masa NYC $500
aragawa TYO $375
joel robuchon LAS $350

are there any others > $300 ?

hmm, how to word this. minimum per person is not exactly right. masa is cheaper for lunch, but im not positive you cant order the cheaper one at dinner. and joel robuchon has a cheaper menu.

i guess i am looking for most expensive tasting menus, that are right there on the menu, whether they are the most expensive at that restaurant or not.

i have not heard of any standard tasting menus, other than those 3, that are over $300 without alcohol. am i missing something?

(by standard i mean no temporary menus where they offer heaps of caviar and/or truffles, or some other expensive product to one or all of the dishes. if the product is ALWAYS optional and is written into the menu, then i guess i would be interested in hearing about that.)

(and of course aragawa wouldnt be a tasting menu, but hopefully you get my point)

obviously you can buy a $1M bottle of champagne in a restaurant. thats not my question.

final edit >
http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/24/food-menu-tasting-forbeslife-cx_pl_0827food.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308342

masa NYC $500
aragawa TYO $375
robuchon LAS $350

are there any others > $300 ?

In the world????
Are you are asking about personal experiences?

Personally I can think of more than thirty in the above range and higher right of the top of my head:rolleyes:

mike

Per Se NYC - approx $1000. per couple

All tofu restaurant in Tokyo (forget name) - approx. $700. per couple

I guess you don't read NY Magazine http://nymag.com/nymetro/food/features/11044/ (albeit from 2005)

Otherwise, it is trivial to spend >USD 500 at any reasonably good restaurant in the world, just order a few ounces of beluga caviar (that covers about 4 oz. at retail, so not a huge amount!). There are thousands of restaurants world-wide that will special order it for you, though few keep it in stock.

As for prix fixe menus, their price point really varies by market more than by restaurant quality. Also some chefs prefer to keep their best dishes a al carte. Sadly it is hard to find good meals in much of Europe for under USD 200 per person these days, at least in this type of restaurant. Of course some of the best food is found elsewhere, often dirt cheap (as in under USD 10). But your question had nothing to do with food quality.

Outback Steakhouse, $50 per couple. Works for me. ^

I managed to spend over 500 euros at La Pergola in Rome 2 summers ago. This was on a dinner for 2.
The meal was incredible....but we both agreed, never, ever again...

Try one of the big name restaurants in Paris for New Year's Eve if you're looking to bust the budget.

We ended up doing Lasserre on New Year's Eve a couple years back and Taillevent the night before (New Year's Eve Eve) While Lasserre was not inexpensive, Taillevent was 150 Euro per person more on New Year's Eve than Lasserre and more than twice the price of eating there the night before New Years Eve.

Cheers,
Jeff

A few years ago The NY Times restaurant review said Alain Ducasse NY was the most expensive restaurant in the US. Per Se is probably more now but wasnt open then. I think both are more than Masa. Both Jean George and Le Bernardin in NY are probably more than Robuchon. Kyubei in Tokyo is probably that much or more for a dinner. Any three star restaurant in Europe and a fair amount of two stars will likely be in the over $300 range and a some in the $500 range. A friend bought me lunch at Pierre Gagnaire a couple years ago and against my advice didnt get the 90 euro special lunch but bought the 7 course tasting lunch and it was a shade over 1000 euros for two, not counting cognac and cigars after lunch. Also, there are things like keiseki places in Japan that will certainly go into that range. The Taillevant-Robuchon place in Tokyo is also quite expensive.

thanks for the helpful info ^

the top two sushi in tokyo are more like $200. kyubei and something jiro i never remember.

what restaurants other than Pierre Gagnaire in europe? aha, its about $300 225€ ($295) dinner ^ so i guess a fair number actually, anything about 200 euros would be just under $300..

whereas london tops out with ramsay at about 100 pounds doesnt it?

robuchon is flat out cheap in tokyo compared to vegas and new york.

masa is only > $300 in NY, i checked ducasse and per se..

looks like ill go with robuchon. being in a hotel is a plus, probably better "value" than masa to a certain degree. especially the amount of food, 16 courses :D

aragawa and kyubei ill hit when im in japan next year.

thanks again gadget for giving me a few more directions to look in / double check ^

thanks for the helpful info ^

the top two sushi in tokyo are more like $200. kyubei and something jiro i never remember.

what restaurants other than Pierre Gagnaire in europe?

robuchon is flat out cheap in japan compared to vegas and new york.

masa is only > $300 in NY, i checked ducasse and per se..

