THE PRICE HIKE

This week I awarded 3.5 stars to Torrisi Italian Specialties in my column for Bloomberg News. What was once a casual spot is now one of the city’s best fine dining destinations. And dinner for two can easily exceed $500. 

So it goes that improvements in food, service and wine don’t come without a cost. Torrisi’s 7-course menu was $50 before it closed for renovations last fall, it then jumped to $60 in November and then $65 earlier this year. Just the same, the $125 tasting menu, which debuted last autumn, rose to $150 earlier this month. 

There are supplements too. The $65 menu offers a Wagyu beef add-on for $20 per person, bringing your bill to $110 per person after tax and tip. Of course that’s before $4 oysters, $10 “Almond Joy” desserts, and wine.

Those ordering the longer tasting menu can opt for a $75 beverage pairing — not bad considering Momofuku Ko charges $95 for a beverage pairing on its $125 menu. So if you and your dining companion order the tasting and beverage pairings, that’s $580 for two after tax and 20% tip, almost $600 bucks.  

See above for the REAL COST price matrix, detailing exactly how much you might spend. And click here for Torrisi’s online wine list. For now, we’re keeping this one as a STRONG BUY. Everything has improved and we’re paying more for it; we’re completely on board with that.