Am taking a friend to dinner, and for the life of me can't decide which one to choose:

This: http://lazare-paris.fr

or this: http://atelier-robuchon-saint-germai...fr/accueil.php..

If I were your friend then either would be very nice, but given the choice......Lazare seems a more genuine place to me. Although Joel's place seems, ah decisions, decisions.

(Glad you ditched Arpege!)

Love Lazar, problem is I never reserve, and at Lazar I would have to be there 15 in advance to get a seat on the counter (my fav place to eat ANYWHERE).

Since I have a pull at Joel, went there instead and got 2 seats.

And I just LOVE Arpege. He does such a great job with all his veggies.

She is going through a very hard time and they made her feel like a queen, so it was a great choice.

What's the matter with L'Arpege? On my bucket list

I'll be going to HK in March and was wondering if I have to call in advance to RSVP in either Lung King Heen or L’Atelier?

Thanks!

Chicago guide for 2015...

Three stars
Alinea (1723 N. Halsted St., Lincoln Park, 312-867-0110)

Grace (652 W. Randolph St., West Loop, 312-234-9494)

Two stars
42 Grams (4662 N. Broadway St., Uptown)

L20 (Belden-Stratford, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, Lincoln Park, 773-868-0002)

Sixteen (Trump International Hotel & Tower, 401 N. Wabash Ave., River North, 312-588-8030)

One star
Acadia (1639 S. Wabash Ave., South Loop, 312-360-9500)

Blackbird (619 W. Randolph St., West Loop, 312-715-0708)

Boka (1729 N. Halsted St., Old Town, 312-337-6070)

El Ideas (2419 W. 14th St., Douglas Park, 312-226-8144)

Elizabeth (4835 N. Western Ave., Lincoln Square, 773-681-0651)

Everest (440 S. LaSalle St., South Loop, 312-663-8920)

Goosefoot (2656 W. Lawrence Ave., Lincoln Square, 773-942-7547)

The Lobby (The Peninsula Chicago, 108 E. Superior St., Gold Coast, 312-337-2888)

Longman & Eagle (2657 N. Kedzie Ave., Logan Square, 773-276-7110)

Moto (945 W. Fulton Market, West Loop, 312-491-0058)

Naha (500 N. Clark St., River North, 312-321-6242)

North Pond (2610 N. Cannon Dr., Lincoln Park, 773-477-5845)

Schwa (1466 N. Ashland Ave., Wicker Park, 773-252-1466)

Senza (2873 N. Broadway St., Lake View, 773-770-3527)

Sepia (123 N. Jefferson St., West Loop, 312-441-1920)

Spiaggia (980 N. Michigan Ave., Gold Coast, 312-280-2750)

Takashi (1952 N. Damen Ave., Bucktown, 773-772-6170)

Topolobampo (445 N. Clark St., River North, 312-661-1434)

Tru (676 N. St Clair, Streeterville, 312-202-0001)


Sadly, Takashi is closing at the end of the year. I'm personally stoked to go to Alinea at some point but am saving it for a special occasion. I've only knocked out 6 of these, and none of the 2-3 stars yet.

I was at Sixteen not too long ago (end of October). The food was excellent overall, the wine pairing was one of the best I've had, and the service was as expected, although the theme (of course there was a theme!) was a bit goofy. The price was shockingly high; I've paid less at three-stars in NYC and Tokyo.

Going to be in Ghent on my birthday in April. 7 one star restaurants. Anyone been to one and have a preference? I think I'd like something distinctly local.

Going to Alinea in a month. Exciting!

This is just sad. L'Arnsbourg lost its chef and its three stars. I had the best meal I ever had there.

http://www.republicain-lorrain.fr/ac...-trois-etoiles

I ate there in early Jan and wasn't impressed. Food was decent, service rushed, but just not worth the money. Experience was probably the best. They do have some nice surprises.

We visited Restaurant Martin Berasategui outside of San Sebastian in Spain a few months back--our first 3-Michelin star restaurant--and were quite impressed. What really stood out for me was that out of 14 courses, there wasn't a single one that we could finger as our "favorite"; they were all that good. (And, of course, as expected of 3 stars, the service was fantastic.) I believe the set menu price was around $350 a head, with the wine we selected, so not an everyday place... but still one of the best food experiences we've had.

In a couple of months, we're visiting Nakamura in Kyoto for our second 3-star experience and are looking forward to it (and to the exchange rate; 23k yen a head is not as injurious on the wallet).

I ended up at Martin Berasategui after a whole host of other San Sebastian 3* bookings didn't happen, but I really enjoyed it too. Looking back it wasn't the absolute best meal I've ever had, but I can't help think that if it were in anywhere else but San Sebastian it would be a lot more famous.

I'm having a very Michelin-y week this week. Tomorrow I'm going to the 2* Cheval Blanc in Basel and then on Saturday I've got a seat at a London pop-up of Paco Rancero from the 2* Sublimotion which is the world's most expensive restaurant.

I must say, Cheval Blanc was exceptional even by the standards of a 2* Michelin restaurant.

Upon arrival at the hotel the guest services head somehow figured out who I was and talked about why I was in Basel and how often, which I had briefly mentioned in the email. I was recognised at the hotel bar (which I'd been to once before) and served a pre-dinner drink. When I decided to go through the hotel the guest services lead had already got me a paper and magazine to read and given my name to each member of the serving team who all referred to me by name throughout, including the Head Chef who did a walk around after dinner service. I actually have a slight suspicion they may have thought I was from Michelin.

As for the food, every course of the contemporary French (with Mediterranean accents) tasting menu exactly hit the spot. For a good tasting menu I'd expect 1-2 stars, 2-3 pretty good dishes and 3-4 which were a bit pointless. Cheval Blanc hit somewhere between exceptional and pretty good on every dish.

I immediately decided to go back again, but after having massively overspent today on my Easter plans I think I'll save the €350 for one person (incl. 3 glasses of wine) - but I'm still tempted.

EuropeanPete, they at least had your contact info, if not name as well, right?

related threads >
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...ld-2014-a.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...13-2014-a.html