A medium sized place with several dining areas as well as a bar space. Ask for the downstairs dining room, as that’s where the best vibe is. The day we were there the ladies Christmas lunches were taking over the room. Lunch is different than dinner too, as downstairs has windows all along one side that give it a light airy feel. This is old school New Orleans dining, with starched white linens, tuxedoed waiters and a changing array of seafood. Continue reading
The restaurant has a couple different small rooms for dining, all well adorned for the holidays. They offer a la carte as well as a tasting menu, which we chose. There is a large wine list and the staff are most helpful in making choices. There is a casual vibe but the service pace is a bit on the fast side, but then they did turn the tables during the evening. Continue reading
With a capacity for 55 guests plus a private room indoors and additional seasonal seating on a patio, I’d call this a medium sized place. Their speciality is in cooking offal. Their ancestors started a wineshop across from a slaughter house where a portion of the workers’ pay was in “lesser” animal parts. These workers brought the parts to the shop and family cooked them and thus the cuisine for pajata and other organs was born. Continue reading
A medium sized place composed of 3 well lit rooms rather starkly decorated, but there is a feel of elegance to the place. It is run by 3 brothers and the night we were there Massimo Troiani, who is over the wine selection, was there but his brother Angelo who runs the kitchen and Giuseppe, who is over the dining rooms, were not. They want to be known for their healthy cuisine and are open about their suppliers as well as content of the dishes. Continue reading
A medium sized place located on the first floor of an apartment building in a residential neighborhood. It would seem to be populated with lots of regular guests. The friendly and helpful waiter helped us make selections from the huge menu and did tell us we had ordered too much and helped adjust to what he thought we’d want. Continue reading
A small place with a see-through kitchen run by Chef Alba Esteve Ruiz. She’s just in her mid-twenties but making quite a splash on the Rome dining scene. She is taking some of the standards and putting a nice twist on them as well as coming up with some completely new combinations. They offer several tasting menu options as well as a la carte options. Continue reading
A fairly large place serving food typical of Rome since 1911! The day we were there the place was filled with families and groups of friends. The waiters are helpful but busy. We tried a couple of their specialty pastas that seemed to be going to lots of tables, as were the artichokes. The meat portions were quite generous with sides of delicious potatoes. Nothing ground breaking here, but a perfect place if you want a ‘home cooked’ meal of traditional food done well. Continue reading
A smaller place with less than 12 tables and divided into several rooms. Some of the servers were a bit aloof. It is one of the places that serves women a menu with no prices. We sat in a room of 2-tops that were occupied by a number of other English speaking guests. They offer 8 or 10 course tasting menus as well as a la carte. A nice touch was the warm wet cloth before you started your meal. Continue reading
A relatively large place but cozy and filled with lots of noise dampening items. The waiters are “old school” – friendly and opinionated. It seems to specialize in dishes typical of Rome and attracted a number of family groups. We wanted to try their fried artichokes but the waiter insisted we also order their fried squash blossoms, as they are a star of the menu. Continue reading
This was our third visit to Chef Alain Passard’s 3 star Michelin restaurant that emphasizes vegetables and is a delight for the tastebuds. Chef is in the kitchen actually overseeing what diners are served but later in the meal will be out working the room and visiting with all the guests. He truly seems to enjoy his work. It is a medium sized place with light wood and beautiful glass sculptures on the walls. They offer 3 tasting menus and an a la carte option. Continue reading
Pierre Sang Boyer was a semifinalist in the Top Chef 2011 television program in France. He has 2 restaurants very close to each other and this one was his first to open. It has 12 barstools around an open kitchen as well as a few 2-top tables around the edge. They offer only a tasting menu but will accommodate food allergies as needed. They offer pairings as well as a wine list but this time we chose the pairings. Continue reading
A really new place with a la carte options as well a 3 course fixed price at lunch. The latter seemed to be the main choice however we wanted to try some options not on it. It is fairly small but offers friendly and efficient service. It’s very moderately priced and open for lunch on Saturday. Continue reading
A beautiful and elegant setting starting with the friendly doorman who admits you to the building. The dining room is located on the second level which affords the diner a lovely view but some difficult sunlight for some diners. They offer 3 different tasting menus as well as a la carte ordering. There is quite a price differential to them. Continue reading
A very small place of about a dozen tables and most for two. The young chef, Benoit Gauthier, peeks out of the tiny kitchen’s window often to keep an eye on the packed dining room. It’s a chalkboard menu and the staff while not as fluent in English as many are very friendly and communication happens. It is simple but great food. The tastes are fresh and full. Small items like just having great greens in the salad make the place seem that much better and it is obviously a hit with the locals. Continue reading
This restaurant opened in 2013 and they appear to have done massive decorating to give an old and ornate feel. It is medium sized but they have a terrace out back that is available at lunch. They received their Michelin star this year and are definitely trying to fit into that mold, serving several amuse bouche, presenting some beautiful treats to finish your meal and having purse stools. The owner greets you at the door and it is a pleasant and beautiful place to enter but the service still has some kinks to work out. It has an extensive Burgundy wine list, which is one of its claim-to-fame. Continue reading
A very small place that is a hard to get reservation as they save many tables for guests of the hotel. The tables are close together and you’ll hear lots of English spoken. It is a tasting menu that offers some supplement charges if you want to change some of the courses. The menu varies every night but has basic similarities over the course of a week. We have eaten here a number of times and it is always good but sometimes more to the average. Continue reading
A little over 6 months ago Guy Savoy moved his restaurant from the it’s location of 28 years, to the French Mint building. They have the top floor and the beautiful entrance and building add to the experience of going there. The rooms have some similarity but each has a character and different art but more importantly have windows even in the kitchen. Continue reading
What a fun surprise this place was! A large place that’s been open around five and a half years. Jack Allen has a several restaurants around Austin, TX and this one seemed to attract families as well as folks of all ages. The waiter was most helpful in making our selections.
A small two level restaurant where you definitely want to ask to eat in the cozy downstairs. They are fairly busy yet the friendly staff makes you feel relaxed even though they don’t mess around in getting your order filled.
A relatively small place with incredible old school service – like the guest gets a menu without the prices, purse stools and lots of napkin re-folding – it felt like a treat to be there with friendly not waitstaff that anticipated your every need. They have several choices at lunch with a large or Prestige tasting menu, an a la carte menu and a lunch menu. The last sounded the best to us and was without a doubt the best deal. They also offered a couple specials of the day, one being the aged parmesan sauce pasta with white truffles, which we added to our 3 course lunch.
This large place is all about the atmosphere which is very club like and cozy. It is the oldest restaurant in London opening in 1798 and has since been owned by just 3 families. Serving traditional English food and lots of game, it is decorated heavily and particularly for the Christmas season – when we were there. The food is nice but not spectacular but it’s worth a visit just for the history and to look around the place. Continue reading
Located in Bray (a quaint village), about a 45 minute train ride out of London, the Fat Duck is now re-opened after a nine month hiatus in Australia. It consists of about 12 tables in a house. Heston Blumenthal is the chef behind the concept but is rarely on the premises. While on hiatus the restaurant underwent some updates, especially to their kitchen and wine cellar. They also re-designed the menu to follow a day in a child’s fantasy journey as Blumenthal would have it. It is a tasting menu, with accommodation to allergies and preferences, and no supplemental options. All reservations are by prepaid “tickets” on their website. It is about a 4 hour meal, but ours lasted almost 5 as we had a trip to the wine cellar and kitchen tour.
