Indeed, that is what I was referring to.

I do know places that will cost someone the good side of $200-250 for a sushi sit down so it’s not made up stuff.

(Pauline runs, ducks, and covers.)

In the comment I made previously, I did note that our final bill was over $300. There were 5 of us though (and I specified that above, too) - so it actually came out to somewhere between $50-60 per person. Still expensive, but no more so than at other high quality sushi places… In fact, I might argue that other sushi places I’ve been to (e.g., Nozawa) charges an even higher premium than R 23.

Sorry for any confusion my previous comment may have caused.

No body is talking about a $300 sushi sit down. As Jonah pointed out, not even Urasawa charges that, and each item he serves is a work of art upon a work of art, surrounded by a work of art.

I wholeheartedly agree that when you start to feel you are overpaying for what you get, your enjoyment diminishes.

But you need to choose a different battle to pick!! When you go to an extra fine sushi house, you are paying a premium for a number of reasons, the primary one being due to the pecking order of sushi chefs in this town. Actually, this important point rates a separate post.

Then you have the aforementioned years of training and apprenticeships that sushi chefs go through to master their craft.

Jonah made several salient points regarding ambience, service, decor, scene etc etc — all the things that add up to a memorable experience of dining out.

It’s not just about the food!!

You even acknowledged the R&D that goes into creating new dishes!

The manner in which you refute my review proves you have never dined at R 23, though that shouldn’t matter. You are all up in arms because restaurants charge $8 for bottled water. So? I don’t order stuff like that.

Restaurants also do a severe mark up on their wine, but most fine restaurants have bottles in their cellar *that you can no longer obtain*!

Can’t you see how this exclusivity adds to the premium you pay?

I enjoy a sensible discussion, but you cannot even substantiate your opinion with facts, nor maintain accuracy, therefore I can easily dismiss and knock down many of your ill-researched points.

To conclude my rant, I would dearly love to know at which restaurant you are a chef. I’m serious. Because then I would know a great place that serves simple, unpretentious meals at affordable and non-inflated prices.

I think we all need to know places like this, whether in LA or somewhere worth the journey.

Your points are well taken…there is a cost of overhead and all that obviously. I don’t dispute that. It takes time and effort to create new and interesting dishes…an intangible cost really which is rewarded by the feedback of the people who eat the dishes. It’s almost like R&D departments in an engineering firm. Most of the cost of the product is in that.

There are two categories of eateries (and this is regardless of whether it’s “fine” or “casual”)…the first type is one that creates ambiance and flare to make money. The second is the one that makes food which sets the ambiance and then creates money. R23 and the likes tend to fall into the first.

It’s irrelevant as to which one likes…that’s a personal choice. I just find the places that have no thrills but serve the best foods in the world the ones I tend to remember and try to flatter by reproducing. The food should be the experience…not the restaurant.

I suppose my viewpoint and philosophy in what food and an experience should are simply different.

Most of us who write here at la.foodblogging are also active home cooks, we do recognize the premiums we pay to eat out.

So the debate moves to other factors which increase the price. Does atmosphere matter, does service matter, do the quality of ingredients matter, do “trends” matter? I submit that there are all types of diners, some who do want the trappings of a higher end restaurant, and some who think that all of that stuff is just rubbish. I think that there is an even larger group who likes to go to higher end restaurants on special occasions, or once in a while.

Can you get a crappy meal at an expensive restaurant? Yes, without a doubt and without debate. Can you get an amazing meal for under $10? Absolutely!

I’m not sure where you are referencing a $300 sushi sitdown, but let’s look at Urasawa. For $250 you get a pretty amazing dining experience. Read this review:

Urasawa by mmm-yoso!!!

If you can recreate that at home, Bravo! Can I come over?

I’m sorry but I strongly disagree with you. After being a chef for a number of years, I can’t believe the prices people pay for food outside which one would consider “fine cuisine.”

While I am not belittling the sushi chefs there, with some practice and creativity, you can create sushi at home and other dishes with rival and beat whatever you could possibly imagine outside.

I create some really good sushi dishes at home. Yes, some of it can be time consuming and I’m sure I can learn a thing or two from some expert chefs who’ve done ONLY sushi all their lives…but come on…$300 for a sushi bar sitdown? That’s just ridiculous. It’s mostly hype and nothing else. But to each his own.

I’ve only ever dined at R23 once, but we didn’t even look at the menu. My friends and I went straight for the sushi bar. The prices aren’t any easier on the wallet there. In fact, there were 5 of us at the sushi bar, and the bill came out to over $300. (Fortunately for me, one of the gentlemen decided I shouldn’t have to pay and told me to just chip in for tip.)

I don’t recall everything I ate there (because it’s been a few years), but I do remember thinking at the time how each piece of fish, particularly the albacore and yellowtail, just melted in my mouth. My visit there remains one of my top 5 sushi experiences. The only reason why I haven’t gone back to R23 is simply because of the cost. Still, if you can afford it, I’d recommend a visit to the sushi bar there.

BTW, for those who have not been to the alley there, Max is right - there is valet parking, but it can get a bit harried, especially during peak dining hours. There is quite a bit of metered parking on one end of the alley, and I believe free parking on the other end of the alley, though those coveted spots are hard to come by.