Poll : All-time Favorite Restaurant?

[SusanL]

If there was one restaurant that you had to pick, which one would you choose and where is it located?
What entree did you have that was the best?
I have thought hard about this, as we are in the process of making vacation plans. Yes, our vacations do consider what restaurants are availble, if we are going to have fun, eating is a part of it. Am interested in your favorites. TIA!

[SETH885315]

ok, i'll go first because i have a great little story that i love telling at dinner parties when the subject of "best meal" comes up. it's funny, because most people expect that i'll have to think long and hard about it before i answer, but i had one meal that nothing else compared to, either before or since. unfortunately, it won't help you too much because it was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, but it's still an entertaining story, so here goes...

the summer before i graduated high school, 7 friends of mine and i decided to go see europe. being poor, we stayed in hostels and hitchhicked and got eurail passes so we could hop on a train anytime we wanted. we were gone for 9 weeks, and had the time of our lives. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

anyway, we originally landed in france and made our way up and over to italy, which was our next-to-last destination (we eventually flew home from austria). while we were in northern italy, in a town called stresa, we found ourselves wondering the streets our first night there. we had gotten rooms at a hostel, but we hadn't gotten in in time to get to the store to buy our food (you cook your own food at many of those places). so we hit the streets looking for a restaurant, and we found one.

on a lonely side street, we saw a sign hanging on the side of a building, written in english, announcing "the red moustache," with the appropriate picture emblazoned above it. the lights were on and we could hear a crowd of people inside laughing and singing, so we went in.

the place was deserted. not a soul was sitting at the closely spaced tables and chairs in the front room. we could see, through a set of french doors near the kitchen in the back that there was a wide deck overlooking a river, and this is where all the people were. they were dancing and laughing under strings of brightly colored lights, and there was a small band playing, mostly guitars. we took one look and decided it was too crowded out there, and found a booth inside. after a while of no one waiting on us, however, a few of the braver ones in our group, me included, went out onto the deck to get some service. while we were there, we saw that some guys were bringing an enormous pie to a table at the far end of the deck, so we moved in to see what was happening. well, i don't want to make this story TOOOOO long, so i'll just cut to the chase: we had stumbled into the wedding of the restaurant owner's youngest daughter, and the large pie was a local custom there. i spoke marginal italian and, with another of my friends who also spoke some, we introduced ourselves and told them who we were. without any further awkwardness, the father immediately invited us to share in the dinner, starting with a piece of this pie.

everyone got into a big buffet-style line circling arond the perimeter of the deck. the bride and groom partook of it first, each breaking the crust with their bare hands and feeding each other, then we all stepped up to the pie and, with our own hands, dug in and ate some. it was made of apples and plums, and i have never forgotten the unusual and deliciously sweet taste of it. then we were all give glasses of wine to wash it down. the tables and chairs were dragged back into the center of the deck (they had been pushed aside for the dancing that was going on when we first arrived), and a large meal was served. the meal itself is now a blur of pastas and fresh greens, intermingled with an occasional memory of the scent of garlic or onion, but it was all wonderful. we were completely welcomed (apparently it's bad luck to turn away needy strangers at a wedding), and treated like family. we each even took turns dancing with the bride http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

it was a wonderful meal, memorable not only for the delicious food but also for the unexpected and overwhelming hospitality, and it is forever cemented in my mind as a brilliant memory. now i think of warm, welcoming thoughts whenever i eat a plum, and the taste of that pie has never left me.

the red moustache, then, in stresa, italy, on that paticular day, was the most incredible place in the world to me, and i will think of it fondly for the rest of my life.

like i said, not EXACTLY what you were asking, but a nice story nonetheless, eh? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

seth

[kwormann]

Well, of all the place we lived and have been, our favorite is Taco Milagro, here in Houston. Not fancy, but very good, authentic Mexican food with a "neuvo" spin. Houston has great restaurants! All ethnic varities, plus a selection of the fancy variety!

Kim

[laden]

Without question...the River Cafe in New York!

Expensive but romantic and the most spectacular view ever. The whole experience was great. The food was very light and fresh tasting with a beautiful presentation.

