View Full Version : Snootiest Restaurant You've Ever Been To?
Just what it says. I'm wanting to hear about really spendy restaurants, trendy or traditional, that you've been to, involuntarily or otherwise. Even if you just worked there. As you know, there are some people who go out to eat, just for something to "do". Even in this town, I'm told there are places where dinner & drinks for two will eat up two $100 bills. There is one place that has VERY limited seating capacity, extremely limited hours, and reservations must be made months in advance! The funny thing is--usually the really snooty menu's don't feature comfort food or steaks, it's usually some weird recipe with tiny portions. Like "Asparagus tips and Escargot with a buoyant and delightful Pineapple sauce". See? Anyway, lets hear it. How about Eleven Eleven Mississippi, in San Lo. Ever been there?
iris lilies
10-27-14, 6:12pm
Just what it says. I'm wanting to hear about really spendy restaurants, trendy or traditional, that you've been to, involuntarily or otherwise. Even if you just worked there. As you know, there are some people who go out to eat, just for something to "do". Even in this town, I'm told there are places where dinner & drinks for two will eat up a $100 bill. There is one place that has VERY limited seating capacity, extremely limited hours, and reservations must be made months in advance! The funny thing is--usually the really snooty menu's are don't feature comfort food or steaks, it's some weird recipe with tiny portions. Like Asparagus tips and Escargot with a buoyant and delightful Pineapple sauce. See? Anyway, lets hear it. How about Eleven Eleven Mississippi, in San Lo. Ever been there?
Sure I go to 1111 a couple of times a year. That's where I held my 60th birthday dinner where we hosted 9 others. In their wine room. With lots of wine!
For DH's 60th birthday dinner two weeks ago at Sidney Street with a smaller group and a smaller bill.
I'll clue you in that your speculation of cost is off, even, I suspect, for Springfield, MO. Closer to $100 a head is more like it at high end St Louis places. Just a friendly caution so that you aren't shocked the next time you pick up the bill at Sidney Street.
I watched the documentary "Spinning Plates" recently. One of the restaurants featured is Alinea, in Chicago, which is just the sort of restaurant you're talking about. However, when you see the absolutely insane amount of creativity and physical effort and just basically unheard-of process that goes into crafting a meal, you can almost understand the price tag, which with tax, tip and wine could easily top $1,000 for two people. I think some of these stratospheric culinary experiences can't really be called "eating out", it's more like being privately fed by Van Gogh. (And no, I've never eaten there.)
I have eaten at La Grenouille, long ago and far away in another life. The total bill for 8 very drunken lawyers and me was $5,120. Fortunately the bill was footed by McDonnell Douglas, it's nice to know they're doing something with their money other than building bombers. FWIW, it was a great meal in a beautiful place with impeccable service (and I'm pretty sure the astronomical bill was 3/4 wine), but no, as far as I'm concerned even if I were a billionaire there's no reason to spend that kind of money on dinner, that particular place didn't seem to offer anything I couldn't get for a small fraction of that price, except a name.
catherine
10-27-14, 6:20pm
Been to my share of spendy restaurants, including one I took my DB and DSIL to where each of us had a white-gloved napkin-catcher by our side--meaning if we dropped the napkin they would retrieve it midair, fold it and place it on our laps. We were afraid to go to the bathroom for fear they were going to come in and assist us in the wiping department.
DH is getting tired of our Saturday night very-reasonable sushi bar, so I trolled around on the internet and came across a highly rated restaurant in Princeton. The prices seemed way too low. $15 for most items. Then it hit me. It was a small plate restaurant, so they would expect you to get three or four small plates. Plus designer cocktail. Plus wine.
Maybe once upon a time we would have tried two plates and a cocktail and a bottle of wine, but those days are gone. However, "snooty" is in the eye of the beholder. There are "nice" expensive restaurants and then there are "snooty" ones. You can't stereotype.
There's a sushi place I go to now-and-then.
There's no sign on the door. There's no indication it is even there, you have to know where it is, and when it's open - it doesn't have regular hours, it is only operating when the chef thinks he has sufficiently high quality ingredients to bother with, and is in the mood. Don't bother calling, I don't think he has a phone - word of mouth is his only social media.