Bubbledogs is the front restaurant, serving hot dogs and champagne, that allows James Knappett and his wife to also offer the Kitchen Table, which is behind the main restaurant. They offer 2 seatings for a total of 20 people, with the earlier grouping starting desserts as we started savories. The menu is a tasting menu only but offers an optional 3 extra courses for 45 Pounds. They are well worth it and if anything were among my favorites for the night. They offer wine pairings which looked like nice pours with top-offs if needed but we selected our own wines. Continue reading
This is a good sized place but even with hard acoustics the noise level is good. The main dining room is a reservation seating but there area seats downstairs that seemed to be available to walk-ins. Just a couple servers worked the whole room with the assistance of a couple kitchen people bringing out food, and they really moved but managed to provide the diners with a relaxed feeling. Continue reading
This is a small three-story business, with the lowest floor being the kitchen and the street level and balcony at the serving areas. We were lucky enough to get a table on the edge of the top-level so we could watch the room, see the food coming up the stairs and watch the kitchen. It is cozy with fabulous service. We ordered the chef’s dinner, where he does an extended tasting of most of the stuff on the menu. Otherwise you order 3, 4, 5, or 6 course meals and pick within the categories. We also asked them to supply wine pairing with each course, thus the number of wines shown.
This was a smallish place with Sapas in addition to main dish options. Sapas are small Finnish appetizers whose roots lie in hand-made cooking and Finnish traditions. Much like Spanish tapas, there was a wonderful sounding selection and we just asked the server to pick us a half-dozen to start our meal. They are small portions but easily shared.
We just made it into this restaurant – it was their last night in this location. A tasting menu of wonderful things but in their move they failed to get me the descriptions of the items, after they discouraged me from writing my own. I wish I could tell you all but it’s fun looking even if I can’t tell you all the ingredients!
A tasting menu with wine pairings. Continue reading
We were there on a lovely day and could enjoy the beautiful grounds. It is a tasting menu and we started with a kitchen tour to see some of the action. The savory courses were served in the dining room and then we moved to a lovely spot on the patio to enjoy the endless supply of desserts.
Another gorgeous setting just outside of San Sebastian. The inside dining room is lovely, but the patio offers beautiful vistas of the surrounding green covered hills. Dates after the food description reference the date the dish was introduced to the menu.
Unfortunately the lighting here was not optimal for pictures so many are fuzzy but I hate to use a flash and disturb other diners and had to deal with candlelight, which did provide great ambiance for this wonderful restaurant.
Another repeat visit to this wonderful place but this time there were a few issues. We were greeted so warmly by Diane, a former Texan, that the evening had great promise. After talking with the waiter and getting the rundown of what was on the tasting menu that night, we knew that was the way we wanted to go. The first miscue was when they brought sparkling water instead of the ordered still.
A re-visit with a favorite spot where reservations are a must. They have roughly 2 seatings, 7:30 and 9:30, so if you want a more relaxed visit you might go for the later time. We have learned that the best is to order what the waiter suggests and just peruse the menu to whet your appetite. We started with the fish carpaccio and all were fresh and perfectly sliced. They are served with a sour cream like
Our friends in Venice found this little gem that has only been open 3 months. It has super friendly staff, reasonable prices and 2 small rooms that fill up fast. The owner, Marco, wanted to bring Sicilian cooking to Venice and named the place after the little Sicilian carts, “carretto” that are common there. He stresses cooking with what is fresh and eggplant was our night’s theme.
Burano is about a 40 minute water bus ride from Venice – a nice trip which you can make with your bus pass. The restaurant has an on- form to fill in for reservations but never got back to us so we had the hotel desk clerk call and he secured a spot for us when they first open. He said they are crazy busy and judging by the crowd we saw arrive after us, he is right. Burano is a fun place to walk around before or after your visit, so plan some extra time to visit shops and enjoy the colorful buildings.
A very small place that attracts lots of tourists but you also here Italian spoken by guests. Usually lunch is not as crowded whereas reservations are a must for dinner, but during this prime season, reservations were also needed for lunch and many were turned away at the door. Service is good and they are most helpful in selecting a wine to go with your order. We’ve eaten here many times and this visit was a little
This is a funny little hole-in-the-wall restaurant where you feel like you’re eating in a friend’s home. Very little in the way of atmosphere or decorative touches and yet they have embroidered linens at each table. The food is tasty and smaller portions than we encountered at most places but prices are very reasonable.
Located in the Cavalieri Hotel in Rome, we had a wonderful meal at La Pergola. A real winner!
This lovely restaurant is one big room just beyond several rooms of another portion of the Trump Hotel. It offers a good deal at lunch is what we did with another couple. The food was all very nice with some better than others, but all presented beautifully. The service was excellent.
Chef Cesar Ramirez runs a tight ship, to say the least. The reputation of this three starred Michelin restaurant made us really want to go but the hoops you have to jump through make it so that I would not go again. The place holds just 18 people around a spotless stainless steel square counter with one chef inside the square filling water glasses and cleaning plates but he does no cooking. There are also a couple of ladies outside the counter that help push in your closely quartered bar stool and fill your wine as well as
Located in the Nomad Hotel is their named restaurant and a couple very popular bar areas. It has 3 dining areas with the middle atrium room being the most noisy but all have a significant buzz going. A couple of years ago we had lunch in the atrium and had their famous delicious roast chicken. The hot bread at the table was much better that visit, but the flavor does change regularly. Service is very relaxed but then so is the atmosphere and that was nice as we stuck up a fun conversation with the couple at the next table. We started with the chicken liver mousse which didn’t taste much like liver but was tasty nevertheless but some of the rye bread was over-toasted for my taste.
A NYC institution that is now contemplating a second location. We got there just after 11:00 am and got in easily but it didn’t take long before the place was packed. You have 2 options, either table service where you are waited on or order at the counter and find your own place to sit. The adverting of the latter is that you can see your meat cut and the cutter will give you samples of other meats if you want to try them.
Per se is one of the finest restaurants in this country – the name meaning ‘unique’ or ‘in and of itself’- and it fully lived up to its reputation and name on this visit. We enjoyed the Chef’s Tasting Menu as opposed to the vegetarian menu that is also offered at lunch, and we took it as is and didn’t order either of the offered supplements. (That would be one objection I’d have: if you order the supplement you miss the
A most friendly couple runs this place and Chef is very excited about his food. They offer tasting menus of different sizes but he really wanted to guide our choices. The food was decorative but also tasty, which way too many “pretty” places neglect. The cappelletti were divine with a burst of broth inside each piece.
