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Greatest Restaurant Thread
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Posted by: whitson77

The purpose of this thread is to find out what is your favorite restaurant is and where it is located. Please also list pricing with $signs. I have a tie for my favorite restaurant.

Bob's Steak and Chop House in Dallas on Lemon and Wycliff. $$$
Excellent food, and usually has a celeb or two hiding out there.

James at the Mill in Fayettville, AR. $$ Fine dining at a pretty reasonable cost.

Now, let me know what I must eat in your neck of the woods, or some great dive you might have discovered during your world travels.

Posted by: rhuntington3

Just avoid the Olive Garden in Richardson, TX! Poor Bryan!

Posted by: whitson77

No doubt, I know its location. It has certainly been black flagged.

Posted by: Bryanmc

quote:
Originally posted by rhuntington3
Just avoid the Olive Garden in Richardson, TX! Poor Bryan!

Actually, Plano. Yeck.

If Bob's get's only three "$" then every place I go would have to be on a "˘" system.

Posted by: gregpr

Berne's Steak House in Tampa, FL $$$$

Dilworthtown Inn, Dilworthtown, PA $$$$

AOKI, Exton PA $$ (edited to add this)

Jimmy John's Route 202, Concordeville PA 1/2 $ :D

Posted by: jennifer

My absolute favorite restaurant for splurging is the Melting Pot. It's pricey, but the food and atmosphere are worth it. I start off with a California Salad - mixed greens (no iceburg) walnuts, raspberry vinaigrett dressing. NExt is the cheese/bread course. Pick the swiss emmenthaler (sp?). This course also includes apples and some veggies. For the main dish, you can choose whatever styles of meat you like, cooked in oil or broth. Broth is so much better. And for dessert....

Chocolate fondue. Any kind you like, dark & white, turtles, smores, etc. And for dipping, pound cake, brownies, cheesecake, strawberries, pineapples, and sliced bananas.

Makes for an incredible dining experience. I've been there as a two some and as a family or large group. As you can tell from this post, I'm dying to go back!
Jennifer

Posted by: Turtleboy

Haven't been there in years, but Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach.

Also, the Second Avenue Deli in NYC.

This should be an interesting thread -- it should show the different cultural background and world experience of the people in this fourm.

Very red state vs. blue state.

Posted by: kdaveler

quote:
Originally posted by jennifermcb
My absolute favorite restaurant for splurging is the Melting Pot. It's pricey, but the food and atmosphere are worth it. I start off with a California Salad - mixed greens (no iceburg) walnuts, raspberry vinaigrett dressing. NExt is the cheese/bread course. Pick the swiss emmenthaler (sp?). This course also includes apples and some veggies. For the main dish, you can choose whatever styles of meat you like, cooked in oil or broth. Broth is so much better. And for dessert....

Chocolate fondue. Any kind you like, dark & white, turtles, smores, etc. And for dipping, pound cake, brownies, cheesecake, strawberries, pineapples, and sliced bananas.

Makes for an incredible dining experience. I've been there as a two some and as a family or large group. As you can tell from this post, I'm dying to go back!
Jennifer

I took my wife here. I was surprised at how expensive it was. I was like $100 bucks for two people to eat fondue. Of course I didn't say it.

After you think about all the food you get and the quality it doesn't seem bad. Of course that $100 bucks did include libations.

Overall a great eating experience.

Ken

Posted by: Uther

Hot Wok Express - Urbana, IL 0.5$
I lived on this food all through college. Lunch and dinner both for $3.50! (They give huge portions. And TASTY!) Whenever I visit IL, I always make a trip down to U of I campus.

ZakeE Mediterranean Eatery - Chandler, AZ $
Best falafel and babaganouj anywhere. And the baklava is to die for!

Posted by: walters

Creolina's in Fort Lauderdale, FL $
Pazzo in Hollywood, FL $$
Paradiso in Lake Worth, FL $$$$

Posted by: midas

My favorite place is Ron of Japan. It's a Japanesse steak house. They two locations in the Chicago area, one downtown (actually just off Michigan Ave.) and one in Northbrook. I only like the one in Northbrook.

They have a lobster dinner that's just to die for. They have that egg based yellow sauce that they put on top of it and then the teryaki (sp) sauce to dip in. My favorite meal is actually called the Shogun. It starts with a mediocore chicken soup and is followed by a salad with an awsome ginger dressing. This is then followed by the lobster served as an appetizer. What really makes this different than the restaurants of this type is that the lobster is not one of those little 6oz. things. It's at least 12 and probably closer to 14 ounces. The appetizer is followed by a massive helping of vegetables and then comes the steak (filet or sirloin) as the entree.

