In this episode, we dive into a controversial take: fine dining isn’t worth the hype — or the price tag.
Sandra and I recently visited a so-called “authentic Italian” fine dining restaurant, and let’s just say… it was anything but.
The service was polished but clueless, the Bolognese tasted like grocery-store jarred sauce, the wine list was marked up five times retail, and they even tried to upsell us on a membership just to get reasonable wine prices.
Oh — and they rushed us out in 45 minutes while calling it “a luxury experience.”
Valet parking and white tablecloths don’t equal quality. We talk about:
🍝 When fine dining becomes factory dining
🥂 The wine markup madness
⏱️ Why “premium” shouldn’t feel rushed
👎 How marketing tries to justify mediocrity
💡 And why simple, soulful food often beats the fancy stuff
Let’s explore why the best meals aren’t always the ones with the highest price tag — and what diners should demand instead.
🎙 Rob Clark — Host of Bottles & Bites Without Borders
Exploring the world of food, wine, and whiskey—one bottle and bite at a time.
🌐 Website: www.bottlesandbiteswb.com
📸 Instagram: @bottles_bites_wb
🐦 X (Twitter): @foodwhiskey
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/533352930766813
📧 Email: rob@bottlesandbiteswb.com
#food #whiskey #bourbon #wine #homecook #cook #BBQ #foodie #Italy #barolo #cabernet Sauvignon #france #italy #spain #napa #scotch #pizza #coffee