Im not sure what you basing that number on. Ive eaten at Ducasse somewhere like 4-6 times and the cheapest, drinking wine by the glass, was $500 per person. According to Ducasse he aims for an average of $500 per person. Drinking wine by the bottle, with almost the cheapest wines on the list, so by no means the top is more like $600-$800 per person. Per Se is more. Ive also seen both Jean George and Le Bernardin go $400-$500 per person although that is with a little more expense on the wine than that price at Ducasse. Sushi at the bar with moderate amounts of house sake at Kyubei ran $250 per person. In Paris or London, anything with 3 or some with 2 stars will go over $300 and probably over $500 for dinner. Check the Michelin Guide for names. In addition to Gagnaire and Taillevant mentioned above I know L'Arpege will top that pretty easily. The price runs up pretty quickly when they start putting 200 year old vinegar on peaches for desert ;). Most recent for me was Le Jardin De Sens (probably misspelled, sorry) in Montpelier which was $300-$350 each and that is a two star now.

as i said, standard price fixe tasting menus, without paired wine.

its easy to spend more ANYWHERE. you can buy a $1M(exaggeration, yes i know) bottle of X at any decent restaurant. thats not the point of my question. i tried to explain this in great detail in my OP.

i also updated my last post.

as i said, standard price fixe tasting menus, without paired wine.

its easy to spend more ANYWHERE. you can buy a $1M(exaggeration, yes i know) bottle of X at any decent restaurant. thats not the point of my question. i tried to explain this in great detail in my OP.

i also updated my last post.

Sorry, I wasnt clear on that. I dont think that is a really good way to measure. As mentioned above, some places have more ala carte stuff than do others. Also, some places have a very low price on their ala carte and many of the dishes have supplements. Also, they may not include as many things.

oh im not arguing its a GOOD measure :) (its obviously NOT)

but there is an ANSWER to my question. there is NOT an answer to "where can you spend the most?" really..

Otherwise, it is trivial to spend >USD 500 at any reasonably good restaurant in the world, just order a few ounces of beluga caviar (that covers about 4 oz. at retail, so not a huge amount!).

Why beluga? You can order 50 g (< 2 oz) of Iranian oscietra at Le Louis XV in Monaco, and it'll ring in at EUR 420 (USD 550). But you get blini with it!

Charlie Trotter's in Chicago has a $175 prix fixe menu...so $350 for two on just food...throw in a bottle of wine and you're over the $500 mark.

Once I paid $1243.43 (IIRC) at a fast food place in Vegas. It was
lunch for two.

20 minutes later, I got a full refund and an apology... and the lunch
ended up to be free.

The cashier entered the last two digits twice by mistake for the credit card
transaction.. and then freaked out :p
The manager spent 20 minutes on the phone to get the transaction reversed.

last two digits twice :eek: quite an error.

Charlie Trotter's in Chicago has a $175 prix fixe menu...so $350 for two on just food...throw in a bottle of wine and you're over the $500 mark.

masa, aragawa, joel robuchon are $350-$500 PER PERSON for price fixe dinner

as i said, standard price fixe tasting menus, without paired wine.

its easy to spend more ANYWHERE. you can buy a $1M(exaggeration, yes i know) bottle of X at any decent restaurant. thats not the point of my question. i tried to explain this in great detail in my OP.

i also updated my last post.


Sorry it seems like nobody understands your question.

Ducasse has standard tasting menus at the Plaza Athenee in Paris at €220 and €320 for winter ´06. (This is $282-416.)

And yes, he charges for wine.

Sadly it is hard to find good meals in much of Europe for under USD 200 per person these days, at least in this type of restaurant.I have to disagree with this. Just in the Netherlands (hardly known for its culinary brilliance) I can think of 10 restaurants that are highly acclaimed and/or have Michelin stars that are under $200/person. One in particular with two stars has a fixed menu for 89 euro per person, which is their "best" and it really is fantastically good (all local ingredients, everything seasonal, everything very very tasy).

If you only eat out in places like London, Paris or Geneva, then I agree, it would be very difficult to find cheap restaurants with decent quality. But there is more to Europe than merely the big, expensive, post city centres.

