Originally Posted by robyng (Post 23223762)

Then read more of his reviews :). I like to find food writers who tastes are similar to mine. And I very much enjoyed reading Mr. Hayler writing about traditional Japanese restaurants in Japan. Where - especially at the beginning of his dining trips there - he admitted freely that his palate was not the most knowledgeable when it came to Japanese food. I've felt the same way during our 2 trips to Japan.

OTOH - you have to read his notes. We've been to 5 of his "20s" restaurants. Totally agreed about Troisgros and Guy Savoy. But we dined at Cinq under a new and different chef (new chef noted in his review of old chef). Although the meal was very very good - it wasn't a "20".

Also - personal dining circumstances can change one's opinion. We dined with a jerk at l'Ambroisie - a real "know it all" who thought he knew more than the obviously extremely trained staff there (and he wasn't even American - he was French!). Owed him a dinner. He ruined what otherwise might have been a remarkable meal by insisting on this/that/other things that the staff obviously felt to be not quite right. A really excellent maitre d'/server - the kind who knows what you'll like/won't like if you hum a few bars - they're few and far between these days. And I think we missed an excellent one at l'Ambroisie when our "friend" tried to be our maitre d'.

Similarly - at Vendome - even though we were staying at the hotel located there for 3 nights - it allegedly lost our reservation. Which I didn't believe for one minute when I learned that a supposedly famous German TV/movie star and his gorgeous date (saw her - she *was* drop dead gorgeous) had showed up without a reservation 10 minutes before we arrived and taken the last table in the restaurant (which I think was our table). So we wound up seated not in the beautiful dining room - but in the entry hall (with a banquet type folding table). Now I have to admit the food was spectacular - and the extremely accomplished and smooth maitre d' (who I recall was Italian) was very attentive. Also - the next day - before we departed - we complained - but not excessively - about the "lost" reservation. And the hotel comp'd us not only with a beautiful food basket (we had to give away the very excellent oil and vinegar because I couldn't carry it through security and wasn't going to pack it in my suitcase) - but it also comp'd our previous private car ride from the train station to the hotel and our car to the airport (and the "car" to the airport was some really super high end BMW). Worth well in excess of $300 (which was almost as much as our restaurant bill). That star must have been really super famous (at least in Germany) - and worth a lot of publicity for the restaurant. OTOH - I've never received such generous comps for a screw-up (whether intentional or unintentional). I was pretty upset the night we dined. But - tincture of time has mellowed out the experience in retrospect. So I'd say this was a 20 with an interesting asterisk. And perhaps this is something that can only happen in a country like Germany (where else would we get such a profuse "apology" for something like this happening?).

Note that these days I pretty much dismiss bloggers who are known to restaurants and compensated in any way shape or for their "opinions" (and there are lots of them). I became skeptical after dining at quite a few places where the dishes they were served (and photographed) bore little resemblance to the versions of the same dishes that I received.

Anyway - where are all of you going next? Where would you like to go? Like I've said - our next trip is to Singapore. My husband will be 70 early next year - and I'm trying to come up with a shorter fun dining trip in the US. We haven't been to Las Vegas for like forever ago (20 years?). We had some pretty good food there last trip - when it was just emerging as a dining destination. Reports of recent dining experiences there would be appreciated. Robyn

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 23223988)

I always try to hit St. John while in London though.

Originally Posted by bhrubin (Post 23224049)

Did we somehow go to a different St. John? Is this the same one famous for the roasted whole pig or is there a different restaurant with the same name in London? The St. John where dined had the famous roasted whole pig...but our meal was horrendous!

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 23224057)

Same one. I have eaten there numerous times over a number of years. Last time this past June. I have always found it wonderful. Other places I love in London are Chutney Mary, Veeraswamy, Masala Zone and in the past Wodka, which I was sad to see closed. Oh, and the champagne and oyster bar at Selfridges. ;)

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 23223988)

Yes, I will read more of his reviews. I am actually going to Alinea next. I went with some business associates previously. Going with my wife next month. Coming up I will be with my wife in London, Belgium and France (not Paris). Don't know exactly yet which cities but almost certainly Reims to Ghent or thereabouts. Don't know about restaurants there. I always try to hit St. John while in London though.

