Rarely are both the food and the view terrific.
By terrific I mean something to get excited about, not just a well-presented meal, that is good food (that's easy).

There are a few reasons for this; expensive setting does not allow for more costs to go into the meals, many chefs do not want to work in an environment where customers come for the view first, food second.

What are some of your "go for the view, but skip the meal" places?

A few off the top of my head are: 95th floor of the Hancock in Chicago, the space needle in Seattle, Montgomery Inn in Cincinnati.

Also any restaurant from this chain:

http://www.specialtyrestaurants.com/page5.html

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Craig6z:
Also any restaurant from this chain:

http://www.specialtyrestaurants.com/page5.html</font>

Normally I don't like to group every restaurant in a bunch like that, BUT seeing as 94th Aero Squadrons are owned by this group I would very much tend to agree.

Nepenthe,on the CA coast in Big Sur.

The Bay Club at the Kapalua Bay Hotel on Maui.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sweet Willie:
95th floor of the Hancock in Chicago</font>

Could agree more about the Signature Room. http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/frown.gif

That's why I only go to the Signature Lounge -- the 96th floor bar with the same view.

Space Needle in Seattle. Reunion in Dallas.

Anything that rotates and Tavern on the Green in NYC.

Better question: what restaurant with a view has food that DOESN'T suck?

Alize -- French gourmet at the Palms. Gorgeous food and fine food.

Heard the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas has at least acceptable choices -- quite a compliment for a tower eatery.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Bidkat:
Better question: what restaurant with a view has food that DOESN'T suck?
</font>
The restaurant on top of the Fairmont Tower Hotel in SFO.

Centerpoint Buffet restaurant in Sydney.

While the view is really wonderful, and most of the food is OK, they time your meal...you practically have to sit on each others laps and getting up and getting to the buffet line is quite difficult.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by USAFAN:
The restaurant on top of the Fairmont Tower Hotel in SFO. </font>

Only been there for champagne and the view. Guess I should've eaten! http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/smile.gif

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skies in KC

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Better question: what restaurant with a view has food that DOESN'T suck?</font>

Encounter (http://members.aol.com/premex/uploads/united/encounter.jpg) at LAX.

Fun and Yum!

Just two restaurants that come to mind that have great views and great food (and great service for that matter): Vong in the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong and the restaurant on the top floor of The Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul, Korea.

Great view and great food -

Pacific Edge restaurant at the Highlands Inn, Carmel, CA

Ventana Inn - Big Sur, CA

[This message has been edited by JerryFF (edited 10-28-2002).]

Ditto on Encounter... and whomever was in charge of designing the place gets FOUR PAWS UP from me!!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/smile.gif

But on the other spectrum... among the worst high rise dining experiences: the restauarnt at the top of the CN Tower. One of the most rude waiters I ever had, overpriced and poor food.

The Peak Cafe (under old and new managements) and actually most of the places at The Peak, Hong Kong.

Fantastic views, expensive prices, plain food.

A few years ago, my wife and I celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary at the Coeurr d'Alene Resort in northern Idaho. Not only a stunning view of the lake, mountains and trees covered in a deep snow but a restaurant with a superb menu and wine list:

http://www.cdaresort.com/beverlys.asp

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Bay Tower Room in Boston has great food and a great view.

Space Needle doesn't just have bad food, it's actually inedible. However, if you go for breakfast, $10.95, includes the $8.00 elevator ride to the T-shirt shop. So essentially for $2.95 you get a table and unlimited coffee while you watch the rain.

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lili,
shopping her way to first class

Re: Encounter.. fun! But yum??

Good view and fantastic food: Llewellyn's, top of Harvey's Resort, South Lake Tahoe. Absolutely perfect meal and a summer sunset at the Lake is phenomenal.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dingo:
Space Needle in Seattle. Reunion in Dallas.</font>

Agreeded, top of the Reenion Tower in Dallas is spectacular. I've been there many times, food is good and view is even better.

Jone's Landing on Peaks Island, Maine. The food is ok pub food, nothing special, but not bad. The view of Casco Bay and the Portland skyline and the lobster and fishing boats returning to Portland Harbor at sunset is priceless. Peaks Island is a great little day trip. The 20 minute ferry costs less than $6 round trip from the Old Port. They rent bikes on the island, which has a nice approximately 5 mile loop around the island. Often times you can see deer. We like to play hookey on summer Firday afternoons and head to Peaks, rent a tandem bike, get a bottle of cheap champagne from the Peaks grocer, and end up the afternoon/evening at Jones Landing while waiting for the ferry back. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

I have to disagree on Antare's (top of Reunion Tower in Dallas)... yuck! Another great Dallas view with horrid food... Baby Doe's.

