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Fine dining typically means splurging a little for high-quality meat or fresh seafood, and maybe a nice bottle of wine. But what if money were truly no object? Well this, would have to be the case to indulge in some of the most delectably opulent dishes.
Restaurant owners and chefs around the world create original dining experiences for those who want unique experiences — you know, like spending nearly $12,000 on a pizza or $1,000 on an ice cream sundae. If this sounds intriguing, here are some of the most expensive dishes and tasting menus in the world — all starting at more than $500 per person.
Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama — Kyoto, Japan
Prix fixe Kaiseki menu per person: $589
At Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama in Kyoto, Japan there are several prix fixe menus to choose from, but the costliest option is 79,200 yen — or $588.56 a person. Granted, you won’t leave hungry, as the meal is at least 10 courses, featuring rounds of sashimi, grilled and steamed food, rice, pickled vegetables and dessert, to name a few.
The chef, Kunio Tokuoka, is at the helm of the restaurant, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who were the chefs before him.
Restaurant Guy Savoy Monnaie — Paris, France
Prix fixe menu for the table: $514
Chef Guy Savoy opened the restaurant in 2015 overlooking the Louvre and the Pont Neuf. Currently, the Parisian restaurant offers a prix fixe menu of up to 13 courses described as a feast of “textures, colors and flavors” served for the entire table.
The price does not include drinks, however. For your hundreds of dollars, you’ll enjoy duck, lobster and artichoke soup with black truffles, in addition to other delightful dishes. Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world, and eating at Restaurant Guy Savoy Monnaie will certainly make your heart skip away with your budget.
Masa — New York, New York
Dinner Omakase menu per person: $750 for table seating or $950 for bar seating, plus $150 for prized seating
Plan to set aside two hours and nearly $750 to enjoy the sushi-eating experience at Masa in New York. That price does not include tax and drinks and is basically just a starting point for your meal’s price tag. You will save on gratuity, though, as tips are not accepted.
Although the menu changes regularly, expect to be served only the finest Japanese cuisine, carefully crafted by chef Masayoshi Takayama.
Ultraviolet — Shanghai, China
Prix fixe menu: $661 to $1,226
Would you like a multi-sensory dining experience? How about a dinner that dazzles more than your taste buds? Visit Ultraviolet as part of your life-changing trip to China — it will be worth the cost.
French chef Paul Pairet designed the concept in 2012. This 20-course meal comes with theme music for every course, as well as light shows. All guests at the table are served the same food at the same time. Prices can vary but they are never cheap.
Serendipity 3 — New York, New York
Golden Opulence Sundae: $1,000
If you have $1,000 to spend and are curious what a four-figure dessert tastes like, head to Serendipity 3 in New York.
How can a sundae be more than a few bucks? In this dish, Tahitian vanilla ice cream made with Madagascar vanilla bean is covered in 24-karat gold leaf, specialty chocolates, Parisian candied fruits, truffles, caviar and more. A sundae of this magnitude isn’t served in a simple glass dish, but rather a Baccarat crystal bowl that you can take home as a souvenir.
SubliMotion — Ibiza, Spain
Dinner per person: approx. $2,380
When you’re wealthy, you can pay for a three-hour dining experience that costs thousands of dollars per person. That’s more than the average family will spend for an entire month on food.
SubliMotion is not your typical dining experience. In fact, it operates very much like Ultraviolet — only it’s more expensive. Chef Paco Roncero opened the restaurant in the Hard Rock Hotel in Ibiza in 2014, creating a spectacle for the eyes, ears and taste buds where he offers his “gastronomic performance.”
Norma’s — New York, New York
The Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata: $2,000
Norma’s Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata may look out of place next to the other $30 dollar menu items at Norma’s in New York. The dish is aptly named even though Norma’s isn’t known as an extremely expensive restaurant, per se.
So, what’s the catch? The $1,000 omelet includes 10 ounces of caviar, which is a big factor in price, making it the most expensive omelet in the Guinness Book of World Records. For those who can’t afford to pay the extravagant cost, there is a smaller frittata with only 1 ounce of caviar available for over $100.
De Daltons — Voorthuizen, Netherlands
The Golden Boy Burger: $5,533
You’re not going to find beef patties that live up to the caliber of the ones made by chef Robbert Jan de Veen at your neighborhood burger chain. His diner, De Dalton’s in Voorthuizen, Netherlands, serves up a burger known as “The Golden Boy.”
This burger is made with 100% Wagyu A5 meat, as well as Beluga caviar, king crab, Spanish Paleta Ibérico, white truffle and English cheddar. The burger is crowned with barbecue sauce made with Kopi Luwak coffee and Scotch Macallan whisky. Oh, and don’t forget the gold-leaf bun made with Dom Pérignon champagne dough.
Renato Viola — Salerno, Italy
Louis XIII Pizza: Over $12,000
Do you want a pizza fit for a king? If you’re filthy rich, you can splurge on the Louis XIII Pizza, one of the most expensive food items you can order. It will be made in your home by Renato Viola, one of Italy’s best master pizza chefs.
The pizza is anything but ordinary, with sophisticated toppings, such as mozzarella di bufala, lobster and caviar, all flown in from all different parts of the world. To top it off, the feast is served with Remy Martin Cognac Louis XIII and Champagne Krug Clos du Mesnil 1995.
The Fortress Resort and Spa — Sri Lanka
The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence: $14,500
If you prefer to eat nearly $15,000 rather than put it towards retirement or paying off debt, then this is the extravagant dessert for you.
Made on special request, with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice, the dessert features Italian cassata flavored with Irish cream and is served with a pomegranate and mango compote. The base is a champagne sabayon, adorned with an 80-carat aquamarine stone, placed beneath a handcrafted chocolate stilt fisherman.
Lia Sestric contributed to the reporting for this article.