[mightyh]

I'd have to say the Carlyle Grand in Arlington, VA (just outside DC). It was our neighborhood restaurant while we lived there and such a delight. We knew we could walk down to it any day for lunch or dinner and have consistently delicious food and great service. We would go there sometimes twice a week or more and never tire of it.

I can't name a best meal cause they were all delicious! Especially the desserts!!

I think DC is one of the best restaurant cities I've ever been to.

[hlao23]

The Sedona Grille in Fayetteville WV. I've never had an entree there I didn't like but I especially love their salmon. I live for their Cajun Firesticks appetizer (sp?). Fayetteville actually has several good restaurants - surprising considering its size. If you're interested in an active vacation - whitewater rafting, climbing, hiking - it would be a good place to go.

[MPHenderson]

Two great eating experiences in Chicago...

TRE KRONOR on Foster just west of Kedzie. A small husband-and-wife owned Swedish restaurant. My DH and I used to walk there for breakfast, lunch or dinner (depending on day and time). We loved the Onion Soup (like French Onion, but with Limpa Bread and Gruyere Cheese) and the Salmon. Simple, tasty, inexpensive food in a nice seting.

CHARLIE TROTTER'S in Lincoln Park. Chef Trotter just won another James Beard Award. DH and I had the dining experience of our lives there last February. The food was unlike anything I had ever tasted. From the lightest gnocchi to the most delicious seared tuna. The most memorable part (believe it or not) were the pre-dessert sorbets made from Earl Grey Tea and Camomile Tea. It was so fabulous to taste the familiar flavors of the teas but in a completely different texture and temperature. The crowning point was a tour of the kitchen given to DH and I by the chef's mother.

We also had a nice experience at EVEREST in Chicago. Food was good (not as exciting as Trotters) and the service was impeccable.

Another super-memorable experience was a meal at Odessa Piper's L'ETOILE in Madison, Wisconsin. Chef Piper is an early adherent of the regional/seasonal cooking. I was oohing and ahhing to the server about how excited I was to be dining at Chef Piper's restaurant...how this was something I had wanted to do after reading about for many years. Who should come out of the kitchen two minutes later but Chef Piper! The server had told her what I had said and the Chef wanted to come out to say hello!

Okay...stop me now because I could really go on far too long.



[This message has been edited by MPHenderson (edited 02-04-2001).]

[hhcowgirl]

Definitely have to commend Charle Trotter's too--it is like no other experience on earth. BUT, 2 favorites of mine beat out Trotter's for the very BEST. One is Pastis in NYC, I just cannot rave enough about this place. What I like is that the place has something for you whether you want trendy or fusion or just a plain ole' cheeseburger. I also have to say Cafe at Wexford in Hilton Head, SC. The finest French food I have ever tasted, and I have spent a good bit of time in France!

[MPHenderson]

Okay...one more posting and then I promise I'll stop!

Portland, Oregon is a great restaurant city. Every meal I had there was wonderful. While there, I ate at
Caprial's Bistro -- very inventive, unusual and vibrant flavors
Wildwood Restaurant -- delicious Northwestern cuisine and yummy wines!
Tapeo -- fun and tasty tapa.

It's a beautiful city with some terrific sights. The Japanese garden alone is worth a visit to the city.

Good luck with your travel planning!

[CAROL ANN]

My favorite restaurant is The Purple Orchid in Baltimore MD. The restaurant moved since I ate there and I hope it is still as wonderful. It is now located on Pratt Street.

[BosunsWife]

Well, we've lived in a lot of different places (husband is military) and I have a lot of different places I could list. Most recently we moved from Newport, Rhode Island to Honolulu, Hawaii. I really enjoyed eating at The Red Parrot on Thames Street and the Brick Alley Pub (both in Newport). Both are very casual eateries and have pretty good food to boot. We haven't lived in Hawaii long enough to find any good restaurants - yet.

[JLS]

I'd have to say the Coastal Kitchen is Seattle. I used to live around the corner from it, and it is in one of my favorite Seattle neighborhoods.

Everytime, I have been there the food has been cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is great. And, it usually has a great micro-brew selection.

