Guys what is your favorite restaurant?

[Tri-Tip]

Originally Posted by Tri-Tip

One place I'd really like to eat is Gerardo's. I've seen many photos, and the food looks great!

Originally Posted by BNALION

X2
Not easy to find, I heard they have a secret entrance too...

And a password and a secret handshake.

Dress-code is bright socks and a great watch.

[Bakasana]

50 of the best worldwide...
Check 'em off, boys:
http://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners

[Mishon]

Originally Posted by Bakasana

50 of the best worldwide...
Check 'em off, boys:
http://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners

I woke up at 5am a few months back in order to book a dinner at NOMA as Mrs. and I will be in Denmark in a few weeks. When I logged into the online booking system, I was already #1100+ in line. Ended up booking a restaurant by the former NOMA chefs instead.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Zuger

Lived in NYC, Zurich and London before moving to Washington DC. Still trying to find my favorite watering hole in DC, but the favorites so far are:

Nobu in NYC
Zuma in London
Bindella in Zurich

Have tried a few of the high end recommended standards in DC and have been consistently disappointed with their ambitious pricing and mediocre plates.

That said I was very happy at Bistro Bis
Fair prices, great food and great service.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by Bakasana

50 of the best worldwide...
Check 'em off, boys:
http://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners

Even with the demise of el Bulli I think Spain would still be my choice for a culinary destination. Just so many top notch places to eat!! I've had mixed feelings about my meals in Italy and France, just not enough insider knowledge...

[Jim M]

Tutta Bella, Scarsdale, NY
Crispy fried calamari with red hot cherry peppers, Little Neck cherry clams oreganata
Veal Scallopine Milanese, Shell Steak Contadino with hot and sweet peppers along with roasted potatoes and broccoli rabe.
Salad Mista
Napolean (light as air)
Cappuccino

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Even with the demise of el Bulli I think Spain would still be my choice for a culinary destination. Just so many top notch places to eat!! I've had mixed feelings about my meals in Italy and France, just not enough insider knowledge...

IMO, Marc, the only place you can get a bad meal in Italy is at McDonald's. I love Italy for eating good food, even or especially in the most unassuming little places.

Although we did find one place in Syracusa, Sicily, that was pretty bad. It had "Tourist Trap" written on it in large invisible letters, which we missed. Fortunately, we only stopped in for a light lunch. Every other place we have eaten in in Italy has been wonderful.

[Zuger]

Originally Posted by Mishon

Define what you mean by a "watering hole." Wife and I eat and drink out a few times a week all over the DC/VA/MD map and would be happy to recommend something that you may like.

Thanks Michael.

Since moving to the DC area, we've been trying out different restaurants around the metro area but haven't discovered our favorites yet. I think part of the reason is cars. While in NYC/Zurich/London, we lived centrally so we used public transit exclusively. This made us stay closer to home and therefore were able to go to the same restaurant many times over the course of a year, and hence discovering our favorites.

Living around the DC metro area is a bit different. First of all, we now live in the suburb and therefore had to buy our first car, which really open up our restaurant choices. We can easily drive to VA/MD/DC for a meal and parking is a breeze compared to our prior cities. This has made us less loyal to one particular restaurant.

On weekends, we like to go to brunch. So maybe a few good places to recommend would be much appreciated!

[Zuger]

Originally Posted by subtona

Have tried a few of the high end recommended standards in DC and have been consistently disappointed with their ambitious pricing and mediocre plates.

That said I was very happy at Bistro Bis
Fair prices, great food and great service.

Thanks! Bistro Bis does look good. I will give it a try!

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

IMO, Marc, the only place you can get a bad meal in Italy is at McDonald's. I love Italy for eating good food, even or especially in the most unassuming little places.

Although we did find one place in Syracusa, Sicily, that was pretty bad. It had "Tourist Trap" written on it in large invisible letters, which we missed. Fortunately, we only stopped in for a light lunch. Every other place we have eaten in in Italy has been wonderful.

