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Started By
Message
Sick of "fine dining"
Posted on 2/23/20 at 6:51 pm
Posted on 2/23/20 at 6:51 pm
Wife and I have always enjoyed going out to restaurants known for fine dining. High bills, luxurious food, creative presentations, blah, blah, blah.
We went to a place in Atlanta last night (Aria) and I think it's finally cured us from seeking out these types of places. We had the tasting menu with wine pairing and the whole thing was just a big ole clusterfrick. Wine late for courses, pompous arse waiter, Chads and Karens at nearly every table, mediocre food, overpriced wine.
There's just too much good food out there these days to have to spend $300, $400, or more for a dinner full of children's portions. 15 years ago these sorts of places were truly where you HAD to go for an amazing meal. Today? Not so much, imo. The "food game" has advanced to a point where I think we're reaching diminishing returns when it comes to these high end places.
A Michelin starred restaurant or a Beard award winner we may still check out but, as far as the rest of these places, we're done.
Maybe I'm just getting old?
We went to a place in Atlanta last night (Aria) and I think it's finally cured us from seeking out these types of places. We had the tasting menu with wine pairing and the whole thing was just a big ole clusterfrick. Wine late for courses, pompous arse waiter, Chads and Karens at nearly every table, mediocre food, overpriced wine.
There's just too much good food out there these days to have to spend $300, $400, or more for a dinner full of children's portions. 15 years ago these sorts of places were truly where you HAD to go for an amazing meal. Today? Not so much, imo. The "food game" has advanced to a point where I think we're reaching diminishing returns when it comes to these high end places.
A Michelin starred restaurant or a Beard award winner we may still check out but, as far as the rest of these places, we're done.
Maybe I'm just getting old?
16
Posted on 2/23/20 at 6:56 pm to mmmmmbeeer
quote:
15 years ago these sorts of places were truly where you HAD to go for an amazing meal.
Example? Because, I wanna say that’s pretty inaccurate. You didn’t HAVE to do fine dining for an amazing meal in 2005.
Posted on 2/23/20 at 7:03 pm to mmmmmbeeer
French Laundry, one of the highest rated in the world I found to be way overrated. Food was good, but way overpriced for what you get. The internet has made information on cooking technique ubiquitous while high end ingredients have become more widely available. This makes creating dishes at home much easier. I have never eaten a steak at any restaurant that can compete with my sous vide ribeye finished over 700 degree mesquite coals for a minute each side.
Posted on 2/23/20 at 7:05 pm to mmmmmbeeer
quote:
15 years ago these sorts of places were truly where you HAD to go for an amazing meal.
Posted on 2/23/20 at 7:15 pm to mmmmmbeeer
Fine dining is like fine art. They all just love the smell of their own farts
Posted on 2/23/20 at 7:21 pm to Paul Allen
quote:
Example? Because, I wanna say that’s pretty inaccurate. You didn’t HAVE to do fine dining for an amazing meal in 2005.
OK, perhaps 15 years wasn't the best random time to use. With Food Network, Cooking Channel, Bourdain, etc., a lot of people have turned to cooking as careers. Non-chain restaurants are at the highest per capita now than at any time since the dawn of chain restaurants.
Quality of ethnic restaurants has increased dramatically because "foodies" (which weren't nearly as ubiquitous 15 years ago) have given them tremendously more business than they used to get, making them more competitive. Quality BBQ restaurants litter the food landscape, even in rural areas. Bar food has been taken to a whole new level. Yelp, Google, etc., have forced businesses to compete on reputation instead of a single fancy restaurant reviewed in the LA Times or NYT.
The landscape has changed dramatically across the country. It's my feeling, and my wife's, that this new landscape makes fine dining options much less "impressive" than they used to be.
This post was edited on 2/23/20 at 7:23 pm
Posted on 2/23/20 at 7:30 pm to mmmmmbeeer
quote:
There's just too much good food out there these days to have to spend $300, $400, or more for a dinner
Never in my life, have I or will I spend that kinda money on turd material. Never, not once. Now I'm an unwashed poor but so what? Geez my knees that's alotta frickin' money to spend so I can shite velvet smothered logs.
Posted on 2/23/20 at 7:39 pm to Pandy Fackler
Hole in the Wall > "Fine Dining"
Posted on 2/23/20 at 8:09 pm to mmmmmbeeer
Agreed. I've stopped going to fancy "michelen-star" restaurants etc.
I prefer street food, and regular homemade food. Cheaper and just as good if you know where to go (if visiting somewhere)
I prefer street food, and regular homemade food. Cheaper and just as good if you know where to go (if visiting somewhere)
Posted on 2/23/20 at 8:12 pm to mmmmmbeeer
(no message)
This post was edited on 2/9/21 at 12:23 am
Posted on 2/23/20 at 9:03 pm to mmmmmbeeer
I hate threads where poor people complain.
Posted on 2/23/20 at 10:22 pm to mmmmmbeeer
The restaurants worth your money are Street food, old standbys, and super high end
Posted on 2/23/20 at 11:32 pm to mmmmmbeeer
I prefer places that have no ratings and are off the beaten path. That's what I look for.
Posted on 2/24/20 at 8:42 am to mmmmmbeeer
If you spend that kind of $ for a table of two, you deserve to be disappointed.
Posted on 2/24/20 at 9:05 am to mmmmmbeeer
quote:
overpriced wine
Why spend $40 on a bottle when you can pay $40 per glass from the same bottle, but with someone else pouring it for you? It's all about the service! It's like totally special and stuff.
Posted on 2/24/20 at 9:17 am to mmmmmbeeer
I had one of my worst "fine dining" experiences at Aria as well. Went with another couple and sat at the chefs table in the wine room. We all order, get apps/salads etc. They come with the entrees and while serving the other three, break it to me that they were sold out of what I ordered. So I have to order again while everyone else eats. I have a particular allergy so when I put in my second order, I specified to hold that ingredient out. Second order comes full with said ingredient. So I just sent it back and didn't eat. No manager, no relief on the bill. I left a penny for the tip. Waiter came up after and asked why. Not ever going back to that hole.
Posted on 2/24/20 at 9:53 am to mmmmmbeeer
Maybe you should just pick better restaurants.
Posted on 2/24/20 at 9:54 am to mmmmmbeeer
Good food is where you find it. I've had some extraordinary meals in places that were "cheap". I've had some bad meals in places that were "expensive". I agree with the premise of the OP, people are really trying too hard in some cases.
Posted on 2/24/20 at 9:55 am to nerd guy
Increasingly my interests trend toward really well established neighborhood strongholds that are refined but aren't competing in the higher end of the fine dining scale. One key is a large number of well-to-do regulars, which tend to keep service up and keep wine lists less generic.
In Atlanta, places like Rumi's Kitchen, Blue Ridge, Canoe, etc. Horseradish Grill was the epitome of a place like this but it's being taken over by an Atlas/French Laundry alum and I suspect it's going to take a tasting menu turn soon.
In Atlanta, places like Rumi's Kitchen, Blue Ridge, Canoe, etc. Horseradish Grill was the epitome of a place like this but it's being taken over by an Atlas/French Laundry alum and I suspect it's going to take a tasting menu turn soon.
Posted on 2/24/20 at 10:33 am to fightin tigers
quote:Please tell me that I just missed the sarcasm.
I hate threads where poor people complain
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