Drawing Circles… The Refectory Journey

What do you think of when someone says fine dining?
How do you define a fine dining restaurant?
Is it fairly uniform from one city to another or is it defined differently in Columbus and New York? Is it defined differently from one generation to another as an example, to the High School prom date or the CEO taking out an important client? Is it always about the price or is it the time it takes to dine. Does it always mean dressing up and being the focal point of the entire evening activity?

Some say fine dining is dead or dying. Others say it has changed and if so how?
These are many questions to think about and I believe really worth discussing.
What do you think? Please share your thoughts and experiences and let us know!