I just saw this photo on Yelp, back when Masa was “cheap” in 2019. Now it starts at $750 + gratuity for 1 person. Why not just fly to Japan at that point?
I just saw this photo on Yelp, back when Masa was “cheap” in 2019. Now it starts at $750 + gratuity for 1 person. Why not just fly to Japan at that point?
by Intrepid_Reason8906
13 Comments
carefullywasnt
As someone who has never been and doesn’t plan on going – I get that it’s low hanging fruit to rag on a restaurant for being absurdly overpriced, but if he can get away with charging those prices and still be fully booked then I don’t see the issue. If it wasn’t a viable price point then they would lower the price.
There are thousands of other amazing restaurants in the city out there for everyone to enjoy, and none of them are as expensive.
phargoh
Oh if only flying to Japan (flight, hotel, etc.) to eat omakase cost that amount. I’d gladly go. But it’s even more wildly expensive so I tried Masa and I enjoyed it.
vagrantwastrel
The idea that there’s add ons at that price point is so utterly absurd
Begoru
They’re expensing it.
RddtAcct707
I like variety. I want cheap taco stands, good pizza places that always seem farther than bad pizza places, restaurants with loud music, romantic restaurants, beautiful views, that terrible place you’ll never go back to, good breakfast joints, greek food, etc.
And that includes obscenely expensive, world famous restaurants that charge the same amount as rent in another city.
pretender80
Because time = money. There are plenty of people in NYC who make thousands per hour or have 7 figure jobs who can’t “just fly to Japan” for a meal.
One of the main attractions to a place like NYC is that the world comes to you.
worrymon
> Why not just fly to Japan at that point?
Show me where to get 1st class tickets for that price and I’ll fly to Japan.
This restaurant is not marketed to you nor I. It is marketed to people who *do* actually fly places to eat.
vic_steele
Supply and demand. If people stopped going because it was too expensive they’d lower their price but if people are going and willing to pay then why should they adjust their prices
Danimalsyogurt88
That’s cause you are eating at Masa.
Last time I was there with three people, we racked up like $3,900 between the chefs menu + 25% “Admin fee” + tip.
The largest portion of the cost is that they air fly in fish from Japan and they have teams of people working in Japan and the US.
When you go to the most, or one of the most, expensive restaurants in the world that is 3 star Michelin, you should basically know what you are getting into.
MinefieldFly
Two things can be true: it’s perfectly fine that this restaurants exists, but also you should be embarrassed for participating in it
BlurryUFOs
You won’t find a lot of understanding here. This sub is full of people who think expensive food is really good. I look up some of these restaurants y’all say are amazing and they’re like how do you walk out of there spending less than $500 pp? It’s very skewed to upper middle class. That’s why all of the restaurants are on the upper west side.
banallthemusic
Sure it’s cheaper to fly to Japan. Next time you’re eating at a diner, remember you can just to fly to Wisconsin or Iowa and have it for 1/10th of the price.
dunkeyvg
Well majority of the customers are regular/return customers, it’s for those who can afford it
13 Comments
As someone who has never been and doesn’t plan on going – I get that it’s low hanging fruit to rag on a restaurant for being absurdly overpriced, but if he can get away with charging those prices and still be fully booked then I don’t see the issue. If it wasn’t a viable price point then they would lower the price.
There are thousands of other amazing restaurants in the city out there for everyone to enjoy, and none of them are as expensive.
Oh if only flying to Japan (flight, hotel, etc.) to eat omakase cost that amount. I’d gladly go. But it’s even more wildly expensive so I tried Masa and I enjoyed it.
The idea that there’s add ons at that price point is so utterly absurd
They’re expensing it.
I like variety. I want cheap taco stands, good pizza places that always seem farther than bad pizza places, restaurants with loud music, romantic restaurants, beautiful views, that terrible place you’ll never go back to, good breakfast joints, greek food, etc.
And that includes obscenely expensive, world famous restaurants that charge the same amount as rent in another city.
Because time = money. There are plenty of people in NYC who make thousands per hour or have 7 figure jobs who can’t “just fly to Japan” for a meal.
One of the main attractions to a place like NYC is that the world comes to you.
> Why not just fly to Japan at that point?
Show me where to get 1st class tickets for that price and I’ll fly to Japan.
This restaurant is not marketed to you nor I. It is marketed to people who *do* actually fly places to eat.
Supply and demand. If people stopped going because it was too expensive they’d lower their price but if people are going and willing to pay then why should they adjust their prices
That’s cause you are eating at Masa.
Last time I was there with three people, we racked up like $3,900 between the chefs menu + 25% “Admin fee” + tip.
The largest portion of the cost is that they air fly in fish from Japan and they have teams of people working in Japan and the US.
When you go to the most, or one of the most, expensive restaurants in the world that is 3 star Michelin, you should basically know what you are getting into.
Two things can be true: it’s perfectly fine that this restaurants exists, but also you should be embarrassed for participating in it
You won’t find a lot of understanding here. This sub is full of people who think expensive food is really good. I look up some of these restaurants y’all say are amazing and they’re like how do you walk out of there spending less than $500 pp? It’s very skewed to upper middle class. That’s why all of the restaurants are on the upper west side.
Sure it’s cheaper to fly to Japan.
Next time you’re eating at a diner, remember you can just to fly to Wisconsin or Iowa and have it for 1/10th of the price.
Well majority of the customers are regular/return customers, it’s for those who can afford it