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

[workwoes123]

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?

Nope, I don't love food enough.

In your shoes I absolutely would do it!!! Forget the kids!

Having said that we all have our 'thing'. I for example will happily spend that amount or even more on a handbag. My sister would think a Zara handbag for say £45 is pushing the limit.

DO IT DO IT DO IT!

If I could afford it then I definitely would. We love food, enjoy cooking and eating out was always a big part of holidays for us. I am saving money for Noma ;).

However even if I was not interested in this kind of experience I would still go if my OH wanted to (again if we could afford it). Inevitably there will be differences in value you attach to different things or experiences, so just make sure there is some balance between the two of you.

We have a few times and it has been great but I wouldn’t do it regularly. Some have a lunchtime menu which is more restricted but far better value.

I couldn’t bring myself to spend that much money on a regular basis but I’d definitely take advantage and do it once!

I have, and it wasn't worth it. I've had better and more memorable meals that cost half the price.

Yes.
L'enclume is my "local" and I've been several times, as well as to several other places. The only place I didn't love as much as I had hoped was the Fat Duck.
I would love to go to Noma.

Yes - but I think you are always paying for the ponce and not the food. With a bit of research you can find top quality food at much more reasonable prices. I still recall the place with 2 stars in Colmar with a yorkshire pudding as an appetiser and a lobster bisque that involved a bunsen burner. And there were about 5 puddings. I just got the giggles. Maybe such things are wasted on me. Give me a family run Italian restaurant with high quality ingredients every time.

I’ve done a handful over the last 20 years. The Fat Duck in particular was totally worth it. As a rare treat for something more than just a whim then yes, I probably would. But I really wouldn’t take the children. It’s a lot of money for them and it’s distracting for you, no matter how well-behaved they are.

Yes on our honeymoon, planned, budgeted. I did all my own wedding organising including booking flights and hotels for relatives, taking care of somes younger relatives over the period and thought of this as A thank you to myself.

I would say yes. You deserve it. Look at it this way, when in your life will you have this experience again?

If you really do not want to, do not do it.

But maybe, say yes?

All the best

www.grottapalazzese.it/ Mind - we will be in Puglia later in the year and this place is on my bucket list. I calculated dinner with wine pairing is 400 euros a head. I haven't decided yet. That's a weekend in Rome or Barcelona sort of price.

I’d love to sink that kind of money on a once in a lifetime meal, but I’m severely allergic to fish and practically EVERY La de Da restaurant is fish, fish or fish. If anyone has any suggestions for fishless gourmet restaurants I’d love to hear them

The Ivy in LA. And yes it was!

For a foodie who has already done a few Michelin star restaurants then yes I definitely would. We enjoy Michelin star restaurants and save up and do them as a hobby. We did lots of one stars before doing the (very local to us!) 2 star as we wanted to be able to appreciate the difference.
Have another friend who enjoys eating out at nice chains (bistro Pierre etc) who did the local 2 star one (having never done a 1 star) and they just didn't see the value in it. Horses for courses I suppose.
If you're a foodie and it's not going to leave you skint, I'd definitely do it!

I have a few times.
My fave was a Jose Andres tasting menu. And they brought out a few not on the menu dishes like potato soufflés which were a dream.

Not as much as that and not recently. But yes I have eaten at extremely lovely and expensive restaurants.

Do either of you have a food preference/fad/allergy/intolerance etc?

I am a strict vegetarian and I found that GR and MPW (no matter what the level of their restaurants) didnt really want to cater for that. Whereas the vegetarian tasting menu at Le Manoir was exceptional and worth every bloody penny. But that was mid-late 90's. And I do agree with other pps perhaps regarding the increase in prices and quality.

So if you are both sure that every course will be to your delight (and you can afford it) then go for it! Why not?

I'd book a holiday if I had that amount of money to spare. But each to their own really. It needs to be excellent food and venue for that price.

We have, but we have lots of cash and we don't eat out very often as I'm a good cook and don't think it's worthwhile paying for something I can cook better at home.

I certainly wouldn't take kids.

If you're in the Dordogne - this restaurant is absolutely amazing and is much cheaper.
www.unparfumdegourmandise.com/

I have done, many times - if you love food/eating out and you can afford it then it’s worth it. I wouldn’t be getting into debt over it though.

I'm sure it will be fab. It's a lot if it doesn't include wine. I loved Hibiscus, and the Ritz Lisbon.

I haven't personally, no. But if I could, I would. And no kids; unless they're exceptionally well-behaved/sophisticated, they won't appreciate it.

We definitely wouldn’t be taking the kids: that was just an example of the huge prices!

Well you are a hedonistic lot 😂 I daren’t show DH this thread, he’ll be saying “well if Mumsnet says it’s ok then…”

Is it the same place I went to a few years back? Whole thing came in about £600 for 2 adults. It really wasn't worth it. The next night we found a lovely little restaurant which came in at about 60 including wine and it was much better - ambience, food.

That's a week's wages for me. Absolutely mad unless you are loaded!

No and no. I just feel one meal cannot be worth that much. Each to their own though.