Once inside, the owner/chef "refuses the right to serve anyone" to almost everyone. If he doesn't recognize you, he chases you out. You have to be introduced to him by someone else he knows and trusts before he'll let you contaminate the interior of his establishment. It helps if you speak Japanese. And aren't Korean.
There are no prices. You eat what he makes. He has perhaps the world's finest sake assortment sitting there too.
Best sushi ever, and I've sat in front of Nobu several times before. It's not even particularly expensive, at least in monetary terms. I haven't paid for a meal there for years, he either comps me for taking him fishing up here, or stupid-rich friends of mine pay. I had a friend of mine call me up once and tell me "The Mad Chef is cooking tonight, and he has XXX (bizarre ingredient not found in our universe) - I'll send a jet up to pick you up in about 2 hours, be there." (This led to a great 50's-style rock-and-roll song involving secret agents, billionaires, and fish smuggling.) I know one of my friends pays by letting The Mad Chef drive his Ferraris when he is out of town.
The chef is either the world's biggest sweetie, or a nightmare sushi Nazi from hell, depending on your luck and personality.
I saw him ban a friend of mine for a year for "disrespecting the rice" one evening.
Anyways, I'd tell you where it is, but he'd never let me back in if I did.
DH is getting tired of our Saturday night very-reasonable sushi bar, so I trolled around on the internet and came across a highly rated restaurant in Princeton. The prices seemed way too low.
I am pleased to inform you that when I was out to Princeton earlier in the year, I found that Hoagie Haven was still in business, and as good as ever.
catherine
10-27-14, 6:35pm
I am pleased to inform you that when I was out to Princeton earlier in the year, I found that Hoagie Haven was still in business, and as good as ever.
Good ole Hoagie Heaven! And finish up at Halo Pub... Can't beat that!
BTW, if your daughter can afford one wee plate, have her try this small plate restaurant.. looks great: http://www.mistralprinceton.com/
Bae, that sounds so amazing ... um no, not the hoagie place. God I'm so hungry again. But what is it about some sushi that's sooooo much better than others? I adore the stuff, but I have zero palate about it, give me fresh salmon with a little wasabi, soy and ginger, maybe the thinnest lemon slice, and I'm in heaven. I get that your whole Mad Chef experience is kelvin-zero cool and ... engaging, and attitude is a huge part of what makes a meal extraordinary, but what is it that's so different about the food? Tell, make me drool, make me blow next month's budget on one dinner.
ETA: OMG. Is your daughter in college already???
IshbelRobertson
10-27-14, 6:50pm
I've eaten in quite a few 'spend-y' places around the globe in the last few years.
Amongst our favourites in Edinburgh are
the Witchery
prestonfield house
the Kitchin, Tom Kitchin is one of my favourite chefs anywhere.
I am so sad that Oloroso, a great restaurant owned by chef Tony Singh, closed a while back.
In London
benares
Various Gordon Ramsay places
Zilli fish
Locatelli
15, Jamie Oliver
le Manoir, Raymond Blanc.
I went to a very upscale snooty restaurant for a business dinner. They had an elevator to take you to the second floor, that had to be keyed in to get there. Each person had their own server the whole night. 5 course meal, each being the size of a deck of cards or less. It took us 2 hours to eat and I felt so uncomfortable.
Gardenarian
10-27-14, 8:15pm
Recently went to Noble Coffee in Ashland, OR and dh was read the riot act when he ordered a 'regular'.
NOBLE COFEE: OUR MISSION
At Noble Coffee Roasting, we aim to enrich the lives of our customers by sourcing the world's finest coffees, roasting them to their highest potential, and by educating professional and home baristas how to best prepare and enjoy these coffees.
We believe that amazing coffee starts by sourcing the highest quality green coffees from organic farms and cooperatives, continues in the crafting of coffees with great attention upon roasting, and ends in the fine details of brewing. We are fully devoted to this process. We are both masters and students of the bean; confident in our product and ability to maximize its potential, yet always excited to learn more.