I must have had bad luck than Ed, my experience was very different. I'm going back in the fall to northern Italy for the Piedmont grape harvest, I've been promised a different experience by the couple my wife and I are going with so between that and the the vineyards we are visiting I expect to eat well!

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Bakasana

50 of the best worldwide...
Check 'em off, boys:
http://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners

Although I've been to many of them, that list has long been subject of controversy. I think that the top 100 belong on that list but the order in which they finish is rather suspect. Too many restaurants have swings of +/- 30 points.

There is some doubt whether the voters have even eaten at some of them

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Even with the demise of el Bulli I think Spain would still be my choice for a culinary destination. Just so many top notch places to eat!! I've had mixed feelings about my meals in Italy and France, just not enough insider knowledge...

IMO, Spain is an eaters paradise and I'm not just talking about fine dining. But El Bulli was just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of restaurants in Spain that continue to astound those into molecular gastronomy and other creative food. I haven't been on a better eating vacation than Spain. I even took a trip to San Sebastian just to eat at Arzak.

If you want a taste of the Adria's creativity, book a table at Tickets in Barcelona.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

I think the comments about Bern's steak-house are spot on, the wine list is like no other and the "experience" of going at least once is worth it. However it is not the best meal I've ever had.

As for Jean George, I've been to five of his restaurants from very casual to fine dinning and find his food and his staff's execution of that food the most consistent and inventive of all the named chef's who have transitioned to major restaurant groups. I would gladly eat at any of his establishments. What he has done in the Bahamas alone never mind world wide is remarkable.

I completely agree about Jean Georges. I've been to 10 of his places and they all do their thing very well.

On a side note, I had a reservation at Jean Georges a few years back and they contacted me to cancel a week before because they failed to block out the date for a private party. I was livid because it was for my anniversary.

I sent the general manager a candid email about this reservation being canceled and that it was impossible for me to find a reservation at a comparable restaurant (3 Michelin Star). I got a call from Jean Georges' personal assistant asking me what my other choices would be and "Mr. Georges" would try to call in a favor.

I told her Per Se or Le Bernadin were the only restaurant I would be interested in. To make a long story short, Per Se only has 16 tables in the restaurant and they added one more to accommodate us at 8pm on our anniversary.

[Mishon]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

I completely agree about Jean Georges. I've been to 10 of his places and they all do their thing very well.

On a side note, I had a reservation at Jean Georges a few years back and they contacted me to cancel a week before because they failed to block out the date for a private party. I was livid because it was for my anniversary.

I sent the general manager a candid email about this reservation being canceled and that it was impossible for me to find a reservation at a comparable restaurant (3 Michelin Star). I got a call from Jean Georges' personal assistant asking me what my other choices would be and "Mr. Georges" would try to call in a favor.

I told her Per Se or Le Bernadin were the only restaurant I would be interested in. To make a long story short, Per Se only has 16 tables in the restaurant and they added one more to accommodate us at 8pm on our anniversary.

That's a fantastic story.

[metooxx]

Chop House on Ontario in Chicago.

[ColRam425]

Hillstone in Dallas

[Tri-Tip]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

I completely agree about Jean Georges. I've been to 10 of his places and they all do their thing very well.

On a side note, I had a reservation at Jean Georges a few years back and they contacted me to cancel a week before because they failed to block out the date for a private party. I was livid because it was for my anniversary.

I sent the general manager a candid email about this reservation being canceled and that it was impossible for me to find a reservation at a comparable restaurant (3 Michelin Star). I got a call from Jean Georges' personal assistant asking me what my other choices would be and "Mr. Georges" would try to call in a favor.

I told her Per Se or Le Bernadin were the only restaurant I would be interested in. To make a long story short, Per Se only has 16 tables in the restaurant and they added one more to accommodate us at 8pm on our anniversary.

Now that is customer service!

[Challenger Deep]

My favorite place to eat would have to be a hole in the wall kind of joint back home in Michigan.

Called "Sparty's." It's a small diner place in a strip mall. The food was good, hearty and cheap. The kind of food you eat on a cold winters day before hard work or after. The kind to keep you going. It wasn't exquisite by any stretch of the imagination.