What does price have to do with food quality anyway? I've had some of the best food for next to nothing (both in terms of quality and presentation), and some of the worst food at ridiculously expensive restaurants, and vica versa. I suppose it all comes down to personal taste and how seriously one takes restaurant critics and rating systems.

Per Se in NYC, as of January, 2007, has gone to a Prix Fixe menu at $250.00 per person. He has 2 different menus: a nine course tasting of vegetables and a nine course chef's tasting menu which changes daily.

Fat Duck is £115 ($225), Gordon Ramsay is £110 ($215), El Bulli is E165 ($215); all prices within the past 12 months, so those are all below your threshhold. (All tasting menus and all without wine)

Fat Duck is £115 ($225), Gordon Ramsay is £110 ($215), El Bulli is E165 ($215); all prices within the past 12 months, so those are all below your threshhold. (All tasting menus and all without wine)

But again, just the price of the tasting menu is no more reasonable than a cost when you buy a million dollar bottle of wine. The reason is that the tasting menues include different things and at in some cases, but not all, routinely have substitutions which add sginificantly to the price. That is why I am pretty convinced that despite the tasting menu difference both Per Se and Ducasse would likely cost more for an "average" dinner than Masa and Jean George about the same.

I should also say that if someone offered to buy me dinner at 50 restaurants of my choice in NY that Masa would not be on the list.

At many of these places (Tokyo/New York/London/Paris) you are also paying for the real estate (space).

Fat Duck is £115 ($225), Gordon Ramsay is £110 ($215), El Bulli is E165 ($215); all prices within the past 12 months, so those are all below your threshhold. (All tasting menus and all without wine)

And these fluctuate...I was at Fat Duck less than 12 months ago and the menu was GBP 97.75...

Another thing I neglected to mention in my above post is the wide variation in wine (and other beverage) pricing at these types of places. For example, at The Fat Duck we found it difficult to find many decent choices below GBP 100 (and far too easy to find wonderful choices above that level.) We were also charged GBP 84 for 4 glasses of (ordinary) port after the meal. SO, even though the menu price in Bray was reasonable in the land of 3 Michelin stars, the total bill was borderline obscene.

On the other hand, Michelin starred restaurants in Spain tend to have VERY gentle wine pricing. I have never had the pleasure of El Bulli, but at Zalacain and La Broche in Madrid there are good to great wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero in the €30 range!

France tends to fall somewhere in the middle, as does the USA...

Fat Duck is $225

Gordon Ramsay is $215

El Bulli is $215

Having a home cooked, romantic dinner at home with the one you love... PRICELESS. :)

dankyone and b1513, thanks ^

Once I paid $1243.43 (IIRC) at a fast food place in Vegas. It was
lunch for two.

20 minutes later, I got a full refund and an apology... and the lunch
ended up to be free.

The cashier entered the last two digits twice by mistake for the credit card
transaction.. and then freaked out :p
The manager spent 20 minutes on the phone to get the transaction reversed.

did you get to keep the miles?
:D

san dominico in imola may be that expensive. the Menù degustazione was over the equivalent of $300 2007 bush bucks the only time I ever ate there(maybe over $500). The reasonably priced wine made up for the expensive menu.

did you get to keep the miles?
:D

I have cash back.. and no :( I didn't get any cash back for that.
but the lunch ended up being free :)

Four of us shared a $500 Mac/Cheese and Martini lunch at Harry's Bar, Venice.

Dined with the delightful Dr. and Mrs.obscure2k

Not only were the company, food and drinks exquisite but we got Elton John thrown in for free. :)

Would repeat in a heartbeat.

Some of you may have read this last month...a dinner which cost $30K per person...

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2865908&page=1

A few years ago The NY Times restaurant review said Alain Ducasse NY was the most expensive restaurant in the US. Per Se is probably more now but wasnt open then. I think both are more than Masa. Both Jean George and Le Bernardin in NY are probably more than Robuchon. Kyubei in Tokyo is probably that much or more for a dinner. Any three star restaurant in Europe and a fair amount of two stars will likely be in the over $300 range and a some in the $500 range. A friend bought me lunch at Pierre Gagnaire a couple years ago and against my advice didnt get the 90 euro special lunch but bought the 7 course tasting lunch and it was a shade over 1000 euros for two, not counting cognac and cigars after lunch. Also, there are things like keiseki places in Japan that will certainly go into that range. The Taillevant-Robuchon place in Tokyo is also quite expensive.

