Most expensive meal you've ever had?

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Joan.of.the.Arch

My hole in the wall places keep closing. Y'all please support your local hole in the wall! Go out and look for one if you don't know of one. A good idea is to look for an ethnic one.

We've had some trouble with that around here. The problem is these big national chains move in and even though they have inferior food and inferior service, they have the name recognition marketing muscle to draw people in. There used to be a truly excellent Greek seafood restaurant near us. They were wonderful. Great service. Very friendly. Servers were extremely knowledgeable and would describe each dish in great detail. If you told them the types of fish you liked, they would recommend things on the menu that you would enjoy. They served all fresh fish flown in daily from the Mediterranean region.

A McCormick and Schmick seafood place opened across the street. Within a few months, the independent place, which had been there for a few years, was closed. I've eaten at McCormick and Schmick one time. It was lousy. The shrimp was dry and inedible. The salmon was burnt. I would never go back there. I don't care how many locations they have.

Give me the independent chef or family-owned place any day.

[elessar78]

Probably around $130. Steakhouse, wine, dessert, and tip. I wouldn't say that was too bad and def not a regular thing. I think I've paid for 2 meals like that in my life.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

We've had some trouble with that around here. The problem is these big national chains move in and even though they have inferior food and inferior service, they have the name recognition marketing muscle to draw people in. There used to be a truly excellent Greek seafood restaurant near us. They were wonderful. Great service. Very friendly. Servers were extremely knowledgeable and would describe each dish in great detail. If you told them the types of fish you liked, they would recommend things on the menu that you would enjoy. They served all fresh fish flown in daily from the Mediterranean region.

A McCormick and Schmick seafood place opened across the street. Within a few months, the independent place, which had been there for a few years, was closed. I've eaten at McCormick and Schmick one time. It was lousy. The shrimp was dry and inedible. The salmon was burnt. I would never go back there. I don't care how many locations they have.

Give me the independent chef or family-owned place any day.

This stuff is a major issue in my area. My community is demographically diverse and is a great testing ground for the chain restaurants. There is one of everything here. When I moved here nearly 20 yrs. ago it wasn't quite that way and most restaurants were essentially Mom and Pops. No more. I've seen a ton of places go out of buisness thanks to the chains.

I use to eat at a lot of these places as much for the atmoshere as the food but that is now a thing of the past. There are only a couple of them left and I try to patronize them as much as possible.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

This stuff is a major issue in my area. My community is demographically diverse and is a great testing ground for the chain restaurants. There is one of everything here. When I moved here nearly 20 yrs. ago it wasn't quite that way and most restaurants were essentially Mom and Pops. No more. I've seen a ton of places go out of buisness thanks to the chains.

I use to eat at a lot of these places as much for the atmoshere as the food but that is now a thing of the past. There are only a couple of them left and I try to patronize them as much as possible.

It really is a shame. We're slowly losing the local flavor and regional dishes. Food in New Jersey shouldn't be identical to the food in Texas or California or South Dakota or Tennessee. Years ago, it wasn't like the way it is now. Everything is getting homogenized. Unfortunately, lots of people seem to like it that way. When they travel, they take comfort in eating at the same lousy chain restaurants they eat at when they are home - Chili's, Applebee's, Friday's, Olive Garden, McDonald's, etc. They apparently have no interest in trying new things or having new experiences when it comes to dining. Personally, we think that is an important part of travel.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Homogeneity gets to be downright grotesque when it comes to food. A couple of times I have seen a commercial for "gourmet Italian" sandwiches at some national chain restaurant. On screen they show two hamburgers! One of them has breaded, deep-fried, mozzarella sticks on it. Excuse me, that is not gourmet, that is disgusting overindulgence! Do that in the privacy of your own home, if you must, but please don't televise it and call it "gourmet." Thank goodness I do not have a large screen TV. Gag.