Clasp your pearls, shine your shoes, and don your best attire because we're about to take a trip around the United States to find the most expensive restaurants in every state. For the most part, these expensive restaurants really are worth the money and hype. Good food, good service, and good vibes all around. If you ever want to splurge, go to one of these restaurants for a surreal dining experience.
Alabama: Highlands Bar and Grill in Birmingham
Lovers will not be disappointed by the warm French-inspired Southern menu at this romantic restaurant. The oyster bar appetizer is $18, an entrée like the Cowboy Ribeye is $58, and dessert like a slice of lemon and blueberry cheesecake is $10. With tax and tip, the bill can get up to $172 per person, and that doesn't even include drinks.
Alaska: Crow’s Nest in Anchorage
This restaurant has a great 360 degree view of downtown Anchorage and even better French-American food. The roasted bone marrow appetizer is $16, while the entrées reach $68 for the Bone-in Bison Rib-Eye. The highly-praised banana split dessert is $18, and drinks really rack up the bill.
Arizona: Binkley's in Phoenix
You pay for the experience as well as the food at this "Modern American" restaurant owned by James Beard Award finalist Chef Kevin Binkley. Reserve a non-refundable seat for this intimate multi-course set dinner. The menu is $160 per person, but wine pairings are an additional $85 per person and Chef’s drink pairings are an additional $190 per person.
Arkansas: Sonny Williams' Steak House in Little Rock
Enjoy a great patio view at the grand piano bar while devouring a 35+ day "aged" steak. Sonny's is known for fresh seafood and succulent steaks. Appetizers are up to $20 for crab cakes and dip, while shrimp scampi linguine is $45 and a porterhouse steak for two is $96. You'll be sure to have an unforgettable night at an unforgettably expensive price.
California: Urasawa in Beverly Hills
Here you pay $400+ per person for a "once in a lifetime experience" of eating gourmet sushi in the Hills. Make a reservation way in advance because this place is exclusive. The sample menu includes sashimi, duck foie-gras shabu shabu, and more fancy sounding words that probably look and taste like art.
Colorado: EDGE in Denver
If American Steakhouses are your thing, EDGE is for you. Located in the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Denver, EDGE serves everything from Wagyu beef on hot stone to $130 steaks. This fancy place also has 50+ wines to choose from and cocktails that range from $13 to $50 (yes, for a cocktail).
Connecticut: The Golden Lamb Buttery in Brooklyn
The Golden Lamb is the perfect weekend getaway, as they're only open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. Register for their prix-fixe dinner, which is $75 for cocktails in a barn, a hayride with a guitar serenade, and a farm-fresh dinner. Dinner includes soups, appetizers, entrées like herb roasted rack of lamb, desserts, and more cocktails.
Delaware: Domaine Hudson in Wilmington
First of all, this place has a selection of over 450 wines and 20+ craft beers. If that doesn't make you want to check it out, maybe the cheese board will. You can either choose a $40 appetizer like striped bass, or a four-course meal for $60.
Florida: Victoria & Albert's in Orlando
At Victoria & Albert's, you can choose from the seven or ten course Chef's menu... both set you back over $160 a person though. Indulge in foods from truffle chicken with hedgehog mushrooms to veal with mushroom lasagna in an intimate setting. You don't want to miss this opulent place within Disney World- after all, it has a champagne trolley and butter carving at each table.
Georgia: Bacchanalia in Atlanta
This restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine, either by the plate or through a four-course prix fixe menu that’s $95 a person. Dishes include seasonal ingredients, some of which are from the owner’s farm. Plates might be veal sweetbreads, homemade brie, $120 caviar, or a $200 whole foie gras. Wine pairings are offered with most menu options, which really amps up the experience (and the bill).
Hawaii: Vintage Cave Club in Honolulu
This place makes you feel like you’re, as one Yelp reviewer said, “walking into a castle and being treated like royalty.” They have a cab service to use so you can find the place, as it’s under a mall. Great servers let you tour the restaurant, including the multiple Picasso paintings! It’s a prix fixe French/ Japanese fusion menu that’s $300 per person, plus tax and 20% service charge. Wine suggestions add to the bill. The portions are small… but there are 15 chef’s choice courses so you get enough food.
Idaho: Chandler's in Boise
Who knew you could get fresh fish in Idaho? Chandler’s, a chophouse in Hotel 43 in downtown Boise, provides only the freshest food. Starters range from the $37 foie gras to the $99 seafood platter, prime steaks are $34 to $75, and seafood ranges from the $72 lobster tail to the $95 Californian abalone with mushroom risotto. Other highlights include the martini bar and live music every night.
Illinois: Alinea in Chicago
It's Michelin-starred and won the James Beard Award for best service, so it has to be good. You have to book a table in advance, and they only take reservations for 2-6 people. Enjoy an 18-22 course menu for $265 that's full of unique dishes like citrus scallops and edible balloons. This might be the coolest dining experience of your LIFE.