It's not cheap. I think the last time I was there the Shogun was $53. The other thing I really like about this place is the way the cooking is done. It's typical Japanesse steak house teppan style, meaning the food is cooked at the table. But they don't play around. They don't make a big show out of it. They don't throw the food all over the place. They don't make onion volcanos. They don't flip the shrimp tails in their hat. They just cook the food.

Posted by: cynfred

Mr. Chopsticks - Denton, TX $

Posted by: Graymalkin

Indigo Smoke, Montclair, NJ $$
Best Kansas City-style BBQ outside Kansas City.

Hereford House, Overland Park, KS $$$
Best steaks in Kansas City

Il Tulipano, Cedar Grove, NJ $$$
Superb Italian cuisine, and no Sopranos around to firebomb the joint.

McCormick & Schmick's, Kansas City, MO $$
Seafood chain way better than Red Lobster, with great stained-glass dome. Chocolate Bag is best dessert I've ever had.

Highlawn Pavilion, West Orange, NJ $$$
Eclectic American cuisine. Almost always rated one of top restaurants in New Jersey. Magnificent view of NYC skyline.

Posted by: logic88

Boulevard - SF, CA $$$$
Great California-American food. Their foie gras is wonderful. Desserts are also great but I'll miss Heather Ho (their pastry chef who left for WotW at the WTC, RIP).

I've also heard some absolutely amazing things about the French Laundry but they're booked two months in advance so I can never get a reservation. That and they are one of the few restaurants around the Bay Area still with a dress code. :D

Posted by: aciurczak

I'll second Logic88, Boulevard is quite nice. I'd also like to get on the list for French Laundry. My favorite restaurant in SF is the Fifth Floor.

Posted by: genearch

Keeping it Local, I'd go with:

Nobu - Malibu $$
Granita - Malibu $$
Stonehouse @ San Ysidro Ranch - Montecito $$
Lucky's - Montecito $$$

One of the most extravagant was The Four Ways Inn: Paget($$$$) in Bermuda. Amazing food with an equal price tag $250-400 for two people. We were a party of 8 and it was well over $3K with a few bottles of wine.

Posted by: Xaa

The Saloon in Chicago. Awesome steaks, great atmosphere, fantastic service. Can't be beat for steak or chops. Very pricey $$$$

Here in Charlotte, I like The Tower Club. It's on the 27th floor of the Charlotte Plaza building and you can see out for miles. The food is fantastic and the service white glove. Not too pricey, but you need to be a member. $$$

Xaa

Posted by: Tsiehta

quote:
Originally posted by gregpr
Berne's Steak House in Tampa, FL $$$$

Dilworthtown Inn, Dilworthtown, PA $$$$

Jimmy John's Route 202, Concordeville PA 1/2 $ :D

I LOVE Jimmy Johns!!!!!

The Stinking Rose, San Francisco CA $$

Posted by: TheDewAddict

Regale - Excalubir Hotel & Casino Las Vegas - $$
Cafe Portofino - Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii - $$$
Tony's - St. Louis - $$$$

Posted by: whitson77

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jennifermcb
[B]My absolute favorite restaurant for splurging is the Melting Pot. It's pricey, but the food and atmosphere are worth it. I start off with a California Salad - mixed greens (no iceburg) walnuts, raspberry vinaigrett dressing. NExt is the cheese/bread course. Pick the swiss emmenthaler (sp?). This course also includes apples and some veggies. For the main dish, you can choose whatever styles of meat you like, cooked in oil or broth. Broth is so much better. And for dessert....

My wife is always trying to get me to take her there. We have one in dallas in Addison. But I hate fondue. Maybe I'll try and be a better husband and take her over the holidays.

Posted by: Graeber

1) Cosmic Cantina - Durham, NYC and now in NYC -- great burritos and pretty healthy. Counter service only -- about $6-$10.

2) Yama - NYC -- 3 locations -- great sushi at very nice prices. $$

Posted by: Agatha Mystery

My favorite restaurants aren't anywhere close to where I live (but very close to where I used to live).

Las Fajitas in Moore, OK $$ Woooooonnnnnnderful chimichangas.

