Obviously this topic is very subjective, but I thought I'd place a vote for Hostellerie Les Bas-Rupts, near Gerardmer in the Vosges Mountains, between Alsace and Lorraine, in France.

My girlfriend and I had decided to spend Xmas and Millenium Eve on our own on a gourmet getaway. One of the conditions was that we wanted snow, another that we want fine wine and food. We decided on Alsace, and originally set about trying to get bookings at well known restaurants like Au Crocodil and Auberge de L'Il etc. However they were either closed or stupidly expensive for Millenium Eve.

In the end we picked Hostellerie Les Bas-Rupts half board for 3 days over Xmas, Chateau d'Isenbourg half board for 3 days over the Millenium - including a millenium celebration, and we decided to play it by ear over the Route des Vins for a few days in between.

We flew into Stuttgart (stupidly cheap flights on British Midland), picked up a product of the local industry (Mercedes C class) and set off on our travels.

Anyway - we arrived at the hotel on xmas eve, not expecting a great deal of the restaurant, but we could not have been more wrong. I had not realised that the restaurant had a Michelin star, and that our half board included the dégustation menu. The atmosphere was great - a roaring fire in the lounge, different musicians each evening, a small number of tables, attentive and intelligent service. The food was absolutely divine - different on each of the three days - classic french cuisine. Generally some amuse-bouche, a terrine or foie-gras, 2 different fish or seafood dishes, a duck/beef/lamb dish, cheeses, dessert and then petit fours with coffee. The winelist was extensive and very reasonably priced - we got through some fantastic Alsace whites and some lovely red Burgundies. The whole experience was very relaxed - we certainly weren't dressing up for dinner, and we were treated very very well. They even let us open a bottle of Chateau d'Yquem that we had brought along for our own celebrations.

Another very impressive thing was the way they dealt with the storm - at xmas time in 1999, very very strong storms wreaked havoc across the north of France. Around the local area thousands of trees were blown over, and the main passes were closed with trees blocking them - we did go for a drive, but decided to turn around when we started seeing very large trees falling over very near to us. Anyway we lost power on the morning of Boxing day (later I heard it was out for a total of 3 days there) - however the food that evening was still absolutely divine - they still managed to put on the same amazing experience - just with a lot of candles and a by stoking up the fires. (Mind you we had problems checking out the next morning when there was no power for the credit card authorisation machine! Not to mention we were very short of petrol and the nearest petrol station with power was 40 kms away! Anyway, we made it!)

The whole trip was brilliant - Chateau d'Isenbourg was very good, but couldn't quite live up to the Hostellerie Les Bas-Rupts (although Millenium Eve was special). We also had some lovely meals in Colmar, Strasbourg and Riquewihr, along with some of the amazing local wine.

I'd also like to make special mention of another unlikely contender for a very good experience - the restaurant 'Zum Hugenotten' in the Intercontinental in Berlin - we were staying in the hotel, and decided to try out one of the hotel restaurants. Again we weren't expecting much, went down dressed very casually, and were surprised to find a very high quality restaurant. Again we had their gourmet tasting menu, and it was sublime. The wine list was extensive, and the service was exceptional.

I guess I get the most enjoyment out of places were my expectations are exceeded - lat year we made a trip to a restaurant called the Don Alfonso 1890 in Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi, which is a few km from Sorrento, on a headland overlooking the bay of Naples and the Amalfi coast - for an anniversary celebration. It's a 3 Michelin star restaurant - until recently the only one in Italy. Anyway, we stayed in one of their lovely apartments, and they treated us very well - we especially enjoyed the tours of the wine cellars, which seemed to go on for miles and miles down into the rock. The restaurant was very good, but the whole thing seemed a bit sterile - we did not feel relaxed in there, and the whole epxerience was not a patch on the ones described above. I couldn't really fault anything, but it only met my expectations - rather than exceeding them.

Conrad

P.S. I know 99/00 was not the real millennium. However working in the IT industry it was an important date!

I have no particular favorite but they include:

*Union Square Cafe, NYC
*Blue Water Grill, NYC
*Sparks Steakhouse
*most Ruth's Chris Steakhouses
*Rules, London
*The Ritz, Paris.
*The Krispy Kreame at the World Trade Center

But perhaps the best cuisine can come from HOME-COOKING!