Indiana: Prime 47 in Indianapolis
Like most restaurants on the list, Prime 47 is a steakhouse. Enjoy all the meats as you dine to live music in a historic building in the heart of Indy. Offerings include a $116 seafood tower, a $20 crab cocktail, $42-87 steaks, and a $74 surf & turf platter.
Iowa: 801 Chophouse in Des Moines
801 has locations in a few different states, but it happens to be the most expensive restaurant in Iowa. Choose from appetizers like $19 jumbo shrimp or roasted marrow bones to steak chops of all shapes and sizes ranging from $42-64. Add a side of veggies or some drinks to up the price. This classy place also offers a private dining room for special events.
Kansas: Scotch and Sirloin in Wichita
This restaurant's name makes it sound expensive. It is, being the landmark steakhouse in Wichita since 1968. The dinner menu includes classics like steak poppers, oysters, and bone-in ribeye. Appetizers like the cheese and meat board will set you back $27, while entrées range from the $56 shellfish bouquet to the $46 prime rib.
Kentucky: Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse in Louisville
Not surprisingly, the most expensive restaurant in Kentucky is a steakhouse. Appetizers like shrimp and grits are $23 and sides are $8-13. Entrées range from the $22 beef burger to a roll of sushi for $25 to the $115 Hatchet Tomahawk Ribeye steak. There's also an extensive drink menu that could definitely raise the bill.
Louisiana: Square Root in New Orleans
Want an intimate gastronomy experience? Look no further. This restaurant only has 16 seats, so you have to reserve a seat in advance. It has one 10-15 course menu that changes every day. Dinner is $150 a person, but add the optional wine pairing and you double that. Food is pretty “Southern” for the most part: dishes include fried chicken, okra, sweetbreads, corn and crab, and peaches and cream. Chefs use only the freshest ingredients, and they make the food in front of you.
Maine: Hugo's in Portland
The menu at Hugo's changes with the season, but there's always an option to have a blind, 5-course tasting for $90. You can wine pairings for another $75. All the food is made in the open kitchen with ingredients "farmed, fished, and foraged" in Maine. Plates include pan-fried bass, cornmeal mousse, black lentil lamb, and peach-ginger sorbet.
Maryland: Charleston in Baltimore
There’s a lot to choose from at Charleston, but the menu is very seafood-oriented. Try 3 courses for $79 (or $135 with wine pairings), 4 courses for $94, 5 courses for $109, or 6 courses for $124 (or $212 with wine pairings). Dishes include halibut, foie gras, duck, and fried oysters. One Yelp user wrote that it’s “pricy, but you will never find a more sophisticated dining experience in Baltimore.”
Massachusetts: Menton in Boston
The "Chef's Whim" dinner is $165 per person not including fancy cocktails. For that price, you get to enjoy special dishes like veal tenderloin and foie gras torchon with onion vanilla jam in a modern fine dining environment nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award.
Michigan: London Chop House in Detroit
Everything here is pricey: $9 broiled asparagus, $24 tuna appetizer, $22 shrimp and crab salad, and $79 porterhouse steak. Add cocktails to the mix and you have one large bill. The price is probably worth it though since James Beard called this place "one of the ten best restaurants nationwide."
Minnesota: Manny's Steakhouse in Minneapolis
Manny's offers all the meats, from $78.95 bone in tenderloin to $119.95 lobster tail. Even sides and dessert are insanely expensive: hollandaise asparagus is $17.95 and the brownie with strawberries is $23.95. Want wine? Some bottles are $250 or more. Fresh food and good service may make this price tag worth it.
Mississippi: Char Restaurant in Jackson
Char is actually one of the "cheaper" restaurants on this list, but it still offers $54 ribeye steak and $30 seafood. They also offer private rooms for events. It's a great, elegant place to go for fancy surf and turf dinners.
Missouri: Tony's in St. Louis
Tony’s has been a St. Louis landmark since 1946, and it gets better every year. The most expensive choice is the tasting menu for two, which is $180 without wine and $225 with a wine pairing. The menu includes smoked salmon antipasto, lobster penne, foie gras ternderloin, a cheese plate, and dessert. Each course is explained as it’s served, which makes the whole thing more of an event than a meal. Diners can also pick and choose what they want, from $125 caviar to a $36 trio of veals.
Montana: Gallatin River Lodge in Bozeman
The view is almost as good as the food here, as this lodge overlooks mountains and a trout pond. The food is made with local Montana meat and dairy, and the bar has a wide array of Montana micro brews. Choose from a $15 cheese plate appetizer, a $38 braised rabbit entrée, a $50 pesto filet, and more. Adding a variety of wines and innovative cocktails elevates the meal and the bill.
