We ate at Warren Buffett's favorite New York City steakhouse — which people pay millions to dine with him at — here's what it was like

When Warren Buffett visits New York City, he has one go-to restaurant: Smith & Wollensky. 

Every year, people bid millions of dollars for a meal with Buffett at the famed steakhouse. This July, a bidder agreed to pay $2.68 million to a San Francisco charity for a lunch for seven with the Berkshire Hathaway CEO. 

We don't have millions of dollars to spend on a meal with Buffett. But, we were able to make a reservation at Smith & Wollensky ourselves. 

So, in an effort to eat like the famous investor, five Business Insider reports headed to Smith & Wollensky and told the staff to give us the Warren Buffet treatment.

Here's exactly how much the experience is actually worth. 

SEE ALSO: I ate like Warren Buffett for a week — and it was miserable

Smith & Wollensky is located in Midtown Manhattan, the center of New York's old power corridor. The name was actually picked at random from a New York City phone book. Founder Alan Stillman flipped the book open first to Smith, amongst the S's, then Wollensky, amongst the other W's.

As you can see, it was under construction when we visited — not quite the flawless exterior one would think would attract one of the richest men in the world. But, then again, Buffett is famously loyal to his culinary favorites.

The doorman should have been the first sign that we were in for an old-world experience. The restaurant was founded in 1977, but its stoic elegance makes it feel much older.