AVOID most of the 2 or 3 michelin star restaurants in italy - they're just overpriced and desperately trying to copy the french style, at which they don't succeed at all. Examples:

La Pergola (@Cavalieri Hilton) in Rome: Despite the german chef and 3 stars, nothing but uncreative and expensive, service makes a big fuss about everything, guests are just tourists

Il Desco in Verona: same thing: big service theatre in the restaurant, nothing special out of the kitchen -and again just nightmare prices

Not always. Comme Chez Soi In Brussels is supposed to be very good.

Horrible! My travel companion got severe food poisoning there which ruined the remainder of an otherwise wonderful trip. We both agreed that, while beautiful, it was dreadfully crowded and mediocre.

You made me laugh. That sums it up almost perfectly. Add "and burn everything" and you've achieved perfection!

Chez Maitre-Paul, 2 rue Monsieur-le-Prince, 6th
The restaurant is nice, typical French bistro, our food was O.K., but not great. I had Cocq ou Vin (Poulet au Vin Jaune), Mrs. USAFAN Steak Frites...both not tender.

However, Chez Maitre-Paul is NOT a restaurant to avoid ...

Eddies Steakhouse in Oklahoma City. Dry, tough steak served with an equally dry, tough potato, and then charged $25 each.

Avoid Olive Garden's alltogether. All the food comes prepackaged like one of those Kraft Pasta Anytime meals. ughhhhhhh
I'm sure I will think of more later.

Thanks for your input, I have reservations at Chez Georges on Monday night to celebrate my wifes' birthday and first visit to Paris. Hope it lives up to it's reputation.

TRAVELSIG,
I would love if it you would post the names of those restaurants in Venice - perhaps on the Dining-Europe forum - that have "fantastic food". I've had, with only a couple of exceptions, mediocre to downright terrible meals there.

Deleted - Already said a few times...

JOLLIBEE in the Philippines. Also that Greenwich Pizza chain place...really bad.

And if you don't like KFC, Burger King or Wendy's in the U.S., then you REALLY won't like them in other places where the quality slips. McDonald's makes much greater efforts than these places to try to keep quality consistent.

K-Paul's in its heyday was a turnoff with mandated minimum checks and community seating.

Perry's Smorgy in Waikiki also seems way lame for the amount of business it gets. Location, location, location.

Oh, and those FEBO places in Amsterdam. The thought of getting some pasty croquet from one can almost make me lose dinner.

Angus Steakhouses in London are probably the most revolting restaurants in London and to be avoided at all costs. They have several restaurants strategically positioned in and around the tourist areas of central London (Leicester Square, Piccadilly, Knightsbridge to name a few) that lure unwitting tourists in. Serving so-called "American" cuisine that is tasteless, overpriced and
boring. I'd rather go hungry than dine in there. Fortunately, London has an abundance of better quality restaurants and you'd be better off eating practically anything else. And don't you just hate those paper napkins in each wine glass when you walk pass one? Ugh!

I don't recall where I read it (perhaps the Fodors boards?) but there is a LARGE amount of people who agree with you on Angus... the consensus is that the place is overpriced, the food quality is TERRIBLE and not worth a dime.

That being said...

I guess my standards must be lower, but I enjoyed the one time I went to Macaroni Grille (in Fort Lauderdale) and Legal Seafood (in Palm Beach)... I found the food delicious, the service fine (a little slow on Legal, but not terribly so), and the desserts sublime.

Of course, I wasn't paying for either meal, that may make a difference! (was a guest both times)

I have been going to New Orleans for almost 20 years and have many favorite restaurants, but I have never been able to figure out what the big deal about Commander's is. My experiences have been much like yours. It's just nothing special.

We were at Commander's for Easter Sunday Jazz Brunch this past weekend and food was great but service was outstanding. They refilled out coffees and waters (and bloody marys ) continuously. We must've drank a gallon of each considering how hungover we were. And all this while the restaurant was packed for the 3 hours we were there. No complaints. The food is hit or miss though, definitely ask the waiter for suggestions.

I don't think I've ever had a bad experience in N'Awlins (August, Stella's, Herbsaint, Bayona, Acme, etc.).

By and large Legal Sea Foods has a stellar record for customer service at every one of it's units.
On a given day they drop the ball like any restaurant.
But let me say they are a company driven to obsession with having the freshest seafood prepared to the highest standards.

I have been dining in a multitude of their numerous units for over 15 years and they deliver more consistently then the lions share of establishments nationwide.
Should you have a problem I can tell you that they will take swift steps to correct the situation above and beyond.
Simply contact a manager in house or contact me and I will give you the information directly to their corporate consumer affairs who has some of the finast professionals in the buisness looking after quality control in every one of their units.
Legal Sea Foods is a US legend :-: :-: :-: :-:
Don't miss a chance to dine on their pear salad a boiled lobster or lobster roll
I love their food ^
FYI I am surprised to hear about your experience very unusual