This is a hot ticket in SF right now taking few reservations and mostly seating those who line up each night. One amazing part of that is that there is now outside sign nor street number to mark the place, just the window into the kitchen – but it seems to work. The premise is a “dim sum” like experience with a few items on the main menu and the rest are specials of the night passed around on trays and carts.
A newish restaurant in San Francisco named for its owners, Chefs Evan and Sarah Rich. Very casual and lively. Fun, tasty, fresh and interesting combos of food. Not a huge menu or wine list but they do offer a tasting menu. Since portions are not huge we decided to create our own tasting menu from their “Bites” and one
This is small restaurant that has been around a long time with the same owner. A real ‘old school’ experience with elegant appointments even at lunch. The owner was in the room and came by to chat with all the guests and seemed to know some regulars. The waiter was delightful and helped us make great choices and find a delicious value on wine. Everything tasted fresh and was packed with flavor. Not an off note here and I’d definitely go back if ever in Barcelona again!
Located in a small boutique hotel, this is definitely not one you’ll drive by and see. In fact we wandered around the surrounding fence for sometime trying to figure out how to get in! A creative, tasty and very pretty meal was definitely presented in typical 2 star Michelin style – lots of table service, plenty of treats and professional staff –
A tasting menu at a smaller, quiet place that has Barcelona foodies buzzing. As with many of the Barcelona restaurants they have particular ways to eat many of the courses, like here’s 3 things eat this one first, etc or eat this with your hands. I understand the chef has a plan in mind but I didn’t care for the intrusiveness on my dining experience. Otherwise this place is quite good. The flavors were assertive and the foie gras was a standout with it’s wonderful pastry underneath. The restaurant’s name is to indicate that the chef wants to appeal to all five senses and he did a nice job.
Another of Albert Adria’s Barcelona restaurants, a combination of Spanish, Japanese and Peruvian chefs to produce a Peruvian cuisine with a Japanese twist. It sounded strange to me but they make it work. There were some really good flavor combinations on the main menu but the dessert portion fell short with only the sweet potato donuts leaving you wanting more. The red
Another of the Adria restaurants named for the parallel of latitude on which Barcelona is situated. It is located in the same building as Tickets, and even shares the bathroom facilities, but is the darker more intimate half. It does have video screens and moody music but they are more in the background instead of Tickets ‘in your face’ atmosphere. 41 is a tapas restaurant till midnight at which time it turns into a bar.
Since the menu spans huge territories of taste, we opted to go with their drink pairings which I often do not care for but these were just right and they were gracious enough to
Tickets is a hot reservation to get in Barcelona and is one of several restaurants run by Albert and Ferran Adria. It was my least favorite of the several that we visited. Here the atmosphere trumped the food. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad but too much had been put into the theme of being a an old-time movie theater. The staff was mostly helpful but didn’t look like they
This tiny little place packs them in! We lined up to be in the first wave of diners as the walk in business is all served at the counter. Bigger parties can reserve tables in a back room but you’d lose the ambiance there. Our first visit we sat right across from the cooking station and it was amazing how fast 2 guys could turn out wonderful tapas.
The place for seafood in NYC! Eric Ripert has led his team to a 3 star Michelin rating for several years now, and the accolades are well deserved. The dining room is one large room with a bar/waiting area located on one side of a wall. The opposite end of the room is filled with a huge painting of a wave which perfectly sets the tone for the place. Totally professional service is part of the what you’re paying for
Quickly becoming a favorite spot for us in Venice, this small cozy place is really hopping. They do about 2 seatings per evening. We’ve found that the best way to order is not from the menu but just to ask what are the specials and which fish is freshest and get that. They have particular fishermen that bring just to them.
Alle Testiere has been one of our favorite spots to eat in Venice during our last several trips and thus we booked it for our first night when we’re the most jet lagged and hardest to please as well as again later in our trip. This trip, however, it let us down. While it still had a wonderful cozy atmosphere and a very helpful staff the food didn’t live up to expectations. The turbot, or Rombi as it’s called there, was overcooked and dry. In the past this has been one of the tastiest fish they’ve prepared for me but this trip it simply didn’t measure up.
This restaurant is not in Venice but in Padova which is a short train ride away. Massimilliano Alajmo is the Italian chef, the youngest person in history to have his restaurant awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide. He is quite personable, coming out to the table to visit as your meal starts and to say goodbye as you leave. The restaurant is serene and peaceful with obvious thought being given to many details. One detail I read about prior to going was a good warning – the table has a lovely round indentation in the center where the bread is placed in a warming package after the initial ball of yarn is removed. A fun and useful feature but a hazard for moving wine or water glasses about the table.
The greeting gougere was delicious and a small packet of crispy bread is individually placed at each seat. The doughy crusty warm bread comes a little later and is particularly good. The menu consists of 3 tasting menus and it is suggested to start with the “Classic” as we did. We also enjoyed their wine pairings
What a perfect closing night for our visit, to eat with a fellow Texan in the house! Diane and Cesare Benelli opened Al Covo in 1987 after they met and married in the US. He is Italian and the main chef while she is the pastry chef and helps in the front. Both delightful, friendly people, she was thrilled to meet us. How could we not like the place?
We ate at this place on a previous trip and weren’t wowed but read enough good comments to try again this time. Our first visit we ate inside but this trip the weather allowed the patio to be open for seating, and what a difference that makes on the ambiance! It was so lovely I don’t think the food could have been bad. The clams seemed sweeter and more tender than the nights before,
A tiny little place in a hidden plaza, but that doesn’t keep the folks away. We sat on the enclosed heated porch and understand in warmer weather they spread tables out onto the plaza. Seemed like many of the locals knew the place and the staff knew the folks coming in. We were lucky enough to be with some of those local people who helped direct our ordering.
A traditional eating place, very casual with friendly and efficient service. Huge portions and family style seating. Good but heavy.
A moderate sized portion of a former town mansion that is now a private club. Luckily you don’t need to be a member of the club to get a reservation for this 2 star Michelin restaurant. They presented us with a menu of two different tasting options however it is basically priced with how many courses you want and you can pick and choose between the menus and craft your own meal. We also chose to take their wine pairings with the meal which turned out to be a wonderful success.
This little restaurant was quite a find – the best meal we had in Frankfurt! They use local and seasonal ingredients to produce a really quality product. (We were in luck to visit during asparagus season). The interior is small but when weather permits the patio just about doubles their size. Everyone working there was extremely helpful and friendly.
A small bistro serving French style food in Germany, Erno’s was a tasty and comfortable place to have lunch. The lunch menu allows you to try a special set of choices at a much more reasonable price point, with all the elegance you’d receive in the evening. Everything was good but nothing left a mark on my memory as outstanding.
A pretty little restaurant at the end of one of the pedestrian bridges crossing over the river. The patio seemed filled more with coffee drinkers at noon but a few diners ventured inside. The staff was young and friendly (she was pushing for us to go on a city apple wine tram) which made it feel less formal than the setting would have prompted. I imagine dinner is a bit different.
