Have you ever been to a Michelin star restaurant?

Robson Lobson

A couple of lads in work like to go to Michelin star restaurants. One of them even went to a three star restaurant in Spain with his girlfriend, the bill came to over €500. If I had the money I might go to a few Michelin star restaurants to see what the fuss is about.

GenieOz

There's a really cheap one in Kilkenny. There's nothing particularly special about them, save 2 euro for a bag of chips on the way home though because their portion sizes are always pitiful.

Captain Farrell

Robson Lobson wrote: »

A couple of lads in work like to go to Michelin star restaurants. One of them even went to a three star restaurant in Spain with his girlfriend, the bill came to over €500. If I had the money I might go to a few Michelin star restaurants to see what the fuss is about.

Just like any other restaurant, some are good some are not as good, depending on your taste.

Jonny Blaze

l'ecrivain has one Michelin star I think.

Been a couple of times way back in like 2005-6.

Funny thing about these places is that the more you pay for the food the less it actually resembles food.

I remember being served a narrow rectangular plate with a sphere of something on one side, a rectangle of another substance in the middle and a kind of trapezoid thing on the right.

Couldn't have told which shape matched which part of the menu entry!

Sir Arthur Daley

GenieOz wrote: »

their portion sizes are always pitiful.

Its not the quantity its the quality.

MagicMarker

Nope. The idea of parting with half a week's wages in a pretentious restaurant surrounded by pretentious people is about as appealing to me as a hole in the head.

I'm a simple person with simple tastes. Give me a burger and a cold beer and I'm as happy as a pig in shít.

GenieOz

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Its not the quantity its the quality.

I agree, to a certain point. One tablespoon size scoop of potato does not constitute a portion of potatoes though.

El Guapo!

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Its not the quantity its the quality.

Yeah but what's the point in spending a fortune in a restaurant and still leaving hungry. If you're charging a lot then the least you could do is make sure your customers leave satisfied.

Cantremember

You don't go to these sort of restaurants for a feed. **** off to supermacs for that. You go to appreciate the craft of cooking and the symphony of service, quality ingredients, superb cooking skills married to the best wine with the meal. It's an experience like a West End musical, El Classico or great opera. If you don't understand any of this **** off to supermacs.

BNMC

No, I'm not a pretentious arsehole.

Taco chips, be grand.

suicide_circus

Lobster stuffed with tacos

Sir Arthur Daley

El Guapo! wrote: »

Yeah but what's the point in spending a fortune in a restaurant and still leaving hungry. If you're charging a lot then the least you could do is make sure your customers leave satisfied.

The poster below sums it up.

Cantremember wrote: »

You don't go to these sort of restaurants for a feed. **** off to supermacs for that. You go to appreciate the craft of cooking and the symphony of service, quality ingredients, superb cooking skills married to the best wine with the meal. It's an experience like a West End musical, El Classico or great opera. If you don't understand any of this **** off to supermacs.

Staplor

Have a listen to any chef talk about their stars, I think it was Marco Pierre White who sent them back, have been to 2, wouldn't be bothered again. Kinsale is where it's at for food in Ireland. Give me a pub dinner in Kinsale and a pint over anything in a Michellin Star joint.

GenieOz

Cantremember wrote: »

You don't go to these sort of restaurants for a feed. **** off to supermacs for that. You go to appreciate the craft of cooking and the symphony of service, quality ingredients, superb cooking skills married to the best wine off the meal. It's an experience like a West End musical, El Classico or great opera. If you don't understand any of this **** off to supermacs.

Someone is angry that they pay too much for their food.

You can get the same quality of food and service at 80% of other restaurants.


Also, comparing eating at a restaurant to El Classico, WE Musical or an Opera=fûcking big time lol

Menas

If I said I was and ate fois gras and really enjoyed it I will likely get lynched.

So...eh...no, I have never been. Honest.

byhookorbycrook

Yes, to the Cliff House and yes, it was worth it!

El Guapo!

Cantremember wrote: »

You don't go to these sort of restaurants for a feed. **** off to supermacs for that. You go to appreciate the craft of cooking and the symphony of service, quality ingredients, superb cooking skills married to the best wine with the meal. It's an experience like a West End musical, El Classico or great opera. If you don't understand any of this **** off to supermacs.

Are you a chef?! :pac:


Why can't I go to "appreciate the craft of cooking" and still get a half decent portion size though?
Don't get me wrong, different strokes for different folks and all that but I can't understand why they serve so little.

