I Google :"best restaurants in" and the year and look for reliable sources. Foodie friends who have traveled there, Pellegrino. OAD. Elite Traveler. Eater. Bon Appetit. Culture Trip. Telegraph. CNN Travel. Even local city rankings. Then I see what restaurants seem consistently included on multiple lists. I often then go to TripAdvisor to make sure the people with lots of fine dining reviews or other good restaurant reviews also find them appealing and impressive. I sometimes ask a concierge their opinions, but usually by then I have a great idea already.

In the U.S. the AAA Diamond Awards can be useful.

I do this too but put more weight on Eater, Bon Appetit and Culture Trip because their rankings seem to change quicker based on what is hot. I also put a emphasis on foods that I aren't well represented in Hawaii.

Ephernite in Taipei - it apparently just missed out on a Michelin rating and I can see why. It's just not that great. Food looks pretty, service is quite good, but it's not up to michelin standard. Not worth a detour in my view.

Has anyone been? I've been to La Pergola Rome - but wondered if the Tokyo location is even close,

There's this new website (at least I think it's new?) called Taste Atlas... Apparently they suggest restaurants with the best local food based on the country/city you're in.

A friend told me about it last year. Usually I like to discover places to eat on my own, but I decided to follow a few of their recommendations for the best places for Khinkali in Tbilisi, Georgia. I have to say, not bad... Not bad at all!

We had dinner at Winter Garden by Caino at the St. Regis hotel which was awarded 1 Michelin star. I had reserved a table in advance.
When we arrived we were greated by 2 members of staff. We had our room key in hand but were (sceptical) asked what we want. When we said that we wanted to eat at Winter Garden we were asked if we had a reservation. Then they searched in their computer to find it and after it escorted us to our table. I generally hate such a behavior, but I get furious if I see that only 3 of perhaps 20 tables were occupied. If in such a situation a hotelguest arrives there is no question for a reservation. It should only be: "Welcome, may we Show your your table.".
The restaurant shares the space with the bar. In generally I can live with it eben if at the other tables sit people in shorts. BUT what I hate is loud (terrible) music and that there were already parts of a buffet in the back. For me this restaurant lacked style and I hated this place for a Michelin starred dinner. It�s a place to quickly through in some food but not to have a nice dinner.


We were ready to order. The tasting menu wasn�t suitable for us and no alternative was offered. So we ordered a la carte.
First we had a mocktail - pretty good.

Fortunately now a very attentive waitress took care of us who provided very good Service. Next the amuse bouche - OK

Now our first courses.
Low temperature poached egg, served with bearnaise sauce foam, asparagus, caviar and pan-brioche

The taste was weak, nothing special.
Chef personal version of Apulian's typical dish - Rice cream, saut�ed mussels, potatoes foam, salmon roe

This dish was not very enjoyable, it was simply not very tasty.
At this moment I googled if it really still holds 1 star at guide Michelin (no joke).
Main course: Pan fried turbot fillet, mashed parsnip, sea lettuce

No, not great. I think you can see it on the picture. So far away form Michelin star level.
We discussed if we order dessert. In the end I decided to do. But first the pre-dessert.

Our desserts were each 26 �, see what we get:


The taste was OK, but especially the chocolate mouse was at this Price Point a joke.
Petit fours

I think everybody knows what I think about this dinner. I really can�t recommend Winter Garden, for me it was no wonder the restaurant was nearly empty and it wouldn�t be a wonder if this restaurant is next year on the list of restaurants who lost their Michelin star.

Just been to Ishikawa 1* in Shinjuku Tokyo.
It was nice kaiseki but I think overpriced for what it offered. 35kY = circa $350. Drinks weren't particularly expensive but I stuck with o-cha.
They did embody Japanese service by converting some of my unused salmon rice into a rice ball to take home in an impressively expensive looking doggy bag
The restaurant was beautiful and of course impossible to find.

Isn't Ishikawa a 3*?

Oops.

I did get a personalised English menu with my name on it which was very useful. The retyping of which is making me quite hungry.
Pike Eel and Red Plum Paste
Baby Ayu Fish and Broad Beans
Lotus Root Dumpling and Water Shield
Flat Fish and Sea Urchin
Hairy Crab with Vinegar Rice
Horse Head Snapper and Asparagus
Japanese Beef and Simmered Turnip (yum)
Ise Lobster and Kamo egg plant
Steamed Rice with Trout Salmon
Miso Soup and Pickled Vegetables
Fresh Watermelon
Brown Sugar Agar Floating on a coconut Soup.

If I have 3 meals each in SF, Vegas and LA, where should I go? (can be non-Michelin of course)