hungry and rich?

[Ken Gargett]

this is actually from about five years ago.

 

18 of the Most Outrageously Expensive Dishes and Drinks Around the World

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by Amy McKeever Jan 29, 2013, 9:45am EST

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Sure, you can go to Masa and drop $1,160 on dinner for two, but why stop there when you can order a frittata, pizza, or ice cream sundae for nearly that much each? Or, even better, why not just go all in by burning through $3.95 million on a strawberry dessert? Restaurants from New York and Las Vegas to Sri Lanka and beyond compete to create the world's most outrageously expensive dishes — some certified, some not, but certainly all over-the-top. Some use gold leaf and foie gras to jack up the prices, while others go for pricey cuts of meat or rare wines to accompany. Plus, of course, there are the diamond engagement specials.

Eater reached out to restaurants and bars around the world who are known for their high-rolling ways to find out the story behind their whale-friendly dishes — and see how many of these they actually sell. Here now, 18 of the most expensive dishes and drinks in the world — and in the interest of not having entirely steaks and burgers on the list, some honorable mentions, too:

 

[Photo: DougieDog]

18. DougieDog, Vancouver — $100 Dragon Dog

When DougieDog owner Dougie Luv set out to make the world's most expensive hot dog, he didn't want to use some of the ingredients restaurants traditionally use to kick up their prices such as caviar. But, as he tells Eater, he sure didn't mind high-end meat. So this $100 foot-long bratwurst is infused with hundred-year-old Louis XIII cognac and topped with fresh lobster, picante sauce and Kobe beef seared in olive and truffle oil. Luv says he has sold 783 of these dogs since creating them last year and while he usually requests 12 hours notice the restaurant does keep three on hand just in case.

 

[Photos: Barclay Prime]

17. Barclay Prime, Philadelphia — $100 cheesesteak

Stephen Starr's Barclay Prime dresses up the Philadelphia classic cheesesteak with wage ribeye cut down with foie gras and topped with truffled homemade fontina cheese on a sesame roll. It also comes with a glass of Dom Perignon 2000 and comes out to the tune of $100. According to a rep, people order the cheesesteak pretty often and usually in groups. There's no need to order it in advance.

 

[Photo: Facebook]

16. Kai Mayfair, London — $170 Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup

The Guinness World Record for the world's most expensive soup belongs to London's Kai Mayfair, though some changes have been made since that record was logged in 2005. While the dish once contained shark's fin, an employee tells Eater that particular (and controversial) ingredient has been replaced with noodles to go along with the abalone, Japanese flower mushroom, sea cucumber, dried scallops, chicken, huan ham, pork and ginseng. It must be ordered with five days' notice and sells for £108 ($170).

 

[Photo: Bar Masa, Las Vegas]

15. Bar Masa, New York City — $240 Masa toro with caviar

It's pretty easy to rack up quite a bill at New York City's Bar Masa, but it'll go a lot quicker with just one order of the Masa toro with caviar roll. This is an eight-piece roll that will set you back $240 because, well, fatty tuna and caviar are not cheap. It's also on the menu at Bar Masa's Vegas outpost, and is served with a crispy, buttery brioche.

 

[Photo: The Old Homestead Steakhouse]

14. The Old Homestead Steakhouse, NYC — $350 steak

For those whales who love to drop a lot of money of expensive cuts of meat, August 2012 brought some very good news. That was when the US Department of Agriculture lifted its import ban on Japanese beef, meaning the great return of Wagyu beef — for those who can afford it. Old Homestead Steakhouse's New York City location offers the A5 Kobe served NY Strip-style in a 12-ounce portion for $350. They recommend to reserve the Wagyu steak in advance as apparently "steaks fly off the grill as quickly as the beef arrives" at the restaurant. According to a rep, on any given night, they sell as many as 25 Wagyu steaks.

