This thread is to allow patrons of the world's best restaurants to share their preferences and experiences. Some of the world's best measure up, and some do not, so let's hear what you have to say!
Thus far, we have been to the following "top" restaurants...along with my brief review:
From Pellegrino's List of Top 50/100:
From the Pellegrino list, we've been to the following:
1. Noma--tremendous lunch over 4 hrs, great wine pairings, a little veggie focused more than I prefer, but incredibly adventurous and worthy of rank
5. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal--spectacularly beautiful restaurant with completely overrated food and service, no tasting menu was a shocker, extremely disappointing overall
9. Alinea--as amazing and experimental as everyone says, fantastic service, tremendous food, good wine pairings
10. The Ledbury--favorite London restaurant, completely overshadowing Dinner, beautiful space, traditional yet inventive menu, great friendly service, excellent wine pairings
15. Central--beautiful space, extraordinary menu and service, easily equal to Astrid y Gaston (wasn't ranked when we went in April 2013), excellent wine pairings
18. Astrid y Gaston--casual traditional space with incredible food and service, fantastic wine pairings, hard to choose between A&G and Central, but Central is more modern feel
21. Le Bernadin--seafood maestro indeed, this and Gramercy Tavern may be my faves in NYC, amazing service, food, ambience, and wine pairings
24. Amber--first truffle menu ever was spectacular with finer service and better overall food than at 3 star Lung King Heen, wine pairings very good, one of most memorable dinners ever, served foie gras that I loved (which i normally detest)
31. L'Atelier St. Germaine Joel Robuchon--first time i had foie gras that i loved, even ate my husband's! very good service, cool atmosphere, loved the all French vibe, extraordinary food, fave restaurant so far in Paris
40. Daniel--traditional feeling ambience with extraordinary food, great service, but so-so wine pairings
42. Geranium--elegant ambience with formal feel, incredible food and service, and the best wine pairings ive had in the memory, id return here in a sec, equal to Noma for me
44. French Laundry--casual look but very formal service, incredible food, stuffy service, wine pairings were good, I prefer Meadowood
48. The Test Kitchen--going in January 2015
49 Coi--going in November 2014
53. Relae--more casual and relaxed but very modern with incredible food and service on a beautiful street in CPH, wine pairings good
55. St. John--as disappointing as Dinner but without the charm, oddest meny ever, presentation horrible, no ambience at all, felt like I was at a cafeteria. Totally over-rated for us.
62. Manresa--as good as everyone says, almost as good as Meadowood, little formal but great service, very good wine pairings
66. Lung King Heen--best Chinese meal we've ever had, but service flaws disappointed, view lovely, a bit sterile for us but still amazing food, wine pairings surprisingly great
69. Saison--going in November 2014
72. Tasting Room at Le Quartier Francais--experimental and adventurous with tremendously exciting food, excellent service, and one of the best wine pairings I'd seen, loved it...returning in January 2015
75. Alain Ducasse Plaza Athenee--going in October 2014
76. Mr & Mrs Bund--amazing food and service, a little stuffy but extremely good meal, decent wine pairings
80. Restaurant at Meadowood--our fave in California, casual yet tremendous service and extraordinary food in relaxed setting, fantastic wine pairings
95. Malabar--good food but overrated on this list, service decent, wine pairings OK, adequate setting but nothing special
Other places formerly on the list:
Varvary Moscow--incredible food bested by even more amazing presentation and good service, design overload works to complement it all, great wine pairings
Cafe Pushkin Moscow--more traditional setting but easily the equal in food quality, service, and wine pairings as Varvary, with more Russian ambience
La Colombe Cape Town--excellent meal but not as compelling as others, good wine pairings, fine service, good but not our favorite
Other top contenders in my opinion:
MAP Cafe, Cusco, Peru--la Cena del Oro is their special 7 course pre-fixe which equaled what we had at Astrid y Gaston and Central just a week earlier. Spectacular meal, service, ambience, and wine pairings, this was our favorite meal in Peru against TOP competition!
The Bazaar by Jose Andres, SLS Beverly Hills--our favorite in LA, especially with the private dining room pre-fixe menu, but even the main restaurant is fantastic
Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco--our current fave in SF
L20, Chicago--tremendous meal in a bit sterile dining room with amazing service, amazing wine pairings (right up there), and extremely creative food, including foie gras that i loved
Gramercy Tavern, New York--still one of my faves anywhere, more relaxed, incredible food and service, very NYC feel
Originally Posted by
thucanhho
I have never started a thread so not quite sure how it's done. peteropny or bhrubin: please help me move it if necessary.
I have been to the following (all last year):
1. Alinea (Chicago, US)
2. French Laundry (Yountville/Napa Valley, US)
3. Le Bernadin (New York City, US)
4. Le Arpege (Paris, France)
I am planning/hoping for next year:
1. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)
2. Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)
3. Le Chateaubriand (Paris, France)
4. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)
My reviews:
1. Le Bernadin (New York City, US): best seafood presentation with an emphasis on the sauces.
2. Le Arpege (Paris): There are a few meat/seafood dished but it’s predominantly a vegetarian’s dream. This carnivore did not miss her meat.
3. French Laundry (Napa Valley, US): Classic French presentation in a bucolic setting. Thomas Keller is consider one of the fathers of French cuisine in America and of the farm to table concept (using produce from his garden an local puveyors)
4. Alinea (Chicago, US):
This was the 1st time that I realized that food is a chef’s artistic expression. As much effort was placed in the canvas/presentation as in the food. Achatz specifically has someone makes the dishes/vessels so that he can communicate his vision. I love theater, the visual arts, and fine dining and Alinea embodied all of that. It was well worth the price of admission and my most memorable dining experience to date.
Other Achatz establishments: Next Restaurant (more difficult to get reservations than Alinea, Facebook for last minute seats) and Aviary (offers creative cocktails and tasty bits). I’ve been to both and strongly recommend Aviary…as expected, it’s pricey, but youthful, stylish, and fun. Should be easier to get into than Next and Alinea.
Fun Facts:
1. The kitchen teams are sometimes mobile for a short time:
a. Per Se switched with French Laundry (both belong to Thomas Keller) for a short period
b. Alinea and Eleven Madison Park switched for a period
c. Noma with be at the Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo January 9-31, 2015
2. Did you know that if you get up from the table at a fancy restaurant (e.g. to go to the bathroom) they need to redo your next course so that it is at its best? I got that from Achatz’s book when he was at the French Laundry. I felt bad because I was having iced tea and I got up several time. I am more mindful of that now.
Bhrubin: it’s your turn now, especially since the question was directed at you and I would also be interested in your response.