OTOH, I love the Nana Grill.

Haven't tried the place at the Adam's Mark yet.

Been to the The Space Needle in Seattle twice. Had a great view both times at sunset...could see all the way out to MT Ranier to the South and watch the sunset on the horizon to the West. The food on the other hand was something less than desireable. Expensive and bland.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JerryFF:
Great view and great food -

Pacific Edge restaurant at the Highlands Inn, Carmel, CA
</font>


Ditto!



[This message has been edited by RS (edited 01-27-2003).]

Wonderful view & good food (or cocktails):
Singapore Swissotel (formerly Westin Stamford)

The Top of the World in Stratosphere Tower, Las Vegas. Very much overpriced, but gorgeous view of the Strip @ night.

The Chart House in Weehawken NJ.

Since we've had 2 different questions asked....(great view/bad food and great view/great food)....make sure we know which it is. Thanks!

I was very happy with the food at the top of the New Otani in Tokyo. I was there on the night of the Chinese buffet. About $60 for a buffet, 9 years ago, but it was outstanding, IMHO.

excellent food and view

Bali by the Sea at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu

Michels at the W on Queen's Beach in Waikiki

Roys at Hawaii Kai (oahu)

Kincaids in Ward Warehouse outside Waikiki
(have the creme brulee and any fresh fish)

just to name a few

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PremEx:
Encounter (http://members.aol.com/premex/uploads/united/encounter.jpg) at LAX.

Fun and Yum!</font>

Put me down as another vote for Encounter. I have fond memories of meeting there for dinner prior to long int'l trips.

The Wendy's with the best view in the world . . . large dining area, big picture windows of the flame trees, ironwood trees, palm trees, beach, lagoon, reef, ocean, boats . . . had to have been the Wendy's on Saipan.

Sadly, it closed in 2000, but has reopened as a Taco Maker. (!)

It's on Beach Road in South Garapan.

Agree with the Highlands Inn! spent our honeymoon there in 1982 and have been back since and is a little pricey but still good. I thought the food at centerpoint in Sydney was horrible,but the view was nice. The food at the Merchants Court Hotel just down the street was very good. Also can't go wrong at the top of the mark s.f.

Better question: what restaurant with a view has food that DOESN'T suck?
Carnelian Room atop the B.ofA. Building in San Francisco is good.



Alize -- French gourmet at the Palms. Gorgeous food and fine food.

Heard the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas has at least acceptable choices -- quite a compliment for a tower eatery.

What kind of a view though? What on earth would one want to look out at in Las Vegas???

Great view of the Potomac and place to be seen, but terrible service and nothing more than a TGI Fridays: Sequoia in Georgetown/Washington DC

I was at Sheerwater last week at the Hotel del Coronado. Food was okay, but service was abysmal. I have been there in the AM for breakfast which is a bountiful buffet and so I would recommend it for breakfast only. But what a spectacular view of the pacific.

The Chart House in Weehawken NJ.



The same can be said for most Chart House Restaurants.


Jay, aka 1095

[QUOTE=Bidkat]Better question: what restaurant with a view has food that DOESN'T suck?

Perlan in Reykjavik.

(Probably the only restaurant in the world situated on top of a municipal hot water tank. I haven't actually checked, but how many cities have municipal hot water tanks?)

Although I have never been, I always hear that Everest in Chicago combines amazing food with an amazing view.

I would have to say Hooters restaurant is the winner. Best views but the food sucks.
:p

Re: Encounter.. fun! But yum??

The food use to be very good but I haven't been since 9/11. After that it was shut down for months and I was very surprised that they were able to re-open. Maybe the food has changed. I guess I better go see.

http://www.encounterrestaurant.com/

The same can be said for most Chart House Restaurants.


Jay, aka 1095

Same in Redondo Beach
http://www.chart-house.com/Locations/redondo/index.htm

I'd add the Beach Chalet in San Francisco to the list of places with four-star views and one-star menus.

Lunch at Dashene at the Ladera Resort on St Lucia.

Supposedly one of the best restaurants on the island, We found the food acceptable, but not anything to write home about. While the dishes sounded great on the menu, we had a hard time picking out the island flavors, and everything seemed to be sparkless--sort of like my quest for perfect crab cakes, where many a time there's not enough crab and too much cake.