 

Decadence D'Or [Photo: Sweet Surrender], Cupcakes [Photo: Foursquare]

13. Sweet Surrender, Las Vegas — $750 cupcake

Chef Olivier Dubreuil of the Venetian and Palazzo created the Decadence D'Or cupcake for Sweet Surrender at the Palazzo in Vegas three years ago, and it seems to be selling just fine. This $750 cupcake is created from chocolate made from Venezuela's rare Porcelana Criollo bean, topped with Tahitian Gold Vanilla Caviar and edible gold flakes. It also includes Louis XIII de Remy Martin Cognac and comes in a hand blown sugar Fleur-de-Lis. An employee explains to Eater that the cupcake requires 48 hours advance notice.

 

Serendipity 3 [Photo: Facebook]

12. Serendipity 3, New York City — $1,000 Golden Opulence Sundae

Perhaps the most well known of all these dishes is the $1,000 Golden Opulence Sundae at New York's Serendipity 3. First created in 2004 for the restaurant's 50th anniversary, the Golden Opulence involves three scoops of Tahitian vanilla ice cream infused with Madagascar vanilla beans, topped in 23K edible gold leaf, sprinkled with a couple of expensive and rare chocolates? plus there's the candied fruits, gold dragets, chocolate truffles and bowl of caviar. It's sold in a Baccarat Harcourt goblet with an 18K gold spoon, naturally. About 200 of these have been sold in the nine years since it was created, according to a rep, who adds that there are two more reservations coming up on Valentine's Day. These sundaes require 48 hour advance reservation because the ice cream and caviar are flown in.

 

[Photo: Nino's]

11. Nino's Bellissima, New York City — $1,000 pizza

Nino's Bellissima is home of one of the world's most oft-cited expensive dishes — a pizza that costs $1,000. As a manager explains to Eater, the pizza comes topped with four types of caviar plus some lobster tail for good measure. Order it a few days in advance.

 

[Photo: Facebook]

10. Norma's, New York City — $1,000 Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata

There are two versions of Norma's frittata for high-rollers: there's a $100 frittata with only one ounce of caviar on it or the $1,000 frittata topped with 10 ounces of caviar. The latter is officially the world's most expensive omelette, according to the Guinness Book of Records, and also involves one pound of lobster covered in egg on a bed of fried potatoes. According to a rep, the restaurant at New York's Le Parker Meridien sells about 10-12 of the $1,000 Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittatas throughout the course of a year — and that same number per month for the $100 dish. There's no need to order in advance.

 

[Photo: Margo's]

9. Margo's, Malta —$2,420 White truffle and gold pizza

An employee who answered the phone at Margo's Malta tells Eater that the pizzeria needs one week advance notice to make its white truffle and gold pizza — only available during truffle season from October through May. As its menu indicates, the truffles are flown in from Piemonte and its minimum price is €1,800 ($2,420), depending on the price of white truffles. The pizza is topped with organic water buffalo mozzarella and 24K gold leaf. As the menu reads, "This is not just a pizza, this is a sign from God telling us how great She is."

 

[Photo: Fleur]

8. Fleur, Las Vegas — $5,000 FleurBurger

Part of chef Hubert Keller's inspiration for the eye-popping $5,000 Fleur Burger 5000 at his Las Vegas restaurant Fleur was borne out of competition: In 2005, Keller noticed Daniel Boulud had a burger that was $100 and wanted to beat it. So this Kobe beef burger comes topped with seared foie gras and truffles on a brioche truffle bun. But what really jacks up the price is a bottle of 1995 Chateau Petrus wine and the two crystal stemware glasses that the restaurant delivers to the home of anyone who orders the burger. So far, a rep tells Eater the restaurant has sold about 26 Fleur Burger 5000s and there is no need to order in advance.

