Party of 2 Spent $200 at Michelin

When I got the opportunity to eat at Michelin-star Le Mas Bottero, a fine-dining French experience, I couldn't wait.

Throughout my childhood, I'd been lucky enough to go to a handful of Michelin-star places with my family for special occasions, but between moving abroad for my studies and COVID-19, it'd been a long time since I'd set foot in a fancy establishment.

While enjoying some time off in the Luberon in southern France, my mom and I finally tried the evening menus at Le Mas Bottero, headed by chef Nicolas Bottero. The spot has one Michelin star and is located near Aix-en-Provence.

Here's what our experience was like.

When we arrived around 8 p.m., we were greeted by a lovely server who took our coats and showed us to our table.

The restaurant decor was a little sterile for my taste. The tables were black and had somewhat abstract, cone-shaped bases, and most of the decor was made up of neutral colors that, in my opinion, lacked warmth. But our two attentive waitresses made up for it, as they were very eager to help us with any questions we had.

My mom and I decided to each get one of the two menus that they offered and share. One option was the seven-course inspirations menu, which came out to 95 euros, about $100. We also got the five-course saison or seasonal menu, which was 75 euros.

Additionally, we ordered drinks — my mom got a martini and a glass of red wine and I chose a delicious seasonal cocktail — which brought the total to about 190 euros.

As we waited for our first course, we were served polenta fries with a red tapenade and homemade bread with local olive oil.

We also received an amuse bouche, or a small appetizer, made of artichokes and hazelnuts. I thought it was unexpectedly decadent thanks to the balance of the creamy artichokes and crunchy hazelnuts.

For me, the appetizers were a delicious start to our meal that set the tone for what was yet to come.

The first course of the inspirations menu was chickpeas from Provence prepared in a puree and also served whole alongside young mackerel.

For me, the dish was a little too heavy and large considering it was only a first course. I also didn't find the individual components of the dish to be pleasant on their own.

When eaten together it was quite tasty, but I thought the mackerel itself was a little too salty and pungent and the chickpea puree was a little dry.

The seasonal menu started with multicolored cauliflower and pears with a sweet and spicy vinaigrette.

The dish was visually pleasing but I didn't find it to be the most compelling. The cauliflower and pear tasted fresh and the vinaigrette was light but it felt like something was missing.

Every component had a good flavor but, in my opinion, there was nothing surprising or particularly interesting beyond its presentation.

The first seafood course from the inspirations menu was a scallop carpaccio with colorful local radishes and lemon confit.

The radishes and the decorative flower petals definitely made the dish beautiful to look at but it was also one of my favorite meals from a taste perspective. The combination of the scallops and radishes was light and fresh and felt like a real treat for our taste buds.

I could've eaten three plates of it if this wasn't only the second course of the evening.

The seasonal menu continued with a gently steamed Mediterranean meagre served alongside autumnal vegetables, which looked like squash, and emulsified smoked anchovy.

I thought the fish was perfectly cooked and the vegetables were seasoned really well. The anchovy emulsion added a welcome umami addition and helped bring an otherwise quite simple dish to a more gastronomic level.

The pigeon, which was part of the inspirations menu, was by far my favorite dish of the evening. The meat had a walnut crust, was cooked to perfection, and was served with the most delicious sauce.

The pigeon thigh was served on the side, en caillette, or formed into a sort of meatball. The dish also came with a "déclinaison" of colorful locally-sourced beetroots. They were served in a range of different ways, including pureed, roasted, and raw, and added a really interesting touch to the plate.

This dish was beautiful and exquisite and I think it embodied what I believe the restaurant is about: Great local products sublimed by the chef's skills.

We also received some Corsican Tomme cheese made with sheep's milk. For me, the cheese was tasty but not particularly mind-blowing. However, it was simple and nicely prepared our palates for the desserts.

The Haute Provence lamb came with dauphinoise potatoes, which is similar to potato gratin. For me, the meat course on the seasonal menu, a popular meal at the establishment, was the most disappointing meal of the evening.

This classic dish lacked a certain je ne sais quoi that I found in the other courses. For me, there wasn't much that set it apart from other restaurants serving similar iterations of this dish.

I thought the dauphinoise potatoes had an odd texture, almost as if they were a little undercooked. The course wasn't bad at all, but considering that this is a dish that Le Mas Bottero is known for, I was expecting a fireworks show of flavors and I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed.

As for the cheese course, we were served local goat cheese with a rosemary crumble. I thought it was more flavorful than the lamb but still didn't stand out too much to me.

The inspirations menu offers two desserts. For our first dessert, we got a Corsican clementine and Mangaro chocolate with saffron from Provence.

Though citrus and chocolate isn't a particularly groundbreaking combination, I thought the addition of saffron helped make a captivating dessert out of something that would've otherwise been quite standard. The freshness of the clementine contrasted with the richness of the chocolate.

It was really enjoyable, if not a little large, considering there was another desert to come.

Both menus offered a baked apple, a muscovado cookie, and a verbena sorbet for dessert.

This was my favorite dessert of the two as it seemed really fresh and not too sweet. There was a variety of textures from the clear sauce, crunchy base, soft and raw apple pieces, fresh verbena sorbet, and crackly cookie.

Every component contributed to what I thought was a delightful ensemble. I thought the portion looked enormous when it came but it was so light and refreshing, I actually finished it all.

We were served some additional mini desserts before our evening came to an end. We received bite-sized pear and hazelnut mini cakes.

I thought both mini cakes were delicious, and appreciated the sweet pear and hazelnut notes. But honestly, we were truly too full to be able to enjoy them to their fullest.

In total, we spent about 190 euros, or about $206.

Spending $100 a head on dinner isn't something most can afford very often, but I honestly believe the evening menus at Michelin-star Le Mas Bottero were completely worth it.

I really valued the amount of detail that went into each dish, as well as the stellar service. I think the price point is more than fair for the quality and level of gastronomy you get.

Though I thought the Haute Provence lamb was disappointing, there wasn't anything that tasted bad or wrong in the dish. I just didn't love it. But meals like the pigeon, scallop carpaccio, and Corsican clementine with Mangaro chocolate really stood out to me. From the flavor profiles to the cooking techniques used, I was impressed.

A lot of people would spend this much money on a concert without thinking twice, and I strongly believe that this dining experience equates to the thrill of seeing your favorite artist live on stage. For me, it was a really special experience and I'd definitely come again.