What's the most you have spent for a meal for yourself?

I'm pretty sure it was at Lawry's The Prime Rib in Vegas for me, at a bachelor party. I voted 100-199, but after thinking back, I think it came in under $100 per person.

I've eaten at the rotating restaurant at the top of the Space Needle twice, and while expensive (mostly paying for the view, the food was good but not great), I think dinner for 2 was still somewhere around $120-150.

I've spend about $200 of my company's money or casino comps on meals a few times. When I'm paying the bill myself, I've never come close to that. Maybe $70ish when I took my parents out for their 30th anniversary.

Quote: 98Clubs

$285 Windows of te World WTC New York City 1986.

Was that place good? I have heard wildly mixed reviews.

This was July 4th weekend at a rubber chicken celebration. My, and my GF's meal was excellent NYSS. I must say the view and the memories were worth far more, as was staying at the Sheraton w/ river view on 16th floor. One tengent worth noting is the day spent at the Naval Monuments. We hurried to Hotel to dress-up and finished late at 8:30 PM. Both of us literally squeezed our way back to the Monuments finding three others that we met earlier. We all had portable Color LCD TV's which drew ooohs a aahhhs from the surrounding. Mets and Yanks were both playin baseball that night, I was on the Mets game that went extra innings and the Kid got a base knock to win it at 10:55 PM. Just in time for the official ceremonies on ALL of the NYC channels. I still say WOW to this very day. Funny thing was you knew who had these sets, as you would hear cheers in the crowd.

Quote: Ayecarumba

What is the most you have spent for a meal for yourself? Was it worth it?

Are you specifically looking for money you spent on yourself and a woman, or with a colleague on a business trip, or by yourself alone in a bar?

For two for a birthday dinner it was Picasso's at Bellagio (roughly $500 with wine for two) .

For myself with another man, on a business trip probably $70 in New York City at a steak house.

By myself alone, I think as high as $30 for sushi. Dining completely alone is difficult. I usually end up at a bar, but if I get tired of that, then I eat sushi or seafood at a Marie Callender's.

Quote: Pacomartin

Are you specifically looking for money you spent on yourself and a woman, or with a colleague on a business trip, or by yourself alone in a bar?

For two for a birthday dinner it was Picasso's at Bellagio (roughly $500 with wine for two) .

For myself with another man, on a business trip probably $70 in New York City at a steak house.

By myself alone, I think as high as $30 for sushi. Dining completely alone is difficult. I usually end up at a bar, but if I get tired of that, then I eat sushi or seafood at a Marie Callender's.

Thanks everyone for the interesting replies. I purposely left it vague to allow folks to answer as they saw fit. I wanted to avoid, "what's the most you paid for dinner?" since a wedding banquet, or even a big family birthday party total could whack the poll.

I find it interesting that the strongest memories of the expensive meals are tied more to the company and the environment, than the taste of the food.

I hate spending more than 8 bucks on a single meal.. And I think $5 for a foot long sub is still too much..

Quote: Ayecarumba

I find it interesting that the strongest memories of the expensive meals are tied more to the company and the environment, than the taste of the food.

Probably because of the vagueness of the question. You made it all about price, without regard to the other things.

As I inticated in my own response (and others have said similar things), we spend far less when dining alone than when dining with a spouse and/or friends. Therefore, if you're asking about price, the company has to be mentioned.


Now, if you want to make it about the food, I'll give a new response.

It was about $150 per couple. Slightly less than what I mentioned in my previous post. Michael Jordan's Steak House at Mohegan Sun. The Porterhouse for 2 was about $80. The steak was fine, but the most remarkable thing about the dinner was the apps and side dishes. I saw Mac & Cheese on the menu and asked the waiter if that in case the people had a kid with them. He said no, this wasn't "kid" mac & cheese. That's all the encouragement I needed. It was fantastic mac & cheese. We also got breadsticks with bleu cheese sauce appy. Killer! And a baked potato to share. The thing was the size of a football! We occasionally go back and are equally satisfied. We also frequently go to MJ's sports bar next door when we want to go light. We always get the breadsticks. (Note to those going to Mohegan Sun: Although they share a kitchen, the breadsticks is the only item on both menus.)

On a simiar note, my wheelchair-bound mother wanted to go to Peter Luger's, a pricey steakhouse in Brooklyn. We finally got the logistics worked out and went. Me, my wife, mom, my brother and his wife. We spent around $60 per person and were all underwhelmed by the food and wondered what the big draw about the place was.

I must clarify one point I made:

Quote: DJTeddyBear

The most I have every spent for a meal while dining alone was about $30. And it's rare for it to be that high. $15-$20 is a more typical meal for me when dining out alone.

Although $15-$20 is typical, I meant when dining out.

More often than not, if I'm eating out, I'll be at a pizza place or fast food (I.E. Under ten bucks). And at fast food places, I generally scan the dollar menu first. (I.E. Five bucks is not uncommon.)

Went to Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London on my honeymoon a few years ago. The tasting menu with the cheapest bottle of red we could find and a glass each of champagne on arrival came to just over AUD700 (just under USD800 at the time). Was it worth it? It wasn't worth that much money but it was easily the best meal I've ever had in my life. The food was incredible as was the service. If you ever get the opportunity to eat at a 3 Michelin star restaurant then take the chance. You won't regret it.

We also did WD50 in NYC a few nights later for my wife's birthday which was another great experience. The 15(?) course tasting menus with matching wines came to USD540 plus tip for the two of us.