Charlie Trotter's (816 W. Armitage Ave., 248-6228) has recently started serving a degustation menu. Chef Trotter's eight-course menu will change every six to eight weeks. One of the current courses is ravioli of Norwegian salmon and smoked salmon with julienned leeks and lobster sauce.

At Prairie (Omni Morton Hotel, 500 S. Dearborn St., 663-1143), a restaurant that specializes in food from the heartland, chef Stephen Langlois recently added a five-course tasting menu at dinner. Cost is $35 and it's available daily. Each of the dishes can be ordered a la carte. Selections change about every two weeks. Current offerings include chilled rabbit sausage with red onion relish and turnip salad, and a combination of roasted Michigan venison loin and stuffed quail in a peppercorn and plum chutney glaze.

Diners get a choice of two degustation menus from chef Gabino Sotelino at Ambria (2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 472-5959). There's the petit degustation-four appetizers and a light dessert course for $37-or the grand menu-three appetizers, two entrees, salad and assorted desserts for $48. While the grand offerings change daily, the petit menu changes monthly. Also, the grand menu must be ordered 24 hours in advance and served to all members of a party; the petit menu can be ordered at any time by anyone in the party.