Someone said the head chef wasn't around, so maybe that had something to do with it. But, I would go back and just lower my expectations on the food. The view can't be beat. Or, better yet, just have drinks at the bar upstairs.

As a general rule I try to avoid any restaurant with a view, especially if it rotates. I sometimes get seasick too!

In this thread, it sounds like view == way high up in a building or tower.

For a different take, I submit (in the good view with GOOD food category) Picasso at The Bellagio in Las Vegas. Right on the lake. Fountains go off every 15 minutes. Really cool to see. Oh, and the 11 original Picasso paintings on the walls don't hurt either. The food is out of this world. (just hope you have good luck in the casino.. ;) )

One of the worst dining experiences I ever had came on a trip to Toronto, for Sunday brunch at the CN Tower's restaurant (currently it's called 360.)

*The waiter was surly and uninterested. He totally lacked customer service skills.
*Food was delayed and uninventive and cold.
*The only good thing was the view.

I have not been there lately. I'm relucant to do most high rise dining (maybe something about the altitude does something to the quality of the food.

Some of the better experiences:

*Encounter (ditto with my Big Bruddar PremEx) good food and good atmostphere.

*Binion's Horseshoe Steakhouse: One of the best, if not the best, view of Vegas and the strip. I thought the place closed but someone on Flyertalk said it recently reopened. Great steaks and worth the penny. Getting hungry now!

http://www.binions.com/dining.htm

And one more place that, sadly, is not with us anymore:

*Windows on the World: the first time I was there I was unimpressed. I was there a few months before THAT happened. Great steak and great atmosphere. Regret that I didn't get a chance to dine there again.

Hooters. Seriously.

Terrific view, marginal food.

Great view, great food at

- Chateau de la Chevre D'Or between Nice and Monte Carlo
- Highlands Inn, Carmel
- Petrus, Shangri-La, Hong Kong
- NY Grill, Park Hyatt, Tokyo

Great view of the Potomac and place to be seen, but terrible service and nothing more than a TGI Fridays: Sequoia in Georgetown/Washington DC
Echo this 100%, and also add that the same phenomenon exists on the Virginia side of the Potomac at Potowmack Landing in Alexandria. :(

But it is a nice view, not only for the water but also for the planes landing at DCA.

Go for the drinks, maybe a get-together of FTers, but don't actually eat there (or maybe just munch on appetizers).

Great view, so so food -
Tavern on the Green.
Windows on the World :(
Anything in Times Square.

The Chart House in Weehawken NJ.

I was just about to post about the Chart House. ;) Great view at night with the city lights, great view during the day especially for brunch. Excellent bisque and chowder and the macadamia encrusted mahi mahi is pretty yummy. Not too too expensive; overall great view and nice, ambiant dinner.

- Melissa

Part of the "anything that rotates" category: 52nd floor rotating restaurant on the needle at Jomtien Park, Chonburi, Thailand.

NOT part of the Montien Hotel chain.

Buffet. Pay for buffet and elevator ticket before ascending.

If they didn't do this, NOBODY would eat there!

Echo this 100%, and also add that the same phenomenon exists on the Virginia side of the Potomac at Potowmack Landing in Alexandria. :(

But it is a nice view, not only for the water but also for the planes landing at DCA.



Back on the DC side, the rooftop bar on the Hotel Washington has great views of the Mall, Treasury, White House, planes descending over the Potomic, etc., particularly around dusk as the sunset yields to the lights. Last time I was there, the food was basic pub grub. (I have not eaten at the companion restaurant on the same level, so I can't comment about it.)

There's a new restaurant that opened last month in Detroit. It's called Seldom Blues Jazz Supper Club. It's located in the GM Renaissance building overlooking the Detroit River/Windsor Canada. The view and music is nice, but the food (all ala carte) is not worth the money.

www.seldomblues.com

The Bay Club at the Kapalua Bay Hotel on Maui.

I'll disagree with this one. Mrs. dchristiva and I dined here in late April 2004 and had a great meal, and a great view of the sunset.

Just two restaurants that come to mind that have great views and great food (and great service for that matter): Vong in the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong and the restaurant on the top floor of The Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul, Korea.

Absolutely! How could I forget these two?

My personal favorite is Mama's Fish House on Maui. Terrific sunset view, right on the beach, and awesome food.

