As we neared the completion of our third hour of dining at La Toque and peered through wine-bleary eyes at the tired and inebriated seated in the lovely room around us, we looked back at the fine meal that had been served. Five beautifully-presented courses with expertly matched wines, capped off by a splendid cheese finale. Impeccable service and a delightfully warm maitre d'. But after three+ hours, it became an ordeal, even for a restaurant-savvy 30-40-something couple. And at $400 for the two of us, it felt, in retrospect, like an elaborately-staged cash-extraction ceremony. Fine dining is always a morsel away from grotesque self-indulgence, and La Toque brings one perilously close to that line.
Pros: Fare, Presentation, Maitre d'
Cons: Slow pace, Huge $$$$$, A tad precious
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