Agricola

I'm sure the food is incredible and the skill required to make it isnt commonplace, but it's still just one meal. It'll be in the bottom of your jax the next day. Book a citybreak or buy some electronic gadget, money far better spent.

Frank Lee Midere

Thinly veiled I can't afford to go to a Michelin starred restaurant so I'll play the angry troll thread. Or not that thinly veiled.

I can't afford to either - well not without paying my rent for a meal - but a rich acquaintance invited me to a meal at a 2 star when he cashed out some stock. We did the 7 taster courses. All slight courses but overall filling. If money isn't an object do that.

Easily the best meal I ever had and most certainly the best service and wine. Worth it, were I rich I'd do it often.

Murt10

Patrick Guibauds is Irelands only 2 star restautrant.

E50 for the 3 course lunch menu. For me, this is much better than going to some other places later at night that's packed and paying even more for an ok sort of meal, but each to his own.

http://restaurantpatrickguilbaud.ie/menus/lunch

Cantremember

GenieOz wrote: »

Someone is angry that they pay too much for their food.

You can get the same quality of food and service at 80% of other restaurants.


Also, comparing eating at a restaurant to El Classico, WE Musical or an Opera=fûcking big time lol

Have a Big Mac in the big lol.

GenieOz

Cantremember wrote: »

Have a Big Mac in the big lol.

Nice counter, I will. Add a dash of pretentiousness to the wine next time, a little bit more and it would be perfect

wexandproud

Cantremember wrote: »

You don't go to these sort of restaurants for a feed. **** off to supermacs for that. You go to appreciate the craft of cooking and the symphony of service, quality ingredients, superb cooking skills married to the best wine with the meal. It's an experience like a West End musical, El Classico or great opera. If you don't understand any of this **** off to supermacs.

you can experience all of these things to a higher level for a lot less money in loads of restaurants around the country. going to one of these places is not about good food , its about bulls....ing to your friends about being there and that's what they build their business on.

My name is URL

I've been to two. One in Ireland and one in Spain. I love food but on neither occasion did I feel it was worth the money, and in Ireland I left the restaurant still feeling hungry. Was invited by acquaintances in my work life so couldn't really decline either.

Wouldn't bother with it again tbh.

Sir Arthur Daley

El Guapo! wrote: »

Why can't I go to "appreciate the craft of cooking" and still get a half decent portion size though?
Don't get me wrong, different strokes for different folks and all that but I can't understand why they serve so little.

Between all the courses and good wine one should be quite satisfied with the meal, people are eating away too much in portion size imo, statistics are there to prove it. Ireland second most obese nation in the EU.

frozenfrozen

People seem to be really angry over this. They're restaurants with really high standards and obviously very nice food. It's nice for a treat every once in a while. I've never been to a michelin star place before but I've been to a few expensive but fantastic restaurants in my life, and even if they are the same price as 40 meals in supermacs, they're worth it as a treat and the experience.

Menas

Murt10 wrote: »

Patrick Guibauds is Irelands only 2 star restautrant.

E50 for the 3 course lunch menu. For me, this is much better than going to some other places later at night that's packed and paying even more for an ok sort of meal, but each to his own.

http://restaurantpatrickguilbaud.ie/menus/lunch

This is one fantastic experience. From champers in a reception to the sit down for a 2 hour love in with your tastebuds.
Paddy G himself even comes around to introduce himself and see that you are enjoying yourself.

If you ever want to score with someone and reckon money is no object, take her\him here...you will be getting the ride within an hour of leaving the place.
Even sooner if you suprise him/her with a room in the ajoining merrion.

GenieOz

Trigger Happy wrote: »

This is one fantastic experience. From champers in a reception to the sit down for a 2 hour love in with your tastebuds.
Paddy G himself even comes around to introduce himself and see that you are enjoying yourself.

If you ever want to score with someone and reckon money is no object, take her\him here...you will be getting the ride within an hour of leaving the place.
Even sooner if you suprise him/her with a room in the ajoining merrion.

Yeah or take them to an airport and for the same cost whisk them away for a weekend break in any city in Europe.

