Had the 7-course tasting menu with wine pairing. Totaled $205 per person. Why do I mention price? Because I don't really think it was worth it.
Sure, the food is good and the pairing worked well. But the ingredients and flavors were hit-or-miss. The scallop stole the show. The lamb was great. Octopus was a shame. But overall the food looked pretty but lacked the intense, complex, creative flavors I expect from a meal like this.
The service was acceptable but still felt very Madison (service in Madison is below par on average...sorry). In other words, it was a little too intrusive and 'peppy' for my taste. A bit more professionalism and better grooming would help.
I still have trouble with the smooth jazz that they play in a space that still doesn't feel good. Just feels a little cold and sterile overall.
Anyway, yeah, L'Etoile is good but the faux-pomp and sky-high prices just don't get me there.