Ha you read my mind. Le Bernadin was $ as was Per Se but Pierre Gagnaire was incroyable in every sense of the word.

Four of us shared a $500 Mac/Cheese and Martini lunch at Harry's Bar, Venice.

Dined with the delightful Dr. and Mrs.obscure2k

Not only were the company, food and drinks exquisite but we got Elton John thrown in for free. :)

Would repeat in a heartbeat.



Hey we're big fans. (and I know there aren't many-- most think overpriced/overhyped) We've always had fun (though no Elton) and wonderful meals (Seppie col nero alla veneziana ummm). Claudio is the Italian Bogart-- (sauve-cool-looks good in a white tux)

I know we're not supposed to count wine pairings but just received these invites-

World-Class Wines at The French Laundry

Yountville, CA

June 6, 2007
$1,475 per person
Lunch
Join Chef Thomas Keller and Master Sommelier Paul Roberts for an extraordinary seven-course tasting menu. Your experience begins with a Champagne and canapé reception in the restaurant garden and continues with an unforgettable feast in the turn of-the-century dining room. You'll enjoy wines from acclaimed vineyards such as Aubert and Colin-Morey, and have the opportunity to try a vertical of Modicum, a single vineyard cabernet that Chef Keller and Paul Roberts blended to accompany the cuisine of The French Laundry.

Paul Roberts will conduct a course by- course narrative about each wine being presented. In addition, guests will have the rare opportunity to purchase bottles of Modicum, which are not available for sale elsewhere. This will be a day to indulge your passion for delicious food and outstanding wines and discover why these spectacular vintages continue to be among Chef Keller's favorites.




Charlie Trotters spa cuisine (no wine) is only $495 ;)

Four of us shared a $500 Mac/Cheese and Martini lunch at Harry's Bar, Venice.

Dined with the delightful Dr. and Mrs.obscure2k

Not only were the company, food and drinks exquisite but we got Elton John thrown in for free. :)

Would repeat in a heartbeat.

Thanks for the memories, Cholula. It was, indeed a very special experience.I believe it was also the day that Mrs. Cholula and I decided to take the vaporetto back to the hotel and overshot our stop.:) Those Harry's Bar martinis are pretty potent & the mac and cheese is amazing.

Hey we're big fans. (and I know there aren't many-- most think overpriced/overhyped) We've always had fun (though no Elton) and wonderful meals (Seppie col nero alla veneziana ummm). Claudio is the Italian Bogart-- (sauve-cool-looks good in a white tux)

Thanks for the memories, Cholula. It was, indeed a very special experience.I believe it was also the day that Mrs. Cholula and I decided to take the vaporetto back to the hotel and overshot our stop.:) Those Harry's Bar martinis are pretty potent & the mac and cheese is amazing.

Maybe we all need an encore at Harry's??

Works for me. :)

Maybe we all need an encore at Harry's??

Works for me. :)

Encore! Encore!^ ^

Sounds like a SoCal party at Harry's-


I'm in!^

There was a shark-fin soup restaurant in TPE, forgot the name of the store but was on Ren-Ai Road close to the Presidential Office that was close to $550 per person. My host tossed in a French bordeaux that made the total probably close to $2,000 for my wife, him and myself.

Lunch at Nadaman's Tokyo flagship cost us approximately $1,000 for the two of us (excluding drinks). This was their 'regular' offering on that day.

(and yes, it was worth it - one of the best meals I have ever had).

My wife and I enjoyed an incredible dinner at Per Se a few weeks back for a special occasion. The final bill was over $1,000 - the most I've ever paid for a meal. It was certainly worth the splurge. We're going to start saving up again for our next NYC visit.

My wife and I enjoyed an incredible dinner at Per Se a few weeks back for a special occasion. The final bill was over $1,000 - the most I've ever paid for a meal. It was certainly worth the splurge. We're going to start saving up again for our next NYC visit.

Hey, enquiring minds want to hear what was on the menu.

And on your plates.

Hey, enquiring minds want to hear what was on the menu.

And on your plates.

My better half saved the card - let me see if I can find it....

My better half saved the card - let me see if I can find it....

