Picasso at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Beautifully presented food, tiny portions, big check and we left hungry.:td:

But did the food taste good?

L'atelier in Vegas was extremely good. Not as expensive as the Joel Robuchon (I've eaten at both), but the L'Atelier was a much better value.

+1. I have been to Lugers about 3 times. Each time, I have been totally--I mean totally--underwhelmed.

My vote is for Charlie Trotter's. I was not impressed at all by our meal there for $155/prix fixe menu.

Currently one star. I went when it had two stars--some parts of the meal were excellent, others average. Servers were pleasant, helpful and attentive without being intrusive. I didn't think it was unusually expensive for a two-star place.

I have a Charolais ranch near to me, and angus as well ^ Both are good.

+1

Another overrated Philly restaurant is Bookbinders, did not think much of their seafood.

My vote for NYC restaurant goes to 21 Club, don't know how this place is still in business.

Bookbinder's is closed...Chptr 11. But I never knew it to be highly-rated, just a "famous" institution and notorious tourist trap.

It had previously been closed from 2001 to 2005.

21 Club is not a restaurant, it's quasi social club for power lunches. Another, slightly different example of this strange type of restaurant is Elaine's, one of the most exclusive and cliquish of NYC "scene" restaurants, where the food receives a generous 13 in the Zagat (it's barely a step above Chef Boyardee).

Places like this (I would include Cipriani's in this list) stay open because they cater to the social mores of a certain class of New Yorkers, and the aspirations of their wannabes.

Obviously, not a memorable meal in terms of food. I do remember a peeky toe crab dish, which was the teeniest peeky toe thing I have ever seen presented on a plate.

Some places you just have to love a little bit because of their history. Elaine's qualifies as does 21. Tadich in San Francisco is another wonderfully overrated restaurant which is still rather lovable, and I cannot tell you why.

Personally, I'm not into Elaine's, although I suppose I can understand the appeal. Of all the establishments in this general genre (21, Tadich, Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills, St Elmo's in Indy, etc) it easily has the worst food.

These places are about a certain culture of power and influence that comes to us from a different era. The testosterone these places emit is awesome.

I have walked into 21 with a group of big shots (of which I was not one) and we were made to feel like the kings of the world.

I think that is the appeal.

It's certainly not about the food.

Every big city in America has at least one old-school power joint like this, with the old waiters in black bowties, the thick porcelain plates, lots of stiff drinks and overpriced old-school eats.

Don't get me wrong, I'm actually a fan of places like this.

I certainly prefer the scene at Tadich, or the orginal Palm in NYC, or Galatoire's to the scene at Chez Panisse, which, inexplicably, receives a very high rating for bland, tasteless food.

Chez Panisse, of course, doesn't belong in the same category as the other places I've mentioned, but it's also a shrine, a tribute restaurant. CP, though, pays hommage to the so-called hippie sensibility (which is, in actually nothing more than BoBo [Bourgeois Bohemian] sensibility).

When Alice Waters opened CP, her mesclun salad with goat cheese was a revolutionary item in the American culinary canon. Now you can find it at Wendy's.

At least at Galatoire's or 21, there is a certain bonhomie, while the ambiance and mood at Chez Panisse is painfully aloof and withdrawn.

That's why Chez Panisse still gets my vote for the most overrated (28 in Zagat!)

Not expensive for a two-star, you are right. But very expensive for the value we felt we were getting.

Cheers,
T.

Agreed - next time try Redd right down the street. We've been there twice and both times the meals were excellent.

Sad thing is that St. Elmo's was very highly rated in NW's in flight magazine. I don't remember if it was a top 10 restaurant or top 10 steakhouse list. I was a bit shocked to see a local eatery listed. I've heard nothing but mediocre reviews from people who've actually been there so I'm not sure how they got their high rating.

Do you know if 14 West is any good? It seems gourmet in appearance but looks can be and usually are deceiving.