Victorias in Norman, OK Campus corner area $. Great huge bowls of shrimp fettuccini for like $5. The only problem I had was I went when I wasn't feeling well and hacked up that lovely bowl of fett and the glass of grape juice I tried to drink to settle my stomach about half an hour later. Man, I didn't even want shrimp fettuccini for years after that. My poor husband. He loved that place. It was such a hole in the wall that they served your soda straight from a 2 litre bottle that they kept in the fridge. The kitchen was in the middle of the dining room and the place was only open about 5 hours a day (couple of hours around lunch and dinner). Still, the best place for italian food in Norman.

Posted by: Bradc314

Frontera Grill, Chicago, IL $$$$
Cheesecake Factory, Schaumburg, IL $$$
Old Oyster Factory, HHI, SC $$$

Posted by: jsmeeker

Del Frisco's -- Dallas.. Steak House. Pricey

Lawry's The Prime Rib -- Beverly Hills, CA.. Prime Rib. Its the original, but there are a few others in the US. Pricey.

Locanda Veneta -- Los Angeles. Northern Italian. Very, very good. tiny little place. Pricey

I'm sure I could list lots and lots more. Maybe I'll add Lou Malnati's in Chicago. Great pizza!!

Posted by: mbklein

Off the top of my head:

The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Virginia $$$$$
Probably the most expensive meal I've ever eaten, but definitely one of the best. It's been called the best restaurant in the world by several respected food critics, and living just 90 minutes away, it seemed a shame not to go there at least once. So when my mother-in-law was moving out of the area, my wife and I took her there as a going away present. The meal topped out at over $300 for the 3 of us, but the food and the level of service left us willing to go back (when the economy rebounds, of course. :))

Matuba Restaurant, Bethesda, Maryland $$-$$$
Great sushi, great service, nice decor, and the nicest disposable chopsticks anywhere.

Wheeler's Sovereign, London, UK ŁŁŁŁ
Great steaks and seafood, especially the Dover sole. I'm getting hungry just writing about it. A couple blocks away is a great pub with excellent fish & chips and house brand hard cider, but I can't remember the name of it right now. Also nearby is the fantastically retro Curzon Mayfair movie theatre (a balcony! assigned seats!), which comes to mind because we saw The Philadelphia Story there after dinner. Nothing like great food and a classic film to cap off a weekend of power touristing.

That's it for now. I'll probably chime in again later with some less hoity-toity grub. (Mmm...fried clams from Woodman's....)

Michael

Posted by: Hit The Ball

E'Angelo Chestnut St. SF $$
Little italian place with the best cannelloni.
No reservations so you may have to wait.

Posted by: bruab

I can second Del Frisco's Double Eagle (in Denver), I probably like them a little better than Morton's Steakhouse, but we only have Morton's around here. Both are $$$$, so we usually only go once a year, or if one of us gets a bonus from work. Morton's Godiva Chocolate cake is outstanding. It's a little round chocolate cake filled with melted chocolate sauce, with a side of vanilla ice cream. Yumm!

We also like The Melting Pot. I definitely recommend the broth over the hot oil. We got the oil once just to try it, and while it was tasty, it was just too filling. You need to leave plenty of room for that melted chocolate dessert. ;) And plan to spend about 3 hours for the meal!

Posted by: dslunceford

I could go on and on....wife and I love to eat at different restaurants when traveling and in the high-flying '90s I had quite a few good business meals as well.

$$$$ = very expensive
$$$=expensive
$$=moderate
$=cheap but good

$$$$ & $$$
My favorite food memory was the first (and only) time at Chinois on Main, a Puck restaurant in Santa Monica. Went there with our ad agency and director for a series of commercials we were shooting in L.A. and never cracked the menu. Had the waiter simply bring us tasting after tasting of everything until the table of 10 was satiated. Fantastic wine, atmosphere and food. This was about 10 years ago, so I can't vouch for current chef or quality.

Aureole in Vegas (orig. in San Fran?) has to be one of the best overall dining experiences in the city. Wine list (with their own "wine angel" retrieving from the multistory cellar) to die for. Picasso's also a great experience, but everything was top notch at Aureole.

The Inn @ Little Washington mostly lives up to the hype, though the drive is a bit long. How can you not like the friendly service, interesting use of locally-grown foods and the tremendous desserts.

Roy's Kahana Bar & Grill , one of four or so restaurants scattered throughout Hawaii and CA. This branch in Maui holds sentimental value (our honeymoon), but the seafood is as fresh as it gets and the chocolate souffle is bar none the best we've ever had.

