Most expensive restaurants ever

Anyway, that list without the descriptions, price being avg meal price for one (in US dollars I'm guessin'):

1. Masa, New York City, USA - $366
2. Aragawa, Tokyo, Japan - $277
3. Arpege, Paris, France - $211
4. Alinea, Chicago, USA - $192
5. Sketch, London, UK - $176
6. The Herbfarm, Seattle, USA - $152
7. Petermann?s Kunstsuben, Zurich, Switzerland - $151
8. Tetsuya?s Restaurant, Sydney, Australia - $135
9. French Laundry, San Francisco, USA - $135
10. Inn at Little Washington, Washington, D.C., USA - $129

I knew Sketch would be in there - its problem is that the food's reputation isn't actually that great and any Tom, Dick or Harry can just wander in off the street and get a good feeling for all the other stuff.

On the other hand, still the best toilets ever:

http://www.toiletsoftheworldbook.com/images/toilets/europe_egg.jpg

wow, that's ur very barbarella

I assume that is without wine. French Laundry isn't in SF weirdos.

this writing is sub-Forbes, whatever that even means:

4. Alinea, Chicago, USA - $192: Chef Grant Achatz has earned a reputation for introducing unconventional food that explodes your senses to the American connoisseur. The dishes served at Alinea are interactive, if you can accord that adjective to food. Pulling a pin drops a cheesy potato puff into a soup that you slurp like an oyster. Truffle-filled ravioli bursts in your mouth to bombard you with a pleasurable taste. These are just a couple of samples of the unusual fare at Alinea. Repeat visits are not routine affairs — you can wait with bated breath to taste the new treats that Achatz has cooked up.

i would love to go to Masa. people i've talked to that went there said it was worth it for i one time experience

it's semi borat - xpost

The French Laundry is $350 just to walk in the door (no bevs, supplements, tip or tax).

Masa can range up to $400.

Notables not on that list: El Bulli (Barcelona), Daniel (NYC), Jean-Georges (NYC), Urasawa (LA), Senba Kiccho (Kyoto - ~$500pp.!)

Yeah, I'm guessing tanking dollar since 2007 = less non-NYC U.S. on the top.

Oh shit: Joel Robuchon's upper-tier restaurants are tasting-menu only and start around $250-300. I know an ILX0R who went to the one in Vega$.

um, tanking dollar has nothing to do with US domestic prices?

The French Laundry has been over $125 for at least 10 years, maybe that was their inception price?

So I search for Senba Kiccho, and I find late 2007 scandal

http://www.japannewsreview.com/society/kansai/20071217page_id=3479

Then again, I have no clue about the veracity of Japan News Review.

xpost - well yeah, but I'm just saying the price-per-plate at expensive non-US places would hence go up in US dollars, that's all.. (barring the rare non-US country who has an expensive restaurant who also has tanking currency.)

you can eat a la carte at jean georges for $100, though i imagine most peoples' bill is much higher

the herbfarm is closer to $200 now

Daniel also begins just over $100

Ah got it, Shasta's right. The US places just get more expensive too. Not as if anyone who would go there would be all "well, damn! Now that's TOO MUCH!"

not sure how Thomas Keller's NYC place Per Se isn't on there

"Please note: Starting January 10th, 2007, Per Se will be offering only two prix fixe menus: a nine course tasting of seasonal vegetables and their signature nine course chef's tasting menu, each for $250. The seven course menu will no longer be available."

(seven course was $175, which seemingly would still make the list)

step up yer game Forbes

Joel Robuchon in Vegas has an a la carte menu

Oh, I went to some party at Sketch. I thought it was a club, not a restaurant? The toilets were kinda funny though...

gabbneb, you're mistakenly thinking (googling?) L'Atelier. The other restaurant (just his name) is tasting menu only.

Gabby:

The cuisine is directed by par Claude Le To�c, Meilleur Ouvrier de France (France�s Best Craftsman), Executive Chef Tomonori Danzaki and Pastry Chef Kamel Guechda who offer you exceptional dishes in 9 or 16-courses tasting menus. The wine list, meeting the standards of this extraordinary place, turns out to be a liquid art collection.

rong - http://www.mgmgrand.com/dining/joel-robuchon-french-restaurant-a-la-carte-menu.aspx

I believe that the ala carte menu has been discontinued (the restaurant is closed for renovations) but here were the prices:

appetizers, $35 to $150
main courses, $80 to $120
desserts, $18

is that info from Vice magazine? it seems they've got a reservation for 2 tonight at 9:30

ORLY? Maybe they reopened very very recently then!

-Vice Magazine
Montreal, QC

Oh damn I thought that price was real for french laundry and got all excited that I might be able to eat there someday :(

Seriously, I don't think it's ever been that cheap?

"cheap"

The chef at Alinea is the guy who had tongue cancer and still hasn't gotten his sense of taste back, right?

oh yeah I think you're right. from that New Yorker story.

lolz

thanks Mackro for the list of restaurants I will never ever ever pay for a meal at but will happily chow down in on someone else's dime

I suppose this place might qualify:

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-03/45897037.jpg

that list up there's pretty weird - surely missing a bunch of places?

jaws 3 THE RESTAURANT

Do you get to pick out your meal from the swimmy fish, the tastiest of the swimmy fish you see?

somehow not in dubai

Just getting there is a costly little venture.

Yeah, I could not eat in that place because of Jaw 3. I'd be scared shitless.

that maldives place looks amazing.

Notables not on that list: El Bulli (Barcelona), Daniel (NYC), Jean-Georges (NYC), Urasawa (LA), Senba Kiccho (Kyoto - ~$500pp.!)

Also Charlie Trotter's (Chicago), which I can't imagine is that much less expensive than Alinea.