Nebraska: Mahogany Prime Steakhouse in Omaha
Choose from a dinner menu or a private dining menu at this prime steakhouse. The "Grand" menu is $99.99 a person and includes a seafood appetizer, lobster bisque, a filet, and decadent slice of chocolate cake for dessert. A steak on its own here is up to $60, so the Grand menu is actually a decent deal.
Nevada: Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas
This restaurant is so good that it boasts three Michelin stars. It serves sophisticated French cuisine in a townhouse-like setting with a terrace. There's an 18 course menu for seven or more people that includes delicacies like frog leg, sea urchin flan, and truffled ravioli. The price? A steep $445 a person, not including drinks. Go win some money at the MGM Grand Casino, then spend it on this dinner.
New Hampshire: Stages at One Washington in Dover
The $105 tasting menu of 10-12 courses is constantly evolving but always includes farm fresh ingredients that represent New Hampshire. Dishes might include scrambled duck egg, smoked trout, or collard greens-wrapped pork shoulder with foraged mushrooms. Each plate is a work of art. Leave here full, satisfied, and like "part of the family."
New Jersey: Restaurant Latour in Hamburg
Special occasions were meant to be spent here. The food is beautiful in looks and taste, and drinks are expertly suited to each dish. Dishes might include lobster ravioli, strip steak, or a wild truffle mushroom risotto. One can choose between a $115 five course tasting or a $145 seven course tasting, plus $55-65 for wine pairings. Other drinks on their own are up to $18, but their bar is second to none with more than 6,000 labels for wine alone.
New Mexico: Geronimo in Santa Fe
Does sipping cocktails on a porch while enjoying a peaceful New Mexico night sound nice? Then this is your place to go! Choose from indoor or outdoor seating and many different menu items. Attentive service will deliver you traditionally French plates like the $22 lobster crepe appetizer or the $52 rack of lamb. Need another reason to visit this place? It was just ranked #7 on Tripadvisor's list of Best Fine Dining Restaurants in the United States.
New York: Masa in New York City
Not surprisingly, the most expensive restaurant in New York is in the heart of New York City. Meals at Masa, an intimate Japanese sushi restaurant, clock in at $595 a person. For that whopping price, you get sushi and caviar canapé made by expert sushi chefs with fish specifically flown in from Japan.
North Carolina: Bentley's on 27 in Charlotte
Nestled on the 27th floor of the Charlotte Plaza, this is the place to go for a dining experience with a view. The menu is traditionally “American.” Choose from appetizers like $20 macaroni and cheese or $18 steak tartare, then pick a main course like the $76 king crab legs or a $200 caviar sampler plate. Bentley’s also has an extensive wine list diners will not want to miss.
North Dakota: Maxwells Restaurant & Bar in Fargo
Maxwells is the place to go for fine dining in a warm, intimate setting. Try an $18 artisan cheese plate, $46 surf & turf with wild rice risotto, $37 pepper seared elk steak, a $10 chocolate lava cake, and more. Bonus: they’ve received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2012, and they offer a “happy hour” on all drinks from 4-7 PM.
Ohio: Cru Uncorked in Moreland Hills
Surround yourself with elegance at this French New American restaurant in a country château. Enjoy your meal in one of four themed dining rooms and choose from foods like the $20 foie gras gateau appetizer or the $50 beef Bourguignon. Couples can also choose the “Cru for two” three course meal with two wine pairings for $170. Dishes may include beet salad with goat cheese mousse, chicken breast roulade with gnocchi, and homemade sorbets.
Oklahoma: Vast in Oklahoma City
Vast really does have a vast menu, as they accommodate the hungriest carnivores and the strictest vegans. The most expensive dishes have meat in them and range from the $18 roasted bone marrow appetizer to the $48 smoked rack of lamb to the $105 bone-in 24 oz ribeye steak. Diners can also choose the “Chef’s Table” menu, which consists of three courses with a wine pairing for $75.
Oregon: Castagna in Portland
This progressive fine dining restaurant offers a chef’s tasting menu for $165 per person, plus $85 for wine pairings. The menu includes fresh Portland finds such as dungeness crab, a fishbox, smoked trout, elderflower foie gras, and caramelized potato skin.
Pennsylvania: Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia
The tasting menu here will ruin your diet and your wallet, with four rich courses for $165. Everyone's dining experience is customized based on preferences and dietary restrictions, but the dishes will most likely include pasta made in-house. Do not miss their extensive wine menu or their desserts, which range from fruit tarts to napoleons.
Rhode Island: Gracie's in Providence
Gracie’s main mission is to “enhance and educate the palate with the freshest ingredients and flavors.” They do a good job of this with fun dishes like charred Spanish octopus, russet gnocchi, and crème brûlée. Enjoy nine courses for $125, but add wine for $190 a pop.
