5 Overpriced Dishes In America

July 25, 2012  |  Filed Under » ,  |  View as article

Most Overpriced Dishes In America

Some of us - most of us - eat to live. For those who think that the rest of humanity has it backwards, we present the most ornate and ostentatious dishes available for sale. Food that you'll savor every bite of, for fear of not getting your money's worth. Whether you think it's important to get your cash circulating back in the economy as quickly as possible, or if you just enjoy paying outrageous markups, we welcome you to peruse today's specials.

Golden Opulence Sundae

The Golden Opulence sundae is the culmination of confection. It's offered by Serendipity3 - which, on balance, is a relatively inexpensive entrant among the restaurants featured in our countdown. The Manhattan landmark offers a $6 bowl of corn chowder and $8 vegetable chili, but it's the sundae that gained Serendipity3 its notoriety. Checking in at a cool $1,000, the aptly named Golden Opulence sundae is made with Tahitian vanilla beans and melted Amedei Porcelana chocolate (imported from Italy, and the costliest in its class). How does that warrant a $1,000 price tag? It's because of the edible gold leaf and a serving of sweet caviar. The sundae also features gold-encrusted almonds and marzipan cherries. It's served in a Baccarat crystal vessel, which you're welcome to take home with you.

French Hen With Roasted Foie Gras

The prestigious French restaurant guide "Gault Millau" named Joël Robuchon its Chef of the Century. That was in a previous century, 23 years ago, but that doesn't stop the legendary chef from attempting to go back-to-back. He's since opened restaurants from Monte Carlo to Tokyo, including one restaurant in the United States. Robuchon's French hen with roasted foie gras and confit potatoes au jus is the culinary attraction at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The dish requires one hour of lead time and costs $180.

Vegetarian Tasting Menu

Of course, as any herbivore will be happy to tell you, one way to avoid steep prices is to avoid meat. Josiah Citrin's Santa Monica, Calif. restaurant Melisse offers a multi-course, vegetarian tasting menu including corn ravioli, summer vegetable bouillabaisse, cassoulet with portabella mushrooms and shelling beans, and a selection of cheeses and strawberries. All this can be yours for just $115.

Golden Imperial Ossetra Caviar

Chef Anthony Martin's Chicago restaurant Tru boasts that its French cuisine "showcases the most pristine ingredients in the world." That includes the 25-gram serving of golden imperial ossetra caviar, which rings in at a hefty $375. That's $425 an ounce, which is roughly 16 times the price of silver. You can buy the 10-gram serving for $150. Both the small and large golden imperial ossetra caviar cost the same, proportionally. The same goes for every other caviar on the menu.

Kobe Beef And Maine Lobster Burger

Ground beef on a bun is the very definition of an inexpensive meal, isn't it? It's not at Le Burger Brasserie in Las Vegas. The restaurant's self-styled signature dish is the Kobe Beef and Maine Lobster Burger. Toppings include caramelized onions, imported Brie cheese, crispy prosciutto and balsamic vinegar that's been aged for a century. If three meats in one sandwich sounds like overkill, wash away your reservations with the accompanying bottle of Dom Perignon Rosé.

Conclusion

Everyone's entitled to something fattening, pricey or otherwise indulgent once in a while. However, do it in moderation or you probably won't be doing it long. Ossetra caviar might not be a daily staple, but for some people it's an enjoyable way to use some disposable income.

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