My favourite? I agree with the person who gave lists per city. If I had to make a definite one only choice it would be

Le Cagnard Haut-de-Cagnes, Cagnes-sur-Mer.

About a 20 min taxi ride from Nice. The food is divine, and the wines are superb. the bill is not nail-bittingly dear, and the service delightful. The setting is a 14th century chateau, and in summer they roll the electric roof back. The views are splendid by the terrace, and for you carnivores - go for the Lamb.

I was sorry to hear about Santa Agatha. I last went when it had i or 2 stars and it was wonderful. It sounds as though it has descended into a "Temple of Gastronomy" whis is usually the kiss of death for any restaurant.

Thanks for all the tips in the USA which I have noted. We like 3660 on the rise in HNL, Hi's in HNL and YVR, and Ruths Chris in Palm Springs. We also enjoyed Star Canyon in Dallas.

Le Ciel de Paris, located on the top (56th) floor of the Tour Montparnasse skyscraper in Paris. The food is wonderful, but the views at sunset are extraordinary. Other than the Eiffel Tower, this is by far the tallest structure in the central districts of Paris.

Ruth Chris Steakhouse ( I have only been to the DC and HNL joints, DC is a bit better)
Legal Seafoods - when I am in Boston, which is most of the time, i bring my mom here everyweekend, we have been doing that since she was paying for me.
Auberge de Pere Bise in Annecey France is my favorite for once a year huge meal.
Horizons in Sausilitio Ca
and i am sorry but the winner is Captain Cooks Grill at the Polynesian resort in Disney World

One of the great expericences for for me was at the Colum d'Or in St. Paul de Vence, in the south of France. What makes this experience special is not only very good food, but the ambience. This is the place where many early 20th century struggling artists stayed (it is also a hotel) and paid their bills in art. Thus, you will dine among originals by Picasso, Braque, Matisse, etc. Lunch outside on the terrace is lovely too. (Hey, I think this is my 100th post!)

[This message has been edited by ILuvParis (edited 11-16-2000).]

Dish of Salt - Manhattan

My input into this delightful debate is the Chateau de la Tour, about 25 miles North of Paris:- http://www.lechateaudelatour.fr/site_anglais/main.htm

I visited this elegant turn-of the century French Chateau during the summer, for lunch with a supplier.
We sat down in the warm sunshine on the outdoor terrace, and surveyed the 12 acre park that openend out below us. The birds sang overhead in the mature trees and the scene was set for the most memorable meal I've ever had !
Not a particularly expensive location, about $35 per person for lunch, including wine ! For this minimal outlay, we were treated to five of the most diverse and orally sinful courses over a decadent 3 hours ! The French really know how to "do lunch" ; )
Do have a look at the website which gives a real flavor http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif(pardon the pun) of this stunning location, which I will definitely return to for a holiday next year !
( It shows sample menus, weekend packages etc.)


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John

Geno's East, Chicago!

Mac

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Via con Dios!

I second the nomination of Jean-Georges in NYC. Wonderful. And there is another dining room attached to Jean-Georges (utilizing the same kitchen) called Nougatine if you want to step down a price point.

In Boston, we have a wonderful new contender, The Federalist. It is located at the XV Beacon Hotel on the top of Beacon Hill and has a superb cellar.

Chez what? What a form-over-substance biased crowd. I don't like restaurants with more starch in the waiters than the food. I could swing a dead cat in any Umbrian village and hit an osteria/trattoria with as good a meal as anything listed here (eg La Bastiglia in Spello). Don't let your imagination outstrip your palate. Sadly, Americans just don't get the Zen of what it is to eat.

I would second Paul Palmer's choice of Le Cagnard The food and deserts are absolutely "to die for"

Haus Paradise @ the Hotel Haus Paradies in Ftan, Switzerland. We picked the hotel out of a Relais and Chateux book but never expected it to be as good as it was! If you are ever in that area (around Davos) you should pay it a visit.

Nathan's on Coney Island!

The best fine restaurant to me is the one my boss picks up the tab for! Here that can easily run to $300 a person for a lavish business meal.