As dedicated as we are to creating wonderful coffee, we know that if our customers don't know how to brew it, our goal is incomplete. Our Noble crew is a coffee-loving group of kind folks who are eager to educate, share, and learn. As a company, we aim to create deep and lasting relationships with our suppliers and our customers, whether the interaction is face to face or from afar.
Fresh, organic, handcrafted coffee - that's Noble.
Give me a break!
I don't know that I've ever been in a restaurant that I'd consider snooty, although the fanciest one was in the Grand Hotel de la Reine in Nancy, France. White gloved waiters and main courses served in covered dishes, flourished with style. I don't remember what a meal for two cost there, the combination of 17 years and conversion rates conspires against me, but whatever we paid, it was worth the cost.
Recently went to Noble Coffee in Ashland, OR and dh was read the riot act when he ordered a 'regular'.
NOBLE COFEE: OUR MISSION
...
We believe that amazing coffee starts by sourcing the highest quality green coffees from organic farms and cooperatives, continues in the crafting of coffees with great attention upon roasting, and ends in the fine details of brewing. We are fully devoted to this process. We are both masters and students of the bean; confident in our product and ability to maximize its potential, yet always excited to learn more....
.
Give me a break!
Have you seen Portlandia? :doh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErRHJlE4PGI
There's a lot of that smug hipster vibe going around.
iris lilies
10-27-14, 10:39pm
I've eaten in quite a few 'spend-y' places around the globe in the last few years.
Amongst our favourites in Edinburgh are
the Witchery
....
I love The Witchery and was so glad to hear you say once that you liked it. I was afraid that it was considered by the locals in Edinburgh to be a tourist trap. I had a lunch there since dinner reservations are hard to come by. It was lovely and not terrifically expensive. I was annoyed that my credit card was turned down there, the first time I had tried to use it in Scotland. I had even called my credit card company to tell them that I would be traveling to Scotland. Fortunately I had adequate cash because I didn't trust the credit card company.
My next Edinburgh goal is to stay in one of the famous Witchery suites. While that cannot ever top my stays at Stuart Castle outside of Inverness, it's on my bucket list. And funny cooincidence, speaking of Stuart Castle, the cost of the castle stays included evening meals with local venison. The jolly plump cook came out after the meal for guests to greet and thank. Likely the OP would consider dining in the original dining room of a 17th century castle to be quite snooty.
iris lily
10-27-14, 11:22pm
I watched the documentary "Spinning Plates" recently. One of the restaurants featured is Alinea, in Chicago, which is just the sort of restaurant you're talking about. However, when you see the absolutely insane amount of creativity and physical effort and just basically unheard-of process that goes into crafting a meal, you can almost understand the price tag, which with tax, tip and wine could easily top $1,000 for two people. I think some of these stratospheric culinary experiences can't really be called "eating out", it's more like being privately fed by Van Gogh. (And no, I've never eaten there.)
I have eaten at La Grenouille, long ago and far away in another life. The total bill for 8 very drunken lawyers and me was $5,120. Fortunately the bill was footed by McConnell Douglas, it's nice to know they're doing something with their money other than building bombers. FWIW, it was a great meal in a beautiful place with impeccable service (and I'm pretty sure the astronomical bill was 3/4 wine), but no, as far as I'm concerned even if I were a billionaire there's no reason to spend that kind of money on dinner, that particular place didn't seem to offer anything I couldn't get for a small fraction of that price, except a name.
That was probably back when McDonnell was headquartered in St. Louis. We miss them, a lot of people lost their jobs when Mac left.
I'm familiar with a sushi restaurant similar to what bae describes...perhaps it's the same one?
Been to a whole slew of snooty restaurants. What can I say, my brother is in the biz so I take full advantage of his food and wine expertise when traveling to try out places he recommends. Sometimes he recommends them because they are great restaurants, but often it's so I can do reconnaissance for him. Either way, the food is often amazing and the atmosphere is...snooty. The only one I really don't need to go back to is Coi in San Francisco. I think I dropped $350 a head that night and it wasn't worth it, IMO.