This is one hopping place! A lot of people and not enough staff makes the service a little slow but no problem as the tables are set with an interesting peppermint and lentil spread which was unique and tasty. The amuse of spinach and tomato was a lovely little flavor explosion which we followed with their asparagus soup spiked with bacon and lemon.
This is your more typical Michelin starred restaurant, with all the service perks and a choice of a long or short tasting menu. The folks bringing the trays from the kitchen all wear toques but unfortunately we were facing the window and all my photos of them were too dark. The meal is definitely choreographed with the presentation of the item, the saucing or garnishing done table side, a break in the middle for a course in the kitchen
One of my favorite stops in Copenhagen! This small but happening restaurant has its own gardens where they grow their produce and sources their meat and fish through dedicated local producers. This combo allows them to provide an amazing quality of food. The taste content is excellent. The menu has 5 offerings and you have the choice of either 3 or 5 courses with occasional additional course offerings.
This is a small place that states it is focused on food, no fuss or muss and is certified organic. You have 2 menus to chose from, omnivore or herbivore – same number of courses and price. We chose the omnivore and the accompanying wine pairings. An extra was offered (our asparagus) as is a cheese course. Emphasis on simplicity and quality are good credentials to me
This place is in the meat packing district, so a different vibe from the others we tried. Very casual and definitely frequented by more locals than tourists. A large bar appeared to accommodate singles, as well as couples, who wanted just to drink or eat with their food. A good selection of oysters as well as lightly smoked seafood was offered for starters and then a variety of seafood for mains. They offer one meat and one vegetarian entree but their dessert selection left me uninterested.
Located in a reclaimed warehouse in the middle of nowhere on a waterfront, it was worth finding. Someone told us that the land around there has a prohibition on new buildings so reclaimed space is it and the dull exterior would not warn you how modern and slick the interior space is finished out.
It would be hard for any restaurant to live up to the expectations that come with knowing it’s re-taken the #1 spot on “best restaurants in the world”. Noma is totally creative and serves only what it can source locally in its take on Nordic cuisine. It is located in an old warehouse on the waterfront and is very nice inside yet rustic. The atmosphere is the best – very casual – with lots of banter going on between the folks in the open kitchen.
Vetri is a tiny place with amazing food! It is a tasting menu format but a little different. They present you with a menu and you can choose anything that sounds particularly good or veto the opposite for your particular dinner. We also chose an option to split a couple of the pasta courses so we could try more things. They offer wine pairings which were basically well chosen and good quality but very short pours, so many times the pour didn’t accommodate the entire course (this is one of my pet peeves!
WOW! I could write forever about this place – a wonderful experience on so many levels! The restaurant offers 2 tasting menus, one seasonal and the other vegetarian. They do not offer wine pairings but the staff were very helpful in advising on wine selection. In fact the staff was awesome and there was no pressure to eat and move on so the table could be turned.
NoMad Restaurant is located in, where else, the NoMad Hotel. It definitely was not just for hotel guests though as the room for lunch was filled with business dealings, lady shoppers, and couples looking for a quiet and tasty retreat. It offers a small menu at lunch but everything we tried was delicious and beautifully presented.
It’s been a couple years since we were last here and the ratings of EMP continue to rise. Its chef also manages the NoMad Restaurant so you will see some similarities of preparation. Stellar credentials but somehow it misses the mark with me. The food is beautifully presented, the room is gorgeous and the staff totally spoil you, but the flavor impact is just not there. It is one of those restaurants that is lost in the presentation and show of the food.
This bustling spot was as fresh as the seafood! Lots of locals and tourists eating at shared tables. While you didn’t feel rushed you could see the line of people waiting to get in but being from the US we were early and missed that. The waiters were most helpful in making selections of preparation and wine. The prices are reasonable on everything and sharing is encouraged.
A very lovely space for dining which was only half full the night we were there, probably due to the Metro strike that kept people home. The dining room is all red and cream and the stairway down to the kitchen’s ceiling is hung with an upside down table service-complete with flatware. The back wall is covered entirely with a mural that hides the service doors well.
A really old school kind of place with white table clothes, every piece of tableware labeled and more waiters than customers. Lots of table side presentation which surprised me with the entrée as they brought this huge plate and served me some and took the rest back to the kitchen. I was really glad they didn’t put that huge portion in front of me but wondered what happens to the returning food? Not to worry too much cause I probably won’t be going back.
A delightful little place with pretty and good tasting food! Their tasting menu is about 20 courses and is supposed to tell a story with each course, many to do with Portuguese life. They are big on freshness, flavor and less fat and it works. Lovely details like the orchid and linens as well as a helpful and friendly staff make it a wonderful experience.
This is one of 2 restaurants of Chef Ljubomir Stanisic in Lisbon. It is a tasting menu only for about 30 people and has 2 seatings each evening. Wines, run around the top of all the walls and they offer wine pairings in classic or premium style. We chose the classic and they were fine and generous pours.
What a surprise this place was! It was a fair walk and seemed to be in a residential community but it was a delight and worth the effort. It was a rainy day but otherwise the tables overlooking or in the back garden would be a wonderful place to eat. Apparently it was a place journalists often met over food and in fact that day a group was in a bigger room and the waiter said they were writers. Who knows?
What a fun evening! This is a family operation with dad cooking in back and son working the service portion out front. We were seated in the first kitchen (a second one was behind another door) as the son noticed we were from out of town and thought we might enjoy the action. He was right! A very stylish place, with lots of thought thrown into every detail.
A wonderfully creative building located in a park in Vienna. It offers the options of a 6 or 7 course tasting or ordering a la carte. They also offer wine pairings for the tasting menus. Each course offers you 2 options and we both choose differently, to once again try the most of what they offer.
A tasty gem of a restaurant and a real bargain at lunch! Fine service and fun wall murals along with a cozy interior made it a relaxing dining experience – and all under the watchful eye of longtime owner Bauer. The goose liver was outstanding. The homemade noodles were also fabulous and should have been made better with fresh shavings of white Alba truffles but unfortunately someone had forgotten to properly clean this one and it threw off grit into the otherwise stellar dish. We had their lunch special menu and portions were large enough we didn’t want to order dessert and in keeping with their service level they brought us a lovely little cake to finish.
This beautiful restaurant is located in the Palais Coburg, a magnificently restored building that is now a hotel of suites. The whole place exudes elegance and the restaurant delivered a product in keeping with excellent food and service. Named for the chef, Silvio Nickel, he visited the dining room briefly but was there when we finally finished our meal. All meals starts with about 4 amuse bouche and end with a plate of petit fours. In between you can chose 5 to 9 courses, but the waiter warns you that the plates are not scaled if you order more, so we stuck to 5 and were perfectly full by leaving.
A relatively new restaurant for London, the chef/owner Michael Jonsson has already received a Michelin star. It is well given considering the flavor content of this meal! The chef background as an ingredients expert drives him to obtain the finest and freshest ingredients possible.
