Consolidated "Michelin Restaurants" thread
Jun 22, 2018, 5:41 am
#1337
Join Date: Jun 2017
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I respect the wishes of the proprietor, and would never ask for any sort of waiver, absent some very special circumstance like "the airline lost my luggage" and then still ask if it would be ok, or accept the establishment's "substitute emergency jacket" if required. Yes, "any restaurant anywhere" could do it, and patrons who expect a certain level of published, purportedly-required ambiance, could be put off.
Jun 22, 2018, 7:38 am
#1338
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Jun 22, 2018, 7:02 pm
#1339
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Went back to DC's Komi (1 star) yesterday; we had been a loooong time ago, not that long after they first opened (summer 2004, IIRC; they opened in 2003). I don't really know why we took so long going back; we always said it was one of the best, and best value, tasting menus in the DC area. But there are so many other places to enjoy, too...
They surprisingly didn't get a star the first year Michelin put out a DC guide, but that was remedied this year. The service is quite solidly 1-star. I feel like there could be a bit more attention here or there, but that's always a delicate balance in not being obtrusive, either.
The food is still fantastic better than almost all the other 1-star places in DC IMHO (I'd probably give it 2-stars if I were Michelin, personally), particularly given the menu has only gone up about $25 in the past 15 years (it's $150 a head; 20% flat service charge added afterwards, but no additional tips accepted). There is no set menu for the evening, though the staff took our address to mail us (how quaint!) a menu of the evening as it was our anniversary. They are also very flexible; I know way back in 2004, my wife was full-bore vegetarian, and they were able to accomodate without batting an eye and still remain very creative (vs. the ol' Tony Bourdain "chefs love vegetarians since they charge $40 for a plate of steamed vegetables" routine that a few places still follow). She's pescatarian now (has been since about 2006), and they happy to craft a menu for her--I did note that when making the reservation, but they also asked for any allergies or even just dislikes when we arrived.
I believe the total meal was around 13-14 "courses." There were several bite-sized amuse bouche to start, with a grilled watermelon that looked more like tuna a real highlight. Another very nice amuse bouche was a baked date filled with mascarpone and topped with large salt grains; this was my wife's favorite, though I think it actually needed more salt to balance the sweetness and the gooey mascarpone texture. My favorite appetizer was diced Hokkaido scallops in a homemade buttermilk with green harissa. There was one appetizer where the base for mine was foie gras, and my wife's was identical but used a hummus base. That was actually a dish I thought fell short, as the crunchy, sesame-heavy top layer overpowered the foie gras, and it's tough to overpower foie gras (and yes, the hummus was better IMHO, if suffering from the same shortcoming to a degree). Pasta course was very good, with homemade rolled pasta in a black pepper sauce, but Rose's Luxury's pastas are IMHO a notch above Komi's.
The mains were absolutely stupendous. There was a shared fish shoulder (I missed the variety--could have been mackerel; I'll see when we get the menu in the post), seasoned with their own five-spice blend, and every single bite was different. I could have licked the bones; there was a perfect cut of darker, oilier meat and flaky, whiter flesh, with crisped skin and then a different bit of the spice in every bite. The second main was a plate of pitas with pickled peppers, tzatziki, and romesco sauce; my wife received an assortment of vegetables and a seared fish, while I got a huge hunk of crispy bone-on meat (LOL, missed what it was--I assumed lamb given the background story of Chef Johnny Monis basing it on basic comfort fare he and fellow foodies would enjoy when he travels back to Greece, but my wife swears they said it was duck--that was one heck of a slab of duck leg if so, and yes, it was so tender & fall-apart that I could mix up lamb and duck if she's right), both of us encouraged to try different combinations and make gyro-style sandwiches. (More pitas and sauces offered as needed--but we were stuffed to the gills by that point.) My wife's fish as part of that main was delicious as well.
Desserts included a gelato with crispy fried beets (surprisingly good, with just enough earthiness to balance the sweetness) as well as a chocolate tart with a salty crust (wish I could do it better justice--the crust was like chocolate graham cracker crumbs, caramel, butter, and large-grained salt). Petit fours followed, with and served with coffee (an added charge--why is it that more restaurants don't include the coffee gratis unless it's something like Finca Esmeralda Especial Gesha?) was a passionfruit brittle that was wonderful, with a biscotti-like texture that dissolved with sugary goodness in the mouth (though my wife said she loved it because it wasn't too sweet!).
We went with a bottle of wine rather than the pairings. We wanted something we could just savor throughout the meal without worrying about which wine came next, and I figure we spent a similar amount as we would on the pairings.
