How much would you be willing to pay for a six- or seven-course, out-of-this-world meal at a four- or five-star restaurant? It’s a tough question. Especially if you have no clue what type of cuisine is served at such an establishment – or how their fare differs substantially from what you can get, say, at the nearest Chili’s.

One hint, though: If you’ve never been out of Oklahoma, you’ve never eaten at a four- or five-star restaurant, at least by Mobil Travel Guide standards – because Mobil hasn’t graced any of our state’s eateries with that designation.

Mobil uses a variety of criteria to achieve ratings for hotels, restaurants and spas across the country and in Canada. The availability of seemingly small amenities – like a particular brand of bottled water, for instance – could come into play. A five-star restaurant is a rarity, indeed; in fact, Mobil only lists 17 this year. The four-star rating is a tad more common, but even then, there are fewer than 150, and the nearest couple are in Kansas City or Dallas.

According to Mobil’s Web site (http://mobiltravelguide. howstuffworks.com), every restaurant that has a Mobil Star Rating of any kind is recommended: “Those with a higher Star Rating have passed a rigorous inspection and service evaluation and are among an elite group of restaurants, known for exceptional cuisine, service, décor, and presentation.” That’s true: One of our favorite Tulsa restaurants, Bodean Seafood, has three stars, and our absolute favorite in Oklahoma City, La Baguette, has two stars.

The Web site also indicates Mobil’s inspectors “evaluate several hundred objective restaurant criteria, including food quality and presentation, service, and atmosphere to provide a rating that you can depend on... [Four-star restaurants are] exceptional restaurants featuring food that’s creative and complex, and emphasizes seasonality and culinary technique. A highly-trained dining room staff provides refined personal service and attention.”

AAA – of which my family is a member, and which I recommend to anyone who travels – has a different scale. There are maybe two five-star places in Oklahoma on that list, and a few four-stars as well. But on either scale, these restaurants are hard to find, and they always come with a breathtaking price tag.

Despite the unavailability of such top-drawer restaurants in the area, and despite the cost of dining at one should it be available, there are a surprising number of “foodies” in Cherokee County who would relish the opportunity to dine like royalty. At least once. And preferably on someone else’s dime.

With the holiday season looming, several area residents are scouting out warmer climes for a brief vacation respite. If higher temperatures are a priority and cost is a factor, your best bets will be the Orlando area in Florida or Southern California. And if you’re really audacious and have saved back some extra cash, you might want to try a new dining adventure.

My husband and I dined this year at our first Mobile four-star restaurant, one of only 11 in Florida. It’s actually listed as Central Florida’s only five-star restaurant with AAA. This is not a privilege we could normally afford, but thanks to a special “gift,” we were able to indulge in this exceptional treat.

The restaurant is Victoria and Albert’s, and it’s at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa at Walt Disney World. We’ve never stayed at the Floridian – it’s the priciest of the Disney World lot – but we’ve strolled through it and eaten at another restaurant there, Narcoossee’s, which was also very good.

V&A, as it’s affectionately called by Disney cast members, features a “fixed price” menu that changes daily, depending on the available freshest ingredients and the whims of the chef. Sit down and take a deep breath before you read on. The minimum cost is $125 per person for the six-course meal. Accompanying wine courses are another $60 per person (but if you enjoy wine at all, you’ll want the whole package, and I’ll explain why momentarily). For each course, you’ll be able to choose among three or four offerings, and some of these cost extra (like the “Kobe” beef entree, $35, or the golden Osetra caviar appetizer, a staggering $150 for a half-ounce!).

So, depending on what they actually consume, a couple dining at V&A, after taxes and gratuity, will spend – are you ready? – anywhere from about $310 to well over $1,000. Having happily foregone the caviar and some of the other extras, we got out for around $500.

I know what you’re thinking: It couldn’t be worth it. But I can assure you that, especially if you have some cash to spare or have a generous benefactor, a meal at V&A is, indeed worth the price. Even if only once-in-a-lifetime, on a silver or golden anniversary. And for comparison’s sake, it’s really not any more costly (and could be considerably less so) than a few hours at a decent spa.

V&A is not for the kids, unless as a special treat for, say, a magna cum laude graduate. And in any case, children under 10 aren’t allowed inside. (But Disney resorts have baby-sitting services you can employ while you sneak away for a romantic dinner.) This is a reward for a landmark achieved. And you’ll be dressed for the occasion. Ties are required for gentlemen, and evening wear forladies. Reservations are required; you can call up to 180 days out, but if you wait until the last week or so, you’ll won’t likely get in. Besides, they need time to prepare your own menus, which you’ll take home, with a beautiful, long-stemmed rose. (Even traveling back to Oklahoma, mine lasted almost two weeks.)

Upon walking into this restaurant, the first thing you’ll notice is the exquisite decor and gracious staff. V&A consists of a few small, intimate rooms, each with four or five tables spaced amply. We were seated in a tastefully decorated parlor, where a portrait of the “real” Queen Victoria and her Prince Albert is poised over the mantel.