Tafelspitz or boiled beef is a a regular offering in Vienna and this is the place to get it. They offer more variations of the cut of beef than anybody else. It is a large place and there is definitely a system to it. They give you pictures and instructions on how it is all eaten and are quick to get to your table to refill your plate from the serving dishes.
Fera is in the gorgeous Claridge’s hotel in the Mayfair section of London and just opened in May of this year. Simon Rogan is the chef and co-owner but splits his time between here and 3 other restaurants he runs. We visited his first London restaurant, Roganic, on our last trip and loved the place, so we went with great expectations.
This restaurant is located in the lovely Mandarin Oriental Hotel and thus I’ve included a number of photos of the hotel reception and pass through to get to the restaurant. They set up a feeling of elegance for the diner and the restaurant did not disappoint.
The Ledbury was another repeat visit and I believe it’s gotten even better! It’s a fairly small place and offers a tasting menu as well as a la carte. You quickly start with several amuse bouche which were all quite tasty and nice bites of intense taste. The meal had a few blander spots but nothing bad, just not overwhelming.
This is a highly regarded Indian spot with some interesting twists on standard dishes. Not a large place it is almost impossible to secure an evening reservation, but they offer the full menu plus a lunch value menu midday. We did a combo with one lunch menu and several a la carte options with guidance from our server and reviews we’d read.
A little neighborhood gem of a restaurant with hearty food of the region. The appetizers alone were enough to make a meal of but it did appear that the ‘locals’ had some other smaller options on the German menu. The fried chicken livers were hot, crisp and tasty especially with the moist potato salad.
Our first night in Vienna and with a bit of jet lag we took on this nice little chef owned place. They offer 2 tasting menus of 4 or 6 courses with wine pairings and we opted to each have one of the 6 course tastings with pairings. Thus the photos look like a lot more food and wine than we consumed individually. Overall tasty food and nice service but not either in an outstanding category.
This little place has a couple tables inside and a couple outside. It is a full butcher shop as well as brunch/lunch counter. They will cook a burger, steak or just warm the meatloaf. They supply the meats and sausages to Lokal.
A relatively large space that was packed with people and turned tables as soon as they opened. There is no tasting menu but they are known for their beef and fish both of which are brought out on trays at the beginning of the meal for you to choose from. The beef seemed to be getting brought out a lot more often than the fish on our visit. The steaks are for 2 and served with a salad.
This restaurant holds about 50 people and offers two tasting menus to choose from. The Degustation du Chef option has everything on the Degustation Boheme Bourgeoise and adds about 6 courses and those proved to be some of our favorites. A very stylish place with a black and white check motif in the kitchen, menu and bill presentation, it offers very friendly and helpful service.
This place of about 10 tables opened in November 2014. It offers a tasting menu as well as a la carte options. With the tasting menu you can get wine or non-alcoholic pairing. The room has a small window into the kitchen but you see more finishing touches than actual cooking. The ceiling has a light show they are very proud of, they call say it is “like a field in the wind which is always changing”. It is interesting – they have a guide about it if you ask.
A really long shaped restaurant that is divided into smoking and non-smoking rooms, it offers casual and friendly service and atmosphere. Food here is not fancy but homestyle with slight variations in the offerings. They have beer served with different amounts of foam from tanks that is cold and goes down easily. The staff was helpful in ordering on our first visit and extremely friendly. It was nice enough that we returned for a second visit during our trip and that’s about the best endorsement there is!
Sometimes the exterior just doesn’t tell the story, cause the outside window only hinted at the action going on in The Clove Club. It is a place that likes to serve often overlooked British ingredients, like cobnuts. They usually serve a 5 course menu and offer small plates at the bar but we asked for the extended tasting when we made the reservation to be able to taste a larger number of their products. We didn’t make the wrong choice here!
A large place and not filled with people, which is a bad sign. The usual dim sum offerings were there but it had no soul.
A huge place that is really busy. It’s on the second floor of a pretty lame mall but the dim sum is well worth the trip.
What a delight this place was! Great service, incredible food and nice setting – easily my favorite meal in Vancouver. We started with some of their signature cocktails while we unwound from our tardy flight, which made us arrive directly from the airport with bags in tow. They were most accommodating as we called them from the Customs line.
This restaurant came with high recommendations from the various Vancouver publications as well as several well known chat groups/blogs. I’d say it needs some tweaking to be worthy of that praise. It’s located in the Rosewood Hotel which was totally convenient since we were staying there, but also brings with that some high expectations.
This is a hot reservation in Vancouver and it was buzzing the night we were there. The chef as well as other “quality control” people roam constantly from the dining room to the open kitchen. Our waiter was particularly fun and was eager to suggest other places we should go during our stay.
This was a place I really looked forward to going back to after our first meal there a couple years prior. The service surprisingly had some holes but then Gagnaire was not in the house this night. One of the features of this place is that they like to serve a number of plates at the same time and they add to your meal with a number of amuse bouche to begin and sweets to end the meal.
Caramel tasting, hot chocolate and pastry in an elegant setting. A great break spot! The caramels varied in their appeal but they have many options. The hot chocolate was so thick it was a dessert in itself.
A very small place in Paris that appears to be one of the very few that age their beef. This is hard to find in Paris. It’s also hard to get a reservation if you don’t speak French but our hotel was good enough to do that for us and our waiter turned out to speak wonderful English. They have a good size wine list and a stand out crusty bread.
A very modern two level restaurant by Chef David Toutain, previously of Agape Substance Restaurant. We were seated on the second level which turned out to be a little quieter than the first floor and lucky since the bathroom is also on the second level. The menu is a tasting format and your choice involves how many courses you want to have.
A moderately sized restaurant which is open for Sat. lunch with a 3 course fixed price menu. It’s simple but well done food. The hardboiled eggs seemed plain but add to them some spicy mayo and black truffle and they are delicious. The bone marrow was plentiful and the toast was nicely seasoned with garlic and salt. It was scrumptious, but then I am a marrow lover.
A hot place in Paris right now with two seatings. You can get a reservation for the first and if not you wait at the bar down a couple doors. We were the early time so it started out very nice and relaxed but soon fell into chaos as the waitstaff were overwhelmed and service really suffered. Everyone eats the same tasting menu, which includes multiple amuse bouche, but substitutions are offered for dietary restrictions.
We’ve been here many times and were disappointed in our spring meal but they did much better this time, maybe because it was lunch and they were less crowded or maybe because Chef Bruno was there. Either way they were back on the mark this time. In fact it was so good I forgot to photograph the delicious grilled razor clams!
We’ve been here enough times they seem to know us now! It is worth going back to again and again. It’s a small place that is always packed – reservations are a must at dinner. The beginning cone of schie is hot, crispy and a perfect appetite enhancer. They are helpful in selecting a wine in your price range that is tasty.
This small restaurant becomes much larger in the summer when they also open the building across from it and have outdoor seating. In the winter it is a wonderfully cozy spot where the owners are very present. The owner’s daughter presented us with the “drawn at the table” dessert menu and the owner helped us make our meal selections. They even have their own label of wine which was tasty and went well with the food.