Better question: what restaurant with a view has food that DOESN'T suck?

Well, I might submit the Flagstaff House in Boulder, Colorado for that list. Food is good, view is fantastic and the wine list is amazing.

Timothy

two excellent restaurants with great views IMHO

salmon house on the hill for a view of vancouver

mama's fish house for a view of the ocean/beach in maui

Well, I might submit the Flagstaff House in Boulder, Colorado for that list. Food is good, view is fantastic and the wine list is amazing.

Timothy

I would agree with this assessment. However, we felt the prices warranted outstanding food, not just good food. We were glad we went once, but felt it was quite overpriced, both food and wine, and probably would not go back for that reason.

I guess one would need to add the Albion River Inn in Mendocino County, where the view out to the Pacific at the bottom of the cliff is outstanding but unfortunately it may be out of place in this thread because the food is very, very good.

Since we've had 2 different questions asked....(great view/bad food and great view/great food)....make sure we know which it is. Thanks!

And one more place that, sadly, is not with us anymore:

*Windows on the World: the first time I was there I was unimpressed. I was there a few months before THAT happened. Great steak and great atmosphere. Regret that I didn't get a chance to dine there again.

I was there one week before - had spend Labor Day Weekend in the City - unimpressed but what I wouldn't give to be able to go back!

Also nice views and lousy food: Cliff House in SFO, Altitude 95 in the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Everest in Chicago indeed has great food and great views.

Nice view and pretty good food: Chart House in Scottsdale.

AQUA in Sydney. Just spectacular views of the bridge, opera house and the beautiful Sydney skyline.

http://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/booking/select_rest.asp?id=41

Felix in HKG was recently named #49 in the top 50 restaurants in the world (http://www.50bestrestaurants.co.uk) (and best in Asia) by Restaurant Magazine. The view is great, especially from the restroom, and the food is very good, but I'm not sure I'd say it's top-50 material based on food alone.

Phenomenal view (the hotel interior.....)

pretty good food....

Priciest. Buffet. Evar!

There's a hotel in Shanghai, at the end of the bund to the far left if you're facing the TV tower, has the BEST view but the WORST food.

It has views of both sides of the river there, and it's on the 31st floor but the hotel name escapes me.

The Forest Buffet Harrahs Lake Tahoe.

There's a hotel in Shanghai, at the end of the bund to the far left if you're facing the TV tower, has the BEST view but the WORST food.

It has views of both sides of the river there, and it's on the 31st floor but the hotel name escapes me.

Probably the Westin I'm assuming? The Grand Hyatt also has a beautiful view but the steak house was terrible. $40 for a TGIFridays quality steak.

Under the good food and view catagory--the Primavista in Cincinnati. Lovely view from one of the Cincinnati hills and good Italian food . The first time we were there, we watched a lightning storm over the city. Spectacular.

Vertigo at the Banyan Tree in Bangkok...great view..bad food....
The Cliff in Barbados..great veiw, great food............book early.........

The Quay in Sydney CBD has great food and views, especially if (like me) you eat there during one of the largest lightning storms of the century (April 1999).

The onslope food at Deer Valley is amazingly good for a ski resort, and the views are very impressive.

Bob

Better question: what restaurant with a view has food that DOESN'T suck?

Alize -- French gourmet at the Palms. Gorgeous food and fine food.

Heard the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas has at least acceptable choices -- quite a compliment for a tower eatery.

Nepenthe,on the CA coast in Big Sur.

Lunch there recently was better than expected.

Nepenthe in Big Sur is actually pretty good. Not fancy but good comfort food. Their Ambrosia burger is not to be missed, nor their steak sandwich (a special). Seafood is good too. View is spectacular when u sit out on the balcony over the Pacific. I think their bar is quite good too--lots of local wines and had a killer lemon drop recently!

Gladstone's in LA. Never had good food there, but it's always crowded.

Cheeseburger in Paradise, Lahaina, Hawaii.

Overpriced frozen hamburger patties, a la carte: (fries extra); with overpriced drinks, elbow to elbow seating, and a killer view; the same view as Kimo's and Lahaina Fish Co.; though Kimo's and Lahaina Fish Co. actually serve delicious food.

Jimmy Buffett's bar in Key West, FLA.

Food not so great, but all those cute blondes running around in tube tops or half shirts and 'lil mini skirts cannot be beat.
they seem to congregate around that which is parothead-esque... :D

Gladstone's in LA. Never had good food there, but it's always crowded.

