NYC's 4 Most Expensive Restaurants

Hey, Big Spender. If you're looking for a special night out dining on truffle and Kobe Beef, you're in the right city. But keep in mind that such exquisite culinary experiences don't come cheap—especially in New York. It's time to go big, or go home. Here are four NYC restaurants to dine at if you're in the mood to splurge, hoping to impress someone…or if your date is footing the bill. By Brooke Sager.

See Also: NYC's Best Celebrity Chef Restaurants | NYC's 9 Best French Restaurants

Masa

10 Columbus Circle, at Broadway
New York, NY 10019
212-823-9800
masanyc.com

It's no surprise that NYC is home to one of the most expensive restaurants in the world. Masa, a Japanese and sushi restaurant, is located right in the Time Warner Center. Known for it's exceptional food and extravagant prices, Masa was awarded four out of four stars by The New York Times and has even been mentioned in the TV series Ugly Betty.

Thanks to Chef Masa's expertise and use of exotic ingredients, dinner is priced around $400-$600 per person (not including tax, tip or drink, of course.) Add an order of sake, and you may have to mortgage your house before the check comes.

For the full Masa experience (and maybe catch a glimpse of Chef Masa himself), ask for a seat at the sushi bar. The surface of the bar itself is carved out of rare Japanese wood and costs more than most cars, ringing in at $60,000.

To enjoy much of the same delicious food without (completely) breaking the bank, head next door Chef Masa's other restaurant, Bar Masa.

Daniel

60 E. 65th Street
New York, NY 10065
212-288-0033
danielnyc.com
Reviews & More Info

Located on the Upper East Side, Daniel is known for its 'incomparable' contemporary French cuisine. Chef Daniel Boulud, who has a TV series and six cookbooks, serves up creatively rich and seasonal dishes, like Florida Frog Leg and Jerusalem Artichoke Soup and Tai Snapper Ceviche with Cucumber Vinaigrette.

It's impossible not to bask in the ambiance as you sip a $24 Rose Royale in the lounge, or dine in the dining room for dinner. Daniel's grand architecture and contemporary décor will make you feel both welcomed and special.

For a relative bargain, the Pre-Theater Prix Fixe (three courses, three wine pairings) is only $110. Here's the catch: you only have between 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm Monday-Thursday.

GILT at the New York Palace Hotel

455 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 891-8100
NewYorkPalace.com
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This Midtown gem is one of priciest restaurants in NYC to serve New American cuisine. As you walk through the wrought iron gates of the Villard Mansion, prepare yourself for some seriously fine dining. GILT's dining room, which seats only 52, still manages to feel intimate within gilded walls and cathedral ceilings.

Before you sit down for dinner, be sure to have a cocktail at the chic, mod-like bar in the lounge. If you're a wine connoisseur, then you're in luck—GILT houses over 2,100 bottles of wine, and has one of the best vintage wine lists in the city.

GILT's tasting menu is $120 a person, and the Chef's Grand Seven Course Tasting Menu is $150. The food is so exquisite, you won't even feel 'gilt-y' about the price.

Le Bernardin

155 W. 51st Street
New York, NY 10020
(212) 554-1515
le-bernardin.com
Reviews & More Info

The food and service at Le Bernardin are some of the best in the Big Apple. Le Bernardin, known for its delicious seafood and ornate French cuisine, is the perfect place to bring a date or host a dinner party - if you've got the money. The dining room's wood paneling and dim lights makes the atmosphere feel sophisticated and romantic at the same time.

Their Prix Fixe is $115 a person, and the chef's tasting menu is $140 ($227 with wine pairings.) If the lavish price doesn't make you feel snazzy enough, remember that Le Bernardin also enforces their business- casual dress code. Reservations are a must, so plan ahead—they're accepted for the following month beginning on the first business day of every month.

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Brooke Sager is a New York City-based freelance writer. She writes at HIHEELZ.