What is THE best restaurant you have ever eaten at

Rules:

1. You get one answer, no top 3's, no ties.

2. It can be anywhere in the world.

3. Provide the location of the restaurant.

4. Provide the genre of the food served.

5. You can base you opinion on anything: food, service, ambiance, location, familiarity, etc.




Mine is:

Uglesich's, New Orleans, LA
Type: Cajun, Seafood.

 

Alan Wong's
Honolulu
Asian Fusion (i hate the word fusion to describe any cuisine)

funny story. my wife and i sat at the bar which only has a few seats that face the kitchen. it's like a sushi bar, except it's the kitchen. so the chefs were RIGHT there busting their asses off.

anyway, appetizer is amazing. tuna tower of some sorts. entree comes.

me (to my wife): i love my dish. do you like yours?
she (in normal conversation loudness): makes face no.

THE KITCHEN STOPS. i mean all the chefs, head chef, sous chefs, stop what they are doing and look at her. she turns bright red. then they all look at the sous chef who made her scallop plate. he gives a "oh ****" look.

after about 30 seconds of silence, she screams....
"no, no. i love my scallops. it's just spicey and i wasn't expecting spicey."

head chef: so you do or do not like your food?
wife (emphatically): yes yes yes. i like it.

head chefs looks at the sous chef and says, dude, she saved your job. he looked very serious. the sous chef gives a huge smile to my wife.

moral of the story, don't ever say above a whisper that you don't like the food when sitting at a bar next to the kitchen.

 

For me it's hands down Donovan's of Phoenix steakhouse on Camelback Rd. The best Filet Mignon I've ever had, mix in some creamed spinach, and a big baked potato. Yum. I also had the maryland crabcakes for appetizer and the creme brulee with sliced strawberries for dessert. Heaven I speak of!!

 

Gary Danko in San Francisco.

The place operates on a prix fixe concept whereby you can do four courses for a certain price, five for $10 more and six for $20 more. If you want four entrees, they're cool with that. If you want an app, an entree, and four desserts, that's fine too.

The food was absolutely outstanding and the service was arguably the best I've experienced anywhere.

 

Per Se in NYC. It needs no explaination

 

linkage

L'Auberge Chez Francois in suburban DC (great falls, VA). voted top restaurant in the area many times. outstanding service and atmosphere, been open for 53 years. when i lived in DC, would go maybe once or twice per year on a special occasion. i've never been to paris or french laundry or alan wong's, so this is the best i've ever been to. i like it as much as anywhere i've been to in NYC but many of those are close seconds.

 

Most memorable meal was Catalina. Located on Rose Bay in Sydney. Food is Mediterranean/Spanish seafood.

 

Mark's in Houston.

 

York Street
Dallas
American

 

That's a tough choice lot's of ties. I've been to pretty much every top restaurant in nyc. I guess i' 'd have to say Le Cirque 2000 before it closed.

 

the modern
nyc

 

After very careful consideration, I'll have to go close to home and vote Brennan's of Houston.

 

Magnolia Cafe after a night of drinking.

 

Argyle Club
San Antonio
Continental Menu (Seafood is incredible especially the Dover Sol)

 

Mr. Chow-Beverly Hills

 

I dont' get out enough, but I'd have to say the meal I had at Mark's in Houston last May.

 

L'Espadon at the Ritz in Paris, followed by cigars at Bar Hemingway.

 

Dominic's
St. Louis
Italian

 

Aria
Atlanta, GA
Just a cool little place, great atmosphere, FANTASTIC food.

 

Chicago Chop House. Prime rib bone-in ribeye.

It is on their special menu and is their specialty. It was the best meal I have ever had. My wife ordered the filet mignon and after trying mine, she wanted to swap. Of course I didn't but did share.

 

Chez Michael's in Mikonos. Maybe we were just surprised, but it's probably our best meal.

 

Thierry Blouet's Cafe Des Artistes - Cocina de Autor
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Beautiful place in PV with terrific food. Quite upscale for a Mexican beach town, but PV is known for being a good foodie spot and this is one of the best in town. Beautiful presentations, wonderful food, very romantic, pretty pricey.
Cafe des Artistes

A close second for me would be Picasso at Bellagio in Las Vegas.

 

enchiladas y mas-austin

 

Per Se. I would like to make love to everyone involved in the conception, production, and service of that meal. We went with another couple, the guy of which is a huge anti-snob with an enormous chip on his shoulder about the whole thing. He was flabbergasted, and insisted on tipping 30% on an already obscene bill. A truly transcendent experience.

 

Commander's Palace in N'awlins. Nothing compares.

 

If MidTex can't say it, then I will.

Picasso was ridiculous.

 

2nd for French Laundry and third for a Thomas Keller restaurant.

The best restaurant in the United States. Bar None.

 

Etta's at Pike's Place Market

Pacific Rim with Northwest seafood

Desserts were amazing. The berries were just coming in that year.