YES! That food is rubbish. The tables are public park bench-style concrete!

Under the good food and view catagory--the Primavista in Cincinnati. Lovely view from one of the Cincinnati hills and good Italian food . The first time we were there, we watched a lightning storm over the city. Spectacular.

So what's the view?? :D :D :D

So what's the view?? :D :D :D

It's a beautiful view of the city skyline. Whatever problems Cincinnati may have, and they are numerous, the city has a wonderful skyline and many places from which to enjoy it.

Prima Vista is where my friends and I used to take our dates for high school dances... :)

Great view and great food -

Pacific Edge restaurant at the Highlands Inn, Carmel, CA.

Totally agree! Love that restaurant. (Also, love the hotel.)

Nearby: Fresh Cream in Monterey.

Well, here's a thread I joined late.

In ATL a few weeks ago, the bf wanted to try the Sundial Restaurant at the top of the Westin, and I was pleasantly surprised. Good high-quality food, only a bit overpriced (gotta keep it rotating somehow :p ), and great service. If you want to see endless sprawl in every direction, this is the place to go! ;)

The Buena Vista Cafe, San Francisco...

You couldn't pay for the view and the atmosphere, but the Irish Coffee remains haphazard and the food a long way short of memorable.

That does not stop me from coming in on my occasional visits. After all, one needs a "stiffener" after the cable car ridre.

I had lunch at the Dionysos Restaurant at the foot of the Acropolis (the one that got in trouble for having bad meat before Putin ate there earlier this month) and the view was incredible and the food wasn't bad, either. Glad I had the fish!

I also had a good meal at the Chart House in Weehawken, with the great view of Manhattan.

The Peak Cafe (under old and new managements) and actually most of the places at The Peak, Hong Kong.

Fantastic views, expensive prices, plain food.Agreed on this one.

The Range Restaurant in Vegas. Good view of the Strip, awful steak.

Nepenthe in Big Sur is actually pretty good. Not fancy but good comfort food. Their Ambrosia burger is not to be missed

Absolutely agree. A bit pricey....but then again, the view you're paying for (especially when seated outdoors) is nothing less than spectacular.

We had lunch next to a huge window overlooking Niagara Falls - the view was stunning.

It was in the Casino Buffet - so I can't exactly go into ecstasies over the quality of the food.

It was however, very good value for money and a lot of the options were completely edible. From what I've read here, the combination of great view and (arguably) bargain fare seems extremely rare.

- Lots of places with terrific views and great food at affordable prices (especially if you go at lunch time) in Tokyo.

If you get the chance to dine as a client at Allen & Overy's offices in London (near Liverpool Street - a building designed by Norman Foster) take it!!!
The private dining rooms have excellent caterers and the views of London are magnificent.

We had lunch next to a huge window overlooking Niagara Falls - the view was stunning.
HAHA! I read this whole thread looking for someone who had already posted this restaurant. And after all these years it was first mentioned just a few minutes ago. :D

This (http://www.topofthefallsrestaurant.com/) is the place, right?

Are dinner there. Absolutely amazing view when the falls are lit up at night. Food not so bad, but I had a horrid service experience which resulted in the restaurant buying brinks before dinner, wine with dinner and dessert.

HAHA! I read this whole thread looking for someone who had already posted this restaurant. And after all these years it was first mentioned just a few minutes ago. :D

This (http://www.topofthefallsrestaurant.com/) is the place, right?

Are dinner there. Absolutely amazing view when the falls are lit up at night. Food not so bad, but I had a horrid service experience which resulted in the restaurant buying brinks before dinner, wine with dinner and dessert.

Near, but not quite (sorry I didn't make it clearer)

It was the Grand Buffet at the Casino Fallsview 'Resort' Hotel.
http://www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com/Default.aspx?Page=VR%20Gallery%20Dining for 360degree tour (doesn't do the view justice - but I'm sure it gives a pretty good idea of what to expect food wise)

Greens at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Fabulous view of the Bridge (that one) and the best vegetarian food on the planet.

Also, Encounter seems to be closed for remodeling: from their website

The Encounter Restaurant is temporarily closed for repairs. Until further notice, we are not accepting reservations. We look forward to your patronage upon reopening. If you need additional information, please call 310-215-5151

My vote is for Yamashiro's in the Hollywood Hills. It has a great view of Los Angeles and is very popular with out-of-town guests, but the food is just so-so.