L' atelier de Joel Robuchon: How much should I expect to spend?

[Liquid Sky]

Hi All!

I was wondering (on average) what I would expect to spend for dinner at L' atelier de Joel Robuchon.

Not sure yet if we're doing a la carte or tasting menu.

Would love to get more details from those who have eaten there as I don't recall any prices on their website.

Many thanks!

[financialdistrictresident]

We went last night and spent almost $500 for two. We kept wine to $100. We had dessert (approximately $17). If you skip dessert and coffee you can probably save $50+. We only had one entree, everything else was from the tasting menu. Worth every penny.

[Liquid Sky]

Has anyone been there for lunch? Is there a special menu for lunchtime? Any recommendations?

[financialdistrictresident]

Same menu. The first time I went a hound advised me NOT to have the tasting menu (foie gras in almost every dish . . .). It was good advice. For recs see the report I posted on our experience.

[Liquid Sky]

Foie gras in every dish?? Sounds like my kind of tasting menu... fantastic!

[financialdistrictresident]

We love fois gras too. It's so rich. We had two dishes with foie gras and it was enough.

[Lucia]

I don't think they're open for lunch anymore.

http://www.fourseasons.com/newyorkfs/dining.html
http://eater.com/archives/2008/06/rum...

[Liquid Sky]

Thanks, Lucia. Someone told me from another board. Maybe head to Jean-Georges instead!

[Miss Needle]

I don't remember the exact prices, but it was on the expensive side, especially if your tastes in wine tend to be on the expensive side. Last time, our bill after tax and tip came to over $700 -- but DH tends to spend a lot of money on wine. His alcohol tab for brunch this weekend was twice the amount spent for food -- and he only had two glasses! If you don't drink and order a la carte, I would expect to spend about $300 - $400 for two people.

The portion sizes for a la carte tend to be tasting size portions. So I would do a la carte versus tasting menu as you can choose what you want to eat.

[Liquid Sky]

Thanks to you both!!

[Spends Rent on Food]

I think we spent around $400 for two of us last time we were there, but that included wine - and my memory isn't that good about how much the wine came to.

All I can say is to be prepared to spend a lot because the bill can run up pretty quickly as you're adding all the small plates. Each one sounds delicious (and is delicious) and it would be a crime not to try whatever you want because you under-budgeted.

[thegreekone]

this should help.

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/...

[Liquid Sky]

Thanks, greek! I like one of the readers' idea of ordering a few small plates at the bar in order to sample everything as opposed to doing the typical entree. Oh Boy! Can't wait to try their quail stuffed with foie gras...