Non-Disappointing Restaurants
 

Robuchon in Vegas was absolutely perfect although my butt got sore sitting through the marathon eating. Worth every penny from the starting bread to the finishing mignardises.

Keep in mind this comes from a vegetarian, but (in no particular order)...

Tru - Chicago
Charlie Trotter's - Chicago
Ousteau de Baumaniere - Les Baux
Michael Mina - San Francisco
Pierre Gagnaire - Paris
l'Arpege - Paris
F12 - Stockholm
Bastide de Moustiers - Moustiers des Provence
Mosaic - Bali
Herbario - Medellin
Horizons - Philadelphia
Lumiere - Vancouver
Millenium - San Francisco (best vegan in the US, probably)
Pure - New York (best raw in the US, probably)




(To those who asked about difference's in Tru and Trotter's ...I've eaten at both several times and find Trotter's is a little more traditional, from the food to the style. There's usually one item on the menu that's a little 'out there' (experimental) that often doesn't work for me. Tru is more contemporary and focuses a lot more on presentation. I enjoy the food at both.)

Sorry, yes it was the Park Hyatt. I get my Hyatts mixed up it seems.

Bumping this thread to add another vote for Momofuku Ko. I had dinner there on Monday night and it was one of the best dining experiences I've had - at least top three, if not top two. I'm not a big fan of the staff attitude that comes with most of David Chang's restaurants, but it was not apparent at Ko at all. And the food was right up there with Manresa in Los Gatos. Simply fantastic.

Acquerello Restaurant in San Francisco. Had an amazing experience there and I am hoping to take my girlfriend there this year for our one year anniversary.

+1 same experience here

Frasca in Boulder, CO.

IMHO it's the best restaurant in Colorado. Everything about it excels, from the buzzy atmosphere, through the creative Italian cooking, to Bobby Stuckey's (he's the sommelier and co-owner) incredible ability to remember you even though you haven't dined there for a year!

A subject near and dear to my heart
 

NYC

Del Posto
Nobu
Cafe Boulud


DC

Vidalia
Bistro Bis
The Oval Room
Kinkead's
Zaytinya

I've eaten there once and loved it! My friends in Boulder are regulars, but it sounds like most of Boulder fits that bill.

fogo de chao in beverly hills

meat lovers paradise, and the salad bar is no slouch either.

Is it that good?
I went to the branch in Sao Paolo, and it was good, but nothing special.

+1 for UMU. I don't know how I could have forgotton.
For Lebanese in London: Ishbilia

Four mentioned I cannot understand at all:

Fogo de Chão. I know people like them, but I find them pretty mediocre, including the ones in Brazil.

anything Emiril, Ramsay or Waring. I find those formulaic and lacking in quality of service, food but high price.

I gotta say i really like the BH fogo de chao. I think its one of my favorite places to eat when im in the mood to all out eat, but i don't think its on the same level as some of these others. I would put FDC on the low end of fine dining but very upper end of your chain restaurant.

The BH FDC is the best Ive eaten at and Ive been to 5 of them and eat regularly at the PHX location.

Texas de Brazil is on par with FDC IME.

Come to Rio de Janeiro and try Porção, for that matter any of a number of churrasceria that are throughout southern Brazil. I have yet to find a hardened carnivore who did not love them. The ones abroad just are not in the same league. I do not know why. After all the ingredients are all available abroad.