Other than that, i think another local joint called Samuel Mancino's and their pizza and grinders were excellent. Not healthy food, but they did use premium ingredients and it was worth the extra price.

The nicest place i have ever eaten with just one type of food was called "House of Ing," also back home in Michigan. This place had reservations and booked every night. You had to wait to get in there. It was very nice and the food was very good. Chinese food. Very good. That place though has a story and is probably why it is truly my favorite place.

My grandfather used to deliver the linen there that they use for the tables and napkins, things like that. He delivered every morning for 10 years and the alarm would go off every time he went in there. Finally the cops took notice and stopped him about it. The owner, Napoleon came out and told them what was happening. He knew the owner very well and since my grandfather passed, every year we have dinner there on his birthday because that was his favorite place to eat. When i worked for the same company, a good friend of mine and my grandfathers as well took over that route and told me that story about my grandpa.

So there you have it. Sparty's, Mancino's and House of Ing. All back home. And El Az Teco.

[Hooper]

Cheese Cake Factory

[ColRam425]

Originally Posted by Hooper

Cheese Cake Factory

That too!

[handsfull]

If your ever in the Twin Cities, Ciao Bella in Edina.

Not too stuffy of an atmosphere, prices are fair, and food is spectacular.....and I'm a foodie....a picky one at that. LOL

[Passionata]

Niko,in Zadar ,Croatia

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

IMO, Spain is an eaters paradise and I'm not just talking about fine dining. But El Bulli was just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of restaurants in Spain that continue to astound those into molecular gastronomy and other creative food. I haven't been on a better eating vacation than Spain. I even took a trip to San Sebastian just to eat at Arzak.

If you want a taste of the Adria's creativity, book a table at Tickets in Barcelona.

ElBulli . . . astonishing food Mr Adria had . . . . and still has ! ! !

[wayneside]

Luckily I travel very often as I throw automotive events nationwide...here is my list.

Houston:
Kata Robata Sushi and Grill

Dallas:
Vila Brazil Brazilian Steakhouse
Jinbeh Japanese Steakhouse
Pappadeaux Seafood

Seattle:
Ginza for Japanese
Din Tai Fung for Chinese

Phoenix:
Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles
Stingray Sushi

San Francisco:
Crab House

Los Angeles:
Kokekokko Yakitori
Dogzilla Truck
Gen Korean BBQ

Las Vegas:
Shibuya @ MGM Grand
Aquaknox @ Venetian

Miami:
Havana 1957

Orlando:
Seafood Heaven

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Hooper

Cheese Cake Factory

Love the waitresses, don't they get paid a million bucks a week now?

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Tri-Tip

One place I'd really like to eat is Gerardo's. I've seen many photos, and the food looks great!

Welcome anytime!

Originally Posted by BNALION

X2
Not easy to find, I heard they have a secret entrance too...

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

I completely agree about Jean Georges. I've been to 10 of his places and they all do their thing very well.

On a side note, I had a reservation at Jean Georges a few years back and they contacted me to cancel a week before because they failed to block out the date for a private party. I was livid because it was for my anniversary.

I sent the general manager a candid email about this reservation being canceled and that it was impossible for me to find a reservation at a comparable restaurant (3 Michelin Star). I got a call from Jean Georges' personal assistant asking me what my other choices would be and "Mr. Georges" would try to call in a favor.

I told her Per Se or Le Bernadin were the only restaurant I would be interested in. To make a long story short, Per Se only has 16 tables in the restaurant and they added one more to accommodate us at 8pm on our anniversary.

That's a tremendous story!

[Stevieb]

The Last Castle, Paphos, Cyprus

[mjm800]

I like Sushi ii or Sasabune in Honolulu!

[Time Exposure]

Best meal I ever had was at Per Se in NYC.
We live less than 40 miles from French Laundry but have never been there!
When we need a "local" with superb food and (relative) ease of getting a reservation, we like Michael Warring in Vallejo, CA. I hesitate to mention him because Michael Warring still feels like our secret, undiscovered master chef!