Consolidated "Michelin Restaurants" thread
Aug 2, 2019, 4:16 pm
#1816
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Aug 2, 2019, 4:22 pm
#1817
Join Date: Mar 2015
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Aug 2, 2019, 11:46 pm
#1818
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Just returned Monday from our 2 weeks and 21 star extravaganza in Japan. A quick summary:
TOKYO
<snip>
2* Narisawa—absolutely worthy of 3 stars and one of my 2 or 3 favorite meals in Japan. Food was stunning and delicious. Service was fabulous, and the mixed wine and sake pairings were tremendous. An amazing dinner, and yet I wasn’t stuffed like I’d normally be after such a lengthy 2.5 hr meal. I’d return in a second. Highly recommended, and agree that it’s one of the best in the world.
<snip
KYOTO
<snip>
2* Gion Sasaki—what a lunch, a truly memorable and very fun counter experience as the only Anglos, yet the team and chefs tried to speak with us and used Google translate even a few times, and the surrounding customers all spoke with us too! Almost everyone was surprised we’d heard of this place, and most were shocked we’d been able to get booking as foreigners. Most fun meal of our two weeks as a result, with very good food and Kaiseki, some truly intriguing courses that were all quite delicious, better even than 3* Wayamamura in Nara. Was just $100 per person for an incredible lunch. Highly recommended.
1* Tempura Mizuki—wow. Truly delicious and memorable tempura bar dinner at the RC Kyoto. Decided to go a la carte so we could do as much tempura that we wanted as possible, especially since we don’t normally like fried foods, but was so delicious we over did it and bill came to $700 for the two of us! That’s how yummy it was. Paired with reasonable champagne that was a bit too pricey, but overall would return in a heartbeat. Highly recommended.
<snip>
TOKYO
<snip>
2* Narisawa—absolutely worthy of 3 stars and one of my 2 or 3 favorite meals in Japan. Food was stunning and delicious. Service was fabulous, and the mixed wine and sake pairings were tremendous. An amazing dinner, and yet I wasn’t stuffed like I’d normally be after such a lengthy 2.5 hr meal. I’d return in a second. Highly recommended, and agree that it’s one of the best in the world.
<snip
KYOTO
<snip>
2* Gion Sasaki—what a lunch, a truly memorable and very fun counter experience as the only Anglos, yet the team and chefs tried to speak with us and used Google translate even a few times, and the surrounding customers all spoke with us too! Almost everyone was surprised we’d heard of this place, and most were shocked we’d been able to get booking as foreigners. Most fun meal of our two weeks as a result, with very good food and Kaiseki, some truly intriguing courses that were all quite delicious, better even than 3* Wayamamura in Nara. Was just $100 per person for an incredible lunch. Highly recommended.
1* Tempura Mizuki—wow. Truly delicious and memorable tempura bar dinner at the RC Kyoto. Decided to go a la carte so we could do as much tempura that we wanted as possible, especially since we don’t normally like fried foods, but was so delicious we over did it and bill came to $700 for the two of us! That’s how yummy it was. Paired with reasonable champagne that was a bit too pricey, but overall would return in a heartbeat. Highly recommended.
<snip>
We're definitely interested in trying Gion Sasaki for lunch, if we are lucky, but first we need to figure out our schedule while in Kyoto and whether it is going to be two or three of us while there.
Kitcho Arashiyama is simply out of my budget. However, I may try to get a reservation at Tempura Mizuki; yes, I know it is a long shot with the tempura counter having only eight seats.
Aug 3, 2019, 10:02 am
#1819
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As I wrote in the other thread, which I intended to post here, we scored a reservation at Narisawa during our stay in Tokyo.
We're definitely interested in trying Gion Sasaki for lunch, if we are lucky, but first we need to figure out our schedule while in Kyoto and whether it is going to be two or three of us while there.
Kitcho Arashiyama is simply out of my budget. However, I may try to get a reservation at Tempura Mizuki; yes, I know it is a long shot with the tempura counter having only eight seats.
We're definitely interested in trying Gion Sasaki for lunch, if we are lucky, but first we need to figure out our schedule while in Kyoto and whether it is going to be two or three of us while there.
