victoria & Albert's (V&A) vs Eleven Madison Park (11MP) as Eleven Madison park has been awarded 3 Michelin Stars, and voted the #1 restaurant in the world in 2017 by the World's 50 Best Restaurants. Chef is Daniel Humm.
Price
V&A - 7 course menu $185 and 10 course menu $235
11MP - Dining Room Tasting Menu $335
Winner = V&A
Rational - this is probably the least important factor, but V&A is way cheaper than 11MP and they are both world class epic restaurants. For sure, based on price alone, 11MP is NOT worth almost twice the price of V&A 7 course menu. I did order the 10 course V&A meal and for most people the 7 course would be very acceptable and even then V&A is $100 less.
Location and Ambiance
V&A - inside the Grand Floridian, Orlando, very private, very romantic
11MP - the name of the restaurant should give it away, but it is located at 11 Madison Park
Winner = V&A
Rational - sure NYC is way more exciting and interesting than Orlando, BUT if you are sitting near the 11MP windows, then you are dining about 30 feet away from a VERY busy road (Madison Ave) where city buses, taxis, uber drivers, and thousands of people walking around, but the inside is very nice, although not anywhere near the level of romance as V&A. Yes, V&A is part of a hotel, but it is quiet, nice, romantic, and a beautiful setting.
Intimacy
V&A - probably only can only seat 50 people maximum all in one area, harp player, ladies are given a rose, custom menu printed with your name, everyone seems to know your name
TFL - probably can seat about 80 or more in the lobby of a former financial institution, very bright and very open restaurant, not so private
Winner = V&A
Rational - Some may debate the historic charm of NYC building, but V&A offers a much more private, quiet, and more romantic experience.
Reservation Process
V&A - call ahead at 180 days or so and try to get a spot
TFL - call ahead at 3 months or so for a range of dates
Winner = 11MP
It was much easier (for me) to get a reservation for 11MP than V&A, but this will also depend on dates and times, but it was way easier for me to get into 11MP than V&A. Also 11MP has a bar that you can simply walk into on first come basis.
Wine and Spirits and Cigars
V&A - great selection, but not world class rarities
11MP - great selection, creative cocktails
Winner = tie
Rational - I will say this really is a tie and I liked both.
Service
V&A - two dedicated servers per table that describe every dish in extreme detail
11MP - one dedicated server with a rotation of other servers that bring plates that give a superficial overview, but not detailed
Winner - V&A
Rational - I am always impressed with the personal service and attention to a diners needs from V&A. 11MP was very good, but not nearly as good or comprehensive as V&A.
Menu
V&A - incredibly great
11MP - great
Winner - V&A
Rational - I think the V&A menu blew away the 11MP, but that is my opinion. I just think the creativity and range of V&A menu choices were like a perfect concert, with every dish hitting just the right notes. 11MP was wonderful, but not as good.
Bread
V&A - good
11MP - super good
Winner - 11MP
Rational - The bread at 11MP was off the chart good, but for these prices, bread should not be the star of the menu.
Food
V&A - even more incredible
11MP - incredible
Winner = V&A
Rational - they both are world class and I ate everything on the plate and was totally satisfied with every bite. It is hard to describe eating at these types of restaurants if you have never been before, but just think extreme attention to every detail, flavor, and texture on the plate. I am sure people love Capital Grill or chick-fil-a, but these fine dining take food to a different artistic level that is simply out of this world. But at the end of the day, which was better and I vote V&A
Dessert
V&A - very good
11MP - very good
Winner - Tie
Rational - Both were very very good, and I probably should vote V&A as better but they were very close so it is a tie.
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Overall Winner = V&A
Rational - well first of all this is a Disney bbs and that means we love Disney, so bonus points for that. But in reality, it comes down to the total experience and would I go back. I was very happy to dine at 11MP, but at $670 for two people again as it just did not blow me away. Oh the other hand, I would gladly go for drinks and appetizer in the bar while in NYC. However, I would gladly eat at V&A every year as to spend $400 per couple is a bargain for that quality and service. I am sure celebrities and foodies will argue that 11MP is the best and that is fine with me, but my vote goes to V&A as the winner of this throwdown and it was NOT even close for my scorecard.