[401krep]

Definitely Nacho Mama's in Baltimore/Canton area of MD! It's this little mexican dive with great, cheap food. Their seafood soup's are the best. They only have about 12 tables, so there is always a wait, but it's SO worth it!

[Gina O]

Oh geez, what an impossible question... so many restaurants, so many different foods....

I am sooo into Thai food right now that the first thing that popped into my mind was Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas. It is some of the best food I have ever had in my life.

For lunch, a sorta nearby place I love is Yankee Peddler's Tea Room at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Great food, charming decor, all around a lovely experience. It was my choice for my birthday last year.

And, I hate to admit that there is a chain restaurant that I love, but one place that always draws me back time after time is The Melting Pot. When I mentioned to my sister that I might be in Raleigh for my bday this year, she said "we can go to the Melting Pot" and it sounded great to me. I have been several times, with many different people, so it also holds some special memories for me.

I have read a great deal about The French Laundry and have a sneaky suspicion that if I could ever get reservations, it would easily become my favorite restaurant of all time... but that is still to be seen. Gina

[wonderwoman]

One Market in San Francisco
I don't remember the names of the dishes, but we had a quail appetizer with a red wine or berry sauce, my entree was mustard-crusted pork with fava bean bread pudding, and for dessert, baked chocolate mousse made with Scharffenberger chocolate. I could have eaten a couple servings of the mousse and skipped the rest, as excellent as it was. :D

We also love to go to La Fondue in Saratoga, CA. It has great atmosphere and quality food. Especially the Decadent One chocolate fondue. Hmmm, I'm sensing a theme here... :)

[VictoriaL]

Well, I bacame pretty darn hungry just reading this post...
Ok, Susan, I know that you're from somewhere in PA and just want to let you know that if you're ever in the Pittsburgh area and like both cajun food and jazz go straight to the James Street Tavern. I always thought that it was a bit pricey until I talked with people who travel and eat in other cities and think that $18.95 for a meal is not bad! Anyway, the food, the music, and the waitstaff are all excellent, plus the wine prices are reasonable.

[claire797]

I have too many favorites too list, but one that stands out in my mind is a little Italian restaurant in Westport, CT called Pane Vino. They service is great, the food is authentic Italian, and the atmosphere is cozy.

As for the best food, I think The River Cafe in London serves some of the freshest and most impressive dishes. The atmosphere was (is) not that great, but I remember the food as being out of this world good.

[sassysu3]

Nicoli's Roof - Atlanta, Ga or Chop Stix - Atlanta, GA
sassysu3

[ChristieinMB]

My first two favorites that come to mind are both in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
One is de Santos, I usually get a pasta entree, they are all good. The tiramisu is to die for. I love the decor.
The second restaurant is Mezzaluna, I love the grilled vegetables and chicken paillard, it has just the right amont of olive oil. I also love the small town atmosphere, sounds kinda funny for Mexico, but I never go to Mexican restaurants there.
Christie

[camNcurtsmom]

I have several restaurants that I love my two favorites are:

1) Randols...a seafood place in Lafayette, Louisiana

and

2) Amish Barn...It's an Amish restaurant in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania (PaDutch country...I want to live there!! :)). It isn't 'light' food, it was total comfort food. The day I ate there it was a cool, drizzly day and the food was delicious and comforting. The Shoo Fly pie and Apple Dumplings were to die for. ;)

Tammi

[claire797]

I have to add one more. Santorini Greek Restaurant in Chicago. The food is authenitc Greek and the atmosphere...at least as I remember it, is warm and romantic.

I sure miss Greek food. It's hard if not impossible to find here in Austin.

[Holly in KC]

Three come to mind immediately:

Here in Kansas City, I love the Plaza III Steakhouse. It's an amazing restaurant, and a very traditional steakhouse.

In Las Vegas, it would be Emeril's Fish House. I've tried to go back a couple of times, but haven't called in time to get a reservation.

In New York, we ate at a place called Atlas. I remember a few things: 1) my first experience with caviar. - yum, 2) one of the diners in our party was chilled -- the waitress brought her a very nice wrap to keep her warm, and 3) the dessert: pears poached in champagne and served with a lemon sorbet. the flavors just exploded in your mouth. Mmmmm.

