I never said your meal was outrageous. Sounds like we ordered different food items, were charged different amounts and you were able to find drinks for $17/per (I was charged a higher amount for our martini, didn’t save the receipt but recall it being over $25).
My Cornichon Martini was $22 each
Marquis Calon for red was $35 etc. It was expensive, but I didn’t feel it was excessive at all.
- The cornichon martini was fabulous (would have been even better with Monkey instead of Tanqueray)
- I consider $50 for 3 pieces of Asparagus as amazingly expensive
- I don’t know how you ordered so much and stayed at $420. The math doesn’t add up to $25+ drinks.. more like $15 drinks. Per ChatGPT below
- I still view the place as amazing, and amazingly expensive (both being personal opinions of my own)
Assuming:
- 20% tip on the pre-tax bill
- NYC sales tax of 8.875%
- 2 appetizers at the average price from the Appetizers section
- sparkling water = $10
- 10 alcoholic drinks total (3 martinis + 5 wine + 2 Champagne)
then:
The menu’s Appetizers are $22, $35, $46, $52, and $56, so the average appetizer is $42.20. The Pithiviers is $83.
A $420 all-in bill implies a pre-tax subtotal of about $325.90 under those tax/tip assumptions. Subtracting $83 for the pithiviers, $84.40 for two average appetizers, and $10 for sparkling water leaves about $148.50 pre-tax for the 10 alcoholic drinks.
So the estimated average price per alcoholic drink was:
- $14.85 each before tax/tip
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I’m literally looking at the receipt. $346 + $70 tip. Your AI is hallucinating, sorry.
btw. The Martini was made with Monkey47, I asked for it.
The asparagus does sound expensive, but I don’t think the meal itself should be called that. To me, it was while not reasonable, at least understandable by NYC standards.
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You ignored tax.
No I didn’t. Stop being obtuse. $318, $28.21 tax, $346.21 Total. Sorry I rounded out the $.21
Your AI is hallucinating on price of water, price of appetizers and so on.
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I’m not being obtuse, saying “sorry” in the passive aggressive manner you are, or being dogmatic and rejecting your experience.
As you have rejected my experience, I tried to understand yours (the opposite of your obtuse approach). And one cannot understand your experience as the math you provided does not literally add up. Which is fine, as I don’t understand your experience and your experience was not mine.
We both agree the food and service is excellent. So let’s agree on that and move on. “Sorry”.
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My math is based on my receipt, your comment on my math is based on ChatGPT. I don’t know what to say about that.
Anyway, the restaurant is amazing.
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Mikko,
Any chance they comped some of the items on your bill?
FWIW, a Monkey Shoulder cornichon martini sounds excellent!
I am literally reading the receipt. I don’t know what to say.
His ChatGPT just is hallucinating. The average price for apps is not right (both of my apps were way below his average price) the price for water is not right, etc.
The Martinis were indeed amazing!
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Maybe it was amuse bouche and not appetizer. And therein would be the difference in experience. Foodwise, I ended up to a meal weighted a greater number of appetizers and entrees, which I felt were expensive. I also have a differing view on expensive, as I also view $83 entrees and $85 pours of Yquem I view as expensive. The restaurant was packed with great energy, and more than a few $85 pours of 2010 Yquem going around. So expensive or not, plenty others view it as reasonable.
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More interestingly, I learned the chef of Le Chene is only 30 years old! Lots to look forward from her to come.
I sat at the bar, they actually comped me a pour of the '23 Yquem. (and no, it wasn’t included in my numbers).
The $83 entree would easily feed two, so that’s a little unfair.
And even though yes I agree it was not a cheap meal, I found objection in your definition that it was “amazingly” expensive. Perhaps it’s just a matter of perspective, I find the amazingly expensive meals to be the $400 tasting menus with $300 wine pairings.
I will definitely do chambers. Waiting for reservations to open up.
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You persist to ignore my experience. I got 3 pieces of asparagus for $50. Your experience was different and there is a difference in perspective. I gifted a lot of wine to the staff and did not receive a comp pour (and did not ask for one). You received a comp pour. Difference in experiences. My experience was amazingly expensive.