We aren't big on that sort of thing but do enjoy special meals at Commander's Palace when in NOLA. The fixed price lunch runs about $30 and includes the bread pudding soufflé and at lunch they have 25 cent martinis! It gets pretty expensive otherwise.
Sure I go to 1111 a couple of times a year. That's where I held my 60th birthday dinner where we hosted 9 others. In their wine room. With lots of wine!
For DH's 60th birthday dinner two weeks ago at Sidney Street with a smaller group and a smaller bill.
I'll clue you in that your speculation of cost is off, even, I suspect, for Springfield, MO. Closer to $100 a head is more like it at high end St Louis places. Just a friendly caution so that you aren't shocked the next time you pick up the bill at Sidney Street. I'm sure you dial 9-11 several times a year. Ha. But what about attire at 11-11 ? Don't you have to wear a jacket and tie or else a dress? Just curious.
"That was probably back when McDonnell was headquartered in St. Louis. We miss them, a lot of people lost their jobs when Mac left."
Maybe it was the $5,000 dinners they couldn't afford. I may have been personally responsible for global outsourcing. :|(
Yah, see--you start sharing the wealth with the hired help, and they start spending it on frivolities. $100-plate dinners, $200 concert or sporting event tickets, $500 Tattoos, Luxury trips to touristy places like Hawaii, High-priced motorcycles, the list goes on. About like Justin Bieber, and his chromed Veyron. Money for nothing. And guess what? They want more. Until the company makes a choice: Either move production offshore, or go broke. See?
Money for nothing. And guess what?
The chicks are free?
iris lilies
10-28-14, 9:05pm
I'm sure you dial 9-11 several times a year. Ha. But what about attire at 11-11 ? Don't you have to wear a jacket and tie or else a dress? Just curious.
No. The only place I know where you have to wear a jacket is Tony's. Tony's is an olde school 4 star restorante and I'm not very interested in that. Maybe someday I will go there. The service is obsequious, however.
The chicks are free?
:laff:
The chicks are free? Over on another thread, I was enlightening everyone about how dull and boring the preferred music of redneck hippie geezers, the so-called "classic rock" genre is. It boils down to an official playlist of about 50-60 recordings. Two are by Dire Straits, aka, Mark Knopfler, his songs from antiquity(Sultans of Swing/Money For Nothing) that are played every day, several times, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, decade after decade. They were catchy, back in the day, but have long since gotten old, old,old and stale. Have you ever listened to a Dire Straits Album? Seen Knopfler on PBS, awhile back? Not very impressive. You will then know what a Two-Hit wonder is. The local classic rock station plays-two-in-a-row by every music-by-dead-guys group on their playlist, each Tuesday. Coming Up Next: some Golden Earring; Radar Love/ Twilight Zone, on Two-fer Tuesday! Stay Tuned. Hope that helps you some. Thank Mee.
Over on another thread, I was enlightening everyone about how dull and boring the preferred music of redneck hippie geezers, the so-called "classic rock" genre is. It boils down to an official playlist of about 50-60 recordings. Two are by Dire Straits, aka, Mark Knopfler, his songs from antiquity(Sultans of Swing/Money For Nothing) that are played every day, several times, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, decade after decade. They were catchy, back in the day, but have long since gotten old, old,old and stale. Have you ever listened to a Dire Straits Album? Seen Knopfler on PBS, awhile back? Not very impressive. You will then know what a Two-Hit wonder is. The local classic rock station plays-two-in-a-row by every music-by-dead-guys group on their playlist, each Tuesday. Coming Up Next: some Golden Earring; Radar Love/ Twilight Zone, on Two-fer Tuesday! Stay Tuned. Hope that helps you some. Thank Mee.
Have you seen Mark Knopfler play with Chet Atkins? Talent like his can't be relegated to a "Two-Hit Wonder" category.
I rarely listen to music anymore although when I do occasionally run across Radar Love on the radio I'm immediately taken back to a time in the early 70's when I'd be driving all night my hands wet on the wheel, travelling from my Air Force Duty Station to my hometown to see my girlfriend. Most everyone has a song or two that takes them to another time and place. That one does it for me.
