Septime

The talk of the town since opening in the spring of 2011, one-Michelin-starred Septime is notoriously hard to book for dinner. An easier route to the delicious culinary offerings is to come for lunch when chef Bertrand Grebaut serves the same five-course carte blanche tasting menu served in the evening. The courses do not appear on a written menu, but the waitstaff will describe each plate in depth when it is brought to your table. (Be sure to mention food allergies when placing your order and the kitchen will substitute accordingly, and without attitude.)  On a recent visit, the substitution for a razor clam entrée was a vegetarian succotash, which was every bit as tasty and beautifully-presented as the standard dish. Complementing the inventive and fresh nouvelle French cuisine, Septime has an impressive carte des vins featuring biodynamic wines, many of which can be purchased to-go at their nearby wine bar, Septime Cave.