[JohnZ]

If you want up-scale atmosphere, food and service as you describe it, prepare to pay upscale prices. There is no free lunch. The primary reason you don't see more of this kind of restaurant in these parts.....is that the demographic will not support their business if meal costs are beyond a certain point. There are those, like you, who would patronize an upscale place from time-to-time. However, the simple fact of the matter is that a larger percentage of the population here will not patronize high-end purveyors because of higher prices. It's business and smart entrepreneurs will work the numbers vis-a-vis the prospective clientele's income and spending habits. But that said, things may change as the first big wave of baby-boomers begin to retire in '08. Their spending patterns, tastes and lifestyle preferences are different than the current retiree population. It'll be interesting to see what happens. Any predictions?