I dunno about you all, but I really enjoyed Tickets because it was casual. We also went to Cellar de Roca Can, but being able to eat in shorts and a t-shirt is just a great feeling.

Also, have reservations for The Fat Duck and I understand it, too, is casual, which is great!

It depends. Sometimes I like getting dressed up and having classic fine dining, but I also the trendy new-age casual experimental stuff too. Please let us know how The Fat Duck is! I'll likely do that next year.

Have to admit, yesterday I was sitting in the Ritz Restaurant here in London in full suit and tie, thinking to myself how much more relaxed I would have been otherwise.

I've been there recently, still great. You are correct, set menu and you can select your beverages.
PS he has also opened a meat focused place called Meatlicious, and another one right next to Gaggan (can't remember the name).

Lots of other great place in BKK too, just ask!

Recently went to Quintonil, Biko and Puyol in Mexico City. All top 50 at the time of booking, but current rankings puts Quintonil and Puyol at 18th and 20th, and Biko is now like 60th or something.

Short story, Quintonil was solid, nothing amazing, 7/10.
Biko was fantastic, this amazing gelatinous lobster and also this mushroom soup, 9/10.
Puyol, only dish I liked was the 'street food' first course. The 1000+ day mole which they are famous for, ughhhh not nice nor their tortillas they served with it. Even the two adjacent tables to ours didn't finish it and overheard them saying their dislike, 4/10.

Speaking of Pujol, I just made reservations for Cosme. Does anyone know dress there? We're off to the Caribbean after this and I would really prefer to wear shorts and a polo shirt.

I know there's no dress code, so I doubt you'd be thrown out! I'd wear pants unless it's lunch, but I don't blame you for wearing shorts if it's hot. ^

Most people are dressed pretty chic for dinner. Some jackets. More just snazzy clothing.

FWIW, I found it good...but not amazing. I was surprised it landed on the top 100 list. I'll be curious to hear what you think..and to learn if you did wear shorts! (Last top 50 restaurant where I wore shorts was the Test Kitchen in Cape Town...for lunch.)

It's all about making sure them legs don't sweat
 

Good to know! On June 1 reservations for the Test Kitchen of when we'll be in CPT open up. I'll wear shorts there, too. Bear in mind, that as an owner of a geothermal HVAC I like to keep our house a bit cooler than you do! :)

I'm heading to the Caribbean after NY, so packing pants in my one carry on as much as being comfortable.

Tickets was 25 and I had shorts there.

We'll be in London and Paris, and I'm not bringing anything formal, so many of the stalwarts are out. But septime, would they allow shorts?

So, in short, it's all about shorts. On both of these trips they're connected to vacations where I literally cannot bring dress pants. London and paris will follow after a three week whirlwind through Africa.

I'd be dubious of any Michelin restaurant in Paris allowing shorts. That's funny.

If your carry-one won't allow even one pair of trousers, then you're packing poorly! But if you don't want to bother, then just accept that you won't be able to dine at most top restaurants in big cities in N America and Europe. That's the way it goes.

I'm struggling to think of a Michelin restaurant in London that would allow shorts. I think it is safe to rule the big names out, but you might find a less highly regarded one-star that would allow it for lunch. Maybe.

On the other hand, London has such a phenomenal food scene that it isn't necessary to go Michelin to have a great meal. Pick a cuisine and you can find a great restaurant here.

One other thought - buy a pair of pants when you get here and if you have to, leave them behind. I've done that once before.

I suppose I can bring some pants along. We have a four top at The Fat Duck with another FT'er, and I suppose it wouldn't be good form to ruin that occasion.

Having eaten at a few 3 star places in Paris, I'd just assume eat somewhere less formal. Maybe it's just a phase in life right now.

I do need to pack better! Right now we each have a backpack. We have nice carry ons, but once the allowed sizes shrunk it no longer worked. I always want to err on the side of small lest I get gate checked.

In any case, where should I be looking at in London in Paris? Trying to go to new places, and have been to Ledbury and Dinner by Heston.

If you're asking for a fine dining recommendation for London, outside of The Ledbury, Dinner, and presumably the two threes-stars, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, I have had excellent meals at each of the following and fully recommend them (presuming you make the decision to pack appropriate clothes):

Angler
The Five Fields
Marianne
Club Gascon
The Typing Room
Petrus
Chez Bruce
Restaurant Story
Texture
The Greenhouse
Pollen Street Social
Helene Darozze at the Connaught

If you want more casual recommendations for other cuisines, happy to supply some of those also. I can also supply an equally long list of local fine dining restaurants where I have not had noteworthy meals

Oh, thanks! I guess things that are more casual would be even better. FWIW: we'll be at the Rosewood, so walking distance is always nice. Plus our son, who's seven, will be with us.

I really don't care about stars, per se; in fact, I generally don't like them as it usually just means it's a bit fruh-fruh and more expensive, and way more formal.

I would add Marcus. Had always nice experiences. Something casual and different: Harwood Arms

I must say that we were underwhelmed by Marcus. And that was right after we finally met [MENTION=756450]MacMyDay[/MENTION], so we already were on Cloud 9. Of course, the sommelier wasn't too thrilled with my flirting, either...