Did they give you a menu card? I love it when restaurants do that. We recently tried the tasting menu at Steirereck in Vienna and each course came with a little descriptive card. I think more restaurants should do that (they had them in German & English)

Pierre Gagnaire didn't have cards, but they kindly gave us a translated menu to take home.


One day when I have time, I'll post both menus since those were definitely 2 meals in our all-time top 5.

please explain what could possibly make a meal for two worth $1,000? I just don't get it.

I'll stick to the 99 cent menu at wendys, best burger ever.

please explain what could possibly make a meal for two worth $1,000? I just don't get it.

1. Bragging rights here on FT.

2. Bragging rights to your grandchildren.
<or>
3. Showing your grandchildren where their inheritance is being spent.

4. Doing something that very few people have either the opportunity, desire, ability or "guts" to do.

5. Doing something you'll never, ever forget.

We all spend way more, in life, than $1,000 on things a lot more boring and forgettable than a truly memorable and unique dinner.


Just a few thoughts that come immediately to mind.

Did you find any of these on IDINE RewardNetwork?

HAHAHA.

please explain what could possibly make a meal for two worth $1,000? I just don't get it.

I'll stick to the 99 cent menu at wendys, best burger ever.

Please dont take this the wrong way, but your taste in burgers (a food that I love by the way) has a lot of room for improvement. ;)

1. Bragging rights here on FT.

2. Bragging rights to your grandchildren.
<or>
3. Showing your grandchildren where their inheritance is being spent.

4. Doing something that very few people have either the opportunity, desire, ability or "guts" to do.

5. Doing something you'll never, ever forget.

We all spend way more, in life, than $1,000 on things a lot more boring and forgettable than a truly memorable and unique dinner.


Just a few thoughts that come immediately to mind.

Every time my wife and I go, or especially if we take a friend as well, to dinner at a place like Ducasse, Jean George, Gagnaire or L'Arpege I try to remember to point out that we are spending a very small part of our non-existent childs non-existent Harvard education on the meal. ;)

Please dont take this the wrong way, but your taste in burgers (a food that I love by the way) has a lot of room for improvement. ;)

Ahem...;)

Every time my wife and I go, or especially if we take a friend as well, to dinner at a place like Ducasse, Jean George, Gagnaire or L'Arpege I try to remember to point out that we are spending a very small part of our non-existent childs non-existent Harvard education on the meal. ;)

^ ^

Ahem...;)

Indeed, as you know, as far as the fast food chain variety of burger it is a tie in my mind between the Mosburger spicy cheeseburger (with fries and an iced green tea :) ) and an In and Out burger. Wendys isnt in that game. When you up the ante to the Burger Joint at the Parker Meridian or for that matter even Corner Bistro or Fanellis, you are in a different universe than Wendys. :)

Or, in the category of 'junk food', Gray's Papayas (although, of course, that's dogs rather than burgers).

I love mosburger too (the burger, not the FT-er; no offence ;-)

1. Bragging rights here on FT.

2. Bragging rights to your grandchildren.
<or>
3. Showing your grandchildren where their inheritance is being spent.

4. Doing something that very few people have either the opportunity, desire, ability or "guts" to do.

5. Doing something you'll never, ever forget.

We all spend way more, in life, than $1,000 on things a lot more boring and forgettable than a truly memorable and unique dinner.


Just a few thoughts that come immediately to mind.

You forgot that it is really fun and if you chose correctly the food is magnificent.

Or, in the category of 'junk food', Gray's Papayas (although, of course, that's dogs rather than burgers).

I love mosburger too (the burger, not the FT-er; no offence ;-)

Love the Grays "Recession special" which they have had on the menu for as long as I can remember. I think it is $2.39 for two dogs and a papaya juice (any juice but orange in fact ;) ). ^

At many of these places (Tokyo/New York/London/Paris) you are also paying for the real estate (space).

No kidding. :confused:

Then are there any great restaurants in low rent towns?

Anyone want to try the best French restaurant in Bloomington, Indiana? :D

Then are there any great restaurants in low rent towns?

Anyone want to try the best French restaurant in Bloomington, Indiana? :D

Actually are quite a few IMO. And they're fun to find.

Some of the best French restaurants I've ever been to are Le Francais in Wheeling, IL, which is a city well north of Chicago.

And Cafe Johnell in Fort Wayne, IN as well as Cafe Central in El Paso, TX.

