To go to an extremely expensive restaurant

[Fantaorage]

My adult DC and I both have big birthdays coming up and are foodies. We're not wealthy by any means, and we're far from posh / sophisticated / dressy up. I'm wondering whether to blow around £500 on a meal for 2 in a local 2 Star Michelin restaurant. We eat out reasonably often, but I don't think I've ever spent more than £40 per person before, and I usually spend half that. Neither of us are keen on wine, so we'd probably just go for water and not increase the bill that way. The £500 would just be food and tip for 2 people, with a sampling menu. I'm wondering how many of you have done that and whether you think it would be worth the cost for a once in a lifetime meal at a top restaurant, or whether we're likely to feel self-conscious among posher fellow diners and obsequious waiters, and to regret spending so much money!

Do it!

Lunch menus are also often really good value

My friend does this relatively often. They're not 'posh' or wealthy but fancy food is their only vice/hobby and they saVe hard for the experiences. I say go for it!

It's not like you do it all the time. If you can afford it, why not?! Go for it!

100% do it. We blew £600 on a meal at Gordon Ramseys Petrus a few years ago and we still talk about it to this day. Cant speak for the other diners, but the waiters most certainly will not make you feel out place.

I’ve had a couple of sampling menus in the past and tbh I really enjoyed them. I think the staff tend to be really good at putting guests at ease. I’d go for it.

Do it. We are certain not posh and we got to Michelin starred resturants all the time.
I go wearing my docs and normal going out clothes for me.

OP that is exactly how my DW and I have celebrated all our anniversaries. Do it!

We did similar Op and it was one of the best meals that we ever had! Still talk about it 2 years later. I'm very much a main course for under £20 if possible type person!

Obviously depends on the restaurant but where we chose the serving staff were fab - explained each course to us, answered questions but otherwise left us alone! Also a re mix of diners.

Do it. I love fine dining and have had the wine tasting with the tasting menus a few times, I've also just had water and enjoyed just eating lovely food.

I don't really spend money on designer products, but I really do love a great afternoon or evening of fabulous food.

Treat yourselves! What an amazing experience it will be

I grew up in Stockport and went to a comprehensive school. I've eaten in some incredible restaurants over the years and never once have I felt out of place.

Go for it op. But I would have a drink to go with it, you can still order by the glass in these places.

Go for the experience. I’ve been to a few very fancy restaurants (including 3 michelin star) but I can’t remember what I ate. I can remember a great dish I had once in a little nondescript restaurant, and can still rave about it ten year’s later.

Definitely, yes. I went to Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden for one birthday several years ago. I still think about it and have the pictures.

If its more about the food than the fancy service/dressing up/ vibes I would spend 250 or something on amazingly luxurious ingredients and do a full day of deluxe cooking and eating.

If you can cook that is. I find that fancy resturants are charging 50% for the vibe. The rest is good ingredients and skills required to good food well.

If you are a competent cook, I'd do that! So much more fun, and you do not end up feeling like a mug!!

I've done this sort of thing a few times now.

It's absolutely worth it if you are someone who is massively into food and wine and gets excited about fine dining. I love that sort of thing, but not everyone does and I know people who have been disappointed because it just wasn't the kind of food they're into.

Tbh if you never usually spend more than £40 I'd go for something a bit more middle ground like £75-100 a head at a really good steakhouse (if you like steak). Or some examples from Manchester something like Another Hand or perfect match. Personally Id rather have 3 meals like that than one mega fancy one at 250 pp.

Wow, that's a lot of feedback saying to go for it! To answer a couple of points, neither of us really enjoy wine, and we're not hugely into cooking, so getting great ingredients and cooking ourselves isn't something that we'd look forward to.

Those of you who've eaten in Michelin star restaurants - do you go for an experimental approach with a really good and one-off chef producing dishes you won't find elsewhere, or do you go for a really high quality classic approach?

I've eaten at Le Manoir twice, and never forgotten the intensity of flavours. It was worth it, even if very expensive.

Once was an a la carte dinner, and the other a four course lunch celebrating spring flavours.

I had a taster menu of about 12 tiny courses at L'Ortolan but that wasn't my thing. I like to sit and savour, not rush from one food to another.

Sounds like a fantastic idea. I took my husband to the fat duck for his 40th (10 years ago) and it was a fortune but worth it for a once in a life time experience! You would spend way more than that on a party.

We live in London and before DC would do this as our celebration treat quite a lot. The best service I have ever had was at Gavin at Windows. They were superb! Knew exactly when to leave you alone and when to silently top up your drink etc. I believe the maitre’d from First Dates used to be in charge of front of house there. They were genial and welcoming.

It’s not about the food in itself but the whole experience imo. I do enjoy a good wine pairing however and the sommeliers are great at explaining the pairings.

You should go for it. We are neither posh nor rich, but are very foodie.
We treat ourselves for big birthday, anniversaries and occasionally when there are one off special events ( Rick Stein at F & M).
Have done tasting menus, with wine flights and also off the menu specials. My husband will drink wine but prefers a pint and have yet to find anywhere this has been an issue. Never felt out of place. Usually the staff are very well informed of the menu and professionally friendly.
Go and enjoy, I'm sure once you've done it once you will have a wish list of restaurants/ chefs you would like to try in the future.

I used to do this a lot when I was younger (20s), strangely, but now in my 30s I seem to have gone off it! I much prefer simple things done well - the perfect slice of pizza, delicious ramen from a hole-in-the-wall Japanese spot, French onion soup in an unpretentious bistro, that kind of thing.

However I do have fond memories of all the fine dining, so if it’s your thing, definitely go for it. When I think of £500 now, I think that’s ’festival money’ and not how much to spend on a meal without wine. ☺️

Experimental approach, I love to try new combinations of flavours.

Part of the experience is having the food served to you, rather than cooking & washing up afterwards. It's their big birthdays after all.