Having dined at all of the best Basque restaurants in Spain and France and most of the best Catalunya has to offer, I can assure you that there is nothing out there worth more than 50 euros/person, not including wine. And 50 euros is pushing it.

The most expensive meal I ever had was at Nicolai's Roof, on the top of the Alanta Hilton--this was about 20 years ago. At the time the price was $100 p/p and I don't remember the # of courses, but there were quite a few. The waiters were appropriately dressed in Russian attire, and as various courses were served, they came on plates topped by silvery domes, which the waiters lifted off, for each two guest, at the same time, with quite a flourish. The view, at night, was beautiful. My only regret was that I was there in Atlanta with a group, for a meeting, and my husband was home in Oregon, probably eating a microwave dinner. The food we had in Russia a few years later did not compare, of course. Ciao!! mhm

Robert: I may not be understanding your comments. Are you saying that all the "best" (Akelare, Mugaritz, etc) are not worth the money? Or can you eat at those for 50 Euro before wine? Thanks.



Here is one interesting list of the "best" in the world, compiled by some very well respected food critics:

http://www.theworlds50best.com/2008_list.html

I wonder if the infamous fishcakes will get a mention.........

I guess I've led a boring life, but I don't think I've ever eaten a meal that cost more than about US$65 per person, and that was in France and with a fairly bad exchange rate. I think the meal was around 45 euro. Perhaps I spent the most at Alain Ducasse's cheap joint in Paris where you sit at a bar, which was good, but that was actually some years ago when it was a lot cheaper than now, as I did spend only around 45 euro.


I've never spent more than maybe $40-50 in the US, and I really can't recall specifics on where those were, as I've probably spent around that many times. Probably some place in NY where even a modest steak house can run that, or Buck's Fishing and Camping or Old Angler's Inn in Washington, DC, where I live.

This goes to show how out of it I am and I don't even know about famous restaurants or chefs -- it wasn't Ducasse I was thinking of but Joel Robuchon and his place near Hotel Montalembert (L'Atelier).

topping for Robert...

El Bulli. About 2500 Euro for two. Lovely evening.

Steven:



How did you manage to spend 2500 Euro for two at El Bulli? I am guessing a couple of bottles of Vega Sicilia Unico (??!!!)

OP was asking for the prices excluding wine..