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This wasn't a meal; it was a money laundering operation.

2 chunks of parmesan: $28
Not having to tolerate the company of the poor: priceless

Why is everyone mad. He added about $50,000 to the US's economy. Remember that he is from Russia and deals in rubles. Now his rubles have become dollars. Go USA!

@DCLSweetspot: Well, by that logic, why do we do a percentage for different dishes as well? It takes the same effort to bring out a plate that costs $20 as a plate that costs $8. We still do a percentage in those cases. Perhaps we should just give tips of a set fee rather than a variable percentage.

@sheba0915: a little strange that they didn't drink any vodka though.

I took my sweetie out for a lovely Thai meal on Sunday, no wine or beer and I had a diet cola. I didn't order appetizers because I was trying to keep the bill reasonable and it still came out to about $28 with tax and tip.

We each ordered combinations that included our dish of choise, veggie pad thai and steam rice. I was pretty satisfied!

@sanhedrin: It was a table full of Russians. Therefore, the amount of alcohol consumed was not particularly outrageous.

I don't see why there are so many people upset by this. Sure, we don't have money like this guy, so we can't indulge like he does; for that I am either jealous or envious, can't figure which one. I can't say I am disgusted by it though. It's his money, he could flush it down the toilet if he wanted, and essentially he just did, but again, it is his money. Everyone knows restaurants charge ridiculous mark-ups on alcohol, particularly wine and Nello's is no exception. Hell, I drink wine that is $5 a bottle from my local liquor store and have seen it on menus for $8 a glass!! Okay, I'm jealous and envious and it seems most of you are too.

Unfortunately, this makes me detest the rich even more than I did before.
I'm sure the alcohol was used as a 'lubricant' if this was a business meal. I guess if your are a Russian oligarch, then you don't seem to mind spending a year's salary (not mine!) on one little ol' luncheon. This just shows that the excess of the classes is still alive and well and living in the food industry as much as Wall Street.

Wow, the final bill ($52,221.09) came out to the price of a home in some cities...YIKES.

Oh well, it's all relative, I suppose.

absurd.

Once in my life, I'd like to be offered a glass of DRC La Tache.
Perhaps only Petrus compares. Worth $5000 a bottle? I don't know, but I'd sure like a taste.

According to this WSJ blog, he added on another $5K gratuity for a grand total of $52,221.09!

http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2009/11/02/roman-abramovichs-52000-lunch-bill/