Originally Posted by bhrubin (Post 23224074)

Wow. We thought St. John was totally overrated and couldn't begin to understand how it was so well regarded. It had no ambience and reminded us of a cafeteria. Our service was lackluster at best. We even had dressed well but couldn't understand why we bothered. And our meals were bizarre, not particularly well cooked, and largely flavorless. Maybe it was a very off night, but we have never been so disappointed by a "top" restaurant anywhere. Maybe we just don't enjoy or cannot appreciate modern recreations of English pub food--as we also found Dinner to be overrated (but one of the most beautiful restaurant spaces in the world).

Our favorite in London is unquestionably The Ledbury. Tremendous and enthusiastic service, amazing food, nice space...and no jacket requirement!

Originally Posted by robyng (Post 23228052)

Pork in all its various incarnations has never been my cup of tea.

Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri (Post 23228279)

have you ever had really good melt-in-your-mouth pork belly?
i wish i i could find it more. i would agree re most pork.
although i need to try kurobuta at a good restaurant.
i imagine i would also try raw pork in japan.

Originally Posted by robyng (Post 23230672)

Yes I've had supposedly great pork belly (at least according to my husband ;)).

And I've also had kurobuta pork tonkatsu - here:

http://www.ladyironchef.com/2013/06/...onkatsu-tokyo/

What can I say? Pork is simply not my favorite ingredient. Also - my favorite pork dishes are various kinds of ribs. Especially baby backs (which I make at home all the time - along with cole slaw).

I've never run across raw pork (wouldn't eat it if I ran across it either). I don't think it's served in the United States or Japan:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/201.../#.U80FcUDvixc

WRT St. John and bhrubin's observations - it might be possible that the restaurant - which is 20 years old now - is somewhat "over the hill" and has seen better days. Some reviews - even by its fans - suggest as much:

Brutally, I have to say that I think the kitchen became less consistent after Henderson was forced to retire from cooking on service due to being diagnoses with Parkinson's disease. Sometimes sauces would be a little thin, dishes ill executed.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...nk.restaurants

And there are some people who have never been that thrilled by it:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddr...ld-London.html

But - like I've said - I've never been there. In fact - I haven't been in London since 2004. During that trip - we dined at another gastropub - this one:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...rink.shopping1

It was quite good then - but who knows what it's like today? OTOH - I distinctly remember one dish there. An app of the freshest sweetest peas I've ever had in my whole life (served raw in the shell - kind of like peanuts). A restaurant gets at least one ^ from me if I can remember even a single good dish I ate after a decade :). Robyn

P.S. I really enjoy reading Jay Rayner's work/reviews. They have led me to go to restaurants I might otherwise have avoided - for example - http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...rink.shopping1.

Originally Posted by robyng (Post 23230672)

Yes I've had supposedly great pork belly (at least according to my husband

Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri (Post 23232203)

did it melt in your mouth? thats my requirement for great.

ive become a fan of beef ribs when theyre so tender they fall off bone.

Originally Posted by lvnvflyer (Post 23223960)

Well, if you decide to come to LAS, there are numerous terrific options. There are the "classics" like Rubochon at MGM, Guy Savoy at Ceaser's, and Twist (Pierre Gagnaire) at the MO; I like Twist the best but they are all terrific. Then there are some terrific restaurants In Chinatown, like Raku, which does great Japanese food. There's also terrific Thai at Lotus of Siam, and at a new contender, Chada Thai. There are also numerous very good to fabulous steak houses, although I am not a huge fan of steak. And there are some quite good options off the strip as well. If you decide to make the trek, happy to give you a more detailed list of suggestions.

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 23230761)

Anchor and Hope is a fantastic gastropub, although I haven't been there for a few years. I have been there a number of times and never disappointed.