I recently visited both of these great restaurants and now it is time to compare Victoria & Albert's (V&A) vs Eleven Madison Park (11MP) as Eleven Madison park has been awarded 3 Michelin Stars, and voted the #1 restaurant in the world in 2017 by the World's 50 Best Restaurants. Chef is Daniel Humm.
Price
V&A - 7 course menu $185 and 10 course menu $235
11MP - Dining Room Tasting Menu $335
Winner = V&A
Rational - this is probably the least important factor, but V&A is way cheaper than 11MP and they are both world class epic restaurants. For sure, based on price alone, 11MP is NOT worth almost twice the price of V&A 7 course menu. I did order the 10 course V&A meal and for most people the 7 course would be very acceptable and even then V&A is $100 less.
Location and Ambiance
V&A - inside the Grand Floridian, Orlando, very private, very romantic
11MP - the name of the restaurant should give it away, but it is located at 11 Madison Park
Winner = V&A
Rational - sure NYC is way more exciting and interesting than Orlando, BUT if you are sitting near the 11MP windows, then you are dining about 30 feet away from a VERY busy road (Madison Ave) where city buses, taxis, uber drivers, and thousands of people walking around, but the inside is very nice, although not anywhere near the level of romance as V&A. Yes, V&A is part of a hotel, but it is quiet, nice, romantic, and a beautiful setting.
Intimacy
V&A - probably only can only seat 50 people maximum all in one area, harp player, ladies are given a rose, custom menu printed with your name, everyone seems to know your name
TFL - probably can seat about 80 or more in the lobby of a former financial institution, very bright and very open restaurant, not so private
Winner = V&A
Rational - Some may debate the historic charm of NYC building, but V&A offers a much more private, quiet, and more romantic experience.
Reservation Process
V&A - call ahead at 180 days or so and try to get a spot
TFL - call ahead at 3 months or so for a range of dates
Winner = 11MP
It was much easier (for me) to get a reservation for 11MP than V&A, but this will also depend on dates and times, but it was way easier for me to get into 11MP than V&A. Also 11MP has a bar that you can simply walk into on first come basis.
Wine and Spirits and Cigars
V&A - great selection, but not world class rarities
11MP - great selection, creative cocktails
Winner = tie
Rational - I will say this really is a tie and I liked both.
Service
V&A - two dedicated servers per table that describe every dish in extreme detail
11MP - one dedicated server with a rotation of other servers that bring plates that give a superficial overview, but not detailed
Winner - V&A
Rational - I am always impressed with the personal service and attention to a diners needs from V&A. 11MP was very good, but not nearly as good or comprehensive as V&A.
Menu
V&A - incredibly great
11MP - great
Winner - V&A
Rational - I think the V&A menu blew away the 11MP, but that is my opinion. I just think the creativity and range of V&A menu choices were like a perfect concert, with every dish hitting just the right notes. 11MP was wonderful, but not as good.
Bread
V&A - good
11MP - super good
Winner - 11MP
Rational - The bread at 11MP was off the chart good, but for these prices, bread should not be the star of the menu.
Food
V&A - even more incredible
11MP - incredible
Winner = V&A
Rational - they both are world class and I ate everything on the plate and was totally satisfied with every bite. It is hard to describe eating at these types of restaurants if you have never been before, but just think extreme attention to every detail, flavor, and texture on the plate. I am sure people love Capital Grill or chick-fil-a, but these fine dining take food to a different artistic level that is simply out of this world. But at the end of the day, which was better and I vote V&A
Dessert
V&A - very good
11MP - very good
Winner - Tie
Rational - Both were very very good, and I probably should vote V&A as better but they were very close so it is a tie.
----------------------
Overall Winner = V&A
Rational - well first of all this is a Disney bbs and that means we love Disney, so bonus points for that. But in reality, it comes down to the total experience and would I go back. I was very happy to dine at 11MP, but at $670 for two people again as it just did not blow me away. Oh the other hand, I would gladly go for drinks and appetizer in the bar while in NYC. However, I would gladly eat at V&A every year as to spend $400 per couple is a bargain for that quality and service. I am sure celebrities and foodies will argue that 11MP is the best and that is fine with me, but my vote goes to V&A as the winner of this throwdown and it was NOT even close for my scorecard.
