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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you / have you ever spent £300 (or more) on a single meal? Was it worth it?

132 replies

workwoes123 · 18/04/2022 15:50

DH wants us to go for a once-in-a-lifetime meal. We’re in France, one of the top chefs in the world has several restaurants here. His flagship restaurant offer a menu which is €310, not including wine. So we’d be looking at around €700 at least for the two of us. For one meal. Even the children menu is €75.

I can appreciate good food, lovely surroundings, excellent service. But at that price? Even if we could afford it without blinking, I just don’t think I could justify it. Maybe I am being too tight though?

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 18/04/2022 16:38

We went to Tom Kerridge's London place to celebrate our elopement with friends recently. The bill was eye watering but MY GOD the food was incredible Grin worth every penny and all the more special because it was a one off. I'd go for it and leave the kids at home!

Abaababa · 18/04/2022 16:39

Yes and sometimes been worth it and sometimes not. Definitely don’t take the kids, great way to ruin a nice evening for you and the other diners!

NeedleNoodle3 · 18/04/2022 16:43

I’ve spent between £330 and £400 on a meal out for two five times and yes they have been worth it. They’ve all been fabulous evenings and I now have the memories.

Blossomtoes · 18/04/2022 16:45

Extravagant as I am, I couldn’t do it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it at all, there’s just something in me that baulks and I don’t even know why.

Ahgoonyegirlye · 18/04/2022 16:48

I have and no absolutely not worth it. I wasn’t paying the bill on the occasions I have been to these types of restaurants but while the food was very good, it’s wasn’t £100s per head good.
It’s all Emperor’s New Clothes. I would seriously think about donating that money to a food bank instead.

Hallyup89 · 18/04/2022 16:48

Nope. Not worth it to me. I find wine particularly vile as well. Better things to spend money on.

Worldgonecrazy · 18/04/2022 16:50

Absolutely! The most I’ve spent in Paris was E450 a head but that was some years ago. The only disappointing top end meal I’ve had was senderens, the other Michelin restaurants in Paris are absolutely awesome.

Ahgoonyegirlye · 18/04/2022 16:50

It’s about saying you’ve been. It’s about ‘experiencing’ the famous chef, food, venue. But it’s all nonsense really.
But then I’m the kind of person who honestly can’t taste the difference between a £50 bottle of wine and a £400 one. I’ve had the £400 wine at work meals and again, all smoke and mirrors.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 18/04/2022 16:51

We paid about £300 per head at Restaurant Story in London by the time we'd ordered the tasting menu , wine pairing and optional extra special course.

It was one the most memorable and enjoyable meals I've ever had ( L'enclume was another but we did that years ago and can't remember how much it was )

I'm glad we did it as it was a great experience but we were all shaking our heads on the way home at how ludicrously expensive it was! ( we were also starving a few hours later and ordered a pizza delivery!)

Ohsugarhoneyicetea · 18/04/2022 16:52

I've had a few meals at 3 star Michelin restaurants in Paris. Its not really to my taste to be honest, I find the food overly complicated and often far too salty. I prefer simple fresh food with a focus on the ingredients rather than 'techniques'. Buts that's just me. Actually I did very much enjoy the Jules Verne at the top of the Tour Eiffel, the view made it well worth it.

JaninaDuszejko · 18/04/2022 16:56

We paid ~£500 for a tasting menu at a Michelin starred restaurant 10 years ago, it would be more than double that now (it's got more stars as well). Everyone has different interests and some might spend that to go to the theate, or to a sporting event, or to go to Disney World (my idea of hell), I would rather go out for an interesting meal so yes, I would spend crazy money on a meal but you might spend more than me on something else. If you can afford it and you will enjoy it then do what will give you pleasure.

Chely · 18/04/2022 16:56

Not a chance at current financial comfort level.

Even if it was pocket change to us I'd be reluctant.

WhiskeyAndGinger · 18/04/2022 17:00

Yes we have and no it wasn't worth it. Emperor's new clothes as a PP said. We'd been invited to a friend's holiday home in France for a long weekend, and to thank them we said we'd take them out for dinner at a restaurant they recommended. They booked the tasting menu at a very expensive restaurant, saying they'd always wanted to try it. It cost us nearly £800 for that meal. I'd rather have booked us a luxury hotel for the weekend and not had to waste a small fortune on food as a thankyou.

ruthieness · 18/04/2022 17:02

if it is Paul Bocuse then definitely worth it

best meal of my life - incredible food!
unforgettable - a massive footprint in our memory!

so often money can be spent on things quickly forgotten
not that!!!

irishfarmer · 18/04/2022 17:04

I wouldn't. But if you want to and can afford it why not it's your money. I'm sure there are things I spend my money on that people find mad. I think €100 per head is the most I would spend on a meal. I wouldn't be taking kids.

