Asta

It’s hard to review a tasting menu place, the food changes based on ingredients and the chef’s choice, so the food experience can be different for each patron. But what made this truly memorable for me was the outstanding service of the restaurant’s team and the humble attitude of the chef himself. The staff offered incredible wine options, based on first inquiring about our flavor pallet. Then when each food arrived, it was nothing short of a painting on a plate. But along with being visually appealing, the combo of flavors, the sweet hints when you least expect in a spicy dish and the hints of tartness in a savory dish was mind blowing. Definitely a place to celebrate a special occasion.

Asta is like having dinner at your friend's home, except the food is better and more inventive. New potatoes with raspberries and egg foam are a revelation: who knew that potato and raspberry belong together? Smoked, crispy bluefish replaces bacon in a corn chowder, and the effect is brilliant: the smoky richness is retained but a new, ocean savor is added. Every dish offers a surprise, and none disappoint.

Excellent tasting menu with creative vegetable dishes. Recently took a visit to try their vegetable-forward tasting menu. Without a written description of the menu, we didn’t know what to expect, but the tasting menu was a good mix of vegetarian and omnivore dishes. Our meal started with a radish soup which was a bit acidic, but the subtle aroma of the black garlic gougère gave it a strong yet pleasant finish. The subsequent dish was a mèlange of diced mango, salmon roe, seasame sauce, and crunchy asparagus, and it was one of the most interesting twists on salad I’ve had in a while. Salmon roe added just the right amount of saltiness and umami that really enhanced its flavors. Sprinkled with a pinch of salt, the Japanese sprout tempura was undoubtedly my favorite. Although simple, the combination of daikon purée, shiitake mushrooms, and the tempura was an epitome of Japanese style of cooking. On the other hand, the omnivore dishes including the hanger steak and the grilled mackerel were good but plain. We added the seared foie gras to complete the meal, and the torched sweet potatoes were good pairings with the fatty foie gras. Finale of the meal was a custard cake with rosé vinaigrette and pea greens. While I wasn’t a huge fan of the idea of putting greens on a dessert, it wasn’t as bad as I initially thought. Overall, it was a satisfying experience, and I would definitely come back to try their other seasonal tasting menus.

I've lived in this neighborhood for a number of years. Today was my first time trying Asta and I can't believe it's taken this long for me to have this experience. I can't wait to come back. Even on a Valentine's day, a day notorious for half heated service and poor seating arrangements at most restaurants, my girlfriend and I had an amazing time enjoying the 6-course meal, wine pairing, and extras. I can't recommended this place enough. If you have the opportunity to sit up front at the bar tops near the kitchen, do it! The service and the food were equally incredible and we'll be back very soon.

I had an all around outstanding dinner at Asta. The food is creative and unique without feeling pretentious and everything in our tasting menu was delicious. We did the wine pairings and I was impressed with some unexpected combinations that I really enjoyed. The service was lovely and it felt special to watch the whole team at work in the open kitchen. I can’t wait to go back!