South Carolina: McCrady's Tasting Room in Charleston
Make reservations here ASAP, as there are only 22 seats in this open kitchen restaurant in historic downtown Charleston. The tasting menu is $115 per person, with additional add-ons such as a $35 caviar supplement and a $75-160 wine pairing. Dishes include sea urchin, sunchokes and clams, aged beef with farro, and raspberry sorbet.
South Dakota: Delmonico Grill in Rapid City
This steakhouse provides local steaks aged in-house. Is your mouth watering yet? Choose a $26 cheese plate as an appetizer, a $42 filet or a $79 bone-in ribeye for two as a main, and $9 cheesecake for dessert. Pair each course with a glass of bubbly or beer to make the most out of the meal.
Tennessee: The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Walland
Reasons you should visit this restaurant: it won a James Beard Award, it has over 9,000 wines and 300 whiskies to choose from, and the ingredients are farm-fresh. Diners need a reservation for the $250 tasting menu with wine pairings. Menu items could be honey roasted eggplant, hearth-roasted grouper fish, and a dark chocolate soufflé.
Texas: Killen's in Pearland
This is the place to go if you’re looking to drop $200 on a hearty “American” meal. Sides range from $12 sautéed mushrooms to $20 jumbo shrimp. Mains like the pan seared gulf snapper will set you back $36, the strip steak wagyu will cost a hefty $150, and the marble ranch longbone steak is a whopping $175 for 48 ounces of prime meat. One port wine is $60 a glass and another dessert wine is $100 a glass. It’s going to cost you a lot of money to eat (and get drunk) here.
Utah: Riverhorse on Main in Park City
Elegant decor? Check. Great live music? Check. Stocked bar, good service, and sumptuous food? Check, check, and check. This place offers appetizers from $13-32 and entrées from $42-92. Choose from stuffed shrimp, oysters, buffalo short rib, pan-seared salmon, the accoladed wild game trio, and more. There are many vegan and gluten free options, and a large wine list as well.
Vermont: Guild Tavern in Burlington
Prime steak. Hand cut fries. Oysters on the half shell. Get all that and more at Guild Tavern. Food is locally sourced from area farms and cooked on the custom-built wood fired grill. Try a $20 burger, a $47 barbecue plate for two, a $49 ribeye, or a $80 sirloin steak for two carved tableside. Sample an array of $10-14 cocktails along with your meal for an added expense.
Virginia: The Inn At Little Washington in Washington
This food tastes as good as it looks, as the Inn has two Michelin stars. Choose from one of three elegant tasting menus for $218. Add $125 for wine pairings expertly selected from their 2,400 bottle array. Example menus contain caviar, lamb loin with caesar salad ice cream, veal tongue with pickled root vegetables, and brie tortellini with roasted figs and almonds.
Washington: The Herbfarm in Woodinville
This place celebrates foods of the Pacific Northwest with themed dinners each month. The cost for a 7 to 9 course dinner with matched wines is $205-$265 a person, plus tip and tax. Probably worth it though for puget sound perch and truffled cheese plates.
West Virginia: Stefano's in Morgantown
Rich pasta and seared meats abound at this fine West Virginian establishment. Sip a glass of red wine while ordering expensive dishes like $17 crab cocktail, $22 veal stuffed tortellini, and $55 pan seared Dover sole fish. The restaurant’s piece de resistance? A $75 South African Lobster Tail.
Wisconsin: Bacchus in Milwaukee
Of course the most expensive restaurant in the cheese state offers a 5 or 10 cheese tasting for $28-55. Guests can also choose to order off the main menu or to entrust their palate to the chef with the 5-7 course tasting menu. The tasting menu is $75-95 plus an extra $55 for beverage pairings, while regular menu items range from $12 cheesecake to $44 filet mignon. This meal will be classy and not too cheesy.
Wyoming: Jenny's Lake Lodge in Jenny Lake
Choose from one of five different five-course menus for $92 in Jenny’s elegantly rustic dining room. Start with an appetizer like ginger charred octopus, then enjoy soup and salad, then an entrée like pork cheek with foie gras bread pudding, and end with a sweet treat. Enhance the experience with $14 specialty cocktails and $15 wine by the glass. Keep in mind that this place is only open June through October since it's in the Grand Teton National Park.
BONUS: Washington DC: Pineapple & Pearls
Pineapple & Pearls is a two Michelin star fine dining establishment that requires reservations weeks in advance. The tasting menu changes, but might include things like sweetbread tacos, tempura, or a pesto sundae. The steep price of $280 per person is all-inclusive, meaning it includes a tasting menu with eleven courses each paired by a beverage, tax, and tip.
As broke college students, we may not be attending any of these restaurants anytime soon. However, it is fun to see how much people are willing to spend to experience fine dining and fancy food. Who knows? Maybe one day soon you'll be bougie enough to experience one of these spots in real life.