Is a 6-course dégustation menu meant to be shared by two people?
 

I'm wondering if this would be considered ill-mannered or is it the norm?

you'll starve. the portions are too small.

I don't think the restaurant would even allow it. Many restaurants with tasting menus state that the whole table must have the same menu.

Very ill mannered and restaurants would not allow it.
For children maybe.

Certainly not the norm . Degustation - very small dishes . I doubt if a restaurant would want your custom . Perhaps ask the restaurant .

These degustation menus are usually stated on the menu "to be served to all guests at the table" or something similar so they are definitely not meant to be shared 1 between 2. IME they are usually very small portions, though we did have one once in NZ that would have served a small army. [I don't think that they had really understood the concept!]

@Whathello do you know what's ill-mannered? Charging $1000 for 6 plates of minuscule food.


A tasting menu at L'Atelier Joel Robuchon costs $1200 for two people.

I do appreciate the art and hard work that goes behind creating every dish, but I mean $1200?

And to think there are people in Africa and India eating from the trash. How unjust.

Loacker - you have taken one of the most extreme examples and run with it. No-one is forced to pay what I agree are ridiculous prices and more fool them if they do.

In fact the tasting menu at L'Atelier Joel Robuchon, Paris, is €189 pp

https://atelier-robuchon-saint-germain.com/?lang=en

I'm not saying that even that is a reasonable price to pay for a meal but it's nowhere near the U$1200 you mention. [it's more like U$450 at today's exchange rate]

'And to think there are people in Africa and India eating from the trash. How unjust.'

One could say buying a large house, or fancy car, or more clothes than one needs is unjust as well.

If fools are willing to pay 1200 then so be it. A fool and his money are easily departed.
Going back to the question I agree with Whatsapp....sorry Whathallo. Not acceptable to share plates no matter what the menu is.

Or indeed flying between continents when others walk to find water...

I also think $1200 for one dinner is obscene and -- no -- it is not like buying a house or a car or clothes, but there is something worse than unjust about conspicuous consumption that is justly criticised, and people who can't see the same of it might want to re-think. Not a great look.

shame, not "same"

People make their own decisions about what to spend money on.

$1200 for a meal is VERY expensive.

So is spending money to upgrade to first class when coach will get you where you need.

Or buying an expensive designer couch to sit on.

Or designer clothes and handbags.

In fact, travel is a luxury.

Do you need a ferrari when a ford focus will do?

Would eating out at McDonald's for every meal be acceptable even though it costs more than eating at home, but it isn't a fancy restaurant.

What people spend their money on is their business and what one person thinks is unjust could differ from what others think is unjust.

I spend my surplus money on travel, my brother spends his on cars and his house and my colleague just spent £1400 on a handbag. In the context of people starving around the world all are unjust.

It seems pretty silly for any of us to be talking about the injustice of what people eat in other countries as we sit on our computers on the internet discussing travel for pleasure.

So true, jamikins.

But to answer the original question, no, a tasting menu is not meant to be shared, and yes, it would be considered rude to try to do so, no matter what the cost.

BTW - I have NEVER spent that much on a meal and don't have the budget for it.

I think you should read annhig' comment.

$1200 - for one or for two - had been a false number.

The tasting menu in question costs €189 per person.

I am not sure I would characterize an attempt for two people to share a tasting menu as rude. It would be made clear when ordering that the menu price is per person. You may either agree and stay or leave and dine elsewhere.

"So is spending money to upgrade to first class when coach will get you where you need. Or buying an expensive designer couch to sit on.
Or designer clothes and handbags."

Yes, but 24 hours later, a couch is still a couch. A purse is still a purse. But the $1200 meal? It becomes .....

I just wonder how the waitstaff keeps a straight face while serving such largesse.