Believe it or not theCalifornia Grille in the Walt Disney World resort in FL has excellent food, wine and a great view of the fireworks at Magic Kingdom.

More to come....

...and Graymalkin, I'll have to try Herford House -- Plaza III's the best steak I've had in KC....

Posted by: jgickler

Well for steak houses, I would have to vote for Mortons and in KC the Golden Ox. Both would be $$$.

Posted by: Turtleboy

quote:
Originally posted by Bradc314
Frontera Grill, Chicago, IL $$$$
Cheesecake Factory, Schaumburg, IL $$$
Old Oyster Factory, HHI, SC $$$

Hmm.. Do you consider a place where entrees are generally between 15-19 to be $$$? What's the standard here?

Posted by: Turtleboy

quote:
Originally posted by mbklein

Matuba Restaurant, Bethesda, Maryland $$-$$$
Great sushi, great service, nice decor, and the nicest disposable chopsticks anywhere.

Michael

If you live in the DC area, and like Matuba, may I suggest some better places-- sorry, I'm too lazy to do a search for their web pages/address, but they are all in DC itself.

Sushi-Ko (on Wisonsin)

Kaz Sushi Bistro (downtown, on I (eye) street I believe, but not sure)

Sushi Taro (near Dupont Circle, on 17th Street).

Posted by: Xaa

quote:
Originally posted by bruab
Morton's Godiva Chocolate cake is outstanding. It's a little round chocolate cake filled with melted chocolate sauce, with a side of vanilla ice cream. Yumm!

I dine at Morton's a couple of times a year. I love that dessert. The first time I was there the waitress descriobed it and said "It'll change your life" I really wanted it, but I was happy with my life and unwilling to risk the change.

Xaa

Posted by: Melody Chalis

quote:
Originally posted by genearch
Keeping it Local, I'd go with:

Nobu - Malibu
Granita - Malibu
Stonehouse @ San Ysidro Ranch - Montecito
Lucky's - Montecito

One of the most extravagant was The Four Ways Inn: Paget in Bermuda. Amazing food with an equal price tag $250-400 for two people. We were a party of 8 and it was well over $3K with a few bottles of wine.

genearch, have you been to the Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas?

It's definetly very high on my list. :up: :up: :up:

Posted by: Bradc314

quote:
Originally posted by Turtleboy
Hmm.. Do you consider a place where entrees are generally between 15-19 to be $$$? What's the standard here?

Depends on your employment status. ;)

Actually, my fingers were just getting caaaarrrrrrrriiiieeed awaaaayyyyyyyyyy...............

Oops! I did it again.

Posted by: Graymalkin

Prices depend on where you live.

To me, $ = $15 per person, $$ = $30 per person, $$$ = $50 per person, $$$$ = $100 per person (BEFORE wine)

Posted by: JayAndSilentBob

quote:
Originally posted by Turtleboy
Hmm.. Do you consider a place where entrees are generally between 15-19 to be $$$? What's the standard here?

Good point Turtleboy. I noticed the thread originator did not define the standard. And in skimming through the thread, no one else did either, except maybe dslunceford who said:

$$$$ = very expensive
$$$=expensive
$$=moderate
$=cheap but good

I mean, cheap, moderate and expensive can be somewhat defined, but how do you determine what qualifies as "very expensive." Sure, it is going to vary from area to area throughout the country - but where do you draw the line? Do you say typical entree equaling say 1/4000th of the selling price of the typical home in your area (e.g. Twin Cities average home selling price is probably about $200,000 --- one four thousandth of that would be $50) -- is that "very expensive?"

edit to ask graymalkin - how much does the average house sell for in Essex County?

Posted by: MarkofT

Juan's Hacienda, Plano TX $$
Nice little mexican place across Plano Parkway from the mall.

Love and War in Texas, Plano TX $$$
Other side of the tracks from Olive Garden. 4-5 dishes from each of the 5 regions of Texas. Great Buffalo Chili too. Wife likes to go their just for the Chips and Queso.

Mongolian Grill, Dallas TX $$
One item on the menu, stir fry. They have a bar setup where you select your ingredients and hand it to the chefs who cook it on a huge round grill.

Hook, Line and Sinker, Dallas TX $
Small little place but lots out outside seating. Counter service and if you go during lunch time on a workday the lot is filled with BMW and Mercedes.