This restaurant is a couple miles from the Quarter but worth the walk or cab ride! I thought I wanted the downstairs dining room but was pleased to find the upstairs quieter and airy with lots of windows for nice lighting. They offer a 3 course lunch menu and a number of other plates to add to the meal. Even the “small plates” are enough to share. I would warn that the wine list is a little spendy, with a pretty good markup.
When you do it right, we’ll be back and such was the case for this restaurant that we first tried earlier this year. Although our Texas friend/owner and her husband were not there you would never have known. We had a different waiter this time but he was just as friendly and helpful as last visit’s (the waiter from April came over to chat and show us the photo of his new wife!).
Always a favorite place for us to eat in the Quarter. The freshest of seafood and the most accommodating staff ever. We ordered most of our favorites this trip.
This restaurant is located in the Royal Sonesta Hotel in the heart of the French Quarter. It is an ambitious but needed addition to the dining scene there. A large restaurant divided into several smaller rooms with attentive yet casual service. In fact I found us often involved in lengthy conversations with members of the serving team.
This small restaurant is in the uptown area, so a cab ride from the quarter, and not well marked (the cabbie drove by). It is an a la carte menu with some things quite good and others disappointing. This will probably not get a repeat visit by me.
A beautiful, small restaurant located in the Grand Hotel du Palais Royal in Paris. A pretty room complimented by lots of mirrors and a wall of windows looking into a garden. There are only about 10 tables and they are nicely spaced to give you space but not isolation. They also employed a female as one of the head waiters which is too often a rarity.
A great little spot, but come hungry cause they believe in large portions! Very cozy and friendly I had heard many good things about their Boeuf Bourguignon and the simple yet honest cooking style of the place. They understand about the portion size and so many of the plates can be ordered as a half portion. You’ll want to get the half so you can have room for dessert.
Another small gem which finally received their first Michelin star rating this year. The older of our 2 servers was definitely proud and although I would agree the food is creative and good enough the service needed a little help. Another problem we had was language difficulty, but that would be more expected as we venture farther from the standard tourist dining path. But all that said, it was a lovely evening and as the place was filled with folks celebrating and enjoying dinner. They offer some a la carte items but the menu is simply do you want 4, 7 or 10 courses and any dietary restrictions? The portions are well sized so having the 10 courses was not a problem.
Another small place located upstairs in part of the Thoumieux Hotel, has a lounge like setting – lots of couches rather than chairs. I found the bench seat way too low for comfortable dining and needed to cram their pillows behind me to give me back support. It had a weird vibe to me from the start, with the staff being efficient but not all that friendly. The lunch menu was presented without adequate explanation and we had to ask several times and people for a wine list. The contrast of a place resting on their already received 2 Michelin stars vs those still trying for that rating was huge.
Another small gem serving wonderful traditional French food in generous quantities! The owner, Boboss, and his wife are on the floor and very friendly and anxious for you to have a great time in their house. He speaks fairly good English also. As you get seated in this cozy quaint place you are brought a slice of sausage and glass of wine to snack on as you look over the menu.
A cozy irregularly shaped room with a bar with a number of hanging hams and such on one end and the rest of the place filled with tables and stools – easy to size to any party. I love the kind of casual place with the hooks for coats interspersed with a variety of “art” collected over the years. A noisy and lively room where we heard mostly Italian being spoken and the vibe was very friendly.
An elegant little place overlooking the Arno River, tucked into low building that houses it and a more casual dining spot. Next door is the medieval tower of San Niccolo. The interior is modern but comfortable and the kitchen is open through a large window in the dining room where diners can watch their dinners being prepared. They offer both 6 and 8 course tasting menus. Starting with a little pigeon liver sandwich covered with seeds was a very tasting way to start. Even a radish, so simple yet with the bit of butter it became special.
A two room place that seemed a little out of the way but worth the walk. A friendly and casual place with a small menu. We started with their mixed meat antipasto and all the hams and sausages were quite good and finally a good bread basket to accompany them! We didn’t know the warm liver crostini was part of it or maybe the waiter just brought it to us – hard to tell – but it was a pleasant surprise. It had a ground meat like consistency instead of the usual smooth texture and was served warm with a broth that slightly moistened the crostini.
A much bigger place than many of the other spots we visited, we were glad to be placed in a smaller much quieter room. The servers were quite friendly and we have a fun view of the street through the huge window next to us. We understood they had a bar next door and thought we would arrive early and have a cocktail but it was so crowded we went to the restaurant to see if they had a bar where we could spend time till our reservation.
I guess this is what “food-to-go” would be like if you lived in Florence. A mother and son team cook and serve counter seating in this small little place. Most we saw were dining there but we did see folks come and get containers to go. There is a large wine selection and you just walk around and pull the bottle you want and then order from a chalkboard menu.
A small place you’d walk right by but don’t. It has endless options of combinations and the efficient and friendly service delivers it to your table fast and hot. Everything was very tasty and honest.
What a great way to start our trip! A small place filled with a mix of locals and tourists but the waiters are happy to see all. We were there at lunch and my understanding is that it’s much calmer then than at dinner. They have a house wine but it was pretty rough so we ordered off the very reasonable list with the waiter being more than happy to take back the house carafe. They are well known for several things but most spectacular is their eggs and artichokes.
An old school seafood restaurant that has been in business a long time. Efficient service, tasty bread and wonderfully fresh seafood. They are most accommodating and will adapt plates to your requests.
An old school seafood restaurant that gets quite crowded at lunch, which was the time we visited. The seafood is fresh, tasty and generous, but I’d skip the rice pudding.
A return to Coi proved to be a good choice. They have improved their dining room to a warmer interior but their service is just as friendly and fun. They serve a tasting menu an offer pairings however we chose to order our own wines. They started everyone with puffed rice crackers and a totally creamy avocado spread. The egg yolk, served in smoked olive oil was a mild taste but all the ingredients blended very nicely.
We cancelled our reservation here last year but got rave reviews from a friend we suggested go there and am glad we got there this year. An Italian inspired cuisine but with a California twist they are well deserved of their Michelin one star rating for the second year. We went on a Sat. when they offer a pasta tasting menu with wine pairings optional.
What a place, what a meal! We were going to try their new chef’s counter but the Sous Chef was injured and so Joshua Skenes had to be in the main kitchen. However on Fri and Sat nights all eat the Discovery tasting menu so it was none-the-less an over the top menu. We opted to not have their wine pairing and instead Mark Bright, co-owner and wine guy, chose several half bottles to accompany things and then through in several glasses of stuff we ‘just had to try.’
A dining event! This place started as a dinner party in the chef David Barzelay’s home in 2009 and grew so popular it made sense to become a regular venue and thus the physical restaurant opened in Sept of 2014. He wants to recreate the feel of being at a friend’s dinner party with folks encouraged to interact with one another as well as the many chefs in the open kitchen. It starts in the balcony area of the large room where you may buy cocktails or wine but everybody is welcomed with a cup of punch and the waiters are good about bringing around water. We visited with a couple that was on their 3rd visit and several other first-timers. It was a comfortable setting with tidbits being passed by waiters except for the heat factor, which affected the second story more.