Have you seen Mark Knopfler play with Chet Atkins? Talent like his can't be relegated to a "Two-Hit Wonder" category.
I rarely listen to music anymore although when I do occasionally run across Radar Love on the radio I'm immediately taken back to a time in the early 70's when I'd be driving all night my hands wet on the wheel, travelling from my Air Force Duty Station to my hometown to see my girlfriend. Most everyone has a song or two that takes them to another time and place. That one does it for me.File Under: Duets By Has-Been Technical Guitarists. You'd just Love it if the NFL granted tenure to all of its' players, so that they would be active footballers well into their Sixties and beyond. This would make a great topic for another thread--Arcane Music. See, Knopfler is VERY prolific (like Ted Nugent); he's recorded more than twenty albums plus collaborations, and sold over 20 million copies; received 4 Grammys; Packs arenas with devoted fans; is on Rolling Stone Magazines' 100 Best Guitarists list; and been awarded honorary degrees in music, okay? Yet, he is still a two-hit wonder! Why? Like most of these guitar guys, his music is too technique-centric. More about fancy riffs and fast, loud playing than content such as---melody. Melody? What's that? He's just another one of these arena-rock, crowd mania noisemakers like Bonamassa. See what I mean? Hope that helps you some. Thanks.
JaneV2.0
10-29-14, 11:07am
Years ago we went to Indigine in Portland because they were one of the few restaurants that served Indian food back then. They only served it one night a week, it was a small place, and reservations were required. We started off on a sour note when we declined to order wine...We were not wine drinkers, and still aren't. Apparently that was where they made their money--it was a prix fixe joint--so from then on we were red-haired stepchildren. The food was probably good--I don't remember--but it was a multi-course meal, and interminable. I guess the idea was to string out the process to replicate leisurely continental dining. And, not parenthetically, to sell more wine. This was lost on us, of course--we could talk in the car, sober. It had been a long day, and I was tired, and so I asked for a cup of coffee. You would have thought I had asked where the chips and salsa were. Our server looked appalled. She informed us that she was sorry, but they only had so many burners, and they were occupied with food. She couldn't possibly rustle up some coffee. Maybe nobody had ever asked before. The courses kept coming, and i managed not to do a face plant into the kheer and exit with silver leaf on my nose. Barely. I was overjoyed to get out of that place--full of starchy food and already half asleep.
I guess I'm just a rube--vast plates with microscopic food dribbled with Jackson Pollack-esque sauces don't impress me in the least.
catherine
10-29-14, 11:24am
Funny story, Jane!
Kind of related, one of my favorite movie lines is from LA Story--Steve Martin goes to a nouvelle cuisine restaurant, his order comes out, he stares at the spoonful of entree garnished with a leaf and encircled by a swoosh of something, and he says to his companion, "That's funny--I'm finished but I don't remember having eaten."
Having lived in arguably the highest end resort town anywhere for a couple decades we got to see it all. DW was, for many years, a concierge for the resort company itself. One of her jobs was to take all the other concierges with local hotels to each of the participating restaurants in town every year. Their spouses usually weren't invited, her's was. Generally speaking the restauranteurs and chefs were acutely aware of who could send several hundred diners willing to drop hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars per meal to them during the season. Almost without exception the snooty restaurants and their usually even snootier owners only made it one season. I could name off some, but none of them exist anymore. The places that managed to achieve impeccable service and still have a warm, laid back kind of vibe usually did very well. The places that provided cab rides home for all the concierges did even better.
I've only been to one very snooty place. A restaurant on Lake Geneva in NY where a friend of mine was a server. She invited her hubby and I to dine there one night (free!!). It was lovely (in a giant old house converted to a small formal restaurant) but I was extremely uncomfortable with all the fuss and bother. Too many servers hovering about. The food was good and the prices outrageous so would never go and pay myself. I'm not a restaurant person and not a foodie so generally don't enjoy the experience overall. Can't remember the name of the place but it was a 3 or maybe 4 star restaurant so probably well known.
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