Greek Isles Grille and Taverna, Plano TX $$
Full meals as well as ala carte. Their baclava ice cream is killer.

Cafe du France, Plano TX $$
Most lunches or dinners are full meals.

Posted by: jsmeeker

you need to include what your "meal" is when you list a dollar figure..

Just the entree? Do you include an appetizer/salad/soup? A dessert?

Posted by: aciurczak

One rule of thumb might be relating it to groceries. If a dinner costs me and my wife what we may spend in a month on groceries (~$400), it's been pretty expensive. Moderately expensive might be 2 weeks of groceries. Reasonably inexpensive might be a weeks worth of groceries. And anything for a few days worth probably falls into fast food category.
(the nicer dinners would include wine and tip)

Posted by: Graymalkin

See this table for home prices in New Jersey for April 2001. Then increase those figures by about 25% for current prices.

Posted by: aciurczak

Ooh, forgot one restaurant. If anyone would like an amazing sushi experience, make sure to get to Vancouver, BC, and go to a place called Tojo's. By far, the best sushi I've ever had.

http://www.tojos.com/

It's really a treat. I was there on business alone, so I just sat at the sushi bar. Mr. Tojo (yup, that's him) asks you if there is any particular fish that you may not care for. With that out of the way, he continues to make the most intricate, interesting, and just really really good sushi until you cry uncle and can't eat anymore. In between the rolls and the nigiri, the restaurant serves you miniature dishes from the kitchen. All of the food is just incredible.

$$$$. But that's in Canadian. :D $$$ after conversion...

Posted by: Grumpy Pants

All received Grand Awards for excellence in Wine Spectator and I agree.
Capital Grille - Newton, MA $$$$
Icarus - Boston, MA - $$$$
The Federalist - Boston, MA $$$$

Just good places not to miss in Bean Town
Halfway Cafe .5$ - Dedham, MA
The SPorts Depot $$ - Boston. MA

Others
Nick Tahos (I can't remeber the sp?) - Rochester, NY (Donot go to the fake ones in Fairport or Gates Chili!
Mama Nina's Pizza Shop - Oneonta, NY
The Moat House - Harpenton, England

Posted by: genearch

quote:
Originally posted by shannon67
genearch, have you been to the Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas?

It's definately very high on my list. :up: :up: :up:

Ya know.. I've heard of it, but never tried. I'll have to make it a point over the next month or so.

Also, in the same area is Fin's in Calabasas ($$) and his new location MOZ in Agoura ($$), both excellent.

Posted by: Smiles

Ben & Jerry's Factory - Waterbury, VT - $

I mean, that's a meal, right?

Posted by: Maui

The Cheesecake Factory and since I have only been to the one in Houston I will choose that one.

Posted by: whitson77

GrayMalkin defined the prices exactly as I would. Sorry I didn't define it better. I suck, what can I say :)

I have always wondered if the Mongolia Grill had something. I will have to try that out.

Have any of your Dallasites gone to Bob's Steak and Chop House? Obviously get the steak(the best in town according to a spare like me), but their Creme Brule is the second best dessert I have ever tasted.

Grumblings in my stomach. Tonight I will grab a burger from Scotty P's in Allen. The second best burger around. The best you can find at Ye Olde Butcher shop in Plano. Off 15th. Cheap and unbelievably good. You can meet Bryan Mc and I there on Thursdays for lunch.

Posted by: Bryanmc

quote:
Originally posted by whitson77
The best you can find at Ye Olde Butcher shop in Plano. Off 15th. Cheap and unbelievably good. You can meet Bryan Mc and I there on Thursdays for lunch.

I've tried to tempt Ye Olde TiVo Gang with Buffalo Burgers to no avail.

Maybe with your endorsement, we'll have some takers.

Be warned, you will become addicted.

Posted by: brookepi

Brockolini's (sp?) Madison, NJ $$ The best italian food you will ever have!

Rascal House Miami, FL $$ All the free pastries you can eat or stuff in your pocket.

Anthony's Pizza $ Morristown, NJ The best greesy stombolis around

Noodles madison, WI $ Fast food pasta that actually tastes really good.

Mongolian barbaque (forget the name at the moment) Summit, NJ GREAT! Lunch buffet.

Brooke

Posted by: jsmeeker

quote:
Originally posted by Bryanmc
I've tried to tempt Ye Olde TiVo Gang with Buffalo Burgers to no avail.

Maybe with your endorsement, we'll have some takers.

