Some top restaurants are willing to charge people over $1,000 for the privilege of eating there. Fine dining no longer seems to be about the food but has become a status symbol, a way to flaunt wealth or indulge in a luxury experience perceived to be reserved only for the elite.
As prices skyrocket, it seems that portion sizes and, in some cases, quality are rapidly diminishing. With exotic tea infusions, wafting aromas, and unnecessary sprigs of vegetation ceremoniously planted on a plate, the charade of fine dining has become somewhat of a scam masquerading as a unique or luxury experience. The reality is that a lot of the ingredients you could quite easily source yourself!
Price Does Not Equate Quality
Of course, there isn’t anything wrong with enjoying what life has to offer; it’s just that it should be known that most of these meals could be made at home for a fraction of the price. All it really requires is quality ingredients and a bit of time to avoid the fuss and save some pennies.
To help you avoid the pitfalls of overpriced fine dining, we’ve compiled a list of 15 things you should avoid overpaying for at high-end restaurants. These can often be overpriced for what you get.
Hot Tea
To be honest, paying for tea at all seems almost criminal. At the end of the day, all it is is a cup of hot water with a few leaves floating about in it, yet for some reason, high-end restaurants seem to think they can charge you $10 for one.
Water
Much like tea, water should be free. It doesn’t matter how fancy the glass bottle may be, no one should be charging for regular water. To save yourself a couple of dollars, just get tap water, it’s pretty much all the same anyway.
Truffle
The truffle trend deserves to be put to rest. Not only is this ugly mushroom overpriced, but it smells like feet, and let’s face it, it does not need to be sprinkled on everything.
Bottle Service
The act of paying someone to open your own bottle of alcohol is truly ludicrous. This will never make sense and is honestly just a flagrant display of excess.
Sides
One thing that will never make economic sense is the absurd prices of sides. A small plate of grilled vegetables or a side of French fries should not set you back $20. You could probably make the same thing at home for less than a dollar.
Tips
Tips are a part of daily life. However, when you’re spending a pretty penny on an exclusive meal, it seems wrong you’re obliged to then pay more for your often unhelpful and (sometimes) slightly entitled waitstaff.
Ingredients
Naturally, restaurants have access to some of the best quality produce, but that does not guarantee they always use it. A lot of the ingredients you could easily get your hands on from your local deli or butcher for a fraction of the price.
Liquor
Granted, restaurants often have access to great wines and highly trained mixologists, but that doesn’t justify a 400% markup.
Smoke And Mirrors
Sure, the average person doesn’t have all the gear at home, but what does nitrogen really add to the meal other than a bit of drama? Paying twice the price for a salad just because it’s sat in a smoke bath doesn’t justify the exorbitant price increase. If you want dinner and a show, there are certainly better options.
Bread Basket
If you’re spending a couple of hundred dollars per person, the least they can do is provide you with a complimentary bread basket.
Gold Leaf Garnishes
The gold leaf garnish has the culinary world in a chokehold. Not only is it completely unnecessary, but it is also used to justify an insane price increase. Sprinkling a bit of gold onto a doughnut these days seems to mean you can go from charging $6 to $100 just for a bit of flakey metal.
Arrogant Service
Fine dining staff certainly have a reputation for giving the impression that they think they’re above you. Whether they are aloof or outright dismissive, they seem to take pleasure in making you wait. When they do finally take your order, they tend to push you to order the most expensive items on the menu.
The Chef’s Artistic Vision
Overall, people tend to go to restaurants for food. While the atmosphere can be enticing, the point of a restaurant is to feed you. If you wanted to experience creative genius, you could go to a gallery or an exhibition, not a restaurant. That’s not to say there isn’t a time and a place for culinary creativity; it’s just that if you’re paying for a meal, the least you can get is a decent edible plate of food.
The Company
One thing is for sure: fine dining is expensive, so if you’re going to commit, make sure it’s worthwhile. You should never overpay at a high-end restaurant just for the sake of it. If you do go, make the most of the experience with great company!
A Meal
Don’t bother going to a fine dining restaurant if you want to have a decent meal. Your taste buds may be amazed and your senses seduced, but at the end of it all, you’ll likely find you’re still hungry.
What’s Not To Love?
Ultimately, how you spend your money is up to you. With all its extravagance and unnecessary opulence, fine dining can be a wonderful way to enjoy your hard-earned cash, and let’s face it, it’s far better to spend it on memorable experiences than material goods.
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