was it any good?Most expensive I ate was $275 and was given only 30 minutes, even then I think it was between 5 and 10 minutes.
......still paying that bill....
Did you eat your meal at the restaurantMost expensive I ate was $275 and was given only 30 minutes, even then I think it was between 5 and 10 minutes.
Eating out at the dine-in.Did you eat your meal at the restaurantor did you outcall it
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Wow same experience I had with Don Alfonso - service and atmosphere was great… but the food not so much.Don Alfonso. I invited my 2 besties for their 40th birthdays. Not worth it.
Can't agree with this enough! I get way more satisfaction from the family-run restaurants (insert ethic food of your choice) this city has to offer. Paying $45 for a burger and pint at a fucking Kelsey's makes me want to burn the place down. Or as @Mister pantstent said, paying several bills for "meh"? Done!I have been to many "upper echelon" type restaurants. My SO equates high price to good food. Unfortunately, we have never actually found that correlation to exist.
Sure, plate looked nicely presented and the atmosphere was nice but the food quality never aligned with the price and we always left hungry. And we eat a normal portion, not the over the top Americanized version of a portion.
Every once in a while she will suggest a place she wants to try out and we end up having an awkward conversation about value for the dollar. We've been down that road so many times before and blah, blah, blah. But maybe THIS time it will be better.
There have been so many $500-$600 dining experiences where I left angry at myself for agreeing to go.
Now I have learned to say no in many languages and accents.
Has she stopped suggesting high end restaurants?I have been to many "upper echelon" type restaurants. My SO equates high price to good food. Unfortunately, we have never actually found that correlation to exist.
There have been so many $500-$600 dining experiences where I left angry at myself for agreeing to go.
Now I have learned to say no in many languages and accents.

Nice meal.Nothing super crazy expensive for me.
I recently went to Sel Noir Steakhouse in Montreal with a client and with an appetizer, a steak with two sides and a sauce (sides and sauces are separate charges), dessert, and drinks it was about $300 per person.
The menu can be cheaper or much more expensive depending on what you order.
The food was beyond amazing and I highly recommend.
A little tip if you go to Sel Noir, we found the sides are large enough for two people to share.
My menu:
Appetizer - Bone Marrow Beef Tartare (this was very good, just a bit too spicy for me)
Main - 8oz Filet Mignon (medium, best steak of my life)
Sauce - Red Wine (I could have drank this sauce straight, it was that good)
Sides - Garlic Sautéed Mushrooms (these could have been better, a bit overcooked) and Mashed Potatoes au Gratin (another best of my life)
Dessert - Oreo Cheesecake (Not much to say, great cheesecake)
One of the most extravagant places I've eaten at was a small hosted dinner at The National Arts Club in Gramercy Park, NYC. The main ceiling is made of Tiffany glass, it's beautiful.
Sel Noir Menu View attachment 516171 View attachment 516172
Good point. I agree. Don’t forget the 20% tip at the end. The final guilt tax on an average meal. LOL. Aside from that, TO has generally good choices for dining out. As I said earlier, International fine dining will almost always be more expensive.Nice meal.
As an aside (about sides), I’ve started to notice that more and more higher end restaurants are going to the steakhouse model of the protein coming alone, or with minimal accompaniment, and then offering a list of sides. I dislike this for a few reasons. One, the protein alone is now the same cost as a full main dish would have been,
so the price gets jacked another 15-20 per plate, when you are already shelling out big $$. Second, it shows no skill or imagination from the kitchen, imo a meal should be completely composed, and the “sides” should be selected and prepared to compliment the meat / fish. Thats how I cook a meal at least. Finally some of these “sides” are great, while many are decidedly “meh”. $20 overcooked green beans or asparagus, soggy, sloppy mashed potatoes etc.
I get the idea of choosing separate sides at a steakhouse, where the meat, simply cooked and seasoned is the star, but otherwise I think it’s lazy, and I hate extra cash grabs at places where I am already committed to shelling out big bucks. It’s petty, cheap and shows little class.
End of rant






