Going to Daniel this weekend. I was there around 8 years ago.

If I had known what you say about Tru, I would have gone there instead of C Trotters. We went to C Trotters instead because it is so "famous", but what a totally average meal for $155/per person prix fixe. We were going to go to Tru, but we spent so much money at Trotters and did not have such a great meal, we decided to save our cash instead.

Bang for the Buck
 

There are so many different factors. Per -Se in NY is now $275 USD per person (Service Included) and 47/48 of the people I know who have eaten there have had nothing but good things to say about the experience. It's not an average tuesday night kind of place, though.

Jean George

Daniel/Cafe Bouloud/db Bistro (From Fanciest to less formal)

La Grenouille

Probably means Jade at the Fullerton, the place that invented
cocoa-crusted ribs.

Good evening, all.

The topic is "Well Deserved Highly Rated Restaurants." I know that readers of this forum will enjoy reading -- and even having a spirited but civil discussion -- about that topic.

However, personal attacks and off-topic discussions of who is foolish and wise, etc., etc., don't add very much. If you must jab at each other, please take it to PM. Hence, posts that veered us away from our enjoyable, civil, and fun forum (or responses thereto) have been deleted.

Thank you,

cblaisd
Moderator, Dining Buzz

Jade is in the Fullerton Hotel.

http://www.fullertonhotel.com/dining/outlet/jade.html

Have to disagree on Commander's Palace. I was impressed by it in the 1990's when it was regarded one of the top 10 restaurants in the US (I seem to recall it ranked #6 at one point).

However, my visit to CP after the reopening post-Katrina was rather disappointing. Service standards were not as high as before and the food, while not bad, was not exciting nor particularly well prepared, either.

Hopefully they have improved since, but based on that experience, CP certainly did not live up to its reputation.

Cheers,
T.

I feel Chez Dominique in Helsinki is certainly worth the buzz. Food-wise it beats any other two-star place I have visited and the service is superb. And especially their lunch is a fantastic value.

Dinner is quite expensive, but that is to be expected.

Cheers,
T.

I would like to visit Scandanavia one day. I will definitely check this place out if I go. I also want to visit Stockholm and Copenhagen. Do you know of comparable places there?

Noma in Copenhagen is a must-go. Two stars, rated the tenth best restaurant in the world last year (Chez Dominique was 38th or so). There are ten or so one-star places in Copenhagen.

Stockholm has two two-star places, but one of them (Edsbacka Krog) is closing down this February. The other one is Mathias Dahlgren at the Grand Hotel. Five one star places, the most notable probably Espresso which was selected as the Swedish restaurant of the year.

Helsinki has three one-star affairs in addition to Chez Dominique. Two of them (Demo and Postres) are very good, in my opinion. The remaining one (Carma) I don't much care for.

There is quite a bit of discussion about Helsinki restaurants in the Scandinavia forum.

Cheers,
T.

Gramercy Tavern, Per Se in NYC.

San Francisco - both Michael Mina and Gary Danko have been great in my experience.

D.C. - CityZen

NYC - Momofuku Ko. Probably the best meal I have ever had. And at $100 for the tasting menu it is a great deal.

Boston/New England - O ya, Craigie on Main, Fore Street in Portland

London - Marcus Wareing

Ubuntu in Napa. It still flies a little under the radar for omnivores such as myself, but the restaurant serves great vegetarian food and one doesn't miss meat while eating there. My vegetarian fiancee loves the place. Wine list has some fun picks.

Dining Room @ the Ritz in SF. "I-Ron" Chef Siegel combines some Japanese ingredients and techniques with mostly French techniques. Service is uniformly formal but if your waiter perceives you to want a more chatty/friendly service they will do so naturally. A good waiter should pick up on these things. Food is best from their choice of tasting menus.

La Folie in SF. This fits the bill as one of the best "value" but very high-end French restaurants in the city. Those who complain about puny portion sizes, never seem to do so at La Folie. This restaurant also flies a little bit under the radar but is an easy safe choice.

A common thread about these restaurants is that there aren't much "hype" about these restaurants compared to their competitors.

Sorry to hear that. Our visits were all pre-Katrina. Do they still have the Bread Pudding Souffle? That was one of the most memorable desserts I have ever had.

F12 in Stockholm is quite good.
http://www.f12.se/
http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/gui...nt-detail.html

I also thought Emeril's was just so-so.

My favorite is Le Pre Catelan in Paris.