ipollux

This thread is inspired by a restaurant I recently went to here in the Bay Area called Beretta. Some of you that live nearby may know of it. It was the perfect blend of service, reasonable pricing and, of course, food. The menu consists mostly of pastas and pizza--two of my favorites. Two other places worth checking out in the area are are Nick's Cove and O Izakaya Lounge.

That said, I'm interested in what restaurants the TFP populace likes or dislikes and why ...

Willravel

Manresa in Los Gatos was truly spectacular. Probably one of the best in the SF Bay Area. Best ever? I really can't say. Azul in Miami was insane.

ColonelSpecial

Cafe Prague in Morrison, Colorado. Perfectly thin potato pancakes, amazing twists on duck, buffalo and elk and a shot of apple liqueur to finish it up. Simply amazing.

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Bear Cub

Logan's Steakhouse in Houston, TX. It was the best cut of meat I've ever eaten, the seafood was awesome, the onion petals were absolutely perfect, the waitress was very fast, attentive, and friendly. It was by far the most satisfied I had ever been after walking out of a restaurant.

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Bacchanal

I've mentioned it on here before, but my favorite restaurant ever is Arthur Bryant's in Kansas City. Great smoked meat "sandwiches" that are too big for any mouth I've ever seen. Evidently a lot of famous folk have eaten there as well. There are pictures on the wall of Jimmy Carter, Jesse Jackson, Emeril, and a bunch of others. Great bbq/smoked meat!

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Daniel_

Can't remember the name, but when I was about 18 my parents and I went to France for a short break, and we went to a place with 3 michelin rosettes.

I had always been skeptical about these sort of awards, but I revised my opinion that night. Without doubt, that dinner gave my mouth an orgasm.

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The Echo of a distant time
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mixedmedia

I've had lots of great meals in fine restaurants, but the Varsity in Atlanta will always be my favorite place to eat.

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Cynthetiq

Greatest... I'm having a hard time with what that means.

I'll pick this one as it was one of the most impressive I have been in as far as depth and breadth of history and culinary. We sat for dinner and ate from 11PM until 2AM.

Restaurante BOTIN (El más antiguo del mundo)

Sobrino de Botin
damn... now I want to go back to Mardrid.

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ipollux

mixedmedia, i have to say that meal from the varsity looks quite unhealthy.

shakran

tossup.

Bubba's Barbeque in Eureka Springs Arkansas. Hands down the best damned BBQ i've ever had.

Or El Paragua in Espanola New Mexico (15 mins north of Santa Fe.) The best New Mexican food on the planet.

dlish

stefanos pizza in dubai - dubai may have 7 star hotels and restaurants, but sometimes all you want is a normal every day pizza just to chill out. luckily stefanos pizza is more than just an everyday pizza.

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mixedmedia

yeah

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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Grasshopper Green

Hubby and I went to a little restaurant in Mexico that was geared towards tourists (so it wasn't "authentic"), but they made excellent tortillas, some kind of corn pudding that was absolutely delicious, and served the smoothest shot of tequila I've ever had. Should we ever visit the area again, I hope we can make our way back to that restaurant.

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inBOIL

La Pecora Negra in Puerto Viejo de Limon, Costa Rica. Ridiculously good food and a relaxed, private atmosphere.

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william

Ruth Chris'

MexicanOnABike

St-Hubert in any place in quebec. apart from that, I don't have a specific restaurant that impressed me enough.

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snowy

I'd have to say the greatest restaurant I've ever been to is one in my town--lucky me--called Big River. They specialize in meals that use local ingredients. I've never ever had a bad meal there, even when I was being adventurous (five-spice seared duck breast was probably my favorite so far). Plus, besides the great food, they have fabulous martinis and the desserts are AMAZING. The menu changes seasonally, though there are a few things that stay on the menu year-round, and the dessert roster has a number of items that are always there--like my favorite, the 4-layer mousse cake (layers are white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and fudgy flourless chocolate cake, covered in ganache).

bigriverhome1

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abaya

I have yet to visit a restaurant that can be compared (in my heart) to Við Fjöruborðið, an Icelandic "lobster" restaurant by the sea, about a 45 minute drive southeast of Reykjavík. I have been there 10+ times since my first visit there in 2001-02, and even while I sometimes get tired of the menu (it only has lobster--aka langoustines, dripping with garlic, butter, and spices--and lamb, which I never order anyway), I still love the food and the setting, and the company--which is always good.