Kitcho Arashiyama is simply out of my budget. However, I may try to get a reservation at Tempura Mizuki; yes, I know it is a long shot with the tempura counter having only eight seats.
Aug 3, 2019, 10:40 am
#1820
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Thanks!
Aug 4, 2019, 4:14 am
#1821
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I really enjoyed it, love what he does with veggies. We still had fish and fowl.
I enjoyed it so much that I am going to his farm when I return from my trip.
Last edited by Yahillwe; Aug 14, 2019 at 2:32 am
Aug 6, 2019, 2:36 pm
#1822
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Aug 6, 2019, 2:51 pm
#1823
Join Date: May 2016
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I thought I would give a report on my wonderful meal at Schwarzwaldstube in the Black Forest which has three stars. We had a shorter degustation menu of 5 courses with paired wines. Including other drinks and tip the bill came to £650 for two of us. Easily the best and most delicious meal we have ever eaten, plus excellent service and stunning views. I’m planning to go back already!
Aug 6, 2019, 10:12 pm
#1824
Moderator, Delta Skymiles and Mileage Run
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Hi Everyone! First time posting to this thread. I have a reservation in 2 weeks at Osteria Francescana. Looking forward to reporting back on it!
Aug 8, 2019, 11:57 am
#1827
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
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Since we're back on the topic of dress...
Still working on our Spain trip. So far we have Cinc Sentits (dinner) in Barcelona and Akelarre (lunch) in San Sebastian. We may add a 3rd starred restaurant, but not sure -- we actually really enjoy trying more typical local cuisine when we travel. So tapas, pinxtos, cider houses, paella, traditional Catalan etc. will be heavily visited.
Setting aside people's opinions on how one SHOULD dress for Michelin restaurants (because they vary and we don't need that discussion again), how should we dress to fit in at these particular spots? Akelarre for lunch, I assume would be fairly casual, maybe khakis and a polo for me? Cinc Sentits, I assume it would be khakis and a button down shirt at a minimum. What about a sport coat?
Again - we don't want to be over or under dressed, just want to fit in. I prefer casual when it doesn't stand out. Part of the question is I also don't want to have to pack a suit or a sport coat for this trip just for 1 or 2 meals.
My wife can figure this out on her own, I still haven't figured out how to discuss what's appropriate dress for a female.
Still working on our Spain trip. So far we have Cinc Sentits (dinner) in Barcelona and Akelarre (lunch) in San Sebastian. We may add a 3rd starred restaurant, but not sure -- we actually really enjoy trying more typical local cuisine when we travel. So tapas, pinxtos, cider houses, paella, traditional Catalan etc. will be heavily visited.
Setting aside people's opinions on how one SHOULD dress for Michelin restaurants (because they vary and we don't need that discussion again), how should we dress to fit in at these particular spots? Akelarre for lunch, I assume would be fairly casual, maybe khakis and a polo for me? Cinc Sentits, I assume it would be khakis and a button down shirt at a minimum. What about a sport coat?
Again - we don't want to be over or under dressed, just want to fit in. I prefer casual when it doesn't stand out. Part of the question is I also don't want to have to pack a suit or a sport coat for this trip just for 1 or 2 meals.
My wife can figure this out on her own, I still haven't figured out how to discuss what's appropriate dress for a female.
Aug 8, 2019, 12:34 pm
#1828
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
Unfortunately it looks the closure of Gaggan has accelerated to August 24th of this year instead of sometime in 2020, sadly a few days before my reservation. Would you be able to share what you didn't like about Bo Lan? We're also looking at Gaa (subject to the restaurant continuing to stay open), but leaning towards the Thai cuisine option.
Last edited by Beltway2A; Aug 8, 2019 at 12:42 pm
Aug 8, 2019, 2:47 pm
#1829
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,835
Unfortunately it looks the closure of Gaggan has accelerated to August 24th of this year instead of sometime in 2020, sadly a few days before my reservation. Would you be able to share what you didn't like about Bo Lan? We're also looking at Gaa (subject to the restaurant continuing to stay open), but leaning towards the Thai cuisine option.
Aug 9, 2019, 3:28 am
#1830
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Oslo
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