King Crab: This was a multi-tiered course. We had a bowl that was brought out, which revealed a King crab panna cotta with a basil jelly underneath. This was then removed, to reveal a King crab salad, and finally this was removed revealing a King crab rich consomme. The last layer was really rich and creamy.
I want to take a lady-friend (just a friend) to a fancy dinner but not sure if it'll approve. I do not want sex, just want to treat the both of us to something nice.
Anybody know of anyplace in Downtown, DC that's fine dining? Plume?
I enjoy this more than gourmet style cooking. The several times I've had gourmet cooking, I've left a little short of content. It is was pretty and tasted good, just not filling. A steakhouse dinner will run you some good cash, but on the whole I leave way more satisfied.
Been to a couple of high class restaurants, but there are so many good ones still.
Los Angeles
Sona - Used to work there and had some incredible meals/wine. Wish it hadn't closed down.
Providence - Seafood dream. Whimsical with layer upon building layer of courses. Highly recommended.
Melisse - We did the Monocle GAF meet-up here. The meal was pretty refined and creative, but I feel like Melisse is just missing something spirit-wise. No regrets, though. Food gets a thumbs up.
Bazaar - Fun and crazy. It's more of an experience than about the food, though. Always super crowded.
Drago Central - Great pasta and really nice atmosphere. They had a really nice truffle risotto as special, and it was amazing, but don't recommend it on top of other stuff. Too much richness... -_-
Hatfields - High class food without the frump. Really like the place.
I've never been to Matsuhisa, but everyone seems to rave about it. Anyone have a personal experience there?
Las Vegas
Bouchon Bistro - They started this branch right after I'd already finished at Sona, but since Sona crew trained them, got a helluva dinner when I visited. Thought the food was pretty classy, but in a more homey sort of way than Providence or the like. Have heard they've gone a bit downhill since, though.
New York
Jean-Georges - Was invited along for my friend's graduation celebration and I was young, but damn, what a place. Where I learned to love frog legs...
Gramercy Tavern - It's been years, but I still remember them having the best slab of bacon I've ever eaten in my life.
Babbo Ristorante - I can't believe they let me into this place, but had an amazing time. Dreamy Italian food and wine.
Reaaaaallly want to try Per Se or Le Bernardin.
Nex! Calling Nex Superne!
If anyone else has some slightly more affordable but amazing NY experiences they'd recommend, I'm all ears!
Oh boy, this is gonna be a fun thread. Just because of time, I haven't been to many new restaurants around the L.A. area recently, but I did get to try Urasawa, which is widely considered to be the best sushi restaurant outside of Japan ($400 per person). I thought it was good, with some dishes being amazing, but honestly, N/Naka was better ($175 a person). Next week I'm going to try Republique though, which should be fun.
Was it the food that made it pricey, or did wine/booze knock you into those great heights? And, was it worth it? I find there's such a fine line between the $400 and $1000+ range that it has to be extra, extra, extra special to make that kind of price tag worth it.
Oh boy, this is gonna be a fun thread. Just because of time, I haven't been to many new restaurants around the L.A. area recently, but I did get to try Urasawa, which is widely considered to be the best sushi restaurant outside of Japan ($400 per person). I thought it was good, with some dishes being amazing, but honestly, N/Naka was better ($175 a person). Next week I'm going to try Republique though, which should be fun.
If you want real Japanese sushi/sashimi, you need to bus yourself to Torrance. 1/5 the price and it's just like home. They have a place that specializes in raw liver, too. Can't even get that in Japan anymore, so grab it while it's still legal here!
Was it the food that made it pricey, or did wine/booze knock you into those great heights? And, was it worth it? I find there's such a fine line between the $400 and $1000+ range that it has to be extra, extra, extra special to make that kind of price tag worth it.
Was a Valentine's dinner, or rather, dinner on Valentine's a year ago or so, so that probably had something to do with it. The atmosphere was where most of the money went, but make no mistake, everything was unbelievable.
Was a Valentine's dinner, or rather, dinner on Valentine's a year ago or so, so that probably had something to do with it. The atmosphere was where most of the money went, but make no mistake, everything was unbelievable.
Wow. I couldn't imagine spending 4 months of mortgage payment on a single meal. I wish I could ball out of control like that. Maybe one day.
I don't think I've ever gone over $100 on a meal for myself or even myself and one other person. I've been cooking for over a decade and most of it in a busy kitchen. I have friends who work in fancier restaurants and when we get to talking about our products and supplies, we realize how we get them from the same place but their prices are inflated just because of the atmosphere/experience.
Wow. I couldn't imagine spending 4 months of mortgage payment on a single meal. I wish I could ball out of control like that. Maybe one day.
I don't think I've ever gone over $100 on a meal for myself or even myself and one other person. I've been cooking for over a decade and most of it in a busy kitchen. I have friends who work in fancier restaurants and when we get to talking about our products and supplies, we realize how we get them from the same place but their prices are inflated just because of the atmosphere/experience.