Not the traditional places you'd expect to find first-class French restaurants.

So highest price does not mean highest quality nor most enjoyable meal.

Per Se in NYC, as of January, 2007, has gone to a Prix Fixe menu at $250.00 per person. He has 2 different menus: a nine course tasting of vegetables and a nine course chef's tasting menu which changes daily.

Wasn't per se always prix fixe? That's how French Laundry has always been. 7 or 9 courses, with some options and supplements for particulars ones of those. I just looked and it seems the 9 course Chef's menu is now $240 (including the vegetable one, which used to be cheaper). Those have gone up a lot in the past couple of years. I think when he opened Per Se it had the same setup.

Love the Grays "Recession special" which they have had on the menu for as long as I can remember. I think it is $2.39 for two dogs and a papaya juice (any juice but orange in fact ;) ). ^

Mmm, Grays Papaya . . . .

So highest price does not mean highest quality nor most enjoyable meal.


Most often you'd be correct.

It's like buying a bottle of wine. A $100 bottle is rarely if ever five times better than a $20 bottle. But a $20 bottle can be much better than a $100 bottle.

Same holds true for a restaurant. It's not necessarily the price that dictates the quality. But at a certain price level....and we're getting back to the $1,000 a couple dinner discussed earlier....you would certainly have every reason to believe that meal would be world-class and infinitely memorable.

Actually are quite a few IMO. And they're fun to find.

Some of the best French restaurants I've ever been to are Le Francais in Wheeling, IL, which is a city well north of Chicago.

And Cafe Johnell in Fort Wayne, IN as well as Cafe Central in El Paso, TX.

Not the traditional places you'd expect to find first-class French restaurants.

Of course not. Some places are simply over-priced, some to the extreme. NY used to be full of them, places basically living off past reputations. Most of those places have closed as the information flow from the web and multiple professional reviewing groups took their toll.

But, I dont think you can possibly get the same experience in terms of food and service that you get at some of the very, very best restaurants at a bargain. I think we were talking about this a bit on another thread. The old Alain Ducasse in NY had seats for 55 people. They had one seating per night. They had 50 full time employees. We heard Patricia Wells, food critic for the Herald Tribune in Paris, speak at a very small venue and talked to her afterwards. She was telling us how at Robuchons restaurant in Paris (Jamin, his old one) he had someone to use little scissors to trim the stems off the salad greens. That was most of what that person did for the day. Pierre Gagnaire used to fly mangos for dessert in from Tahiti, and I think they said they used to do it on the Concorde. Then there is something like serving perfectly ripe white peaches poached and drizzled with very old balsamic vinegar (I think 150 years) for a dessert in L'Arpege. It aint cheap to do stuff like that.

Outback Steakhouse, $50 per couple. Works for me. ^



Works for me also. Why am I even looking at this ?

... Then there is something like serving perfectly ripe white peaches poached and drizzled with very old balsamic vinegar (I think 150 years) for a dessert in L'Arpege. It aint cheap to do stuff like that.More to the point some of these restaurants serve maybe 10% of the food that they provision. The rest is throw away. They do this to get the "very best" of the best. Making that peach cost $20, to pay for the 10 others that were bought and not used.

I once ate at a restaurant in Paris and had an animated discussion with my dinner companion. The restaurant delayed desert during this, and I was astonished to have it arrive the instant that we were ready. What timing! Later I learned they had made it 4 times -- and it was ready to eat 4 times -- until they saw we were ready to eat it. So it cost 4 deserts to make 1. This is just the standard service at these places (Lucas Carton in this case). Astonishing. But worth it.

my supplier spent $900 USD at the Morton's in HKG for 5 peoople and 2-3 bottles of wine when he took us to dinner....

my supplier spent $900 USD at the Morton's in HKG for 5 peoople and 2-3 bottles of wine when he took us to dinner....Should have gone across the street to either Pen or IC, get a much nicer dinner at either one for that kind of money in HKG (which is great value for fine dining).

Actually are quite a few IMO. And they're fun to find.

Some of the best French restaurants I've ever been to are Le Francais in Wheeling, IL, which is a city well north of Chicago.

And Cafe Johnell in Fort Wayne, IN as well as Cafe Central in El Paso, TX.

Not the traditional places you'd expect to find first-class French restaurants.