This small family run place was one of our favorites on our last visit so even though it’s not conveniently located we re-visited. A couple started it in 1972 and named it for their son, Sacha, who took it over after culinary school It has a feel of elegance from the appointments and the clientele and appears to have a host of regulars that make it a hard reservation to get. One word of caution also is that most of the staff does not (or maybe chooses not) to speak English.
Another repeat from last trip with less successful results. Last time was lunch with a vibrant dining room and the chef coming by the table. This time for dinner and we were one of 2 tables in the dining room but waiter said upstairs was full and the chef didn’t choose to come by our table, but our waiter was super friendly even with the slow service. The meal started with the same amuse bouche as before but this time the cheese biscuits were cold and dry and the soup seemed pasty and the fish overly strong.
Hotel Herman was started by a couple of guys that wanted to have a hotel and restaurant but fell in love with the restaurant part and ended up with no room for a lodging. As our server said it’ll become a hotel “maybe when we’re all rich!” They serve a number of small plates that are easily shared and recommend that you order several per person. The service is efficient and friendly creating a nice vibe in the place.
This moderately sized place has numerous tables along with a long bar and they need them all. Popular and fairly fast, as their name would indicate. Very attentive and efficient service made it a pleasant place but the noise level was moderate. We started with the bone marrow which was excellent, three large bones-enough to share. We also had the chicken liver pate, on the waitress’ recommendation and it was smooth and tasty but nothing new. The pistachios added a nice crunch but it really could have benefitted from a topping of jelly. Oddly it didn’t come with nice toasts but they did have cornichons and mustard for the table.
A larger, slightly elegant place located in a store front labeled for an electronics store. Inside is a stark white room with nice windows on one side but no art or decoration adorns the wall which gives it a sterile feeling. Our particular waitress embodied that sterility but others seemed more animated. The wine list is marked up more than others, however the foods are well priced and mostly very good.
This is a smaller place where the menu changes daily. Their dozen 2-3 tops are constantly full and they offer a larger picnic table for larger parties. The kitchen is on one end of the room and you could see the guys coming in with supplies from their butcher shop which is located a couple of doors down. The plates are smaller and most are designed for sharing.
A big and POPULAR place – and with this goes all the usual – noisy, crowded and mixed service. A very happy crowd, though, and the plates are huge but mostly brown. The seating is close enough that there is across the table talk with others glad to show off their plates and offer opinions but with so many people the service timing was way off and they would walk right by your empty glass with water pitcher in hand. All of the service personnel were so friendly though, it was hard to take offense.
A moderately sized place, if you count the large patio in the back. They have also added a room next door but it does not yet have a license to sell wine so it hardly counts yet – but soon. It is known for its vegetables some of which are harvested from the garden at Joe Beef and others are purchased from local farmers. Either way they stress fresh and seasonal.
Talk about a “hole in the wall” – this is it! There were 4 tables in the front room and a some bar seats. I later found they had another room down the hall that squeezed in another 8 tables and all were full. Not on the tourist path but you couldn’t have found a friendlier and helpful staff. Dona Julia started the place with her husband in the mid-sixties. Her sons run the wine and service part and she still cooks the food in a kitchen the size of a closet.
Another repeat place for us with good results. There are a couple seats out from but the main dining room is in the back and holds about 10 tables. They have tasting menus but seemed that you could also order by the dish. We talked with the waiter about what we had last time and then turned the chef loose to surprise us. While you’re making your selections they bring out a bowl of blood sausage with pumpkin to munch on with olive oil bread. The bread was excellent and the topping tasty. Continue reading
A very fun meal here! It’s like a tapas place as everything is offered in full or half portions but everything is prepared to order and very creative. It was hard to decide which of the wonderful sounding plates NOT to order, we wanted them all and by just getting half orders we were able to try a lot of them without getting overly done in. The two fried options we started with normally come 6 to a small order but the waitress (who turned out to be the chef’s wife) was concerned we’d never eat all the stuff we ordered so she offered to just bring 2 of each.
A lovely dining room with several lesser rooms located through a hallway, with all dining on the second floor. They offer a degustation menu of 5 course and wine pairing of 4 or 5 glasses and an a la carte menu. Service is efficient, if a bit rushed and the dining room fills at later time than some of the others we visited. Could this be because more local folks eat there than tourists? Everyone has a bottle of water on ice waiting at the table which is a nice touch and after you’ve ordered you are presented the basket of housemate breads which are all quite good along with a traditional spread of fish eggs, although I couldn’t really find the fishy taste. Continue reading
The name is enough to put you off this restaurant but after eating there it does seem an appropriate label. They received their second Michelin star last year after 5 years in business. An average size dining room with lots of mirrors and windows to make it feel quite spacious. Diners are offered 3 different menu options, 2 degustation choices and a smaller option all trying to stress unique local products and seasonality. Wine pairings are offered but we chose to pick our own with the help of their sommelier. We ordered the larger of the degustation choices, which had 2 additional courses – the picnic and langoustine. Continue reading
Mostly a sidewalk cafe it also has 3 tables inside. The menu is huge but not everything is offered everyday so they go thru the menu and mark prices on what is available. They also had a couple daily specials and the waitress was happy to make recommendations. It is very much home style cooking but really tasty! Continue reading
This place continues to be on the “best of lists” for New Orleans but it really didn’t merit the accolades this evening. It is a beautiful dining room upstairs where the large windows in the garden room give it a treehouse affect. The other upstairs rooms are windowless and not nearly as pretty. Downstairs is the more conventional room (they still have a dress code that forbids jeans) and a much more serious vibe. We were surrounded by tables celebrating and thus adorned with balloons and hats. They offer a large menu and a large tasting menu but we chose a combo dinner after having had a large lunch. Continue reading
This place offered a lunch based on the TV series “Mad Men” and it intrigued us. It was not a great choice. The restaurant is beautiful but past its prime in service and food. The bread was filling but forgettable. The Caesar was the standout of the meal. Nicely seasoned and fresh crispness of the lettuce was complimented by the tasty deviled egg. Continue reading
Quite a change since a couple years ago when we visited. A new larger location and you can now take pictures! At least twice as many people can partake and the timing is thus more staggered. I missed the intimacy of the former location but still the staff are all extremely friendly and it is a long meal of a variety of tastes with an Asian overtone. Everyone gets the tasting but you have the options of wine pairings which we opted not to do. One other change is the addition of music, which I thought to be a tad loud with all the commotion already there. David Chang, founder and owner of Momofuku was in the house, which is unusual probably because Anthony Bourdain and friend were there (or did he just know we were coming?) Continue reading
