Based on your great post I have gone ahead and booked Tetsuya's.

Alas, I had to book for lunch on Saturday as we have to go in June and that's all we could get, but actually that works out better for the second part of my surprise for him.

I guess you have to experience some things in life yourself to really know what they are like. Next time we are in teh USA, he can take me to the French Laundry

I've been to Nobu's place in Aspen and wasn't blow away... but it was quite good. I'd LOVE to try the one in Park Lane. Let us know how it is.

I just ate at Morimoto this weekend and it was nothing short of over-the-top. We didn't do the omakase menue but opted to let the sushi chef(s) pick some sashimi that wasn't on the menu.... things like abalone liver, whole baby squid, fatty snaper, baby eel.... wow! WOW!

Chez Panisse was simply inspiring, litterally. We ate upstairs and the meal was amazingly simple but the freshest and best quality. It was one of my most memorable meals in fact.

If you are ever in DC check out Citronelle in the Latham hotel on M street Georgetown.
One of my favorite places in the world... quite underated.

Anyway... I was really replying to make sure you write up Nobu London!

In that same vein, for East Coast travels I really do suggest The Inn at Little Washington.

I've eaten at Citronelle more than half a dozen times, honestly it's quite hit or miss.

On my last visit I had one of the best duck dishes of my life. And the single best dessert, "Breakfast at Citronelle," a variety of items that look like breakfast but are in fact traditional desserts. On that visit, though, service was inattentive at best.

I hosted a dinner for 14 there in a private room where service was good but the food was less inspired.

On a separate visit I had to wait 45 minutes between courses, though the kitchen did send out a creative caviar dish in the interim as an apology.

Several of their items use the same garnishes and sauces, which wasn't clear from the menu, I once had a couple of similar items for two consecutive courses and the waiter didn't anticipate this or warn me.

When Citronelle is good, it's very good. But I just don't count on it. And at the prices charged at this level I really do expect consistency.

I hope Feebster has a good time, as I did a couple years ago.
Just consulted my notes, and there were a number of small
issues I had that have been expurgated in my rather rosy
memories (which were no doubt colored by the venison and
foie gras mouthful and the kombu ocean trout); but on the
whole a very positive experience. Five times as nice as
Chinta Ria, perhaps not; but there certainly is a place in
the world, and in many people's experiences, for restaurants
such as Tetsuya's.

I had dinner there about 10 nights ago, and I included it (with photos) in my trip report. See specifically post # 16 in the thread for details on Tetsuya.

I'm a bit late coming to this discussion, but I thought Tetsuya's was fantastic and, as much as an ultra-premium restaurant can be, well worth the money. It certainly was head and shoulders above any other restaurant I've been to in Sydney (including Rockpool, est., Level 41 etc). Everything was delicious, and what's more they pushed the boundaries a bit in taste and combinations and presentation.

Five times as nice as Chinta Ria? At least! (IMHO of course.)

Feebster, hope you had a great experience there (assuming you could get a booking).