In a restaurant, approx $350 a head including wine, with the bias towards wine.

At a home dinner party... well, let's just say 4 bottles Bussola Amarone TB 1997 Vigneto Alto, two bottles Giacosa S. Steffano 2000 Barolo, two bottles of Gaja Gaia and Rey 99, a bottle of 1957 Solaria Jonica, and some co-op sciacchetra (an 06 or 05) followed along a mix of a lobster risotto, trofie in pesto, osso bucco with a truffled gnocchi, plenti of cantucci, a nice rucola ensalata and 7 cheeses. Add in bread, olive oil, and an amuse bouche of mortadella, pecorino senesi, and a dollop of 125 year old balsamico... EDIT: If you have to ask, it blows the $350 a head out of the water. The two bottles of Giacosa were practically infanticide when I opened them...

4 people, 7.5 hours (started at 4pm in our kitcken over the Gaia and Rey), one of the single greatest meals of my life.

Cheers,

-Andrew

Tasting menu at Nobu, which I seem to recall was about £75 per head, with drinks came to around £100-£120 per person.

We actually thought it was pretty good value given you can pay not much less than that in London for a pretty mediocre meal.

Boss picked up the tab.
A tasting menu with additions at Joel Rebouchon=$350 a head before wine.

Out of my own pocket,
A tasting menu at Le Cirque=$225 a head without wine.

I did the 99 euro one a few weeks ago, wasnt impressed. When I did ala carte a few months ago, I loved it.

There was 5 of us at Enoteca Pinchiorri and the bill was almost 6k euro. Most of it was wine. Tailevent for 9 of us was about 8k euro, again most of it was wine. I have the menu and wines we drank that night. I'm gonna have to find it.

$350 at Gary Danko's in San Francisco. My friend got sick at the last minute, but I decided to go by myself anyway. Figured I might as well make the most of it.

Morimoto's in Philidelphia.

For 4 people the "omakaze* about $1750.00. There was a bottle of mid level wine plus tip.

It was great, considering we flew to Philly for the principle purpose to try a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich and eat at Morimoto's. (both was great for different reason and not on the same day:p)

He even sat with us for about 10 minutes to chat. Got our pictures taken.
He made the evening very memorable.

Danko's and Morimoto's mentioned back to back, my mouth is watering. Two great places!

I picked up a tab once that should have been $120, but the restaurant put it through for $1,200.

Took a few days to get resolved, but it was.

I won't count that.

Probably $120 or $140, with half of that amount of that going to wine.


It would have been probably 10 or 15 years ago, and it was probably Amadeus in Stamford, CT, which is long since gone. New Years Eve, it was our annual place.

Wow...the $115 we spent per head at Del Posto in NYC a couple weeks ago sounds positively cheap in comparison to some of these posts! (Actually, we abstained from alcohol on that particular outing, so 100% of that was food and tip--I think it was $95 per person before tip.)

That I had to pay for? ~$150. Ever, regardless who paid? ~$300.

I never really enjoyed it. I don't like spending so much on food as it's such a stupid waste.

I can out-cook at home every professional chef I've ever tried, so I really hate spending more than about $50 a head.

Well, I can't (yet) out-cook many professional chefs, but you're right: there comes a point at which it's just a bit much (unless someone else is paying for it, anyway).

My experience at Del Posto was very good--top notch service and tasty and innovative food--but it's not something I'd choose to repeat anytime soon.

The meal we had in Dijon three days later was half the cost and, while the service was not quite as stellar as Del Posto, the food was much better (heartier and more filling as well as having that home-made French kitchen quality of heavenly sauces on top of top-quality ingredients). I'd go back there ten times before going to another high-end big city restaurant.

I have done this...for Alinea, of course!

$375 for the kaiseki at Takamura in Tokyo. I think that was $250 for food and $125 for beer and sake. The whole experience was wonderful, and I'd do it again in a second.

Can I come next time? :)

80.00 at CIA in Napa Valley. It was wonderful. That was only one glass of vino with the tasting of samples(8) to begin with, entree and creme brulee. The took fresh figs and filled them, I still want more.