What to Expect From Mei’s Five-Course Japanese-French Dinner

Mei serves a seasonal five-course tasting menu at 320 3rd St. S in downtown St. Petersburg. The Dinner Party menu costs $95 per person and follows a synchronized format, with the full table served together rather than ordering individually.

How the five-course format works

The dining room is built around a shared progression. Everyone at the table follows the same five-course experience at the same pace, making Mei best suited to parties in which all diners want a structured tasting menu rather than individually selected dishes.

The seasonal offerings may change, but the kitchen’s approach combines Japanese ingredients with French technique and a Nordic ethos. Koji aging, dry aging and binchotan grilling are its three central preparation methods.

Dining room or Kitchen Counter?

The seasonal five-course menu is offered in the dining room. Mei also has an eight-seat Kitchen Counter facing the open kitchen. Diners interested in counter seating should confirm its current menu, price and number of courses directly with the restaurant before booking.

What the dinner costs

The five-course menu is listed at $95 per person. A 20% service charge adds $19, bringing the menu-and-service-charge total to $114 per person, or $228 for two. No additional gratuity is expected, though guests may leave more at their discretion.

Mei is cashless. Prices and seasonal offerings can change, so confirm current details when making plans.

The team behind Mei

Executive chef Alex Chamberlain created Mei with the group behind Kōsen, where he previously served as chef de cuisine. The restaurant’s name is personal: Mei is Chamberlain’s sister’s middle name.

Plan the evening

Dinner begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Before booking, make sure everyone in the party is comfortable with the shared five-course format. For the listed menu, plan on $114 per person after the service charge, plus any additional purchases, and bring a non-cash payment method.