Very hard to find places that are not overpriced and overrated. For $300 a head it needs to be one of the best meals I've ever eaten. Few places on these lists ever rise to that standard, most fail miserably. By contrast I have many local favorites that always provide steller experience. It's gotten to the point where I prefer not to try something new, because it will inevitably disappoint.
I do wish the whole tipping culture would disappear in the US. This dates back to an age where servers were treated as "the help" and really is simply a gimmick that allows restaurants to print a price list that is well below the actual price. Deceptive and unfair to all, except the owners. Compensation should not be based on the whims and random draw of customers for the night.
Originally Posted by
BSBD
I find Japan to be overall a better food destination than Paris, NYC, etc. I actually prefer Osaka over Tokyo in this regard - similar quality but lower prices.
+1 In no small part because I prefer Japanese food to French - yeck.
Originally Posted by
robyng
Also - unless a person is going to a particular great restaurant more than once and/or visiting a particular city more than once - I'd order the things I tend to love (as opposed to those things that I simply find ok - although this is becoming increasingly hard to do as more and more restaurants opt for tasting menus only). Also - I'd go to the restaurants that specialize in those things. For example - I'll go to Le Bernardin as opposed to Peter Luger (or whatever is supposed to be a great steakhouse) - because I love fish and am only so-so about beef.
Agree, but 100% the opposite choice for me - I'd take a good steak over overpriced french any day.
Originally Posted by
robyng
Also - I try to visit countries/cities when things I like are in season (like spargel in Germany in the spring - and game in various European countries in the fall). And even go to countries because their cuisines/ingredients appeal to me (like fish in Japan and Sweden).
I can't time my trips to the food calendar, but I do try to sample the best of the locale cuisine. This means sausage and schnitzel in Germany, sushi in Japan, BBQ in the South, pasta in Italy, etc. However for SF, NYC or London that leaves pretty much everything open! (though I certainly have my local favs)