Alinea. - by Rug Burn Junky
Chimpy Chompy on 18/11/2010 at 13:57
So just out of interest what counts as Affordable in this context? If I were to eat at one of these snazzy places, what sort of impact should my wallet brace for?
Gryzemuis on 18/11/2010 at 14:24
Depends on the restaurant and the location. Restaurants in the center of a big city can and will ask higher prices than comparable restaurants in more remore locations. Then the menu of course, how many courses. But the biggest factor is how much, and what you want to drink. Restaurants often make a big part of their profit out of selling wines. Ofc, it's their skill to pick something good or something special. But you'll pay for that.
Example prices:
Ivy, Rotterdam, 1 star:
5 courses - 79 euros.
7 courses - 99 euros.
9 courses - 119 euros.
11 courses - 139 euros.
15 courses at the Chef's table, for 8 people, 3000 euros.
Chef's table is a ridiculous price. I guess it's their way to make a little extra money. When I ate at Geurds previous restaurant (which was 30km outside of Eindhoven, much more remote), I paid 100 euros per person, ~10 courses, with a little wine.
The Fat Duck, best restaurant of the world (with El Bulli):
(
http://www.thefatduck.co.uk/The-Menus/Tasting-Menu/) Tasting Menu takes 4 hours, 14 courses, 150 pounds.
El Bulli, the other best restaurant of the world:
According to (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Bulli) wiki, average cost of a meal is 250 euros per person. Not sure if that includes wine.
Prices might seem a little steep, but that is also because your dollar is so low compared to the euro. It used to be the other way around (10 years ago). Thank your Republicans for that.
Mmmm, a place like (
http://www.momofuku.com/) Momofuku doesn't seem to have prices on their website. Weird. Edit: somewhere else I read about prices ranging from $20 for a lunch to $45 for dinner. Maybe that's only the Noodle bar.
(
http://www.alinea-restaurant.com/pages/menus/menu.html) Alinea's menu.
15 courses (I think) - $195.
Up from $175 four years ago, when they didn't have their stars yet.
So the increase isn't too bad. Or maybe the recession forced them to keep prices down.
Anyway, I think a reasonable prices for a good meal in those highend restaurants is around 100 euros or 100 dollars per person. Maybe 75 euros in an upcoming good restaurant that doesn't have a star/recognition yet. Then add wine and tip.
Small rant: In european restaurants you tip according to what you want, expressing your gratitude. You can tip nothing, or up to 10-20% if you want to show off. You just round up the number on the bill. And the increment is the tip. Unlike the US, where you are expected to always tip 15% or whatever. Plus taxes. The US bill always ended up a lot more than what it looks like at first. Example: price is $45, I would pay $50 with tip. But in the US, the $45 becomes $47.7 and then with tip it becomes $54.86. And then people actually write $54.86 on the creditcard note. Always surprises and irritated me. :)
Kolya on 18/11/2010 at 15:15
Quote Posted by Rug Burn Junky
What did you hope to accomplish?
Have you ever met a very glib pretentious wanker in a downtown club, who couldn't stop indicating the money he makes (but he never pays the rounds), the powers he wields (irresponsibly), the bitches he ass-slaps at work (they sure hate him); flashing his cutting edge hair style, understated designer clothes and tech-gadgets like a gutless Patrick Bateman? And then later in the parking lot, after you got thrown out for spilling just a little bit beer on the ground while dancing, you decided on a whim to urinate into his convertible and
key-scratch the driver's side all the way from the front to the rear, even though - or maybe because it's such a nice and fancy car.
But you may understand the guy who later stands by the spoiled BMW, astonished, waiting for his girlfriend to arrive, before he loudly swears to
KILL THE MOTHERFUCKER WHO DID THAT! and let her preliminarily clean the mess with tissues from the ladies bathroom. Later that night, when they go to bed, he'll display some sadness to her about "what the world has come to" and who is probably responsible for this. But she'll just turn to the other side and ask him to shut up now, perplexing him with her uppity and adding to his anger. For at least a month (until the car is fixed) he keeps on pondering why someone would do something like that to him. However, since the car is in repair anyway, he'll let them build in an IPhone stand into the cockpit, turning this into a win after all.
See, there's no message being sent here. And I'm not kidding myself, thinking it might make the world a fairer place.
Am I aware of my hypocrisy? I guess, yeah. But it did feel good to kick that car.
Rug Burn Junky on 18/11/2010 at 15:35
So you're saying that you're an impotent, envious little boy, who is lashing out just to
assuage your own insecurity?
Because I assure you, your misperception of me is astounding, but what you just expressed about your own existence is profoundly sad.
I pity you. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Stitch on 18/11/2010 at 15:58
Kolya, I love you but (1) you clearly don't know the first thing about RBJ, and (2) you are very much in the wrong to bomb this thread. This forum needs more people sharing their experiences, even if said experiences may be outside of the price range that you and I share.
Kolya on 18/11/2010 at 16:03
Stitch, your love always has a "but" attached. :(
Never mind, I'm out of here.
Stitch on 18/11/2010 at 16:05
Good point.
I love you, Kolya :)
Chimpy Chompy on 18/11/2010 at 16:52
Quote Posted by LittleFlower
your dollar is so low compared to the euro. It used to be the other way around (10 years ago). Thank your Republicans for that.
I'm British, not American.
Anyway I could afford £100 as an occasional treat, but I'm not sure I'd want to splash that much even on the greatest of dinners. I mean I can appreciate good cooking over the ordinary, but I could probably get something I enjoy 90% as much for a lot less. However I don't wish to threadshit so will leave it there! I'm sure I've blown money on stuff others find ridiculous (eying pile of semi-painted warhammer figures).
SubJeff on 18/11/2010 at 16:57
Oh nigga, we are Fat Ducking it in the New Year for real yo! :thumb:
Tbh Koyla, even amongst my main crew half of us would be prepared to spend the money/can afford to go to these sorts of places, but even so those that can't/won't go don't begrudge the others in the way that you do. I understand the sentiment somewhat but on the other hand there is something artistic and even primal and natural about appreciating culinary wizardry.
