Most expensive meal you've ever had?

[disneysteve]

On various threads about restaurants, tipping or other dining out topics, comments have been made like, "I can't imagine ever spending that much on a meal." So I'm curious - what is the most you have ever paid for a meal out? I would include just regular restaurant meals, not, for example, a meal you had as part of a wedding reception or some other banquet setting. I would also include a meal even if you weren't actually the one who paid the bill, like if someone treated you for some reason like a birthday or other special occasion.

As I've mentioned before, my wife and I have had the pleasure of dining at Le Bec Fin (lebecfin.com) in Philadelphia several times. They serve a prix fixe dinner. Currently, the price is $150 per person, though we haven't been there recently. I think it was probably $125 or $135 the last time we were there. Of course, that did not include tax or tip which would bring it up to about $160/person - $320 for the two of us. And that doesn't include drinks, of course. Fortunately, each time we dined there, someone else was paying, which made the experience even better.

[SnoopyCool]

Ummm... $50? I think it was IHOP...LOL!

[shinobu]

The most expensive meal I've had was a couple weeks ago. We went to a fancy steakhouse restaurant and it was about $70. It was for 2 people. Something we don't do but once in a blue moon.

[markusk]

Disneysteve: when I lived in the Philly area I always wanted to check out Le Bec Fin ("beccy fin's"). I was invited for a "drug dinner" there one time (paid for by the pharma drug reps) but couldn't go due to a family obligation

I did get to go to Morimoto's in Philadelphia twice (of Iron Chef fame). The first time was with a large group (paid for by a pharma drug rep) in one of the private rooms. What can I say. It was a feast for the taste buds. Amazing flavors. Had my first Kobe beef and Foie gras during that multicourse meal. After the last entre, Morimoto himself came into our room to thank us for coming...he got a stand O' from our group. He was like a rock star!

2nd time I went to Morimotos, it was with my wife. Paid about $250 (not including tip) for a multicourse sushi meal with a glass of wine. This was several years ago. I heard Morimoto is now back in NYC.

[kork13]

With some good friends in Atlanta, I went to a Brazilian steakhouse. I believe it was about $50/plate, or something along those lines... my friend's father paid for my meal (greatly appreciated -- wow), so I'm not totally positive. Otherwise, the most I've personally spent on a meal is about $35, I think. Clearly, I have some exquisite tastes....

[myrdale]

The Appalachian Grill here in town is the most expensive place I've personally paid to eat. Dinner will run around $35 a person. When I took my parents there to eat, the bill was just shy of $95 for the 3 of us.

Dean Morgan's, another restraunt in town, is probably the most expensive. I have only eatten there once with work. I never saw the bill, but let me put it like this, they had a dress code. I am guessing +$50-$90 a person.

[wincrasher]

The most expensive meal I ever had was Feb '08 - I was at the Marriott Marquis revolving restaurant in Times Square in Manhatttan. It was fixed price, $152 per person plus tax and tip. Wine was included for each course. It was OK. I didn't care for the pate. I know, there are a million better places to go in NYC. The view was nice though.

The most expensive tab I've ever had was at home - it was over $400, but we fed 6 people.

[Broken Arrow]

Most expensive so far is probably going to this nice sushi restaurant and ordering too much sushi. It was great, but turned out to be about $50 per person. Normal tab is more like $30 per person.

We have a great Brazilian steakhouse here (there are 3, but I've only gone to one), but that one is "only" $33 per person before tip.

At least once in my lifetime, I would like to sample Kobe steak (or Wagyu of some kind), foie gra, and-- I don't know if this will ever happen but-- Iranian caviar.

[wincrasher]

Foie gra is gross. I just don't see the appeal.

Generally I don't get "delicacies". People want to pay all this money for something supposedly the best, but generally turn out to be disappointing.

I'd bet if I laid out 10 types of caviar, you probably couldn't tell the cheapest from the supposed best.

Pen & Teller did one of their "Bull****" episodes on fancy foods. They made crap from tin cans into fancy meals and served them in a fancy setting and embellished the descriptions - people fell for it - supposed gourmet connisours - thought it was delicious! Hillarious.

[illinigamer]

The most expensive meal I ever had was at Le Cirque in Las Vegas which was about $150 per person with tax and tip. I rarely spend anywhere even remotely close to this eating out. I think lobster and truffles are the most overrated foods on earth.

[Caoineag]

Most I have paid is $100-120 per person (there was 2 of us). Usually because special occasions result in lots of food and beverage over a decent length of time. If I am paying that much though, I want everything to be delicious. I have been to a couple of places that could cook the perfect steak but bombed on the sides. I don't tend to go back. My preferred special occasion budget is now $100-120 for 2 people. Tend to get better value in that range.

[EEinNJ]

It's not hard to spend 100 bucks pp at a nice restaurant in Phila or NYC, especially for sushi, such as at Buddokan or the Red Eye Grill.
Most expensive I can remember was 600 for 4 of us in Santa Fe, but that was with a wine connoisseur.

[Broken Arrow]

Foie gra is gross. I just don't see the appeal.

Generally I don't get "delicacies". People want to pay all this money for something supposedly the best, but generally turn out to be disappointing.

I'd bet if I laid out 10 types of caviar, you probably couldn't tell the cheapest from the supposed best.

Pen & Teller did one of their "Bull****" episodes on fancy foods. They made crap from tin cans into fancy meals and served them in a fancy setting and embellished the descriptions - people fell for it - supposed gourmet connisours - thought it was delicious! Hillarious.

If that's true, then you've just saved me a bunch of money.

[MonkeyMama]

Probably $100 (total for 2), and that was quite a meal at a fancy restaurant.

I think the thing for us, is there are plenty of little holes in the wall that serve EXCELLENT food where we live. I don't really see the point to spend a lot on a meal out. We hit nicer places once in a while, but you go into those places with such high expectations, it's hard to come away happy. (We are rarely impressed).

Sushi can add up, but we have some great little affordable sushi buffets.

[GREENBACK]

I spent about $130 or so on a birthday dinner for two at a Red Lobster a few years back. It included probably four Gin and Tonics which was probably as expensive as the food...lol.

I normally try to keep the bill under $75 and $50 is better. I don't think I've ever eaten at a really fine dining place.