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The_Jazz

I've been to a LOT of restaurants in Chicago. Tru is very good, as is Everest. Joe's Stone Crab does a great job on steaks, and Tomboy has some of the best lamb chops I've ever had. Ditka's is good if you like pork chops.

That all said, my favorite place that combines atmosphere, a little elbow room and great food is 200 East. It's on Chestnut, and they'll remember you by name the third or fourth time you go in the place. Try the Brickhouse chicken.

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dlish

so its not the sheep story diner?

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kutulu

I've only recently started to really appreciate great food. Unfortunately, this coincides with us raising our kids. My wife and I haven't been out together (alone) at a nice restaurant in a few years. We go to places here and there with the kids but nothing all that nice.

The best place I've been to recently was Flemmings. I had a work dinner there a couple of months ago. We had a private room and there were many appetizers set out for us. Sides were done family style so we were able to sample most of the available sides. Great stuff.

hambone

There is a place in SF called the House of Nan King. It is a small dumpy chinese restaurant with a technicolor sign out front, but its always packed.

It is the one restaurant I have been to that I was thoroughly impressed. It had been built up all week by a friend visiting so I figured it would be good, but nothing super special.

It is cool cause if you let it slip you haven't been there before, the owner comes and takes away your menus and won't let you order. He just keeps bringing food on out. Even things I don't normally eat (like mushrooms) were crazy good. And its not very expensive either.

Only downside is its sorta dingy, but that is part of the charm I guess.

Oh yeah, and once he found out we had never been there before, he never said another word the whole time. He would periodically come by and look at us, and give a questioning thumbs up sign. We would nod, then he would nod knowingly, wink, and walk away.

Wonderful.

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spaceman spiff

I'm a simple guy. I like simple things. Like to get quality service and food when I pay for it. Hands down the best steak joint on Earth, Ruth's Chris. Simply awesome. (two locations have not let me down)

yellowmac

I'm a guy who lives to eat, and there's just no way I can converge on just one restaurant to declare as the best I've ever been to. This encompasses just about the entire spectrum of restaurants, from dives to chains to five-star establishments. It's like asking which child is your favorite.

cadre

Ruth Chris' is definitely up there for a steak...Drinkwater's City Hall down in Scottsdale is great too.

For Mexican food: La Fonda del Sol. I have yet to find a better truly Mexican restaurant in the Southwest.

Great all around food with unique recipes: Bloom

And those are just the ones in Phoenix!

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QuasiMondo

In-and-Out Burgers in Vista, CA.

It's the one thing I miss about Cali.

That and carne asada burritos.

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cameroncrazy822

I love eatin' at the "Y" most definitely- always has a nice spread, usually very moist, and at least 98.6 degrees! A close second would be Pazo in Baltimore. Great tapas style food, awesome atmosphere, and relatively inexpensive considering the area (Baltimore inner harbor region).

Poppinjay

I love The Varsity. I got a paper hat from there.

I have three that are tied.

Moore?s Olde Tyme Barbeque My hometown barbecue joint.

roys hickory pit bbq online Barbecue joint in the middle of Nowhere, KS. It burnt down and the owners were thinking about just giving up the place. Her eyes grew three times their size when she finally did open up and there was a huge line waiting. You either get a dirty table or you sit at the communal telephone line spool.

The Internationally Famous Fish Market! There is absolutely no dining experience equal to sitting on a balcony table Friday night at the Fish Market in Old Town, Alexandria VA

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Willravel

Want me to fedex you a Double-double (animal style), fries and a chocolate shake? I'll totally do it.

kutulu

For Mexican food in Phoenix, here are some great places:

La Parilla Suiza
, Three locations in the Phoenix area. A couple in Tucson. Huge menu, great authentic Mexican food that is so much more than burritos and tacos.

The Original Garcia's Las Avenidas, I'm sure you've seen Garcia's around Phoenix. They are a chain and they suck. However, this is the original location and is still owned by the family. Awesome.

If you just want a great chimichanga or enchilada, there is only one place to go:
Carolina's. This place is in the hood, southeast of Chase Field but it is sooo good.

IanSturgill

The Ram microbrewery in Indy has my favorite burger, it's been 2 months and I can't wait, damn 3 hour drives

evilbeefchan

Don't forget about the animal style fries!!

Pac-man04

I think I might have to go with The Melting Pot. Its an all fondue style restaurant.

