Consolidated "Michelin Restaurants" thread
#1578
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,336
Riff in Valencia has closed after a diner died, members of her family fell gravely ill and other customers also needed hospital treatment.
https://elpais.com/ccaa/2019/02/19/v...92_651685.html
A kind of morell called colmenillas (little honeycombs) has been blamed
https://elcomidista.elpais.com/elcom...93_417034.html
In English:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47318923
https://elpais.com/ccaa/2019/02/19/v...92_651685.html
A kind of morell called colmenillas (little honeycombs) has been blamed
https://elcomidista.elpais.com/elcom...93_417034.html
In English:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47318923
#1579
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,170
Riff in Valencia has closed after a diner died, members of her family fell gravely ill and other customers also needed hospital treatment.
https://elpais.com/ccaa/2019/02/19/v...92_651685.html
A kind of morell called colmenillas (little honeycombs) has been blamed
https://elcomidista.elpais.com/elcom...93_417034.html
In English:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47318923
https://elpais.com/ccaa/2019/02/19/v...92_651685.html
A kind of morell called colmenillas (little honeycombs) has been blamed
https://elcomidista.elpais.com/elcom...93_417034.html
In English:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47318923
What a tragic situation.
#1581
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,215
Just had yet another superb lunch at The Waterside Inn at Bray - it really can't be faulted in any way and, on a sunny day, it must have just about the nicest dining room of any restaurant. Whilst the food is, of course, horrendously expensive, the wine list is more reasonably priced than any I came across in a week of mediocre dining (and even more mediocre drinking) in SF!
#1583
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,474
#1584
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I'm also dying to see what they do with Vespertine (at least 2* IMO) and the more casual atmosphere for even the best in SoCal. I imagine there will be many more 1* because of the LA expectation to be more dressed down than fine for dining!
Last edited by bhrubin; Mar 5, 2019 at 2:23 pm
#1585
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 8,953
Great to hear that Michelin is coming back to LA - long overdue. I wonder how Melisse (my favorite restaurant in these parts) stacks up; I believe it had 2 stars before they decided to stop coverage of the region.
On a separate note, back from my trip to Basque country! Brief thoughts below:
-Arzak (3 stars, San Sebastian): very innovative cuisine, particularly on the texture side, but this was definitely the restaurant, relative to my expectations, that fell short. A very enjoyable meal but perhaps lacking a bit in pizzazz. Wintertime perhaps doesn't make for having the best cuisine available.
-eMe Be Garrote (1 star, San Sebastian): loved the ambiance here (set in what looks like a redone barn, outfitted with rustic wooden finishes and lots of retro bikes hanging from the walls), and the food was fabulous as well. I somehow lucked into turning a glass of red into a little more than half a bottle for 16 euros - no complaints from me! English-speaking staff is definitely on the lighter side relative to other spots we went to - may have something to do with the restaurant being ~20 minutes outside of downtown San Sebastian.
-Azurmendi (3 stars, Bilbao): now that Hertog Jan closed in Bruges, this is now my new favorite restaurant in the world. Absolutely an incredibly immersive dining experience. Every single course was amazing. The walkthrough from the lush entrance, to the kitchen, then to a beautifully-appointed side room, is a great way of introducing the amuse-bouche courses. The wine pairing at 125 euros is a steal; you get treated to interesting wines all over the world, as well as some really old ones...I enjoyed a glass of 1975 vintage Rioja with one course, followed by a sherry wine that was laid down for aging in the 1950s(!). I usually am not a big fan of wine pairings, but wow...this one blew me away.
By far, I felt that Azurmendi was the can't-miss restaurant of the above ones I visited. I hope to make it back in the future (not sure how to swing it with a baby in tow...) for all the restaurants that were closed at this time of year.
On a separate note, back from my trip to Basque country! Brief thoughts below:
-Arzak (3 stars, San Sebastian): very innovative cuisine, particularly on the texture side, but this was definitely the restaurant, relative to my expectations, that fell short. A very enjoyable meal but perhaps lacking a bit in pizzazz. Wintertime perhaps doesn't make for having the best cuisine available.
-eMe Be Garrote (1 star, San Sebastian): loved the ambiance here (set in what looks like a redone barn, outfitted with rustic wooden finishes and lots of retro bikes hanging from the walls), and the food was fabulous as well. I somehow lucked into turning a glass of red into a little more than half a bottle for 16 euros - no complaints from me! English-speaking staff is definitely on the lighter side relative to other spots we went to - may have something to do with the restaurant being ~20 minutes outside of downtown San Sebastian.
-Azurmendi (3 stars, Bilbao): now that Hertog Jan closed in Bruges, this is now my new favorite restaurant in the world. Absolutely an incredibly immersive dining experience. Every single course was amazing. The walkthrough from the lush entrance, to the kitchen, then to a beautifully-appointed side room, is a great way of introducing the amuse-bouche courses. The wine pairing at 125 euros is a steal; you get treated to interesting wines all over the world, as well as some really old ones...I enjoyed a glass of 1975 vintage Rioja with one course, followed by a sherry wine that was laid down for aging in the 1950s(!). I usually am not a big fan of wine pairings, but wow...this one blew me away.
By far, I felt that Azurmendi was the can't-miss restaurant of the above ones I visited. I hope to make it back in the future (not sure how to swing it with a baby in tow...) for all the restaurants that were closed at this time of year.