Let's just say I don't agree with your classification of Le Francais in Wheeling as "first class" if that same standard makes Le Bernardin "first class."

Let's just say I don't agree with your classification of Le Francais in Wheeling as "first class" if that same standard makes Le Bernardin "first class."

in it's prime, I don't think there ever would have been an argument that Le Francais was first class. But it went through an ownership change several years ago and seemed to have quickly deteriorated.

This, however, from a recent blurb, on the restaurant. The chef that brought them to the party is now back in charge:

Chef Roland Liccioni is back ~ taking over the reign as chef / partner of Le Francais restaurant in Wheeling. The highly imaginative and artistic chef was previously at the restaurant from 1989 – 1999. During this time, Chef Roland achieved a five-star Mobil rating, five Diamond awards, accolades from Food & Wine Magazine, and in 1997, he won the James Beard Best Chef in the Midwest Award, a highly sought after honor. Under his direction, Le Francais was thought of as one of, if not the, best Restaurant in the United States. Chef Roland’s achievements literally put Chicago on the map of the culinary world.

In my opinion, taste is all about appetite.

My best meal ever?

One saltine cracker. (I was lost in the wilderness and had not eaten in 2 days)
I will never forget the taste of it. ever.

Encore! Encore!^ ^

Cholula and obscure2K

I thought about you (my fellow Harry's lovers) when I ran across this quote
from one of my favorite Venice writers-- Jan Morris:

"Homage, whatever the trendies say, to Harry’s Bar, my local for half a century, where we once ate so delicious a dinner of scampi, salad, white wine and zabaglione that when we finished we had it all over again"


I just made reservations wayy in advance at Locanda Cipriani and have Venice on my mind.

Cholula and obscure2K

I thought about you (my fellow Harry's lovers) when I ran across this quote
from one of my favorite Venice writers-- Jan Morris:

"Homage, whatever the trendies say, to Harry’s Bar, my local for half a century, where we once ate so delicious a dinner of scampi, salad, white wine and zabaglione that when we finished we had it all over again"


I just made reservations wayy in advance at Locanda Cipriani and have Venice on my mind.

Very cool!!

And buon appetito. :)

Cholula and obscure2K

I thought about you (my fellow Harry's lovers) when I ran across this quote
from one of my favorite Venice writers-- Jan Morris:

"Homage, whatever the trendies say, to Harry’s Bar, my local for half a century, where we once ate so delicious a dinner of scampi, salad, white wine and zabaglione that when we finished we had it all over again"


I just made reservations wayy in advance at Locanda Cipriani and have Venice on my mind.

Well, what a high compliment, damon88 :)
You will absolutely adore the Locanda. Please feel free to PM me prior to your trip.

in it's prime, I don't think there ever would have been an argument that Le Francais was first class. But it went through an ownership change several years ago and seemed to have quickly deteriorated.

This, however, from a recent blurb, on the restaurant. The chef that brought them to the party is now back in charge:

Chef Roland Liccioni is back ~ taking over the reign as chef / partner of Le Francais restaurant in Wheeling. The highly imaginative and artistic chef was previously at the restaurant from 1989 – 1999. During this time, Chef Roland achieved a five-star Mobil rating, five Diamond awards, accolades from Food & Wine Magazine, and in 1997, he won the James Beard Best Chef in the Midwest Award, a highly sought after honor. Under his direction, Le Francais was thought of as one of, if not the, best Restaurant in the United States. Chef Roland’s achievements literally put Chicago on the map of the culinary world.

Le Francais used to sell superb hand made chocolates.I hope they resume this practice.It was the best afte La Maison Du Chocolate that I have ever had.

My boss just had a meal at Joel Reblchon in Las Vegas.
The setting and service were suberb.But at $500 a head the actual food served was laughable-exquisitely plated and of the highest quality but the prtions were so miniscule that you never really got enough food to get the full effect.

Outback Steakhouse, $50 per couple. Works for me. ^
Definately more worthy than Black Angus for me.

My boss just had a meal at Joel Reblchon in Las Vegas.
The setting and service were suberb.But at $500 a head the actual food served was laughable-exquisitely plated and of the highest quality but the prtions were so miniscule that you never really got enough food to get the full effect.

The times I've had the 16 course at Robuchon I thought I was going to explode. Did your boss order the smaller tasting menu? Or does s/he simply ave an enormous appetite?