As you know, many if not most fine French restaurants (***) permit dogs, but many don't permit children! As I recall, many famed reviewers including GM, also dine with their dogs. Didn't this prompt some newsworthy comment from Paul Bocuse when he lost one of his stars many years ago.

Familiar with Alsace-style cuisine and agree it is wonderful. That is why Lutece has long been my favorite NYC French restaurant from the days of Andre Soltner's classic French country style cooking! Sadly he left but happily it is still a fine place to eat!

I did visit all existing 19 *** Michelin Restaurants in France (and also the 7 *** who lost their stars since, like the Pyramide in Vienne, famous Monsieur Point, "father" of a whole generation of now senior cooking chefs in France), and never had a problem having our children with us! (baobab is my witness on this, she saw all the original menue-cards from those visits at my home).

A real problem instead can be, if you start smoking a cigarette in between two courses. Monsieur Point then did "serve" you the bill noting: "I think you decided not to go on with your meal ..." (it had nothing to do with anti-smoking-rules then, but Monsieur Point was convinced that you couldn't taste his masterworks afterwards anymore).

doc: yes, the Bocus story about stars and points "occurred" somewhen then: but he always kept his *** Michelin-stars, it was the Gault&Millaut-people who, temporarily, took away some points from him. At the same time, when Michelin did reduce the Maxim's in Paris from *** to **, the Cardin-people (who owne the Maxim's since the late 80's) asked Michelin not to be mentioned in the (red) guide anymore at all!

Thanks for filling in the details! Dining out can be soooo... great! Glad also to hear that actually all are welcome! This thread makes me hungary!

Tolarian Wind: Thanks for the excellent suggestion of Sally's in New Haven. I made the trek from Trumbull to New Haven (about a 20 minute drive) last night. Drove around New Haven a little and saw bits and pieces of the Yale campus. Found Wooster Street, where Sally's and a number of other Italian businesses are located.

I very much enjoyed my Sally's Pizza! Pizza made in a brick oven is the best, and Sally's is one of the finer pizzas I have had. I also enjoyed my walk down Wooster Street with its many Italian businesses, and especially the Italian bakery, where I got cannolis and those rainbow cookies I grew up with and just love but can't find anywhere on the west coast.

Took the pizza, the cannolis, and the rainbow cookies back to Trumbull with me and had a feast in my hotel room while watching the Spurs defeat the Knicks. A very satisfying evening!

I don't know if I agree that it's the best in the county - I would vote for a hometown favorite, Tommasso's on Kearney Street in North Beach, San Francisco. They also use a brick oven for baking their pizza.

Question for you or anyone else reading this: several Italian restaurants refer to what they are selling as "apizza" rather than "pizza." I have never heard this before. Why the "a" in front of "pizza" - is it a regional spelling?

TribeFlyer: Thanks also for the other suggestions in southern Connecticut. I was not able to make it to any of them on this trip, but I filed them away for future visits.

Re Calgary: tourists tend to stay downtown, but locals head for the restaurants along 17th Avenue SW eastward from around 8th St. (Identifying the quadrant of the city and keeping the distinction between St. and Ave. are vital for navigating in Calgary.) Less fancy/formal, but generally better food for less money. I've enjoyed Savoir Fare there plus others I don't recall at the moment.

The Kensington neighborhood, 10th St. NW, north from the Bow River bridge, is also a fun area but the food quality as such doesn't (IMHO) justify going there.

Re France: If you want to save on a *** meal, head east for Marc Monceau's L'Esperance restaurant near the village of Vezelay in Burgundy. Being out of Paris is, as others have pointed out, worth half off the price. You can get a full meal there for about 500 francs including wines if you don't mind whatever is on the cheap menu that night. (Trust me, it comes from the same kitchen and will be superb.) Or, you can spend several times that, but still far less than the same meal would cost in Paris.

Rudi is the KING!! Not only of Where to Eat, but also What to Eat!!!

We dined at Rovers here in Seattle last night with some gourmet friends from NYC. At Rudi's suggestion my girlfriend and I had the Vegetarian Taster. The guys had the Grand Chef selection. The vegetarian meal was 6 courses and the Grand Chef was 8. Oooh, was it ever good, good, good. All agreed that it was one of the best evenings we have ever had.

Truly exquisite presentation, unbelievably yummy flavors and a flawless wait staff. The chef was also delightful and confirmed that he did indeed kiss the ladies who licked their plates. He seemed like a very happy man, as well he should be with such a highly successful venture. (He also admitted that he sometimes kissed the ladies even if they were to shy to lick their plates in public. )

All and all, 8 thumbs up.

Patrick, if you have not yet visited New Orleans, you might try Cafe Sbisa. It is at 1011 Decatur, a pleasant walk from the Marriott. The ambiance is lovely, the food is excellent and the dinner prices are in the $15.00 range. If you go, see if my friend Lance (the manager) is there. If he is, tell him Hi from Punki.

[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 06-27-1999).]

please punki, let's change then the (only waitlisted) reservation at the herb farm to Rovers (sep-4-99, after the Mariners-Boston red socks - game) - ok?

Rudi,

I am happy with whatever choice you make. Both options are superb.

They start opening up tables at The Herb Farm about two weeks out, so we will know by mid to late August whether or not a table will be available.

Seatings at Rovers are at 6:30 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m. at The Herb Farm (which is about a half an hour away). Joe's thought was that since we had all eaten at Rovers and not at The Herb Farm, it might be fun to try something new. Either will provide true culinary joy that will be long remembered.

ok - I have been at Rovers once, let's wait on the Herb Farm's outcome (and please, just make a reservation at Rovers too - in case the Herbs Farm will not work out).

Thank You.

Absolutely!! (I wonder if the Herb Farm Chef kisses the ladies who lick their plates?)

[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 06-28-1999).]

Another good suggestion from Punki to Patrik, trying Cafe S. However, New Orleans is a great place to eat and even to splurge a litte bit since the food is sooo... very good and sooo... very reasonable! Probabaly the best bang for the buck in the whole USA! Love Bayona's, with Susan Spicer, formerly of Bistro Maison deVille! She is incredible!

Punki- Is the Japanese restaurant Togetsu on Yestler still there? It used to be very good and reasonable as well. A colleague to whom I had recommended it "could not find it!"

In New Orleans - Arnauds - the best french food in the quarter -

Kids - Richmond, VA and Newport News, VA - any ideas??????

Folks,

I've really enjoyed all the posts here but it's starting to take a long time to load them. (I'm getting DSL, but not for a couple of weeks!)

Might I suggest we break it down into "Where to Eat in Seattle," "Where to Eat in New Orleans," "Where to Eat in Norfolk," etc.