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 ...
I've eaten at dozens of places more expensive, but Cracker Barrel is my day in and day out favorite.
The most expensive place I ate was US Army mess hall.
That’s because they saw you coming, and slipped you the menu that adds 100 bucks to everything on the list.
Aren't they just things of beauty? We need chefs in Congress.
These listed prices likely include several pricey bottles of wine.
. . . and somebody else paid the bill for the French Laundry and one of the two trips to Per Se.
I’ve eaten in some of the finest restaurants in many countries, but I couldn’t begin to say which one was “most expensive.” I just don’t think in those terms. I’d have to say my favorite of all, and the one I most look forward to returning to, is Grammercy Tavern in NYC.
Those prices are nothing compared to the blue plats specials that cost $10K a plate and up at Democratic fundraisers...
These make Morton’s look like a bargain.
Disney left me oddly disappointed, almost depressing, either one, World or Land, east coast or west coast. I can’t suspend disbelief enough, I guess. It’s all artificial, no matter how hard they’re trying or how impressive the effort. Vegas affects me the same way, fake, Disney with booze and hookers.
Any of these places serve both grits and banana pudding? Country Cookin’ does....
The original one in a cellar on State St. in Chicago is worth a trip, or was last I was there a decade or so ago.
Waffle House is pretty good but for real upscale dining go to Cracker Barrel.
Mory’s in New Haven. You can’t get in unless you buy the edumacashun.
Anyway, the meal cost us close to $600 (before tip), mostly due to the two bottles of wine we ordered, one of them being a Dom Perignon and the other an excellent bottle of Chianti. Never did anything like that before or since but since I don't often have a wallet stuffed with $100 bills, I figured we'd do something a little different before blowing the rest of it on the blackjack tables.
Must say the meal was excellent all around but not necessarily better than other "expensive" meals we've had at places like Capital Grille, Peter Luger's Steakhouse and Legal Seafoods. There are definitely diminishing returns once you get to the $50/entree price point.
BTW, didn't do too badly at the blackjack tables either - for first and only time, I played blackjack with $100 chips and held my own for the most part. We managed to take about half our winnings home with us that trip.
One of the main reasons for their existence is bragging rights for their customers, vide this very thread.
The old Morels restaurant in Banner Elk North Carolina probably my biggest ticket.....an area in Northwest corner mountains where all the Florida Jews went in summer to homes at Linville Ridge or Elk River
Very very good and around 150/person
Dean...the owner ...has a Disney restaurant built around him now in Orlando I hear but he’s in Andros a lot too
Lutece in NYC back in my day was high.....Cote Basque and Cafe des Artistes too
All long gone now
As a boy in the 60s.....Ports o Call on top of Southland Life bldg in Dallas was our big thing
Or Galatoires in New Orleans
Or that Russian named joint in Atlanta.....Romanoffs I think?
Just about every restaurant in Disney World is priced 50% to 100% higher than comparable restaurants elsewhere.
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