 

The Trilogy ring. [Photo: Gleneagles]

7. The Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland —$5,102 Trilogy

This luxury hotel in Scotland teamed up with in-house jewelers Mappin & Webb a couple of years back on a line of cocktails named The Luxury Collection. The Trilogy comes in first at £3,250 ($5,102) and is comprised of Stolichnaya Elite vodka with a twist of lemon and an 18K white gold ring as a garnish with a baguette and pave diamonds. Meanwhile, for £2,750 ($4,317), The Romance involves No3 gin, maraschino liqueur, Parfait Amour and lemon juice to go with its white gold diamond-encrusted pendant from Florence. Gleneagles sells about one or two a year, per a rep.

 

[Photo: Salvatore Calabrese]

6. Salvatore at Playboy, London —$8,633 Salvatore's Legacy

Salvatore Calabrese broke the Guinness World Record for the world's most expensive cocktail last year with the creation of his £5,500 ($8,633) Salvatore's Legacy. It's also apparently the world's oldest cocktail, created with rare booze such as 1788 Clos de Griffier Vieux Cognac, 1770 Kummel Liqueur, 1860 Dubb Orange Curacao and early 20th century Angostura Bitters. This cocktail can be found at Salvatore at Playboy, and a spokesperson explains that the cocktail is ordered with Salvatore's approval. A total of three have been ordered since the cocktail's inception.

 

[Photo: Facebook]

5. Algonquin Hotel, New York City — $10,000 martini

Give New York City's Algonquin Hotel three days' notice and a $10,000 diamond-studded martini will await at the Blue Bar. A spokesperson tells Eater that the bar and hotel works with an in-house jeweler to procure the customizable diamond, which is then placed within the cocktail.

 

[Photos: XS Nightclub]

4. XS Nightclub, Las Vegas — $10,000 Ono

As Eater Vegas reported a few months back, the XS Nightclub at Encore Las Vegas has its own $10,000 drink, the Ono. This cocktail features Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie 1981 and Louis XIII de Remy Martin Black Pearl cognac — oh, and it comes with a pair of men's silver cufflinks and a woman's 18K white-gold chain with a black pearl pendant. Not too shabby.

 

[Photo: Fortress Resort & Spa]

3. The Fortress Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka — $14,500 Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence Dessert

The Fortress Resort & Spa in Sri Lanka offers its high-rollers a dessert that it describes as more of "a challenge for those adventurous as heart." The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence is made with gold leaf Italian cassata, flavored with fruit-infused Irish cream. There's a fruit compote, a Dom Perignon champagne sabayon at the base and a handmade chocolate carving in the shape of a local stilt fisherman. Oh, and it's adorned with an 80 carat Aquamarine gemstone whose diameter "spans the head of a soup spoon." The dessert costs $14,500 at DUO restaurant, according to a spokesperson for the resort, and orders must be placed a day in advance.

 

Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel & Restaurant [Photo: Facebook]

2. Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel, England — $35,000 Pudding

Chef Marc Guibert of the Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in England's Lake District went after the world's most expensive dessert title in late 2011 with a chocolate pudding that costs £22,000 ($34,531). Shaped to look like a Faberge egg, the pudding is made with high-end chocolate, gold leaf, champagne, caviar and a diamond. It's layered with champagne jelly and laced with edible gold. So far, a rep tells Eater Guibert has sold just one egg. The dessert must be ordered two weeks in advance.

 

[Photo: Facebook]

1. Arnaud's, New Orleans — $3.95 million Strawberries Arnaud

Arnaud's in New Orleans no longer offers the $1.4 million dessert that gained it notoriety years ago. Nope, now that dessert is worth a staggering $3.95 million. Co-owner Katy Casbarian explains to Eater that the historic New Orleans restaurant partnered years ago with MS Rau antiques on a proposal package that includes their signature Strawberries Arnaud dessert and a diamond ring. While the original 4.71 carat ring is no longer available, it has been replaced with a 7.09 carat pink diamond to accompany the dish of strawberries served in a marinade of port, red wine, spices and citrus with vanilla ice cream. "Needless to say," she writes, "it is our worst selling dessert."

