Best Restaurants You've Ever Been To

Just came back from spending a weekend in Scottsdale and came across 2 very pleasant surprises: Binckley's & Seasaw. Highly recommend checking out these two gems if you're in the area and enjoy creative cooking, molecular gastronomy, etc.

Kevin Binckley trained under Thomas Keller at the French Laundry and it shows in his style of cooking and preparation. The tasting ended up being close to 20 courses by the end of the night.

Seasaw was more of a Japanese Nouveau. It would be a shame to refer to it as fusion as it really went well above and beyond combining different cuisines. Extremely creative flavor combinations.

 

Yes. Well worth the trip! Top 3 in my book.

Per Se in NYC.

Quince in SF.

 

Jerry's Catfish House in Florence, MS.

Mama Hamil's Country cooking in Madison, MS

The BBQ Shop in Memphis, TN

The Dawg House in Ruston, LA

As you can see I am a huge fan of fine dining.

 

I'm with you. "Best restaurants" does not necessarily have to mean fine dining.

Fine dining is my weakness (Le Bec Fin in Philadelphia, French Laundry, Morimoto's in NYC, etc.), but i'll take a pastrami and mustard on rye at the Carnegie Deli or a Pat's cheesesteak in Philly anyday

 

Langer's > Carnegie.....Quality over quantity.

 

I would definitely have to add D'Vine in Santa Barbara to the list. They have amazing sandwiches. I doubt I've ever had sandwiches as good as theirs.

 

Sam LaGrassa's in Boston is damn good.

 

I went to Fogo de Chão the other day and it was SO good!

 

Food was expensive and OK...most wouldn't care too much as the views of Paris are just stunning...a fine monument to corruption (I was once told).

 

I'm going to add those 2 to my list. Thanks!

 

Arguably the best restaurant in LA.

 

I'll check it out in spring, when I go there. Thanks for the tip!

 

Is the LA dining scene really that lacking? Don't get me wrong, I love Fogo de Chao (at least the one in Philly), but I think there are better places in town. I'm moving to LA soon (fingers crossed), and am hoping the west coast dining scene can live up to here/NYC.

 

Maybe I should rephrase that since LA is a much better eating town than most people know. The trick is finding the right places out of the many that don't stack up. Some restaurants here are as good as the places in NY, just not as plentiful.

That said, Fogo is arguably the best steakhouse in LA.

 

Dave,

My girlfriend lives in SM and I drive up from San Diego a lot - every time I go through MDR on Lincoln I think of you! Do you have any suggestions on good eating in LA/SM/MDR/Palisades/BH that's not $100/head? We would both love to get to know the city better, but we lack guidance on hole-in-the-wall brilliance and insight.

Doesn't matter what kind of food, as long as it's good!

PS - Recommended activities/places in MDR/SM?

 

Hmmmm,

Holes in the wall:

Alejo's, Lincoln and Washington. Great Italian with awesome bread and garlic......
Pinguini, Playa Del Rey Italian Higher end.
Outdoor Grill, Where Washington Pl and BL intersect, Great BBQ not sheik.
Tajrish, Persian on Washington and Dell
Maxwells, on Washington by Beethoven Breakfast
Nawab, Indian on Wilshire across the street from Simonson MBZ
Thai, Thai Taste Venice and Beethoven
Fried Chicken, Honey's Kettle on Culver by Duquesne.
Palomino, Westwood. Good food and bar
Guido's, Italian. Santa Monica and Bundy. Old school and good!
French Market, Abbot Kinney by Washington. Sandwiches and breakfast Great spot for lunch.
City Bakery, Brentwood Country Mart. Pretzel croissants and decadent french toast.

DAMN I'm hungry!

 

My pleasure! You wont regret it. I take you have been to the Inn at Little Washington? If not, keep it on your list and make the trip. The Flag Staff House in Boulder, CO is another winner. Enjoy!

 

Oh yeah, and right in the Marina we like:

The Chart House.
Tony P's is good for lunch and drinks.
The Counter is good for Burgers.

 

Best steak I ever had was at Plaza III 4749 Penns...anyone know if its stil going..

Best BBQ Halibut = Fishermans Wharf, Santa Cruz...

 

Ate at AJ Maxwells in NYC on Christmas Eve.... very good steak and even better service.

 

Il Mulino at the Ritz in San Juan. Was there just 2 weeks ago.

A close second would be Truluck's Seafood in Mizner Park.

 

It's the best combination of quality & service...and yes, service is lacking in LA to a major degree. Having worked from the bottom to the top of the restaurant business, I find Los Angeles to be lacking in the gastro-department. Someone prove me wrong....please! I need a good meal

...to the original subject: Del Frisco's in Manhatten

 

While looking for something else I found this brochure kept as a souvenir of a trip taken 30 years ago.
As said in the first post the fare while fine was somewhat overtaken/shadowed by the environment.
Much more of an inn but it was a ''nice'' place.
cheers,
RE
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Hoodude: Don't know how long it has been since you last visited the place, but honestly, it looks quite the same; more spruce, a little less dingy, but the elements, from the bar where Pablo still overlooks the drinkers, to the pool with the Calder mobiles, to the dining room with its slightly out of date fittings and marvelous artwork, to the patio overlooking the hillside where one can enjoy a late breakfast or a cafe au lait.
We last visited at Christmas two years ago, and thought it was better than ever.
Thanks for the pics.

 

Yes Plaza III is still there. The quality of the food has not changed at all.