Total bill was actually close to what we paid at 2-star Pineapple & Pearls for our prior anniversary (!), but today that comparison wouldn't be valid, as the latter has gone up significantly in price this year (up to $325 now, though that's inclusive of alcohol pairings and gratuity). If one didn't have alcohol, I feel it would be a steal at ~$180 all-in per head. My wife enjoyed dinner so much she requested we make it our regular anniversary spot, but I said, "Let's just make it a deal to come back more often than once a year, and try somewhere new each anniversary."
The only thing I dislike about the place is their no-photos-of-food policy; I'm a food pornie, so that's disappointing, but I hey, it's their space, their rules. And I'd hate to have people's phone flashes going off throughout the meal like they do at some places.
I'll update with the actual course list when we get it.
We've been meaning to go back to San Sebastian to try Arzak. Loved Beresategui; the service and food both were absolutely 3-star. Maybe in another year or two when we bubble Spain back up on our fall itinerary...
Yes, they are supposed to make multiple visits (and IIRC have multiple evaluators visit). Consistently having great food (and a menu that changes, I'd add) and service is very important. I'd hate to spend hundreds of dollars on a meal if it's something that on one night is blah and another is out of this world, playing the lottery as to which I'd get.
They surprisingly didn't get a star the first year Michelin put out a DC guide, but that was remedied this year. The service is quite solidly 1-star. I feel like there could be a bit more attention here or there, but that's always a delicate balance in not being obtrusive, either.
The food is still fantastic better than almost all the other 1-star places in DC IMHO (I'd probably give it 2-stars if I were Michelin, personally), particularly given the menu has only gone up about $25 in the past 15 years (it's $150 a head; 20% flat service charge added afterwards, but no additional tips accepted). There is no set menu for the evening, though the staff took our address to mail us (how quaint!) a menu of the evening as it was our anniversary. They are also very flexible; I know way back in 2004, my wife was full-bore vegetarian, and they were able to accomodate without batting an eye and still remain very creative (vs. the ol' Tony Bourdain "chefs love vegetarians since they charge $40 for a plate of steamed vegetables" routine that a few places still follow). She's pescatarian now (has been since about 2006), and they happy to craft a menu for her--I did note that when making the reservation, but they also asked for any allergies or even just dislikes when we arrived.
I believe the total meal was around 13-14 "courses." There were several bite-sized amuse bouche to start, with a grilled watermelon that looked more like tuna a real highlight. Another very nice amuse bouche was a baked date filled with mascarpone and topped with large salt grains; this was my wife's favorite, though I think it actually needed more salt to balance the sweetness and the gooey mascarpone texture. My favorite appetizer was diced Hokkaido scallops in a homemade buttermilk with green harissa. There was one appetizer where the base for mine was foie gras, and my wife's was identical but used a hummus base. That was actually a dish I thought fell short, as the crunchy, sesame-heavy top layer overpowered the foie gras, and it's tough to overpower foie gras (and yes, the hummus was better IMHO, if suffering from the same shortcoming to a degree). Pasta course was very good, with homemade rolled pasta in a black pepper sauce, but Rose's Luxury's pastas are IMHO a notch above Komi's.
The mains were absolutely stupendous. There was a shared fish shoulder (I missed the variety--could have been mackerel; I'll see when we get the menu in the post), seasoned with their own five-spice blend, and every single bite was different. I could have licked the bones; there was a perfect cut of darker, oilier meat and flaky, whiter flesh, with crisped skin and then a different bit of the spice in every bite. The second main was a plate of pitas with pickled peppers, tzatziki, and romesco sauce; my wife received an assortment of vegetables and a seared fish, while I got a huge hunk of crispy bone-on meat (LOL, missed what it was--I assumed lamb given the background story of Chef Johnny Monis basing it on basic comfort fare he and fellow foodies would enjoy when he travels back to Greece, but my wife swears they said it was duck--that was one heck of a slab of duck leg if so, and yes, it was so tender & fall-apart that I could mix up lamb and duck if she's right), both of us encouraged to try different combinations and make gyro-style sandwiches. (More pitas and sauces offered as needed--but we were stuffed to the gills by that point.) My wife's fish as part of that main was delicious as well.
Desserts included a gelato with crispy fried beets (surprisingly good, with just enough earthiness to balance the sweetness) as well as a chocolate tart with a salty crust (wish I could do it better justice--the crust was like chocolate graham cracker crumbs, caramel, butter, and large-grained salt). Petit fours followed, with and served with coffee (an added charge--why is it that more restaurants don't include the coffee gratis unless it's something like Finca Esmeralda Especial Gesha?) was a passionfruit brittle that was wonderful, with a biscotti-like texture that dissolved with sugary goodness in the mouth (though my wife said she loved it because it wasn't too sweet!).
