Posted on 12/08/2013 9:57:30 AM PST by Kip Russell
Determining which restaurants in the nation offer the steepest prices is a tricky task. Most of the restaurants on this list serve the rarest, most premium, and freshest ingredients available, from kitchens run by chefs with expert levels of craftsmanship and artistry, in dining rooms with an exceptional quality of service provided by the front of house staff. But regardless of the justifications, the fact remains that the restaurants on this list are outrageously pricey.
To arrive at the top 25 we compiled a list of restaurants commonly known for being outrageously expensive (such as Masa, which is known for its $450 per person omakase menu). We started by first pulling data from The Daily Meal's 101 Best Restaurants in America for 2012, and then expanded the research to include a more comprehensive spectrum of fine dining restaurants across the country. From there we gathered data compiled by Bundle.com (a site that tracks average customer spending at restaurants) and Zagat's price ratings - finally, once the list was narrowed down to 50 restaurants, we contacted each one and asked a series of questions, such as their average party size, the percentage of diners that choose the tasting menu (where applicable), and what the average bill totals. From there, we ranked the top 25.
Of course, there are exceptions to consider. Some restaurants are known for offering a particularly expensive tasting menu based on seasonal ingredients. For instance, Spiaggia in Chicago offers a truffle tasting menu each December that costs $295 per person. However, during the rest of the year their tasting menu costs $90 a head (not pricey enough to land a spot on this list).
(Excerpt) Read more at shine.yahoo.com ...
#10 Victoria & Albert's, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. $552
#9 Guy Savoy, Las Vegas $556
#8 Moto, Chicago $570
#7 Joël Robuchon, Las Vegas $640
#6 Alinea, Chicago $693
#5 Meadowood, St. Helena, Calif. $750
#4 French Laundry, Yountville, Calif. $800
#3 Per Se, New York City $851
#2 Urasawa, Beverly Hills, Calif. $1,111
#1 Masa, New York City $1,269
Of these, I'm seriously considering eating at Victoria & Albert's the next time I visit Disney World. The most expensive meal I've ever had was at Blue, at the Ritz-Carlton in Grand Cayman. Price for 2 plus tip with non-alcoholic drinks was a bit over $350, as I recall.
Anybody ever eaten at any of the Top Ten?
A meal for $200 in Washington could end up costing millions, depending on who your dining partner was or is.
The French Laundry is on my bucket list.
I don’t’ think I would ever go to one of these restaurants. If I’m going to spend money like that, I would find a much better place to put it.
Five years ago I took an old boyfriend and his wife out to tasting menu dinner at Jean Georges in New York. The bill for the three of us came out to $800. It was the finest meal I have ever had and it was worth every penny. It wasn’t just a meal, it was an experience I will never forget.
Most expensive restaurant I have ever eaten at was the Court of two sisters in New Orleans-—great food. I ordered low and porkcops were $100 a plate. Good food but I knew it wouldn’t be cheap.
For $1,200 for a single meal, it’d better come with a complimentary happy ending.
I’d rather eat 100 times at In-N-Out Burger than once at one of these joints for the same money.
One wonders how many of these would survive if “business expenses” were no longer tax deductible.
/johnny
Been to 5 of these.
Awesome and great time.
Cept French Laundry. spectacular but, don’t care if I go back.
I can get the best cafeteria food in the world, all you can eat, for less than $6. When I want to splurge, I go to Red Lobster or Finley’s and have a nice dinner for two for $50. And I never have to wear a tie
In my opinion, New Orleans food is the best in the nation. Love it all, from the Po boys to Commanders Palace. Some of the best places are unknown to the tourists.
If they don't offer "take out", they're not worth my dime.......
I could buy a new gun and do a BBQ for the family with that kinda cash!
French Laundry is the only one for me, back in better days. Most of the better resaurants I’ve hit were old-school places with history, many in Chicago, expensive but not wildly so. The Palm, Morton’s. Delmonicos over near Wall St. in NYC, that sort of place. Ruth’s Chris pales in comparison. Several trendy places in Manhattan but those come and go. Gotham Grill was great at one point, doubt it is now if it’s still there. Jimmy’s Harborside in Boston was an institution for decades but it slipped and is gone now.
I think the most I've spent is at a Ruth's Chris, which is a good meal and almost worth the money. Much less than the places on the list, of course. My wife wants to go to the French Laundry someday. Most expensive meal I ever ate was probably at 801 Grand Steak and Chop House in Des Moines but my first wife's boss was paying. I believe he dropped about four large for four couples.
I’ve eaten at two of those restaurant, and for a party of four didn’t even come close to the prices listed.
Sorry, I have no taste for that.
Dinner for two could get you a nice handgun, rifle, or at least two or three thousand rounds of 5.56 NATO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.