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Shagg

Firestone Grill in downtown San Luis Obispo. Probably the best Tri-tip sandwich I have had short of coming out of my own kitchen. I stop here for a few sandwiches every time I pass through SLO.

AsianRage

Since we don't eat at just one restaurant, I have a few that I'll always go back to specifically for a specific menu item.

1. The Keg - I love their Teriyaki Classic Steak. My wife does too. Always marinated, flavorful, tender and juicy.

2. Mi Tierra - Good Enchilada Suiza and Carne Asada. Can be a bit salty, but still good

3. ZTejas - Chorizo FTW!

4. Lemon Grass - Very nice Vietnamese restaurant with very authentic mix of southern and northern dishes.

5. Taster's Wok - For such a "white wash" restaurant, the flavors are very authentic. Notable items are the General Tso Chicken, Mongolian Beef and Kung Pao Shrimp. Very generous portion and low prices.

6. Sea Garden - Has the best Salt & Pepper crab and they let you pick your own food.

7. Ruth's Chris - Great service and ambience, and excellent Chocolate Explosion (not achingly sweet but not too rich) with amazing Hot/Cold interplay.

noodle

Marker 32... this awesome little place down the street from us that has a seasonal menu and everything I've ever had there has been superb. We even went once and my SO really wanted lamb, but there was nothing on the menu so he asked the chef and the guy whipped out some amazing rosemary-mustard lamb shanks. I don't like lamb, but I think my SO may have had a little orgasm. The meal takes around two hours because everything is perfectly timed to come out so you never end up feeling rushed, bored or too full. And their creme brulees are divine. They're right on the Intracoastal Waterway, but we have this little booth we always reserve when we go... about 6 or 8 times per year. Marker 32

Noodle Pudding in Brooklyn was really good, too. The proportions of fresh ingredients was perfect. Everything was really, really fresh. I'd go back in a heartbeat. the ambience was trippy, with the little tables right on top of each other and the bathroom floors were all tilted.

Best Thai I have ever had was in San Francisco and for the life of me, I can't remember where, some little Thai barbeque place... somewhere near Yerba Buena, but on the opposite side of the main road/BART station. I ate there every single day I was in the city and took it back to the hotel. People sniffed me on the train. The restaurant itself was rather small and non-descript... there was a ton of construction out front when I was there but I WILL find it again some day.

My favorite steak place doesn't exist any more. They closed down about a year ago and we were devastated. Just a traditional white-tableclothed, wood paneled place with attentive servers and great (overpriced) wine like anywhere else. But the servers knew their shit, man. I'd grab an 8 oz pepper-pitt filet for $28 and it was always done perfectly. The Tree Steakhouse. I will always mourn its loss... the rent at the beaches in Jax is insane now. But those steaks were better than Ruth's Chris and comparable to Morton's. NO contest with Ruth's Chris.

And Angie's Subs in Jacksonville Beach. There is no place like it. I posted up my Sweet Teddy T sub in the favorite food photo thread. I've never had a sub so perfectly made before. And since I'm now extremely hungry, I think we're going to go try to find one. The atmosphere is wonderfully wacky inside, nothing matches, people's left-behind sock are haging from the ceiling and the staff is all teenagers and early 20s-ers, and they yell out your name when your sub is ready. Their sweet tea is to die for, too.

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rashorangutan

My girlfriend and I really enjoy Texas Roadhouse. The steaks are out of this world!

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fresnelly

Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach.

The wait staff was a bit full of themselves but the food set the standard by which I judge all seafood. Legal Seafood in Boston comes close in that respect.

Luckily someone else was paying.

A BBQ stand at the Edmonton Fringe Festival called Hogg Heaven was the first place I ever had a pulled pork sandwhich and it is also the standard by which I judge BBQ. Unfortunately he's no longer in the business.

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Charlatan

The best pizza I've ever had (and continue to have at least twice a year) is at a place called La Pizza in the port of Cannes. I never miss a chance to eat there.

As for the best restaurant... I can't choose.

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snowy

One of my other favorite places to eat in town is called Block15 Brewery and the pulled pork sandwich there is so good I have a difficult time ordering anything else. The burgers are also amazing, but I can't seem to pass up that darn sandwich. Both come with their beer-battered fries. Yum. They also do ribs from time to time, but I prefer the sandwich as it's like someone did all the work for me.

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