That should tell you how horribly overpriced that place is.

roy rodgers

I went to the cliff house in Ardmore co Waterford a few months back and sat in the Michelin star restaurant and I have to say it was an experience that I would recommend to anyone especially if your looking for some brownies points with the other half.
There was 6 courses and I was stuffed after the lot and it was only 70 euro a head.
The quality of food was next to none, one thing I noticed when the steaks came out you didn't get a steak knife just the normal butter knife as it was so so tender no fat the best of irish beef. mmmmmmm

Cantremember

wexandproud wrote: »

you can experience all of these things to a higher level for a lot less money in loads of restaurants around the country. going to one of these places is not about good food , its about bulls....ing to your friends about being there and that's what they build their business on.

If you said to "a level nearly as high" I'd agree with you and there are a lot of excellent good value restaurants with large portions in Ireland. Part of the fun is getting to one of them and thinking this will have a star in a year or two. Dunbrody house in Wexford is an excellent example. Any others?

My name is URL

frozenfrozen wrote: »

People seem to be really angry over this. They're restaurants with really high standards and obviously very nice food. It's nice for a treat every once in a while. I've never been to a michelin star place before but I've been to a few expensive but fantastic restaurants in my life, and even if they are the same price as 40 meals in supermacs, they're worth it as a treat and the experience.

What exactly is obvious about it? Just because a few food writers and critics say they had nice food doesn't mean that every single other person is going to enjoy it also.

Teyla Emmagan

I've been to a few. Guilbaud's, Chapter One, L'Ecrivain. And had the taster menu (all 7 courses of it) in Mint back in the day. I love eating out, and going somewhere really really special is the biggest treat in the world as far as I'm concerned. With a Michelin starred restaurant, it's about theatre as much as food. Incredible service, beautiful settings, the most perfectly paired wines and a plate of food that a huge amount of talent and creativity has gone into. Each to their own how they spend their money, for some people a meal out in a Michelin starred restaurant is worth saving all year for. Every meal I've had in one has been utterly special and memorable.

And the bib gourmand places are generally fantastic as well and they're much more 'middle bracket' pricewise.

Legs.Eleven

Would love to eat in one some day but I wouldn't be into the tiny portions.

Menas

GenieOz wrote: »

Yeah or take them to an airport and for the same cost whisk them away for a weekend break in any city in Europe.

That should tell you how horribly overpriced that place is.

If you can afford it then why not. Life is for experiencing.

frozenfrozen

My name is URL wrote: »

What exactly is obvious about it? Just because a few food writers and critics say they had nice food doesn't mean that every other single person is going to enjoy it also.

Oh **** off of course the food will be nice, they're hardly going to throw chicken dippers onto a plate and charge you 80 quid for the privilege..
I didn't say it's the nicest food you could possibly have but it will be nice food in a nice place with good service..

ceadaoin.

Yes I have and it was great. We lived near one in London and decided to go for my birthday one year. I think the set menu was £40 but the bill ended up around £300 after wine, coffees and a couple of aperitifs. The sommelier was brilliant, very knowledgable, the wines were perfect for the courses we chose. And of course the food was amazing too

MagicMarker

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Oh **** off of course the food will be nice, they're hardly going to throw chicken dippers onto a plate and charge you 80 quid for the privilege..
I didn't say it's the nicest food you could possibly have but it will be nice food in a nice place with good service..

Do you understand what subjective means? "Nice" is a matter of opinion.

Linka

Cantremember wrote: »

You don't go to these sort of restaurants for a feed. **** off to supermacs for that. You go to appreciate the craft of cooking and the symphony of service, quality ingredients, superb cooking skills married to the best wine with the meal. It's an experience like a West End musical, El Classico or great opera. If you don't understand any of this **** off to supermacs.

It's completely lost on anyone who over fills their stomach with that shit and plies themselves with drink, only to whinge about how full they are afterward.

GenieOz

Trigger Happy wrote: »

If you can afford it then why not. Life is for experiencing.

No, I completely get that. However you would get the same experience in places charging far FAR less. To pay more just because some critics have given it a star(which is reminiscent of being a kid in school) is silly.

My name is URL

People seem to be really angry over this.

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Oh **** off of course the food will be nice, they're hardly going to throw chicken dippers onto a plate and charge you 80 quid for the privilege..

lol.. and you say others are aggressive on the subject?

Look.. define 'nice' for me. The food I had was tasty on both occasions, but the overall experience; considering things other than taste.. was not all that 'nice'.

frozenfrozen

MagicMarker wrote: »

Do you understand what subjective means? "Nice" is a matter of opinion.