 

Honorable Mentions (repeat categories)

Serendipity 3's $295 Le Burger Extravagant (NYC); Joel Robuchon's $235 L'Oeuf de Poule (Las Vegas); Le Burger Brasserie's $777 Kobe beef and Maine lobster burger (Las Vegas); Oishii's $250 steak with black truffles (Boston)

[Ken Gargett]

more recently, from forbes.

 

 

The World's 12 Most Expensive Meals

 

 

Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée

•  

 

Karla Alindahao , Contributor I write about travel and food. So I love forks in the road. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

The next time you complain about a $7 Diet Coke in a restaurant or the dreaded $25 Caesar salad, consider this—it could be much worse. It's not just that some restaurants create outrageous dishes to get attention (like a $1,000 ice cream sundae or a $666 "Douche Burger"), it's that there are now countless prix fixe menus around the world that require a second mortgage. Regardless of how otherworldly these meals are, here are some bills you're likely to choke on.

Sublimotion, Ibiza, Spain ($1,850 per person)

Courtesy of SubliMotion

Opened in 2014 by Michelin-starred chef Paco Roncero, Sublimotion is located in the Hard Rock Hotel in Ibiza and costs a staggering €1700 (or a little more than $1,800) per person for the gastronomic privilege of dining there. (The price has actually fallen back to earth in the last couple years thanks to the strength of the dollar.) Each seating at Sublimotion—or "show" as they call it—accommodates 12 diners and features one tasting menu of about 15-20 courses. And it's a feast for the senses—combining food, art, and technology during a meal that takes approximately three hours. Stratospheric cost aside, the reviews have been quite good. 

Masa, New York City ($595 per person)

Courtesy of Masa

 

 

In 2011, when Masa was a mere $450 per person, New York Times restaurant critic Sam Sifton famously asked: "Is it worth it?" (Not exactly, he concluded.) Five years later, the prix fixe menu at chef Masa Tamayaka's high temple of sushi is now a savory $595 per person—not including drinks and tax. About the only upside to the high price of dinner is that starting March 1, Masa no longer accepts gratuities.

Restaurant Guy Savoy Monnaie de Paris ($525 per person)

Courtesy of Guy Savoy Monnaie de Paris

 

When a three-Michelin-starred chef names his restaurant Monnaie de Paris (after the French mint that's now its home), you know it's going to cost you bank. In 2015, Guy Savoy moved his signature Parisian restaurant to the iconic 18th century building in the 6th Arrondissement—with windows overlooking the Louvre and the Pont Neuf. And while diners can go a la carte and spend about $250 a person for dinner, that's not why you go to a three-star restaurant, is it? The restaurant offers several prix fixe options, but the ne plus ultra is an 18-course "Innovations and Inspirations" menu that includes roasted lobster and artichoke soup with black truffle. The cost? €490 (or around $525). But for those who want to spend a little less, Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace offers an Innovation-Inspiration menu for $375 that comes with a view of the Eiffel Tower—on the Las Vegas Strip.

Kitcho, Kyoto, Japan ($475 per person)

Chef Kunio Tokuoka helms the Kyoto outpost of Kitcho (known as Arashiyama) as part of his birthright—both his father and grandfather were the chefs here before him. There are several prix fixe menus to choose from, but the most expensive is 54,000 yen (or $475) a person. It's at least a 10-course meal, including two separate sashimi sections as well as grilled and steamed courses. And for those who are even more adventurous eaters, Kitcho has an omakase that is market priced, no doubt higher.

Ultraviolet, Shanghai ($450 per person)

Courtesy of Ultraviolet

Diners and philosophers can debate chicken vs. egg all they want, but this much is certain—long before there was Sublimotion in Ibiza, there was Ultraviolet in Shanghai. Created by French chef Paul Pairet in 2012 (from a concept he had been working on since 1996), Ultraviolet is a multi-sensory dining experience that includes a light show, course-themed music, and diners' names projected on the table. (All of which is served up at Sublimotion.) The main difference between the two restaurants, which both offer 20-course meals, is that Ultraviolet's prix fixe costs considerably less—3000 RMB per person (or about $450).