We went with a bottle of wine rather than the pairings. We wanted something we could just savor throughout the meal without worrying about which wine came next, and I figure we spent a similar amount as we would on the pairings.
Total bill was actually close to what we paid at 2-star Pineapple & Pearls for our prior anniversary (!), but today that comparison wouldn't be valid, as the latter has gone up significantly in price this year (up to $325 now, though that's inclusive of alcohol pairings and gratuity). If one didn't have alcohol, I feel it would be a steal at ~$180 all-in per head. My wife enjoyed dinner so much she requested we make it our regular anniversary spot, but I said, "Let's just make it a deal to come back more often than once a year, and try somewhere new each anniversary."
The only thing I dislike about the place is their no-photos-of-food policy; I'm a food pornie, so that's disappointing, but I hey, it's their space, their rules. And I'd hate to have people's phone flashes going off throughout the meal like they do at some places.
I'll update with the actual course list when we get it.
I preferred Beresategui over Arzak / Azurmendi / Mugaritz - refinement, precision a little dash of technique here and there but not obtrusively so and obv mindblowingly good food, some memorable as hell dishes.
Love to hear your impressions of Akellare. Don't forget to leave room for pintxos in the old town you lucky person you
Love to hear your impressions of Akellare. Don't forget to leave room for pintxos in the old town you lucky person you
I think I read somewhere that these Michelin/Pellegrino raters visit restaurants repeatedly to get a fair score. That's great because consistency is very important. Most of these restaurants I've only been to once or twice, so even if I didn't have a good time it's possible it was just a fluke. The only restaurant I keep going back to repeatedly is chef's table at bf (6x), and it's been consistently flawless.
Last edited by exerda; Jun 23, 2018 at 10:45 am
Jun 23, 2018, 5:01 am
#1340
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I respect the wishes of the proprietor, and would never ask for any sort of waiver, absent some very special circumstance like "the airline lost my luggage" and then still ask if it would be ok, or accept the establishment's "substitute emergency jacket" if required. Yes, "any restaurant anywhere" could do it, and patrons who expect a certain level of published, purportedly-required ambiance, could be put off.
Jun 24, 2018, 12:35 pm
#1341
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Went to Blue Duck Tavern (1-star) in DC for brunch yesterday with some friends. I've been there for dinner previously, so I was intrigued to try their brunch. The brunch menu is actually pretty nice, with several of the same starters as you get at lunch and dinner, and mains more tailored to brunch (e.g. duck waffles, french toast, etc.); however, the prices are also very similar to the lunch & dinner ones (e.g. $15-$20 for starters, upper-$20s-to-mid-$30s for mains). Food was very good; the service, as seems to be the case at Blue Duck, was spotty (with long waits for drinks, indifferent staff, etc.). Yeah, it's 2pm on a Saturday, and probably people are thinking about the end of the shift, but come on; you're still on the clock. They definitely need to improve the service if they want to chase a second star. Overall, still a good value, given you can leave absolutely stuffed for $50-70 per head.
Anyway, I decided to stick to starters & sides despite the temptation of some of the mains, as I wanted to try some dessert, too, so this is a fairly brief set of items. I had the roasted bone marrow, a side of cheese grits (no photo; it was a bowl of grits), and shared a couple of rather nice desserts.
Roasted bone marrow, a standby at Blue Duck. This time, it was served with bourbon butter and pretzel crumbles with roasted garlic. Tasty and quite filling, as usual. I do prefer when they season it a bit more strongly (the bourbon butter was too subtle), but smearing the roasted garlic atop each slice of toast did give plenty of flavor.
My wife got the avocado toast despite being a generation older than the stereotypical audience for that dish. She said it was pretty tasty, which for a nearly-$20 starter, I hope it was.
Dessert #1 : Meyer lemon castella served with hibiscus ganache, cherry blossom frozen yogurt, and rhubarb. This was pretty decent, with the textures working well together (including the dense sponge cake with the rhubarb--preserved?--and with the crunch of the merengues), and the flavors were nice. I didn't do a good job of getting the hibiscus ganache in the shot, but really, the cherry blossom frozen yogurt was the better accompaniment for each bite.
Dessert #2 : Coconut tapioca with carrot cake, pineapple, allspice sorbet, curried cashews, and saffron. This was really nice, with all the flavors and textures working together. I don't think I'd like just the tapioca, but with everything else.... it was great, particularly with the allspice sorbet and carrot cake bites. One of our friends lamented that she wasn't able to get a 2nd one of these to go for dinner.
Anyway, I decided to stick to starters & sides despite the temptation of some of the mains, as I wanted to try some dessert, too, so this is a fairly brief set of items. I had the roasted bone marrow, a side of cheese grits (no photo; it was a bowl of grits), and shared a couple of rather nice desserts.