#1586
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Melisse closed March 2...and is supposed to reopen later in 2019 with a new, less formal concept. I imagine Michelin's return will adjust things for them perhaps a bit.
#1587
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 8,953
D'oh! Now I really wish I had shown up there before that...my one meal there (in July 2012...hard to believe it was so long ago) was a highlight of one of my only extended visits to SoCal since I moved away as a kid.
#1588
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,474
Here is my Facebook post about its closing:
Last night I received an email from Melisse that they will be closing on March 3 and will be reopening in the summer with a new concept.
A few months ago, I read rumors that the restaurant's lease was up this coming January and there was speculation that it will close. [My wife] and I have been there before to celebrate her birthday, but [our daughter] has never eaten there and it was on her bucket list. I made a reservation for when she was going to be home when she was on a week's break from her residency at [a children's hospital].
Most of the food was well prepared, but the service was not up to par for a restaurant of that caliber and price range; it did not measure up to what I remembered from our prior visit. The captain who took our order was very conscientious of dietary restrictions and accommodated every one in our party; however, after that things went south. It was hard to get a waiter's attention when we needed something; at comparable restaurants, they seem to be able to read my mind and come to our table when I want to ask for something. At least half an hour passed between our finishing one course and clearing the table and the serving of the next course. Mid way through the seven course set menu, I asked them to speed things up; that was to no avail. After the second dessert, more than three hours after we sat down, I explained that my daughter was tired and had an early flight the next morning, and I asked for the check. It was brought promptly, but they never offered or brought the after dinner chocolates and petit fours that they normally serve at the end of the meal. I was going to ask to have those packed to go on our way out, but neither the hostess nor the maitre d were anywhere to be found.
Sad end to what used to be one of the best restaurants in the Los Angeles area.
A few months ago, I read rumors that the restaurant's lease was up this coming January and there was speculation that it will close. [My wife] and I have been there before to celebrate her birthday, but [our daughter] has never eaten there and it was on her bucket list. I made a reservation for when she was going to be home when she was on a week's break from her residency at [a children's hospital].
Most of the food was well prepared, but the service was not up to par for a restaurant of that caliber and price range; it did not measure up to what I remembered from our prior visit. The captain who took our order was very conscientious of dietary restrictions and accommodated every one in our party; however, after that things went south. It was hard to get a waiter's attention when we needed something; at comparable restaurants, they seem to be able to read my mind and come to our table when I want to ask for something. At least half an hour passed between our finishing one course and clearing the table and the serving of the next course. Mid way through the seven course set menu, I asked them to speed things up; that was to no avail. After the second dessert, more than three hours after we sat down, I explained that my daughter was tired and had an early flight the next morning, and I asked for the check. It was brought promptly, but they never offered or brought the after dinner chocolates and petit fours that they normally serve at the end of the meal. I was going to ask to have those packed to go on our way out, but neither the hostess nor the maitre d were anywhere to be found.
Sad end to what used to be one of the best restaurants in the Los Angeles area.
#1589
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: AC
Posts: 106
CTBF is by far my favorite in the city. Ko is good, but I personally think the ingredients used at CTBF are more special, combined with a higher level of cooking technique. Keep in mind the price at CTBF includes service, so the difference is maybe not as big. Personally Ko was a go once and glad I tried type of place, whereas CTBF I've continuously gone back.
You're not missing out on much if you skip Per Se. If you enjoy classic French, I'd also recommend Le Coucou, Le Bernadin, and even Daniel I think is better than Per Se.
You're not missing out on much if you skip Per Se. If you enjoy classic French, I'd also recommend Le Coucou, Le Bernadin, and even Daniel I think is better than Per Se.
I just reached out to StR's concierge team and they heard that Chef Ramirez might be away first 2 weeks of July which is when I plan to go. If that's the case, that makes my decision easier as I would only want to go if Chef was there (plus I hear that when he's away they're actually closed).
I'm actually thinking of doing Le Coucou for lunch that same day to get the wife her French fix. We did Le Bernardin last time and absolutely loved it! Met Chef Eric Ripert as well which is a bonus.
Thanks for your feedback!
#1590
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: AC
Posts: 106
LeBernardin is just a wonderful experience and has been for decades. I am also a big fan of Jean-Georges as well, which had 3 stars for a number of years but has dropped to 2 stars. When in think of high end French food in NYC I think of LeBernardin. Been there a number of times over the years, although not recently, and was always just blown away by how good the food, service and ambience was. I would place Jean-Georges in close to that category.
I have not been to the new Joel Robuchon but really was impressed for our one visit to the old one. The new location has two stars. The old one was really kind of unique in combining fantastic food in a somewhat more casual setting.
If you arent tied to French you might try Tori Shin. It is a one star Japanese yakatori restaurant. Great little skewers of various chicken parts and some other things cooked over an open fire or hot stones. Chicken artery on a skewer anyone? But seriously it is great if you like non sushi Japanese. There are some Michelin starred sushi places as well.
I am a huge Yakitori fan after my last Japan trip but I'm not big into arteries and innards so a full tasting may not be for me. Japanese food is my love so I'm really tempted to do Sushi Amane or Noz but I'm going to Tokyo next month and will get a good sushi fix then and I want to make the NY trip more about the wife so I'll probably skip sushi this time around (unfortunately).
Thanks for your feedback!