One meal just won't cut it if you've built it up so much. Either add truly unique setting to the equation or make it a series of meals.

I agree with what Gleff says. My husband and I have been married for many years and have had many memorable meals. We had "one celebratory meal of a lifetime."
Here goes----
10th wedding anniversary
Reserved the wine cellar for the 2 of us (it seated 12) at our favorite restaurant in Los Angeles..Scandia (sadly, now gone).
We worked closely with the maitre-d to design the menu. My husband and I got very dressed up and had a limo pick us up at home (grandparents were watching the kids). We brought our stereo and a selection of our favorite operas. We had our own waiter and captain. In between courses we went for walks. The captain took photographs of our event and someone wrote the menu in lovely calligraphy (it is framed, of course). After dinner the limo took us to a suite at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
MENU
Beluga Caviar
Dom Perignon 1961

Consomme Celestine
Scampi Americaine in a Viking Ship
Mersault 1969

Pheasant Facon du Chef
Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1945

Roast Saddle of Lamb
Broccoli Souffle Anna Potatoes

Assorted Cheese and Fresh Fruit
Chateau Yquem (we added this and don't recall the year)

YES YES YES YES YES

I disagree, because I find it takes me a week to recover from a lavish meal like this. Too rich, too sensual -- it really is sensory overload to try to do this 2 nights in a row. For lesser meals, fine; in fact I've had 10 lunches in a row at michelin 2-star restaurants, and enjoyed it. But 10 dinners in a row would likely lead to liver failure....

These restaurants are undoubtedly out of my league (at least right now in my life) being a younger person, but I would recommend getting one with a view. If it's supposed to be special...really special...there's nothing more memorable than sharing a perfect view with someone. The food can be great, but that's not the whole experience.

This thread is fun for dreamers...

10 in a row? Impossible.

But a few nights in a row? Sure. That's why you have a nice spicy szechuan lunch, counteract all that buttery goodness.

Please see, however, The view is great, the food is not.

Interesting thread, I missed it before. I almost choked on the first post though, Montgomery Inn has a view???? Of what. In any case, two places that I think have stunning views and very good to excellent food are Ventana in Big Sur (was there 2 Saturdays ago for lunch, it was great) and Kozue on the 44th or so floor of the Park Hyatt in Tokyo. Ventana is about 1000 feet above the ocean at Big Sur with panoramic views up and down the coast in one direction and at the coastal ranges in the other direction. When we were there 2 weeks ago you could see snow on the mountains in one direction and the ocean in the other. Kozue has two floor high ceilings and glass walls on one side with an unbelieveable view over Shinjuku. Food at both are first rate although not the absolute best.

Hemispheres magazine did a pretty good story about this a few years ago. Owners of restaurants with fabulous views admitted that their rents are so high they generally have to compromise with less expensive ingredients or that there isn't the budget to hire a fine chef. Then, I believe, there are a lot of chefs who believe their food is such a multi-sensory treat, there is no need for additional stimuli.

I've ate at many highly acclaimed restaurants and I can think of few with good views. Scirocco and the other restaurants atop the state building in Bangkok are good and have great views; and if you sit outside at Oustau de Baumaniere for a summer dinner you'll have a fabulous meal and a lovely view of the surrounding rocky mountains.

You'd be surprised how many great restaurants there are that offer very reasonable set menus during lunch.

Two come off the top off my head. I believe Jean-Georges has a set menu for lunch for only $45. And then there's this one:

http://www.taillevent.com/restaurant/menu3.html

And what I think is the best restaurant deal in the world with the special lunch for about 100 Euros at Pierre Gagnaire.

Hi @SJC1K,

I came across this decade-old thread in a search on a similar topic, and I can't take the suspense... What did you decide and did it turn out as hoped??

CLG

Hadn't seen this thread before.

Just get me a veggie pizza and a bottle of 2010 Ch. Margaux, and we'll call it good. Make sure the pizza has artichokes and black olives, though.

Isn't 2010 a little young for a Margaux?

I'll find a way to choke it down.

I really like Eleven Madison Park in New York. Not the most expensive by any means (but it certainly isn't cheap), not the highest rated restaurant in the world, but the magical food in the magical city is pretty damn good. You can spend the rest of your food budget on a fancy hotel in New York.