Be warned, you will become addicted.

Every thursday?? This is the first time I have heard about this offer, Sadly, I will be in L.A. this thursday and next thursday, but the week after that, I can make it.

15th Street in Plano is convenient to the campus.

Posted by: JohnJr

I rarely go out to eat, and when I do it's invariably Brooke's Steakhouse. For all you Del Friscos/Mortons lovers out there, do yourself a favor next time you are in Denver and give Brooke's a try. $$$

-John

PS. It's only like half-a-mile from the Del Friscos.

Posted by: BryanRDC

A couple of my favorite places have already been mentioned:

Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa not only has great food and stiff drinks, it is a complete experience. Take the tour of the kitchen (including their fish tanks with live fish and their "sprouts farm") and wine cellar(s) after dinner, then enjoy dessert in their dessert-only annex with enclosed booths. Order a martini and watch them roll up the cart, pour the gin, then pull out an eyedropper and ask how much vermouth you'd like. Yes, this sounds hokey, but it really comes off as refined. Can't explain how, but it does.

The Inn at Little Washington is far away from civilization, unbelievably expensive, and worth every drop of effort and every penny. My wife and I went there for Valentine's Day in 1997, and I still carry the menu from that meal in my briefcase, just so I can look at it and remember now and again. Exquisite. Shhhh -- don't tell her, but for our tenth anniversary next year I want to work out a weekend with a meal there and a night at the similarly-ridiculously-expensive Inn itself.

We haven't yet tried out The French Laundry, but I gather it's on par with the Inn at Little Washington. One terrifically neat thing that both these top places do -- allow civilians to spend time working with and learning from their chefs. My friend Michael's wife got him a week at The French Laundry -- he had to bring his own knives, they supplied the chef's jacket, and he spent a week learning how they cook the stuff they do. My friend Debbie did a similar stint at the Inn at LW, courtesy of her husband.

For a chain, I love The Palm. The food can definitely be equaled (see Morton's, Capital Grille, Smith & Wollensky, etc.), but at every Palm I've been to there is a service ethic that makes the place a treat. Get to know the staff at your town's Palm, become a little recognized, and you get to hear all the good dirty jokes. My friend Gary works in the building that houses the Washington, DC, Palm, and we've been treated quite well when we go there together.

For non-fine dining, just good ol' use your hands, get messy, and drink plenty of beer dining, go to the Maryland Shore and visit the little town of St. Michaels. On your way into town you'll see the billboard for the Crab Claw restaurant, which reads, as I recall, "HOT CRABS COLD BEER." What more could you want?

Posted by: FlashingTwelve

quote:
Originally posted by jsmeeker
you need to include what your "meal" is when you list a dollar figure..

Just the entree? Do you include an appetizer/salad/soup? A dessert?

What if you share the dessert?

Posted by: jsmeeker

quote:
Originally posted by FlashingTwelve
What if you share the dessert?

:)

Depends. Is it two guys? If it is, what will the waiter think?

Posted by: whitson77

Jsmeeker, your burger is on me. See you in 3 weeks.

Posted by: ThreeSoFar

$$$$ Michael's Waterside Inn - very pricey, romantic, dressy. 50 Los Patos Way Montecito Reservations are a must. 969-0307. Best formal meal I've had.

$$$$ The Williamsburg Inn. Second best. Excellent High Tea. Not one wrapper in sight (i.e. for sugar, cream, butter, etc.)

$$ Double TT Diner, Baltimore. Great diner atmosphere, with the plus of a full bar. Packed every night, especially Holidays. But line moves fast. Huge HUGE menu. Food is decent.

Posted by: Gromit

Fogo de Chao ($$$). Brazil, Atlanta and Houston.

www.fogodechao.com

I'm going Thursday night. My mouth is already watering. The waiters bring huge slabs of meat on a skewer and cut slices off for you. There's a card in front of you on the table. If it's green side up, you're getting a LOT of meat. Red side up means you've had enough.

Posted by: sschwart

quote:
Originally posted by jennifermcb
My absolute favorite restaurant for splurging is the Melting Pot. It's pricey, but the food and atmosphere are worth it. I start off with a California Salad - mixed greens (no iceburg) walnuts, raspberry vinaigrett dressing. NExt is the cheese/bread course. Pick the swiss emmenthaler (sp?). This course also includes apples and some veggies. For the main dish, you can choose whatever styles of meat you like, cooked in oil or broth. Broth is so much better. And for dessert....