Joël Robuchon, Las Vegas ($425 per person)

Chef Joël Robuchon at the 2016 Grand Vermeil award ceremony, rewarding the best chefs of Paris. (FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images)

Las Vegas doesn't exactly shy away from excess so $425  for the Degustation Menu at Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand isn't particularly shocking. For that price, diners have their choice of many small plates—including caramelized quail, seared duck foie gras and sweetbread. And let's face it,  a few good hands of blackjack can pay for dinner.

Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, Paris ($425 per person)

Courtesy of Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée

In February, Alain Ducasse reclaimed the coveted three Michelin stars for his restaurant at the Plaza Athénée in Paris, which reopened in 2014. But fine dining comes with a price. The prix fixe "Jardin-Marin" menu—which includes three half-courses, cheese and dessert, but not drinks—costs €390 (or about $425). Ducasse's restaurant at Le Meurice in Paris offers its own pre-fixe for the same amount. And for those on a budget, both restaurants offer a set lunch menu for a moins cher $225.

L'Arpège, Paris ($400 per person)

(Photo by Maurice ROUGEMONT/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Chef Alain Passard first received three Michelin stars in 1996 for L'Arpège in Paris' 7th Arrondissement. Twenty years later, Michelin is still worthy of three stars in the Michelin galaxy. Passard's prix Degustation Menu—which includes the restaurant's legendary "hot-cold egg"—runs  €370 (or $400). But for those who want to sample the vegetarian prix fixe, for which Passard is also renowned, the price is a more down-to-earth $315.

Urasawa, Beverly Hills, California ($395 per person)

(Photograph: Creative Commons/Flicker/Case Simmons)

Considering that chef Hiro Urasawa trained under Masa Tamayaka, it's no wonder his eponymous Los Angeles restaurant is considered the West Coast version of New York's Masa. But while Masa charges $595 for its lavish omakase, Urasawa costs a mere $395 (drinks not included) for its 30-course version. And getting a reservation may not be easy—the Rodeo Drive restaurant only has 10 seats.

Maison Pic, Valence, France ($350 per person)

Anne-Sophie Pic of Maison Pic in France. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/GettyImages)

In 2007, Anne-Sophie Pic became only the fourth woman in the world to earn three Michelin stars for her cooking at Maison Pic in Valence, France. Although she has no formal training, the 46-year-old Pic comes from a legendary line of chefs—both her father, Jacques, and grandfather, André, earned three stars for Maison Pic. Such culinary pedigree doesn't come cheap—a pre-fixe dinner at Maison Pic costs €320 (or $350)—but at least you can make a weekend of it: the restaurant is part of the Relais & Chateau hotel of the same name.

Per Se, New York City ($325 per person)

A dish at Per Se. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images for Starwood Preferred Guest)

When Thomas Keller's Per Se opened in 2004, the price of a nine-course prix fixe dinner was a healthy $150. Today, that number is $325 per person (service included). But according to a wickedly mean New York Times review by Pete Wells earlier this year, it's not worth the time or money. As Wells wrote, "Per Se is among the worst food deals in New York." For those who still want to splurge on Keller's cooking, there is always his French Laundry in Northern California, where the prix fixe only $310.

Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, New York City ($306)

Courtesy of Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare

This 18-seat restaurant is one of the hardest tables to book in New York. Why? Being the only three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Brooklyn, for one thing. But mainly it's chef César Ramirez' 15-course tasting menu, which changes on a daily basis and is inspired by Japanese and French cuisine. There is also an impressive 3,000-bottle wine cellar. The price for dining there—$306. But at least the restaurant is part of the new no-tipping movement—which means that when you finish dining at Brooklyn Fare you'll still have subway fare.