[cherylopal]

ohhhh- i can't pick one!! and i don't have a story like seth- too cool!
in dc-
old anglers- absolutley yummy and great atmosphere
cafe miletoneighborhood italian that is just awesome!
rio grande for mexican- better than what i had in san antonio!

in sarasota, fl
french affair- maybe my number one if pushed to just pick one- sooooo gooooood and a huge glass of beaujoulais for $5
columbiaspanish and very yummy- my mom gave me their cookbook for a present and i make their 1905 (?yr) salad often- not light!
the summer housefine dining and i feel like i'm in a garden or treehouse- too cool
[B]hemmingwaysfor margaritas!

in pittsburgh
pizziolios (sp??) little italian place in mt lebanon- love the antipasto and the pizza with clams
poli's fancy seafood
hostadts yummy nicer place for dinner anytime

in doolin, ireland
the thatched hut restaurant- i had the best salmon ever there. too much fun with a peat fireplace. went on my honeymoon and again two years later and it was still just as good.

cheryl

[SusanL]

I have printed out these responses old and new.
We are getting ready to go to China again. Any Kowloon/Hong Kong recommendations? After that I think Montreal. So I will soon be asking our Canadian BBers to give me recommendations.

[JennieL]

[in sarasota, fl
french affair- maybe my number one if pushed to just pick one- sooooo gooooood and a huge glass of beaujoulais for $5
columbiaspanish and very yummy- my mom gave me their cookbook for a present and i make their 1905 (?yr) salad often- not light!
the summer housefine dining and i feel like i'm in a garden or treehouse- too cool
hemmingwaysfor margaritas!
cheryl


Cheryl - I worked at the Summerhouse is Sarasota..many...years ago!

[eas11]

Originally posted by laden
Without question...the River Cafe in New York!

Expensive but romantic and the most spectacular view ever. The whole experience was great. The food was very light and fresh tasting with a beautiful presentation.

Agree. It's outstanding.
It's in Brooklyn, by the way.

Ellyn

[beckms]

Hmmm...so many to choose from!

Rochester, NY:
Aladdin's (Greek-type food)
Mamasan's (Vietnamese)

Atlanta, GA:
The Buckhead Diner (American, and expensive!)

Houston, TX:
Chuy's (also in Austin...Tex-Mex)
Lai-Lai's (Chinese)
Mission Burrito (build your own burrito)
Nippon (Japanese)
Droubi's (middle eastern)
House of Pies (24-hour pie house...Brilliant!)

Austin, TX:
Romeo's (Italian)
Rudy's BBQ
Amy's Ice Cream! (also in Houston)

Boston, MA:
Kaya House (Japanese, Korean)
Newbury Pizza
Legal Seafood (chain, but famous for the food!)
The Middle East Cafe
Flora (American, sooo good!)

New Haven, CT:
Captain Scott's Lobster Dock


Oh, now I'm drooling all over the keyboard!:D

[JHolcomb]

Dalat in Raleigh. Best meal in the city under $50. I've actually never eaten in the restaurant proper, but they have this little sub shop beside the restaurant that makes the most amazing Vietnamese subs. I could eat there every day. And they're cheap. $2.99 for a small sub (which is huge), $4.99 for a large. Also good and cheap in Raleigh is Neomonde Deli which makes the greatest Lebonese pastries. Saigon in Greensboro, NC is great for Vietnamese as well. For meals over $50 around here, we really really really like Butterflies (middle eastern fusion) and Fins (pac rim fusion seafood). Terrific food and both places have pretty good wine lists. And our fave place on vacation is Owens for an expensive meal and Goombays for something cheaper (both on the Outer Banks). Obviously I can't pick just one place...but if I had to, I'd go for Butterflies. Their menu is seasonal.

[jjsooner73]

I have several.

Florence, Italy: Trattoria 4 Leoni The most memorable meal of all the ones I had in Italy. I had some sort of pear-ravioli in a delicate sauce...hard to describe, and impossible to duplicate I'm afraid. The atmosphere and service were also outstanding.

Austin, TX: Matts El Rancho on S. Lamar

New York City: Il Pilazzo in Little Italy--tiny but exceptional food and service.

