Maximum I will ever wait for restaurant is 1hr.

Last time I actually waited was Commander's Palace in NO. Paul Prudhomme was still chef. Me bride really, really wanted to tast PP's work. Yes, she is a serious cook.

Arrived early for our res. Seated an hour after our res time. Prudhomme's cooking made me forget I was seething. Never been back though. Always seated promptly at K-Paul's. Prudhomme's own beanery after he left Commander's Palace. (Maybe he couldn't get a seat at CP?)

Dining in DC, we stick to high-end joints. There are many ethnic mom-and-pops, with good reviews. But the same city government that leaves the nations capitol roads looking like something that would embarass the 3rd world, also inspects kitchens for sanitation. Thank you, I'll just read about anything with less than 3 stars in Washingtonian. High end joints don't keep you waiting.

Easy one for me. Franklin BBQ in Austin, TX. I waited for an hour and a half the first time, two hours the second time, an hour the third time, and 45 minutes on our last visit. I've gone there to eat there at least a dozen times, but have only been successful five times as they sell out within three to four hours of opening. The only time I didn't wait was when there was a sold out sign on the door, but they still had some chopped beef to make a sandwich to go. I would stand in line longer than two hours to eat here if I had to. It is that good.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

I refuse to wait for more than 30 minutes most of the time but my boyfriend is a host at Otto Pizzeria in NYC (Mario Batali) and every Friday and Saturday night the wait gets up to around 2 hours.

I think the food there is fine, but definitely not worth anything longer than 20 minutes.

Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix - 3 hours. Good, but definitely not worth 3 hours.

Why would people wait 3 hours for a pizza joint in Phoenix?

I've eaten at his Vegas (Venetian) joint and we didn't have to wait at all - that would have been the only way it could have been more disappointing.

Phil's bbq in San Diego, 1 hour wait minimum any time of day. This place always has a line out the door and wrapped around the building. It is some of the best bbq in San Diego. It doesn't compare to the south US, but still excellent.

Apparently people do. It's one of the top rated pizza's in Phx. Ive been, but after an hour wait I left. They send you over to a little historical bar ajacent to the restaurant where they liquor you up at exboriant prices. No thanks.

http://www.pizzeriabianco.com/

Yeah, I don't think his food is that great, he just has a big following because of the Food Network, that is why I think the lines get so long at Otto. The food is also 9-14 an entree at Otto so the price range is decent which I think also draws in a lot of customers.

With the internet the way it is, often you learn more from Google than from waiting for people here to answer questions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzeria_Bianco

Down here we've heard of him via Iron Chef America. Earlier this year we were in Vegas for a conference & we tried his & Bobby Flay's MESA grill. Have to say that Bobby won by a country mile - but we did have to wait a long time to taste Bobby's treats.

Funny.. reading the article.. you would think with the outstanding response to their food, and depressed commercial real estate.. that this restaurant would expand to accomodate the demand..

Ah! That also makes sense. I think his whole image makes good TV (Mario) but I agree about Bobby Flay's food being better. I have also always enjoyed Tom Colicchio's restaurants here in NYC though I have always had reservations so no wait time.

45 minutes at Lou Malnati's pizzeria in Chicago on a Saturday night. That's pushing it for me, even though you can drink beer on the sidewalk outside while you wait. Pizza is great though.