Roasted bone marrow, a standby at Blue Duck. This time, it was served with bourbon butter and pretzel crumbles with roasted garlic. Tasty and quite filling, as usual. I do prefer when they season it a bit more strongly (the bourbon butter was too subtle), but smearing the roasted garlic atop each slice of toast did give plenty of flavor.
My wife got the avocado toast despite being a generation older than the stereotypical audience for that dish. She said it was pretty tasty, which for a nearly-$20 starter, I hope it was.
Dessert #1 : Meyer lemon castella served with hibiscus ganache, cherry blossom frozen yogurt, and rhubarb. This was pretty decent, with the textures working well together (including the dense sponge cake with the rhubarb--preserved?--and with the crunch of the merengues), and the flavors were nice. I didn't do a good job of getting the hibiscus ganache in the shot, but really, the cherry blossom frozen yogurt was the better accompaniment for each bite.
Dessert #2 : Coconut tapioca with carrot cake, pineapple, allspice sorbet, curried cashews, and saffron. This was really nice, with all the flavors and textures working together. I don't think I'd like just the tapioca, but with everything else.... it was great, particularly with the allspice sorbet and carrot cake bites. One of our friends lamented that she wasn't able to get a 2nd one of these to go for dinner.
Jun 24, 2018, 5:02 pm
#1342
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Yes, they are supposed to make multiple visits (and IIRC have multiple evaluators visit). Consistently having great food (and a menu that changes, I'd add) and service is very important. I'd hate to spend hundreds of dollars on a meal if it's something that on one night is blah and another is out of this world, playing the lottery as to which I'd get.
Jun 25, 2018, 3:06 pm
#1343
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This sounds about right. I understand it's the reason Achatz's Next here in Chicago will never get a star. Because he completely revamps the theme, menu, concept, and even the decor every few months, there's no way to judge the consistency factor. Not sure if that's 100% true, but it's what I've heard from those in the industry.
Regarding the questions about Alinea - yes, I would go back. But I can only afford that level of meal every so often, and there are still many other places I want to try! The food tasted great, although there were a couple misses for me, as I expect there would be for everyone given personal tastes.
Lastly, a totally unrelated question. I am spending a week in London and Paris in September, and looking to hit one 2-3* place total. Any recommendations given that the plan is to only go to one? I'd imagine Paris is probably better but I'm looking for expert opinion here!
Jun 25, 2018, 3:10 pm
#1344
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But I agree that Paris likely is the better choice between the two cities in which to fine dine—though we do love the Ledbury. In Paris, you have far more choices and also can consider lunch at a 2* or 3* as a much less pricey option.
Jun 25, 2018, 3:30 pm
#1345
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In London: the Ledbury is the only restaurant I’d recommend.
But I agree that Paris likely is the better choice between the two cities in which to fine dine—though we do love the Ledbury. In Paris, you have far more choices and also can consider lunch at a 2* or 3* as a much less pricey option.
Jun 25, 2018, 4:41 pm
#1346
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I enjoyed Ledbury. My favorite places in London though are St. John and Chutney Mary, though not starred. St. John has been in various places on the San Pelligrino list over the years, however.
Jun 26, 2018, 4:23 am
#1348
Join Date: Mar 2004
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What's all this fuss about a jacket? Is it really that much hassle to wear one? As for the reason, it's one way of ensuring that people consider what they're wearing when they visit a special place. Some of you may be wearing perfectly tidy clothes and this rule isn't really for you - it's for all the uncivilised and inconsiderate people who show up in torn shorts and dirty sneakers.
Last edited by Fliar; Jun 26, 2018 at 4:24 am Reason: spelling
Jun 26, 2018, 6:30 am
#1350
Join Date: Jul 2015
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This is true - the format of Next having 3 different menus a year doesn't fit the Michelin "model". I love the variety it offers.
Regarding the questions about Alinea - yes, I would go back. But I can only afford that level of meal every so often, and there are still many other places I want to try! The food tasted great, although there were a couple misses for me, as I expect there would be for everyone given personal tastes.
Lastly, a totally unrelated question. I am spending a week in London and Paris in September, and looking to hit one 2-3* place total. Any recommendations given that the plan is to only go to one? I'd imagine Paris is probably better but I'm looking for expert opinion here!
Regarding the questions about Alinea - yes, I would go back. But I can only afford that level of meal every so often, and there are still many other places I want to try! The food tasted great, although there were a couple misses for me, as I expect there would be for everyone given personal tastes.
Lastly, a totally unrelated question. I am spending a week in London and Paris in September, and looking to hit one 2-3* place total. Any recommendations given that the plan is to only go to one? I'd imagine Paris is probably better but I'm looking for expert opinion here!