This is a hidden restaurant for 12 people hidden in the back of Roberta’s, a very popular pizza restaurant in Brooklyn. We’ve heard lots of good things about it but being small and only open Wed – Sat. it’s a hard reservation to come by. The kitchen is an open format with the guests sitting in a “U” shape on one side of the square room. You actually enter thru the pizza spot and after you get to the front of their line the staff will come and take you back to a spartan room whose main decoration is a fish head. Continue reading
This is a large and elegant dining space. They have had a couple Michelin stars for years and it shows in the seamless service. At lunch they offer a 2 or 5 course fixed price menu, with the latter including some of the upcharge items and dessert. With the 5 course tasting they do scale down the portion sizes. They were willing to substitute the pasta course offered for another on the menu but do not offer any items on their dinner menu that are not on the lunch one. Continue reading
A real hole in the wall place that serves a tasting menu to all, which changes daily. The kitchen is at the far end of the long room and it is a constant source of movement as the tables are turned over as soon as vacated. We started with a jicama sandwich that was light, sweet and tart. The salad was next with lots of really fresh tastes in a variety of greens not usually seen. Continue reading
What a little gem is this place! Fairly small with a limited menu at Sat. brunch it is worth the trip. Most plates are easy to share and the service people are most helpful in making selections. They seem to love hiding ingredients underneath the top items that enhance the already intense tastes of the dishes. We started with the endive salad and the walnuts were so nicely toasted they were almost sweet and added to the already wonderful crunch of the endive. I wasn’t sure about the dish but when you taste it the ‘wow’ factor is there. Continue reading
An place full of beautiful food and some great tastes. Another modest entrance into a lovely setting with casually dressed waitstaff. Everyone starts with a 8 appetizers some of which made you long for larger bowls of them. The pork belly was one of them, full of complex tastes and melt in your mouth deliciousness. Also the radishes were a surprisingly tasty spicy taste with totally crisp texture. Continue reading
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Another building that looked industrial but contained a very elegantly appointed dining room. They offer 2 tasting menus – nearby and faraway – with the former supposedly highlighting local products and the latter involving some suppliers not quite so close. We chose the faraway but in hind sight have wondered if the chef favored and we should have ordered the nearby. No one from the kitchen ever made an appearance. Some service issues plagued us here with extremely long wait times between courses and many of the courses were difficult to eat with the utensils provided and/or plating. Continue reading
A larger restaurant that’s been in business since 1897! We were too late arriving for a lot of lunch places, but this place serves its menu all day long, but it is strange to eat with so few other people. We selected two traditional dishes of Stockholm. Shrimp toast is like shrimp salad on a buttery chunk of toast. Continue reading
A very new restaurant on the Berlin dining scene. The door is locked and you ring the bell to gain entry – like going to a friend’s house for dinner. Sommelier Billy Wagner is said to have a very creative wine collection and he did come up with some interesting choices. HIs chef makes everything in house and uses only locally produced ingredients. Everyone sits around a very comfortable bar and eats the tasting menu of the night. Continue reading
Always a favorite of ours and it’s in the Quarter so just a short walk from many hotels. It’s been there forever and does get a tourist crowd since it’s in the Quarter but also many locals go to celebrate occasions or enjoy the old style service and food. Nothing fancy but the waitstaff love to customize your order – change fish, add crabmeat, sauce or preparation. Go often and get a regular waiter and the experience is sublime. Continue reading
This place is about a 25 minute drive from Bilbao, Spain. A large place with gardens, huge reception area and massive kitchen, the tables are well spaced and service is typical Michelin. The main dining room is surrounded by floor to ceiling windows that offer a gorgeous view of the surrounding countryside. The food is beautifully presented and it’s easy to see why they have such a huge kitchen and staff however, as a whole the food was very mildly flavored. The service was attentive but not personal and thus overall I would not be inclined to ever visit them again. Continue reading
Zuberoa, San Sebastián, Spain 8/6/15
A small place that seats several at the kitchen counter and a few tables along the wall, it is located in a former pizza spot and the signage was never changed. The chef has opened another place next door and both were buzzing and he moved between the two. Continue reading
Another small prix fixe menu but Australian chef Curtis Stone’s twist is that each month the menu revolves around a different seasonal ingredient. Ours was peppers. It is a more relaxed pace but tables did turnover. Another twist was the lovely assortment of old china, so some photos I backed off a little so you can appreciate the plate too. Continue reading
A semi large place with a really dated interior that had some reviews of “too old school” but I found it excellent. The table set up was minimal but service was exceptionally nice. The acoustics allowed you to hear the buzz of the other patrons but still have a conversation with your table mate. They do offer a special 4 course tasting menu in the summer but we opted for the Chef’s menu tasting which is a 3+ hour experience. Continue reading
About a 30 minute drive from San Sebastian is this wonderful place that specializes in fresh fish. The trick is to ask the owner, who takes your order, what is fresh today and he will direct you on what to order from the relatively small menu. His dad started the place many years ago with the cooking technique used on boats to cook the fish. Cooked over a wood fire it was novel at the time but it stands the test of time. There are a few tables on the outdoor patio for those without reservations and a nicely priced wine list. Everything was outstanding and incredibly fresh. Tastes were mild but exquisite in that way. Everyone started with the day’s amuse of white tuna tartar. The Hake cheeks were a rare find and I think my favorite was the green sauced ones. The turbot was so moist and wonderful that it was a must to hunt through the bones for any remaining tidbits. The drippings also made a good use for the bread. Both desserts were quite tasty, the hazelnut biscuit being a special that day, but I loved the caramelized French toast. The chocolates and Madeleines were a lovely way for all to finish their meal.
A 3 story building with the 2 upper floors for dining and bottom a bar.
Definitely sit on the top level if you can which has plastic covers for inclement weather but otherwise is open to a lovely breeze and a fantastic backdrop of the Acropolis and lit Parthenon. It seemed to be full of local people but the waitstaff was plenty fluent in English and very helpful. They bill themselves as specializing in Greek delicacies made with fresh ingredients. Continue reading
A wonderful place outside of the Quarter and a re-visit this year. This time we sat in the downstairs dining room and it was a much cozier spot than the upstairs, which is nice for lunch as the windows provide great lighting. We lucked out and had some of the same waitstaff, which again were helpful, friendly and attentive. They have an a la carte menu but we chose the Surprise Tasting Menu which was a wonderful choice. Frankie made friends with 2 magnums of champagne.
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A small place that has 2 Michelin stars and calls itself “relaxed elegance” – it lives up to its reputation and motto. There are 5 tables and 8 stools facing the open kitchen and probably as many service people as patrons. Continue reading
Located in the Grand Hotel, this small place has only seven 2-tops and three 4-tops, but they do have a separate small room for around 10 that serves a chef dinner.
The main Esperanto restaurant (second floor of the green building) was not open due to summer vacation during our visit. Instead they offer a smaller dining room (which is the hallway outside of the regular dining room) and a limited menu in what they call “Franska Sommarsalongen” or French Summer Salon. Continue reading
A moderately sized place that serves “Nordic bistro fare, hearty and uncomplicated dishes”. Dishes are served family style and portions are small enough that the waitress recommended we order several sides/snacks and 2 main portions. She was spot on and that still left us with room for dessert.
