El Bulli is not actually that expensive for the meal itself ($250/person?), but it's impossible to get a reservation. Since they announced they will be closing and turning into a cooking school in 2012, it's basically impossible to get a reservation unless you Know Someone. Steve Jobs can get a table as a walk in, probably, but your average $10-50mm exit startup founder cannot.
El Bulli is closed after this season. It books up a year in advance. It does indeed lose money, but it's a loss-leader for a larger Adria empire. Long story short, none of us are going to El Bulli.