Bravoecholima · 18/04/2022 17:06

A small handful of times for special occasions-usually anniversaries and on our honeymoon. Totally worth it for the food but also for the whole lovely experience.

Cherryblossoms85 · 18/04/2022 17:06

My ex had a Michelin obsession so it was quite a regular occurrence. I would say one meal was worth it, and that meal was in a one star and was more like £100 , albeit 10 years ago. But in general, no, it's just too much pressure for a perfect experience.

Soffit · 18/04/2022 17:09

Yes - I have mainly not been the one paying though! I would closely study the menu before I committed an d be fairly sure of what my preferred/fallback options were. You rarely get precisely what you want, especially with tasting menus which often just state an example on their website (which can be nothing like what is available on your particular day!)
You have to cost up whether it is worth it as well. I cook cordon bleu style food myself so it isn't always so enchanting to me.
However, if I was going to a Japanese-fusion type restaurant and I wanted to try a large variety then it would not be feasible to eat all of that in one go at home so I would factor the variety into the cost. I know for sure that I properly pigged out ay Nobu and got my money's worth.
Since I do not drink, I am often pleasantly surprised by the bill at the end.

APurpleSquirrel · 18/04/2022 17:18

No I haven't & can't imagine being in a position to be able too. Plus I just think that's a ridiculous amount to pay for food. As others say you're paying for the name/brand, experience etc.

And definitely don't take the kids! I was annoyed last week when my DS refused to eat the ham sandwiches I'd bought him in a lovely cafe (freshly made, nice ham) - he ended up eating just the buttered bread, & that was £6.50 - paying £75 for food they'll mostly reject, no way!

JennyForeigner · 18/04/2022 17:19

Yes, and no.

We live in Nottingham and my DH booked a very famous Michelin starred restaurant for my 40th. We're foodies - just hadn't been able to afford anything fancy since kids. I love to cook and it was in a covid break in restrictions so we knew a weekend away wouldn't happen.

Food was good but not £450 for two good. Beers were good but not £10 each good...

I mainly found it completely over the top salty. Maybe my palate changed during covid, but it really spoiled the treat for me.

Shannith · 18/04/2022 17:21

Yes - Gordon Ramsey Chelsea - definitely worth it at the time.

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons - nice but not worth it.

I've eaten at at lot of 1 star places that were much cheaper - and worth it. Chez Bruce bring one, let much deals meant we ate there a lot when we were local.

Lunch is cheaper than dinner - and pick right and it will be the most memorable meal ever.

The experience is perfect if you get them to match the wines. I can still remember vividly a fois gras and sweet wine combo that I'd never have thought of and was mind blowing.

Don't take the kids - they will not appreciate it!

Suzi888 · 18/04/2022 17:24

Yes but not worth it for me as (at the time) I only ate chicken. I can’t eat most cheeses.
Seriously limited what I could have.

Now I’m vegan, I’ve probably had it!

Alexandra2001 · 18/04/2022 17:24

£300 for lunch for 3, that was enough, it was ok but i'd not do it again, what makes a great meal is who you are with, not what you eat!

TBh the best meal i ever had (with an ex) was Fruit de Mer in Brittany, it was an experience i will never forget & probably cost £20.

Shoxfordian · 18/04/2022 17:26

Yes we have a couple of times; I took my dh to the fat duck for his 40th last year and it was amazing: the food/wine combinations were incredible and it’s like being at the theatre with all the drama. We also went to the Waterside Inn which I loved.

I would definitely go if I were you op

Flatbrokefornow · 18/04/2022 17:27

Depends. Right now, I’m living off £20 a week for food for two of us, so obviously not. It would take me years to save up. ‘Normally’ also no. It would be a couple of months treat money, and one meal isn’t worth it to me personally (and I generally like simple food, done well). If it were a months treat money, maybe. I’d be slightly worried I’d develop a taste for it, though!