371 replies to this topic

[Wilfrid]

With Roberta's opening it's super-posh dining room for the hipster aristocrats, I thought it would be interesting to look at the current price landscape (dinner). Corrections and additions welcome. I'm aware I've omitted Japanese restaurants.

Per Se $235*
Restaurant Daniel $195
Eleven Madison Park $195
Le Bernardin $190
Brooklyn Fare $185
Roberta's (Blanca) $180
Bouley $175
Jean-Georges $168
Corton $155
Jung Sik $155
The Modern $155
WD-50 $155
Atera $150
Blue Hill at Stone Barns $148
Del Posto $145
Le Cirque $135
Demi-Monde $130
Momofuku Ko $125
Colicchio & Sons $120
Gramercy Tavern $116
Craft $110


*I deducted a 20% tip to make the comparison fair.

ETA: Continuing to add.

[Wilfrid]

One observation: Ko could certainly raise its dinner price.

[Orik]

I think it'd be slightly more representative if you give the range of prices (e.g. at Per Se there's some $120 in potential supplements, I imagine the same is true for a few of the others)

[Orik]

WD-50 $155

[Orik]

Jung Sik $155

[Wilfrid]

At BH Stone Barns, there are basically three tasting menus - I took the middle one. It's a rough and ready list, but it certainly shows a changing landscape after years of stagnation. I made your additions.

ETA: Maybe be should call Roberta's new space Blanca to distinguish it from the pizza joint.

[Orik]

Fair enough. Also, Ko is $175 at lunch and $125 at dinner, so the middle is maybe $150. I think there are some changes coming there soon, although I don't know what exactly.

[changeup]

Jung Sik $155

Neat - didn't know that existed. 10 courses.

[taion]

Is the intent to restrict this to 3-star restaurants? There's Degustation still maintaining a $80 price point on the low end.

[mitchells]

Creatively using McDonald's current Dollar Menu and forgoing fries and a drink, you can put a pretty good tasting menu together for $8-$12 bucks.

[oakapple]

Is the intent to restrict this to 3-star restaurants? There's Degustation still maintaining a $80 price point on the low end.

I think Wilfrid is trying to document the "new high-end normal". Clearly, there are still plenty of places with sub-$100 tasting menus.

[Wilfrid]

Is the intent to restrict this to 3-star restaurants? There's Degustation still maintaining a $80 price point on the low end.

No, I was just interested in the how the top end lines up now. There are several bargain tastings out there, I agree.

[Orik]

What are wine pairing prices like? $100-ish? less? more?

[oakapple]

It's worth noting that at The Modern, you're already in for $98; at Daniel and Jean Georges, $108; at Del Posto, $115; at Eleven Madison Park and Le Bernardin, $125. The tasting menu premiums at these places, beyond what you'd pay just to walk in the door, are pretty reasonable.

What's remarkable is the amount places like Roberta's, Jungsik and Atera are getting away with (or think they can), without having earned the accolades that (in the past) were required before you could entertain a price like that. I mean, if Roberta's started charging $125 prix fixe in its regular dining room, the party would be over pretty quickly.

No one has mentioned the relative bargains at Gramercy Tavern and Craft. I'll bet Meyer and Colicchio are looking at the prices of these other places, and thinking: "I could do that too." By the way, the Colicchio & Sons tasting menu is $120.

[Wilfrid]

I was certainly struck by the fact that Craft now looks like a cheap joint. You can pay almost as much at the crap local bistro.

Also amusing to reflect that Alain Ducasse's prices of $145 for dinner, $160 for a tasting were thought prohibitive about ten years ago.