PRICES

[Botafogo]

I am assuming that since it was a very special occasion (24th anniversarry, congratulations), this is a "nice" place. These days the buildout and furnishing of such a nice place can run into the actual millions and you cannot put those expenses on the bill, you have only two things to sell (food and drink) and the bank will not take IOUs. I fully understand the reaction of all of you but see no viable alternative (other than fleecing customers first in a casino) if you want a truly luxurious environment to dine in.

Here in LA we had a wonderful place called Rex Il Restaurante for about 10 years, run by a force of nature named Mauro Vicente (an amazing conductor of the best symphony of truly Italian cuisine I have ever seen out of Italy). It was a recreation of the dining salon on the Italian Luxury Liner Rex built in the lobby of a great old art deco building in downtown LA. The dining room could have easily seated 300 but was set for 120 with ten to fifteen feet between tables for privacy and to provide room for the elaborate tableside service. The place settings ran about $150 hard cost wholesale per person and they used Reidel's top stemware. There were more fresh flowers everyday than at your grandmother's funeral and a 12 foot Bosendoerfer piano in the lounge. They gave you a glass of Ca del Bosco Riserva Brut when you sat down. The duece tables were crescent shaped slabs of black marble that gave you a lot of room but put you within kissing distance of your date.

I went there every year for my birthday and gladly spent $200 a head (in the eighties) and they did a lot of business but nearly always ran at a deficit. Then they closed. I think they would have had to double the prices of everything to break even and I STILL thought it was the best value in town FOR WHAT YOU GOT both on the plate and in the room.

I too, like value for money but nearly froth at the mouth when folks don't take into account all the things besides food and wine costs that they are getting in a good let alone great restaurant.

this is making me hungry, Roberto