Is expensive food not for me?

In the past 2 weeks, I've been to two of the top restaurants in new york with a couple of friends, 1 of whom, s, went on both trips. I can't help but feel that both meals let me down in a way. The food was good, and the service was impeccable, but there's just this nagging feeling that I'm spending way too much on food, and that I could be happier with simpler food. Perhaps these restaurants are meant for people with muchos money who don't care how much they spend on meals, cuz I guess when you care, the meal seem less impressive? I don't know if I should continue to try the other top restaurants, especially since I have budgetary constraints, but at the same time, when else would I be so free again? XD I used to see myself as someone who knows how to appreciate good food, but after this experience, perhaps I'm not "atas" enough..