I *love* the Melting Pot! I wish there was one near me, I keep on visiting people and insisting we go there! I go for the cheddar cheese course, but with loads of extra garlic, and some of the broth, instead of water. Makes it *so* yummy (the server will give you a funny look, but will do it). And the chocolate fondue is the absolute best!

Locally, there's a place called Grill 23 that is $$$$, but really yummy... And the entire North End of Boston, especially Dom's and Antico Furnico. (Both $$$).

-Steve

Posted by: Bryanmc

quote:
Originally posted by whitson77
Jsmeeker, your burger is on me. See you in 3 weeks.

Jeff's also a big dessert guy.

I'll buy a banana pudding that you and he can share. :D

Just be sure that you're on the up and up when you go there, Jeff. You've never seen a place with so many people with guns. If there's one place you do not want to rob, it's the Butcher Shop.

Even though at least one of us has tried to swipe a turkey leg.... :D

Posted by: jsmeeker

IS the Butcher Shop frequented by Plano's finest??

Anyway, I have my calendar marked for December 19th. Looking forward to it.

Posted by: Bryanmc

quote:
Originally posted by jsmeeker
IS the Butcher Shop frequented by Plano's finest??

Anyway, I have my calendar marked for December 19th. Looking forward to it.

There are more cops, marshals, and rangers there than any other place of business.

Not to mention everyone pulling up for deer processing with their hunting equipment.

No sudden movements... :D

Posted by: whitson77

Plus the owner of the place, who for some reason likes to be called Jeff, is a major fast talker. Everything sort of runs together. After a few weeks of going there you begin to discern what he is saying. But he makes a great burger.

Steve

Posted by: svjackson

In the Atlanta area
Bacchanalia $$$$
Lobster Bar $$$
Fat Matt's Rib Shack $

Posted by: jsmeeker

I enjoyed one of the famous Ye Olde Butcher Shop buffalo burgers yesterday. In good company I might add.. Price was right too.

Thanks whitson77 and bryanmc.

Dallas are folks need to check it out.

Posted by: bruab

The Hawaii thread reminded me of Huggo's. We had an Ahi Poke (fresh raw tuna tossed in a little seasoning) there that was a transcendent experience. ;)

Posted by: Mike Wells

One of my favorite places is 7 hours from here, but it still ranks at the top as one of the best restaurants. The Carolina Roadhouse $$ in Myrtle Beach, SC. The service was fabulous, as was the food. I remember a perfect salad, with the house hot-honey-mustard dressing, served with crossants dripping with butter and honey. I've had excellent seafood and steaks there. I NEVER miss it when visiting the beach.

Posted by: bsnelson

Let's see: I'll second Morton's and The Palm; very good meals, albeit at $$$ to $$$$ prices.

I'll add Blue Ginger in Wellesley, MA. I'd put it in $$$$ territory, but the food is simply incredible. It's been described as "Asian-American fusion", but celebrity chef owner Ming Tsai prefers "East-West", like his FoodTV show "East Meets West".

Legacy Grill in the Westin Stonebriar hotel in Frisco, TX. It's hard to describe the food style; they do steak and seafood, but they also do some authentic Mexican, Southwestern and Cajun dishes as well. It's a $$$ place, and is out of the way enough to be accessible without a reservation most of the time.

My cost scales include all food (appetizer, main course, dessert) but no booze.

Brad

Posted by: smak

quote:
Originally posted by shannon67
genearch, have you been to the Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas?

It's definetly very high on my list. :up: :up: :up:

My dad loves that place. That and Tam O' Shanter on Los Feliz are his faves.

My faves are

Chinois On Main $$$
Sushi Hirosuki $$$

My favorite sushi place, great sushi, beautifully prepared.

I'm going to Spago Beverly Hills next Sunday, so we'll see how that is.

-smak-

Posted by: debtoine

quote:
Originally posted by Bradc314
Frontera Grill, Chicago, IL $$$$

I definitely agree with this one, but his Topolobampo restaurant is even better (and even more expensive). The two are in the same building, Frontera grill does not take reservations, and Topolobampo does. Topo is a bit more up-scale than Frontera, with a different menu.

Mie Thai in Woodbridge, New Jersey serves great Thai food. If you go, say hi to the owner, Rich. $$

T

Posted by: Smiles

What's going on in here? This restaurant thread isn't so great. It might not even crack the top 5 restaurant threads I've seen.