Are $1,240 Christmas Dinners a Good Deal?

The Restaurant at Meadowood, the only three-Michelin starred eatery in California that isn’t The French Laundry, is again hosting a series of visiting chefs during its Twelve Days of Christmas celebration. The dinners, at around six courses, are inclusive of wine, tax and tip and are priced at $395 per person. Pricing for couples who wish to stay at the resort starts at $1,240 on weekdays or $1315 on weekends, with dinner included.Is this a GOOD DEAL?

Yeah, it might just be. 

First of all, we’re long-standing fans of all-inclusive “real cost pricing.” This makes things simpler for the guests; it ensures the Meadowood meal is more about enjoyment, and less about financial decision-making. 

Second of all, The Twelve Days of Christmas gives the diner an experience that can’t otherwise be obtained at Meadowood, which is to say big-name guest chefs cooking food that Meadowood doesn’t normally cook. We at The Bad Deal are partial to Nick Anderer’s appearance on 19 December (NEW YORK IN DA HOUSE!), as well as the final dinner on 22 December, when Bill Harlan’s wines will be poured and Meadowood Chef Chris Kostow will be “doin the cookin." Briefly: Harlan makes pretty gosh darn good wines. And we hear Kostow can cook. 

Third of all, you’ll actually be spending a few dollars less than on a typical night at Meadowood, where the slightly longer 8-9 course dinner menu is $225 per person before tax, tip and $225 wine pairings, or $1,150 for two after all is said and done, compared with the Christmas pricing of $790 for two. 

Fourth of all, if you splurge for the $1,240/$1,315 "dinner with a room deal” (which you might as well considering where you are), you’ll end up getting a nicely discounted lodging rate. Rooms typically start around $600 clams a night. So taking the retail value of the dinner into consideration, you’re essentially getting your room for about $450. Sounds pretty good to us. 

Meadowood is also offering a $5,800 chef’s counter package, but we’ll keep opinion on that pricier option to ourselves until we finish crunching those slightly more complicated numbers. For now, The Twelve Nights of Christmas at Meadowood appears to be a GOOD DEAL.