What Is a Tasting Menu? A Guide to Degustation Dining, and Where to Try One in Bali
November 9, 2026
A tasting menu is a set sequence of small courses chosen by the chef, designed to show the full range of a kitchen's cooking in one meal. Also called a degustation menu, it usually runs from six to twelve courses, takes two to four hours, and is often offered with a matching wine pairing. In Bali, Mozaic in Ubud has served tasting menus since 2001, pairing French technique with Indonesian ingredients.
On an à la carte menu, you choose a starter, a main and a dessert. On a tasting menu, the chef chooses for you. Instead of three large plates, you receive a series of smaller dishes, each one building on the last, so you can taste far more of the kitchen's ideas in a single evening.
A good tasting menu works like a story. It opens light and fresh, builds to richer flavours in the middle, and finishes with something sweet. The chef controls the pace, the portion sizes and the balance between courses, so the meal feels complete rather than heavy.
Not really. "Degustation" comes from the French word for tasting, and a degustation menu is simply another name for a tasting menu. The term is especially common in Australia, while "tasting menu" is more common in the United States and the United Kingdom. In French kitchens you may also see "menu dégustation" or "menu gastronomique."
The idea is also close to Japanese kaiseki, a seasonal multi-course meal, and to omakase, where diners leave the choice entirely to the chef.
Multi-course meals have a long history in both Japan and France. The modern tasting menu grew out of French haute cuisine and the nouvelle cuisine movement of the 1960s and 1970s, which favoured lighter dishes, smaller portions and seasonal ingredients. Chefs began offering a series of small plates so diners could experience more of their cooking at once. Today, the tasting menu is the signature format of fine dining restaurants around the world.
Every tasting menu is different, but most follow a similar rhythm:
Portions are small, but across six or eight courses a tasting menu is a full, satisfying meal.
Most tasting menus take between two and four hours, depending on the number of courses and the pace of the kitchen. Plan for around three hours for a six or eight-course tasting menu, and allow a little longer if you add a wine pairing.
Prices vary widely by country and restaurant. In Bali, a tasting menu at a leading fine dining restaurant is generally much more affordable than the equivalent meal in Sydney, Singapore, London or New York, which is one reason why many travellers make a degustation dinner part of their trip.
At Mozaic, the six-course tasting menu starts from IDR 1,250,000++ per person, with pairings available as an add-on. Full prices are listed below.
A wine pairing matches a different glass to each course of the tasting menu. The sommelier chooses wines that balance or contrast each dish, so the food and wine taste better together than they would on their own. Pairings are usually a smaller pour than a full glass, which keeps a long degustation menu comfortable.
Many restaurants now offer alternatives too, such as cocktail or non-alcoholic pairings.
Mozaic was founded in 2001 by Chef Chris Salans and is led today by Chef Chris Salans and Chef Blake Thornley. It is a member of Les Grandes Tables du Monde, and its tasting menus combine French technique with Indonesian ingredients. The menus change often to follow the seasons, so there is no fixed signature dish.
Mozaic offers three tasting menu experiences:
Pairings are available with the Seasonal and Botanical Menus:
All prices are subject to 21% tax and service charge. The kitchen builds its menus around local produce, its own garden and no-waste cooking. Read more about Mozaic's approach to sustainability.
What is a tasting menu? A tasting menu is a sequence of small courses chosen by the chef, designed to showcase the kitchen's cooking in one meal. It usually has six to twelve courses.
What is the difference between a tasting menu and a degustation menu? There is no real difference. Degustation is the French-derived term, common in Australia, while tasting menu is more common in the US and UK.
How many courses are in a tasting menu? Most tasting menus have between six and twelve courses. At Mozaic, you can choose six or eight courses.
How long does a tasting menu take? Usually two to four hours. Allow around three hours for a six or eight-course tasting menu with pairings.
Can vegetarians enjoy a tasting menu? Yes. Many fine dining restaurants offer a vegetarian tasting menu. Mozaic's Botanical Menu is a six or eight-course vegetarian tasting menu.
Where can I try a tasting menu in Bali? Mozaic in Ubud has served tasting menus since 2001. It offers a Seasonal Menu, a vegetarian Botanical Menu and the Romantica dinner for two, from IDR 1,250,000++ per person.
A tasting menu is the most complete way to experience a chef's cooking. Discover Mozaic's seasonal tasting menu in Ubud, and reserve your table or contact reservations@mozaic-bali.com.
Reservations can be made online or through our team. For private dining, events, or collaborations, we are available to assist in crafting a tailored experience.
Dining Room
Daily, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Tipple Room
Daily, 5:00 PM – 12:30 AM
Private Dining
Available upon request
