I went to Ubuntu once. That was one of the most expensive meals I've ever eaten if you look at money spent/weight of food ratio. I was starving when I left and had dropped around $50/person for lunch with no alcohol. I went looking for a slice of pizza afterwards.

I would like to go back to the Dining room. I agree, that was a great place. The presentation and setting is quite spectacular. The food did not blow me away. It was excellent food, but not a stunner.

I have been to La Folie twice, and I have always enjoyed it. I think their food is quite excellent.

I recently enjoyed the food at ARIA in sydney and can fully recommend it to anyone.

Completely lived up to the hype imo.

Very expensive, but well worth it for a special occasion.

tito's tacos, los angeles.

A few that I have truly much enjoyed:

El Bulli, Roses, Spain
Tetsuya, Sydney
Mozaic, Bali
Cityzen, Washington DC
Le Bernardin, New York City
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Paris

El Bulli?! Lordy...how the hell do you get a reservation there? (I'm green with envy)

Tetsuya is pretty impressive. Next time you are in Aus try the Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld 2.5 hours drive out of Melbourne. The chef/owner Dan Hunter was formerly an Executive Chef an Mugaritz in San Sebastian - For me it's up there with Tetusya

My trip report from 2008:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...en-w-pics.html

West in Vancouver, BC Canada

+many to Mozaic, although friends said they were recently overwhelmed by Russian mobsters sitting at the next table there. The food remained excellent, however, and evening was still success, if not quite what they had first imagined.
The russians apparently had the tasting plus wines, and then some.
adg

Interesting sidenote from a different thread (overrated restaurants) -- somebody here seems to hate elBulli with a gusto.

Cheers,
T.

Another favorite (although may be off the beaten track for many)
Gellius in Oderzo Italy
http://www.ristorantegellius.it/
Outstanding.

Alinea... just outstanding in every way. Well presented and 'fun', but doesn't fall victim to the tricks; the fundamentals of the food and ingredients are top notch as well.

Disagree with all those who put db on the list. The last time I was there was for a friend's bday. We had a party of 7 with like a 9:00 (fairly late) dinner res. We were rushed the entire time and I found the food to be only moderate. I was very diasppointed with the quality in comparison to Chef Boulud's other restaurants and even my other visits there. Additionally, after we had finished desert, we were chatting for a few minutes finishing our drinks and were asked to leave so that they could make room for a new party. We just dropped a decent sum of money and they couldn't wait to get us out the door :td: Neither I, nor anyone else present that night, have ever returned.

Murano, London, chef Angela Hartnett. Despite being part of the Ramsay group the food is excellent consistently and the front of house staff superb.

Christian Etienne, Avignon
Chez Bruce, London (consistently excellent, and good value for money)
Les Chênes Verts, Tourtour (Provence)
Al Pont de Ferr, Milan
The French Laundry, Napa (yes, I know not everyone agrees)
Terra, St Helena (Napa again)

Shaun Hill's restaurant in Ludlow was great. It remains to be see whether he can live up to that in Abergavenny (the Walnut Tree).

Slighty :o to forget that as I live 5 mins walk from the restaurant. Excellent place and the best cheeseboard I've ever seen.