[imagesource: Instagram / FYN Restaurant]

FYN Restaurant, the stylish Japanese kaiseki-style restaurant in the Cape Town CBD, made it onto the list of this year’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

The local gem cracked a spot at number 37 on the list, with our other local fine-dining establishments making it at 56 and 90 – those being La Colombe and Wolfgat, respectively.

The combination of the symmetry of Japanese techniques and the rustic style of African ingredients, as The Daily Maverick notes, was enough to wow the judges and tantalise the tastebuds of patrons, near and far.

Especially when considering what an absolute bargain it is to dine at FYN after comparing its prices to the other entrants in the top 50.

Business Insider did some number crunches and reported that eating a meal at FYN is actually “ridiculously cheap”.

The publication also noted how “for roughly the same price as a single dinner at many similarly ranked rivals, you can have one dinner at each of the local restaurants in the top 100 – and still leave with some change”.

This perspective is making me salivate stukkend.

But then I remember that it is because the exchange rate is playing a massive role here and paying R1 575 for FYN’s flagship “Experience” dinner is still enough to buy close to an entire month’s worth of staple groceries.

Comparing that price point to the top-rated restaurant on this year’s list, Copenhagen’s Geranium’s R7 260 per person (3 200 DKK) flagship dinner is where things get really “ridiculous”:

 

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A post shared by Restaurant Geranium (@restaurant_geranium)

I suppose, it only makes sense in the molecular gastronomy world to spend hard-earned cash on brown leaves.

On the other hand, I am experiencing something gastro-y just thinking about it.

Ranked just one below FYN was Jordnær in Copenhagen, which charges R7 260 per person for its premier dinner offering:

 

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A post shared by Restaurant Jordnær (@restaurantjordnaer)

And compared to the most expensive restaurant in the 33 to 41 bracket, Jordnær, it would be possible to have four dinners – and a lunch – at Fyn before breaking even.

Here’s a proper comparison of prices with other rival restaurants, for your amusement:

Indeed, FYN looks like it offers way more value for money:

 

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A post shared by FYN (@fynrestaurant)

That kaiseki tray is the third course on the Experience menu, featuring langoustine, chokka with truffle, sashimi, and tsukemono, which are tiny bites of pickled vegetables.

Reading The Daily Maverick’s write-up about FYN – where the “stars align” – may convince you to treat yourself if you haven’t been swayed to do so already.

Just imagine you’re a foodie with foreign currency first.

[source:businessinsider&dailymaverick]