Culinary high$ and low$

Photo credit: Urbanite

Serendipity's Golden Opulence Sundae is the world's most expensive sundae

By Emily Mathis

Special to amNewYork

Traditionally, comfort food leaves one’s belly and wallet equally full, but in New York, sometimes the price tags are shocking. Below, comfort foods at both ends of the pricing spectrum.

DOUGHNUTS:

High: Atria, $12 for three

At this Midtown east spot, pastry chef Seth Caro’s signature butterscotch doughnuts come with bacon powder and braised pineapple ice cream.

13-15 W. 54th St. btwn Fifth and Sixth aves., 212-262-4600

Low: Dunkin’ Donuts 99 cents

The omnipresent donut chain offers the cheapest one around. You can’t watch them coming fresh off the line as you can at Krispy Kreme – but it still beats their prices.MAC 'N CHEESE:

High: Waverly Inn $55

The $55 macaroni n’ cheese adorned with truffles is as equally reviled and admired as the restaurant itself. Either way, the issue is moot, unless you can actually get a table.

16 Bank St. at Waverly Place, 212-243-7900

Low: Mama’s $4 large mac n’ cheese, $1 side

If comfort food is meant to be cheap and evoke memories of childhoods passed Mama’s delivers on both fronts – with cafeteria-esque seating and serving and home kitchen wall décor.

200 East 3rd St. btwn A and B, 212-777-4425

BURGERS:

High: Wall Street Burger Shoppe $175

The crisis on Wall Street hasn’t driven down the cost of this $175 Kobe beef burger with black truffles, seared foie gras, aged gruyere cheese, wild mushrooms and flecks of gold on a brioche bun.

30 Water St. btwn Broad and Coenties Slip, 212-425-1000

Low: Hollis Famous Burger & Hip-Hop Museum $1

A dollar will get you a mini-burger and museum entrance, with over 100 hip hop artifacts from neighborhood locals such as Run DMC, LL Cool J and Ja Rule.

Hollis Avenue & 203rd St, Queens, 718-740-6114

GRILLED CHEESE:

High: GILT $35

GILT’S Gossip Girl Grilled Cheese rose to fame in the show’s pilot episode Serena van der Woodsen’s drunk munchies. Originally priced at $50, the price has been lowered.

455 Madison Avenue, 212-891-8100

Low: Dale Bagels on Fifth $3

If you happen to live or find yourself around Bay Ridge take advantage of the $3 grilled cheeses at Dale’s - open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

7715 Fifth Avenue, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn 718-680-5700

ICE CREAM:

High: Serendipity 3, Golden Opulence Sundae $1,000

This is the world’s most expensive sundae – Guiness certified and all. It includes dragets, truffles, rare cocoa beans, and is topped with the world’s most expensive chocolate - Amedei Porceleana. It’s all served in a crystal goblet with an 18K gold spoon.

225 60th street btwn Second and Third aves., 212-838-3531

Low: Ray’s Candy Store $2

Open 24 hours, this tiny space with minimal counter seating has somehow managed to survive gentrification of Tompkins Square Park and Ray himself continues serving dollar ice cream cones in neighborhood corner store style.

113 Avenue A, btwn Seventh St. and St. Marks $1 212-505-7609

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