I've posted about him in the UK forum. Andy is my hero - had I the means and an accommodating wife I would like to dine as he does. The man is one serious eater - I think in his last review of Hedone he mentioned that it was his 37th meal there. His website is

www.andyhayler.com

I think the quality of food is a step or two above under Jule Vernes than what was there before, but Ducasse seems to be a chef that is a bit polarizing. Are his flagship restaurants in Paris, Monaco, and London worth their stars?

I think "neither." Not just exclusive to Vegas, but I think a lot of the luxury resorts/hotels/buildings tend to do management type deals with the chefs, don't they?



BTW, what you guys consider to be the amazing, haute cuisine restaurants right now in the London area?

London: No, in my eyes. It�s solid and a great designed room, but the food isn�t really creative. It�s a 1 star in my eyes, 3 AAA rosettes are fair.

I feel like London's struggling a little bit in the "amazing" territory just now.

In terms of real haute cuisine you have Ducasse (even more polarising in his London restaurant than elsewhere - ***), Gordon Ramsay (I've never been a massive fan - ***), Marcus Wareing (solid, but unexceptional - **) and the ultra-traditional Le Gavroche (**).

If you're willing to eat in the kind of places which don't have sous-somelliers or platforms for your lady's handbag, I'd argue the Ledbury (**)might be the best at the moment. I also like Heston's Dinner (**), partly for not going down the tasting route, and like Andy Hayler I think that Hedone (*) is one of the most accomplished places around. Everyone else in London things Dabbous (*) is the best thing since sliced bread, but meh.

The Square is supposed to be very good. I'm going to try it next month along with Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Viajante, and a few others.

Has anyone done any dining in and around Munich? I did some research (although I haven't found much valuable, current info) and made reservations for Tantris, Tramin and Uberfahrt, my one selection outside of Munich. To be honest, nothing looks really interesting to me.

I visited Tramin a few weeks ago. Not bad, but nothing really special. Just a one star.... I was a little bit surprised, because they weren�t able to to a big menu without meat, even if we told them in advance, that we don�t eat it. And this time we even ate fish! I think taht�s a shame for a starred chef.

My last visit at Tantris is long ago, so no input from me

Bristol Epicure
The more I go there the more I love this restaurant. Usually it's the opposite )

Even the kitchen is amazing.
They even have a tank with "lobster".

Also like in some places, kids eat for free ).
Our 2 years old had her own canapes, pre desert and more surprising free fish with pasta. (We were even offered a desert for her that we decline as we were full ).
The waiter even cut the fish to make it easier for her daughter to eat it.
Even more surprising, she (our daughter not the waiter) eat all her plate and had an extra round of pasta.
We also had 4 doggy bags of mignardises.

Everybody was name calling her daughter, When she dropped something on the floor you had a small army rushing to gave it back to the terror. Wonder if she didn't do it on purpose.

Otherwise the parents had an amazing meal, the food is delicious ( you know when you make a small "humm" when the fork lands in your tongue)

For France, the price is acceptable. I have sometimes paid some pretty big numbers for a "mediocre" meal or at least who doesn't worth that money. (Yes yes George V you're one of them despite the majority of this forum thinks the opposite and rave about their restaurant)

The more restaurants I try, the more I love my Epicure. It seems that I'm not the only one as the restaurant is booked weeks ahead.

Probably my second favorite is Gordon Ramsay NY & Paris (versailles) ( why the NY one has only 2 stars does not make any sense)

Now that you know my taste, any restaurant in Chicago ? if possible close (ideally at a walking distance) from the Waldorf

Thanks. Then I will probably just stick to Uberfahrt and wander around for small bites and more casual and traditional foods.

I have the same problem when I drink too much stout.

Gordan Ramsay New York recently lost both of it stars.

Do you have an idea why ? The chef is gone ?
It's not common that a restaurant dropped 2 stars.

It's no longer part of the Group and standards have allegedly slipped.

Yes "gordy" sold it few years ago.
Do you all agree with the michelin guide ?
IMHO they're fully wrong.
This restaurant is better that some NY 3 stars : Eleven madison, Jean george, daniel

http://www.businessinsider.com/gordo...-stars-2013-10