Oklahoma City: Ted's Cafe Escondido (Mexican), Pepperoni Grill
I know there's better Italian than P. Grill out there--but I think part of the draw is nostalgic for me. Their food is good, and their bread is wonderful--Parmesan baked inside it. Yum.

Jacksonville, FL: Daruma's (Japanese-Hibachi, another nostalgia place. The first place I ever had a Hibachi style dinner, and still my favorite such place)

St. Augustine, FL: A1A's Overlooks the bay; has the best beer cheese soup I've ever had.

Whenever I'm back in any of the above cities (well, unfortunately haven't made it back to FLorence!), I eat at these old standby's.

[cherylopal]

Originally posted by JennieL



Cheryl - I worked at the Summerhouse is Sarasota..many...years ago!

too cool- but now i want the inside scoop! any good stories?

cheryl

[Carolina68]

I was trying to decide my favorite restaurant, I have so many and they all seem to be located in FL.....I was thrilled to see the SummerHouse in Sarasota mentioned.....it's certainly on my list of favorites. There are so many great restaurants along both coast in Florida.

[RD chef]

Hard to choose, I have so many favorites. I also really liked a little cafe on Las Olas Blvd in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I can't remember the name right now. I get to go there next week and retry all my favorites along the coast of South Florida...can't wait! :p

[ccooney]

Well - A bunch of my favorite restaurants have closed down in the last 10 years:
Deja vu Cafe in Burlington, VT
Hapleton's West Branch Cafe in Stowe, VT
and
Cafe Pavone in Manchester, NH

I just realized that they all have "cafe" in their names!
Deja vu was good for its classy atmosphere and interesting food with fantastic presentation.
Hapleton's was a nice casual place with really good sandwiches and out-of-this-world desserts ( in the interest of full disclosure, my Mom was their baker.)
And Cafe Pavone had the atmosphere of a bistro with very good pasta & other comfort food.

I'd have to say my remaining fave's are:
River Garden Cafe (another cafe! :eek: ) in Burke, VT for its tiramisu
The Common Man in Concord, NH for it's trout
and
The Millstone Restaurant in New London, NH had wonderful lobster ravioli last time I was there.

[Gail]

My favorite all-time restaurant was-- don't laugh-- a pizza place.

Sadly, it's gone now. :(

On a little stretch just above bustling and trendy Marina del Rey once sat Irvulla's Restaurant, known for its deep dish pizza. It was the place where we'd go to unwind after particularly hectic weeks, with the combination of The Right Atmosphere (small, cozy, dark), The Right Music (jazz playing softly, unobtrusively), the Right Wine (Ray, the owner, used to share his private stock with us), The Right Waitstaff (mostly college kids-- personable, intelligent and very attentive) and The Right Food. Ray was ALWAYS there (which was why he finally closed his doors to reclaim his life about ten years ago) supervising the amazing pizzas and desserts which came out of his kitchen. Quality Control was the highest I've ever seen-- nothing so much as minutely wilted piece of lettuce got by that man. There was never an "off" night at that place and we always came home refreshed and at peace. God, I LOVED that place!

[sneezles]

Originally posted by Gail
My favorite all-time restaurant was-- don't laugh-- a pizza place.

Sadly, it's gone now. :(

On a little stretch just above bustling and trendy Marina del Rey once sat Irvulla's Restaurant, known for its deep dish pizza... Ray was ALWAYS there (which was why he finally closed his doors to reclaim his life about ten years ago) supervising the amazing pizzas and desserts which came out of his kitchen...
God, I LOVED that place!

Your description is amazing and even though I've never been to California, I can picture this place in my mind!

Where I live you couldn't possibly have a favorite restaurant! I do like Babin's on the Katy Freeway just outside Houston (Katy, Tx actually) for their Blackened Catfish with Lemon Butter sauce...and I still can't get them to fork over the recipe!

[Peggy C.]

The Big Boy in Willoughby Ohio, man I loved that job! But that probably wasn't what you were looking for.:D ;) :o :p

[julia]

I love Big Daddy's in Toronto - great New Orleans-style food. I love their seafood fondue (appetizer) - it's a little dish of cheese with seafood bits in it that is out of this world.