Am I in the minority who thinks Peter Luger's is overrated?
I went for a birthday, got shoeleather for steak when i told them at chef's request, then couldn't enjoy the rest of the meal because of anger.
Am I in the minority who thinks Peter Luger's is overrated?
I went for a birthday, got shoeleather for steak when i told them at chef's request, then couldn't enjoy the rest of the meal because of anger.
The only thing I will spend outrageous money on is sushi and we are talking up to like 300(I eat a lot, so that's inflated)? Not 500+ certainly. It's one of those things where there's no way I can even attempt it at home and it's absolutely a favorite.
I don't really get the tiny food with the foams, caviar, lobsters and consomme. A lot of that is pomp and occasion. Which is fine, I might find myself at some such circumstance before long... I'll give you an example. My grandfather was a sailor on the Caspian Sea, so we had sturgeon(you may use the Russian word, ossetra) caviar for breakfast. I'm talking about liter jars of the stuff. And predictably it loses a lot of that shine and bluster when there's no mystery and it's not presented as some apotheosis of seafood and, most of all, doesn't have that price tag attached. I've never ordered it since moving, I don't know if I would at a fifth of the price some of these places charge. It's not that I actively dislike the stuff, but you're not selling me on the decadence, so there goes a ton of the value attached.
8+ courses, a full-evening experience, absolutely perfect service, ingredients you've never heard of, seen, or tried before, and wine pairing with everything.
Yeah that place is no joke. Went there for a what feels like a zillion course meal, "l'automne" or something like that. Cost a lot of money, but it was for work, and everyone left VERY happy.
Yeah that place is no joke. Went there for a what feels like a zillion course meal, "l'automne" or something like that. Cost a lot of money, but it was for work, and everyone left VERY happy.
At some point in my life I'd like to go to one of those ultra high-end places, but I really don't think I'll enjoy it. When I'm at a restaurant, I prefer to be alone with my food and whoever I'm with, so with the waiters constantly coming by to bring out the 13th course, it might get a bit tedious.
But, it's an experience that I think would be nice to have.
Anyone been to Moto in Chicago? Looks crazy. They do interesting stuff with the food, outside of wrapping it around a lamp or whatever: http://motorestaurant.com/
Nobu is probably the most overrated sushi restaurant there is. Sushi Azabu and Sushi Yasuda are both far better at the same price range in New York. If you really want to ball out, there's always Masa.
Nobu is probably the most overrated sushi restaurant there is. Sushi Azabu and Sushi Yasuda are both far better at the same price range in New York. If you really want to ball out, there's always Masa.
After a certain point ridiculous prices just become tacky as fuck, unless it's due to expensive ingredients that offer something special or in some cases wine.
After a certain point ridiculous prices just become tacky as fuck, unless it's due to expensive ingredients that offer something special or in some cases wine.
Atmosphere is the biggest cost when it comes to dining. And to some people in some scenarios, it's worth a lot. When you're dropping significant amounts of money on an experience, you also know you're doing something truly memorable for the people you're with. It's nice to know that you're taking care of an event that they'll talk about and remember for the rest of their lives.
After a certain point ridiculous prices just become tacky as fuck, unless it's due to expensive ingredients that offer something special or in some cases wine.
I'll freely admit I don't understand the appeal of this hugely expensive stuff but hey, if people want to spend money on it, good for them. More food for me
I had the Kobe steak at Old Homestead Steakhouse at $175 each. It was pretty good, but I don't think I'd do it again. I had to buy two of those suckers that night, too, since my Mom was in town and had never had it before. Probably the most expensive meal I've even had, $800 in all for 4 people.
Atmosphere is the biggest cost when it comes to dining. And to some people in some scenarios, it's worth a lot. When you're dropping significant amounts of money on an experience, you also know you're doing something truly memorable for the people you're with. It's nice to know that you're taking care of an event that they'll talk about and remember for the rest of their lives.
It's not even that. But most layman aren't going to have access to the quality of ingredient and skill of preparation required to execute these dishes without a full kitchen staff.
I've tried replicating restaurant quality dishes, like high end ones, and it is very time consuming and messy--I don't have a brigade of prep cooks, dishwashers and line cooks at my command like a chef does.
Atmosphere is the biggest cost when it comes to dining. And to some people in some scenarios, it's worth a lot. When you're dropping significant amounts of money on an experience, you also know you're doing something truly memorable for the people you're with. It's nice to know that you're taking care of an event that they'll talk about and remember for the rest of their lives.
Don't get me wrong, it being expensive, or even very expensive, isn't a problem, it being laughably expensive is what I find tacky. It feels uncultured and detracts from the experience.
However, I do think that it seems like, from what I heard and what I know, most top restaurants seem to have prices in line with the experience, I'm just criticisizing a subset.