If I had 3 martinis, 5 glasses of wine, and 2 glasses of Champagne, I don’t think I could read the bill.
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No one cares if you can read it as long as you pay it. 
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Quick trip report, lots of great meals.
Theodora - great spot, talented kitchen, some bold flavors and combinations. A taramasalata with shaved bottarga was really fantastic, as was a special grouper curry dish. The winemaker from Cortes de Cima in Portugal was in the house and we enjoyed her 2022 LOUR-INHO Branco, great with the food. Also had a glass of the Field Recordings sparkling white, a nice way to start the meal. Tried 2 cocktails and was NOT impressed, both out of balance.
Claud - felt a bit like Four Horsemen’s bigger less-cool brother - we had a lovely meal, no complaints, but the wow factor in the food was not quite there. Was not looking to spend $$$ on wine despite the insanely impressive list and went with a fun one, 2023 Domaine Bruno Lupin Roussette de Savoie Frangy. Great to see a Steinmetz pinot noir by the glass!
Torrisi - lunch here exceeded expectations, and didn’t feel like too much of a scene (or even crazy expensive for the food, though I skipped ordering a negroni because it was $25). The jamon with zeppole, tortellini pomodoro, and cucumber salad are all worth the hype. Also tried a few specials and were impressed - a jamaican beef pasta had some very bold seasoning that they pulled off well, not what I was expecting, in a very good way. The desserts were also fantastic, with the cheesecake managing to beat out the alt affogato as table favorite.
Family Meal at Blue Hill - really lovely and polished farm-driven experience for lunch, though I wouldn’t say it quite merits the prices. Main course was a beef dish, with a few chunks of tongue being the highlight - the steak itself could have used a good sear, I think it was sous vide and lacked any discernible contrast of texture on the exterior. (I had to ask about the tongue, couldn’t quite place the cut). Enjoyed a Santa Maria area pinot I was not familiar with - but forgot the name and didn’t get a photo!
Bar Room at the Modern - a quick meal before theater and it was not nearly as good as prior visit - we had a fried chicken bucket for the table and would not recommend (we had had this previously and loved it). Duck confit and the chicken breast were both nice, but not exhibiting the finesse I expected.
Four Horsemen - meal of the trip by far for me (though others maybe gave a slight edge to Torrisi). Five of us took down almost the entire lunch menu. Two particularly stunning dishes were the sea scallop and leek custard (so elegant) and the blue crab with soft boiled egg and a boatload of brown butter, with a crunchy baguette to mop it all up with. The smaller plates topped the mains, with a roasted lobster dish being a slight letdown (though it grew on us all as the toasted almond sauce seemed to absorb into the dish with by the third and fourth bites). Fun wines - had a Beck Hartweg white blend that was practically a grapefruit cocktail and a really nice Jean Francois Debourg Les Prenelles Beaujolais. 2011 Foreau moelleux by the glass hit the spot with dessert. Few places I’d rather settle in for a meal than here.
Chada - pretty standard Thai. Wouldn’t bother going back.
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Obviously eating out has gotten much more expensive. I’ve gotten used to this. That’s part of why our meal at Lei Wine Bar this past Thursday was a revelation. My family of four shared the majority of the menu (it’s not a large menu) and two solid bottles of wine. One of them was excellent the other good. All in with a generous tip it was $515.
A few thoughts. First is the vibe was absolutely great. Lots of energy. Filled with young people. Packed in close tables felt very Parisian to me in a good way. The food was good. I wouldn’t call it great. But it was thoughtful and I liked pretty much everything I ate. My primary focus of dining out is rarely the wine list, but Lei’s is legitmately incredibly and came with very sharp pricing for the wines I was interested in. One wine we had was $115 on the list and I bought it a few months before for $75 at retail. The other bottle was $80 on the list and I’ve seen it at retail for $45. Service was professional and cheerful. It should be interesting to see what happens when the weather gets warmer. It’s on a pedestrian only street. If they have outdoor tables it will be very, very popular.
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Brad, Going to Torrisi for dinner next week so I appreciate your thoughts on what you ate. Thanks.
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