Some of the Michelin Guide followers won't like it much. It isn't fussy enough, and there aren't enough courses served with military-like precision for your three-plus hour dining marathon. The wine markups are also pretty reasonable, making your ability to get out the door (for 2) for over $1000 nearly impossible.

ROTFL!

But you forgot the "... and with detailed instructions for eating from the Chef .." somewhere in there.

Perhaps you’re right. Chez Panisse is, as you probably know, responsible almost singularly for the new American cuisine that started in the 70s and 80s and is still flourishing. One time I was there and I asked our waiter if he had any recommendations for a restaurant in the Napa area since we were going there after we left SFO. He said there was a new place up there he had been to and it was pretty good, it was called the French Laundry. Although my favorite story about them was that a guy named Bill Clinton showed up without a reservation one night. They seated him in the upstairs cafe, no room in the main dining room, POTUS or not. I still remember a dish I had there in the mid 80s, it was a salad including eggs poached in Zinfandel.

Usually to get a reservation there, they only take them 30 days in advance, I literally call the minute they open 30 days in advance. The only comparable place I’ve seen as far as difficulty getting in is Alinea.

I was in SFO a few weeks ago. I didn’t even try getting in Chez Panisse. I had dinner at Greens and Zuni. I have been to one or two of at least the one star places in SFO and frankly wouldn’t even look at the Michelin Guide in SFO.

I see Atelier Crenn has now gone to tickets, just like Alinea (using their system too).

I totally understand why they do it, but can't say I'm a fan of the whole ticketing concept. But then I actually honour my reservations.

New York guide coming out next week. Some predictions from Eater: https://ny.eater.com/2017/10/26/1655...18-predictions

One thing I've always wondered is why is Blue Hill at Stone Barns not included in the New York guide? If the wine country restaurants are included in the SF guide, feels like Stone Barns should be included in New York. I think it would get at least 2* and maybe 3*.

Of those on the potential list I've only been to Chinese Tuxedo lately. Can't fault it, certainly wouldn't be surprised if it got one star, really decent cocktails and food too. Lovely dining room too!

Interesting you mention about Blue Hill at Stone Barns, the wife has been contemplating us heading that way for a while now. Given your 2*/3* reference point it sounds as though you rate it highly.

Blue Hill's NYC location in Greenwich Village has 1 star. I've said it before in other threads (maybe here too), and I know it's heretical, but the food at the NYC location is better than at Stone Barns. It's certainly an experience, but that outpaces the actual meal itself IMO.

I wonder what these predictions are based on. I am quite surprised that the article floated the possibility of Aquavit moving up to 3 stars but didn't mention Atera or Blanca. I think either of those would be more likely.

Shang Palace *
 

In Paris we tried out Shang Palace which is located at the Shangri-La. It´s the only Michelin starred Cantonese restaurant in France. This alone is a reason to try it, also it´s always convenient to eat at the Hotel you stay.
The restaurant is furnished in an elegant asian style.
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First we got some beans and a red paste. Pretty good.
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It´s not so easy to et at this restaurant a pescarian menu as they put some chicken or pork in nearly everything. For excample the seafood soup contains pork. My company opted for the beginning for a „Double boiled chinese mushroom soup with black fungus“.
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They promised they did it with a vegetable brew instead of a chicken one, i fit was the case I can´t proof of course. Price for the little soup was 28 €. It was not bad but also not outstanding or so. Surely not worth 28 € from my perspective.
I took the vegetarian hot and sour soup which was „only“ 20 €.
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I liked it.
We asked how many dishes we should order. We learned all main dishes were made to share and for 2 people 2 or 3 dishes would be fine. So we ordered 3.
First we had „Sea Scallops steamed with rice vermicelli and minced garlic sauce“.
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On the first view relative cheap with 32 €, but if you se the portion everything explains itself. This is a main dish? The taste was very good, our favourite dish.
Second we took „Sea Scallops sauted with asparagus, ginkgo nuts and black fungus“.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4475/...5ab743d7_b.jpg

Nice dish! Looked more like a main dish and costed 49 €.
As third dish we had „Crispy noodles with assoerted mushrooms in black bean sauce“.
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Price was 28 €, the dish was good.
Personally I like chinese desserts, but most people think it´s not their biggest strenghs.
We took „Sweetened eff-white almond cream with crispy sesame ball“ (14 €)
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and the signature dessert „Chilled mango cream with pomelo and sago“ (14 €).
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I liked both desserts as they were as expected.
Service was OK, good average for a 1 star.
I would call the whole restaurant interesting. Perhaps you have a better experience if you take the Peking duck but one problem remains, it´s overpriced.I would recommend it to people who never had a „fine“ Cantonese dinner before, if you visited high level restaurants in Asia Shang Palace will not be spectacular.

I love your pictures and reports, offerendum! Michelin-starred dining in Paris is always very expensive, with some mains at 3-star a la carte menus often north of 100 euros. So these prices, while very high, are not ludicrous in the Paris context.

Indeed, I now have some experience;)

Thanks for the pics and info..... but Michelin dining isn't always so outrageously expensive ;) Esp. if you go for lunch - Pierre Gagnaire has a lunch tasting menu for around 100e (but you have to ask it's not on the website) and IMHO is an exceptional value.

I don't much trust their Asian ratings (just me), but then there's Tim Ho Wan in HK that got one star - and then went on to open many branches in many countries. The ones I ate at in HK and Malaysia were quite good, but again IMO not of the same calibur as many other one stars I have visited, not that superior to other dim sum places - but I digess.

Indeed! Will report about one of this options in Paris soon (Les Fables de la Fontaine), followed by reports about L`Aperge and L´Abeille. Had also reservations at Kei and Astrance, but had to cancel due to health issues..... If I´m right Pierre Gagnaire claims now also around 150 € for Lunch. At 3 star Level average for a lunch seems to be between 130 and 150 €, for dinner between 300 and 400 €. Cheapest one is Astrance (75/ 250).

Yes you can get some good prix fixe deals on lunch. Four course lunch including cheese is 145 euros at Epicure. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee does a 3 course lunch for 210 including 2 glasses of wine. Le Cinq is 140 for 4 courses, 210 for 6.

I'll be going soon to Pierre Gagnaire's 2-starred restaurant in London, Sketch (Lecture Room & Library). The current seasonal tasting menu looks divine and is enticing me. Will let you all know how it is!

PG - yes the menu online is 155, but there is another one they don't post is 100 or 105 - and beyond amazing.