Yes, and it'll be nice food, you choose something on the menu that sounds like you'd like it, and they cook a nice version of that dish. Don't be so obtuse to say that it won't be nice just because it's a michelin star place. It's got a michelin star because they make nice food..

thisonetaken

Linka wrote: »

It's completely lost on anyone who over fills their stomach with that shit and plies themselves with drink, only to whinge about how full they are afterward.

don't waste your time, some of the philistines on here are only happy when their plate is piled a mile high with spuds, they'll never get it

Teyla Emmagan

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Would love to eat in one some day but I wouldn't be into the tiny portions.

I've never left one hungry to be honest. It's not about rolling out of the place anyway. It's funny how people confuse quantity and quality, as an aside. I know loads of people who only think they've had a good meal when they have to be intubated afterwards.

El Bulli in your neck of the woods was supposed to have been a life changing experience, will always mourn the fact I didn't get to eat there.

Oh yeah, and I've eaten in Bon Appetit, and the Cliff House. Jays, I'm an awful name dropper :pac:

MagicMarker

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Yes, and it'll be nice food, you choose something on the menu that sounds like you'd like it, and they cook a nice version of that dish. Don't be so obtuse to say that it won't be nice just because it's a michelin star place. It's got a michelin star because they make nice food..

I never said it won't be nice because it's a michelin star place, I said nice is subjective, and just because it's a michelin star place doesn't mean it's always going to be nice. Do you think no one has ever had a dish in a michelin star restaurant and thought it was NOT nice? Ever? Who's being obtuse now ffs.

wexandproud

Cantremember wrote: »

If you said to "a level nearly as high" I'd agree with you and there are a lot of excellent good value restaurants with large portions in Ireland. Part of the fun is getting to one of them and thinking this will have a star in a year or two. Dunbrody house in Wexford is an excellent example. Any others?

was in dunbrody house last summer and thought it was only ok, if your in wexford try cistine eile on the main street[ spelling maby not correct],not cheap not overly expensive but never fails

Jezek

Cantremember wrote: »

If you said to "a level nearly as high" I'd agree with you and there are a lot of excellent good value restaurants with large portions in Ireland. Part of the fun is getting to one of them and thinking this will have a star in a year or two. Dunbrody house in Wexford is an excellent example. Any others?

Greenhouse

frozenfrozen

MagicMarker wrote: »

So no one has ever had a dish in a michelin star restaurant and thought it was NOT nice? Ever?

Sorry but are you really straw-manning me when I'm saying that good restaurants serve good food? Of course people can not like the food. I completely agree that people can not like food. However these places have good chefs who are well able to make delicious food. If you didn't like it you could send it back anyway and get something else..

Miaireland

Yes I did,it was pleasant, the food was good but more appearance than taste. The service was excellent. The food was french style.

The following night I went to a french style restaurant ten minutes walk up the road. The food was excellent, one of the best meals I had. The service was excellent despite one person running the kitchen and the owner running service.The appearance of the food may be rustic but I would crawl back there.

It was in Leith in Edinburgh.

BeardySi

Thing about trying to maintain a Michelin star is there's a massive cost associated with trying to maintain the service standards required before food even comes into the equation - absolutely everything has to be perfect and the time and effort that goes into maintaining such levels of perfection have associated costs...

I heard an interview with Michael Deane shortly after he lost his for Deane's in Belfast and he reckoned losing the star made life a LOT easier for him and was more likely to bring return business as people tend to go to the likes of a starred restaurant as a one-off special treat.

I am pie

It's a rewarding experience if your interest in food goes beyond filling your belly and eating predictable food. Taste buds are a sense, just like any other of the senses it's interesting to stimulate them with something refined and different every now and then, a special occasion etc.

There is an air of pretentiousness or precious behaviour that goes hand in hand but you are not forced to participate.

It certainly is a form of art given the huge effort that goes into to sourcing ingredients, balancing flavours and the focus given to stimulating taste, smell and visual appeal of the dish, a good restaurant should create an environment to allow you to enjoy the whole package.

Some people would think nothing of blowing hundreds drinking or drinking and gambling but the thought of sitting down to be stimualted by some food and lesser amount of alcohol and being able to remember the whole experience after is somehow a waste of time.

Groundsource

Cantremember wrote: »

You don't go to these sort of restaurants for a feed. **** off to supermacs for that. You go to appreciate the craft of cooking and the symphony of service, quality ingredients, superb cooking skills married to the best wine with the meal. It's an experience like a West End musical, El Classico or great opera. If you don't understand any of this **** off to supermacs.

cool the jets ya AH:D