Service is included so it’s more like $333/person before tax & tip.
I believe service and non-alcoholic pairing are still included. If that’s the case, it’s actually a “steal” compared to similar caliber restaurants.
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$150 in March
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Maybe I’m writing too loose. what I mean is in Europe things like healthcare and social welfare aren’t entirely baked into the price someone pays for a meal. Those are funded at the national level.
In the US, to provide those things a business is largely dependent on the price paid for a service.
To just say in America we’re not aware enough of what things cost is an incredibly beneficial statement for the rich here. Same as the whole universal healthcare is socialism crap that works so well.
I’ve got nothing against Chef, just find the argument over simplified and beneficial of the status quo as a whole.
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Reposting with additional charges. Some charge for water and/or coffee etc.
Generally speaking, I think in California the price range for the most expensive omakase restaurants is similar to that of Michelin three-star places:
- Atelier Crenn: $410 before supplements + tip? service included?
- Benu: $350 + 20% = $420
- Manresa: $325-365 + tip? (+20% = $390-438)
- French Laundry: $350 service included, indoor before supplements / $1200 black truffle & caviar
- Quince: $360 base + 25% = $450
- Single Thread: $425 plus tip
They charge $100 to sit outside? Must be one heck of a view.
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I guess for $450 you get a private courtyard.
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I took a group to Benu in 2012. I know it wasn’t $350 pp. 
LOL
US dining would presumably need to create a culture in which a living wage is considered something to which all are entitled, rather than a personal “responsibility” or a value judgment.
I do not think it will happen any time soon. But we shall see.
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In 2012 Benu had two Michelin stars, price was $180 + 20% = $216. On weeknights they still offered a la carte.
Definitely
Take out the word “dining” and apply that to US culture as a whole is where I’m coming from.
Healthcare is tied to work here because that forces people to work to stay healthy. American Capitalism doesn’t benefit otherwise.
Same reason college tuition is so expensive. Either already be rich, take on tons of debt/apply for scholarships, or join the military and hope there’s no coming wars.
Someone who caters to the rich and surrounds themselves with rich people isn’t solving anything by saying expensive things should be more expensive
How can food be affordable for the common man and those who provide that food still be taken care of?
I’m not responding to you directly @paranoidgarliclover lol just bored and venting
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We had a custom tasting menu. I found the invite in my files. I also remember it being awesome. 
Same promotion we also hosted a group at iNG, Homaro Cantu’s concept in Chicago with the weird miracle berry powder he had you eat halfway through each dish which totally changed the taste.
Not true, universal health care produces a healthy workforce, benefitting employers. Like good, free public education.
American health care is a negative-sum game that hurts everyone except some amoral criminals who get rich off it, like the Sacklers. It’s Calvinist / Mammonite nonsense. Like American public education.
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Fair enough. Your point is more or less what I meant. Fear of being uninsured keeps people in the workforce. Comparing what they have in Europe to here is apples and oranges, which is why just making things more expensive does nothing to solve the problem
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I’m not sure what you’re advocating for here? Should he not be opening a restaurant? Should he bring single payer healthcare to the US j/k 
? Something else within his power as a chef/owner? Certainly, making expensive things more expensive doesn’t solve a systemic problem, but doesn’t it make things less exploitive for the people working for the business? It sounds like you’re saying because that doesn’t improve things for everyone, they shouldn’t even bother. I think that’s reductive and not what you mean, but the point it ambiguous enough that it benefits from some examples of what good is. Like is Loco’l the example?
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like i said above I’m a stupid millennial. Today was my Friday at work and this seemed like a fun conversation to jump into
I have nothing against Chef or what his ultimate message is but i do find it ignorant of many realities in the US
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He can start a whatever kind of business he likes, but if he spouts ignorant bullshit it’s fair to ridicule him.
I think eating at really expensive restaurants on a regular basis is kind of like supporting a mistress. It may be the best food/sex you’ve ever had but it will put a dent in your net worth and may cost you your marriage.
But I agree with your $195 cutoff for people who like to eat well on occasion. Beyond that you are getting into European vacation splurge restaurant situations. Fun, fabulous, but not for a regular diet.
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Do these people pay off their credit card every month?
I just said “hard sell.” In part because most times I’ve done Thomas Keller-style tasting menus with 15, 20, or more courses, well, as Joshua Skenes said:
I’ve gone out to many excellent places where you feel like shit after the meal.
A few years ago I spent $500 all in at Saison 2.0 and it was great.