#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.
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.
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
If they don't offer "take out", they're not worth my dime.......
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.
1. Article equates quality with price...they're not necessarily the same..people who eat here do so because they can afford to..and not necessarily because they understand/enjoy the food.
2. If I was going to have a last meal...it would be a Peter Lugar's in Brooklyn..the best steak house ever..and two people can have a really great meal, with a good bottle of wine, and have change from $250.
3.Sometimes the restaurant experience is about something more than the food. For me, fro 20+ years, until 9/11..that was Windows on the World.. food was better than OK..two people could eat well for under $200..but the view..nothing could compare..imagine sitting at your table at twilight and looking DOWN at the planes coming in to land at nearby Laguardia..they could have served franks and beans, and it would have been worth it for that alone..
3. Most of the restaurants on this list employ "Stagaires"..basically UNPAID staff who work long hours in order to learn from a great chef...it's a cross between that of the medieval apprenticeship/indentured servant. You are enjoying great food made by people who work for nothing...a culinary sweat shop....
In 1998, I was fortunate to eat at elBulli, long considered the best restaurant in the world...or among the top three. I enjoyed the meal, though I'm not a fan of the new molecular gastronomy...and your only option is the chef's menu. I figure that at that price, I should be able to order and eat what I want. elBulli has a PAID staff of about 10, and some 70 (SEVENTY) unpaid who work some 14 hours a day for the 6 months or so each year it's open. Wonder what the chef/owner makes?
I ate at a laundry once. Coin operated. I had some Cheetos. Carmelized.
Oh and here if it's not on the list: HillBilly Hot dogs
Famous for it's Homewrecker Hot Dog
It's 15 inches of pure beef weenie!!! 
Ten more places for the president and family to go live it up!
Biggest tab I ever had was at the Beefsteak and Bourbon in the King’s Cross in Sydney, Australia. Now keep in mind this was in 1998. It was the equivalent of a little over 1500 Yankee dollars.
Uh, did I mention that there was a guided missile cruiser and a couple of American destroyers tied up nearby?
I had one of the best nights of my life treating those swabbies.
Oh, for the days of the unlimited expense account again!