Best Tasting Menus Restaurants in Lower East Side (10002)
5 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Dirt Candy
Michelin-starred vegetable tasting menu where dishes like asparagus lasagna show how far plant-based cooking can go.
Notable Picks
#1
Dirt Candy
8.9
Dirt Candy is Amanda Cohen’s Michelin-starred vegetable tasting-menu restaurant, where seasonal dishes like asparagus lasagna reimagine pasta through a high-end, all-veg lens in a sleek Allen Street dining room. Open since 2008 and now firmly a Lower East Side institution, it’s the most upscale, reservation-only way to experience lasagna-inspired flavors in ZIP 10002.
Must-Try Dishes:
Asparagus lasagna from the seasonal tasting menu, Carrot pizza bite from the tasting progression, Potato sundae dessert
What makes it special: Michelin-starred vegetable tasting menu where dishes like asparagus lasagna show how far plant-based cooking can go.
#2
63 Clinton
8.8
63 Clinton is a 24-seat Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurant where chef Sam Clonts builds a seven-course progression of seasonal, globally inflected dishes in an intimate Lower East Side room. The experience feels polished but relaxed, with a bar counter that brings you close to the kitchen and a menu that changes often enough to reward repeat visits.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast taco with optional uni, Caviar hand roll, Arroz de mariscos with langoustine
What makes it special: A Michelin-starred, chef-led tasting menu that feels refined yet unpretentious.
#3
8282
8.5
8282 is a compact Lower East Side spot where high-energy K-pop, creative Korean small plates, and strong drinks make it feel like a buzzy dinner party every night. The kitchen riffs on classic flavors with dishes like cheesy tteokbokki and galbi that still read as deeply Korean, even when the presentation leans playful.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheesy tteokbokki with burrata, Boneless Korean fried chicken, LA Iberico pork galbi
What makes it special: Playful, shareable Korean plates with serious cooking in a lively, compact room.
#4
Forsythia
8.3
Forsythia is a Roman-inspired trattoria where chef-owner Jacob Siwak offers handmade pastas through both set menus and à la carte ordering in a warmly lit Stanton Street space. Multi-course dinners often start with focaccia and snacks before moving into plates of richly sauced pasta that lean more comforting than fussy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal stuffed cappellacci, Cacio e pepe-style tonnarelli, Short rib ragu pasta
What makes it special: Creative, pasta-driven Italian cooking in an intimate, chef-focused space.
#5
Sunn's
8.1
Sunn’s is a tiny Korean wine bar from chef Sunny Lee where banchan, salads, and a short list of mains are meant to be ordered in sequence, effectively becoming a freestyle tasting menu. The room channels Dimes Square energy with natural wine, soju, and a menu that feels personal, seasonal, and built for sharing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal banchan selection, Daily hot dishes (like dumplings or scallops), Sesame mochi cake
What makes it special: A banchan-driven Korean menu built around natural wine in an intimate, design-forward space.