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Restaurants to Try

Bay Area
- Ame - can’t say I’m expecting much - the Vinography and Country Epicure reviews.
- Cafe Majestic - foie gras ice cream? Yum.
- Odyssey - sounds like a very good casual restaurant
- Yoshi’s - it’s a huge building with four different eating options but I’m curious to try the omakase option.

New York
- Blue Hill at Stone Barns
- Momofuku Ko
- Matsuri - recommended by The Japanese Food Report
- En Japanese Brasserie - it certainly sounds like it has potential.
- Picholine - I would go just to eat the sea urchin panna cotta
- Sushi Gari - i just need to do it.

Los Angeles
- Cut - the pictures of the kobe look quite stunning
- The Hump (Santa Monica) - its sushi has piqued my curiosity but i’m definitely skeptical

Northeast
- Alchemy (Pittsburg) - sounds interesting enough.
- Minibar (DC) - the most accomplished El Bulli disciple stateside? Read the Opinionated About review.
- Laboratorio at Galileo (DC) - more crazy hi-jinks
- Citronelle (DC) - very accomplished when not cooking for diplomats
- Hugo’s (Portland, Maine) - a reverence for seafood
- Komi (DC) - a very compelling review can be found here. Another interesting review. And one more.
- Lautrec (Pennsylvania) - it’s a hotel restaurant but the chef’s food looks and sounds stunning. Lautrec is the new restaurant he’s working for.
- Primo (Rockland, Maine) - most ingredients are grown on premises

Midwest
- Carlos (Chicago) - sounds like a very solid Chi option - read the Veal Cheeks review
- Blue Stem (Kansas City) - it was out of reach on my road trip last year but this review is compelling.
- Restaurant Graham Elliot (Chicago)
- Schwa (Chicago)

Northwest
- Harvest Vine (Seattle)
- Mistral (Seattle)
- Nishino (Seattle) - let’s see if it’s what it’s cracked up to be. Read the Tasting Menu review.
- Lampreia (Seattle) - Read the Tasting Menu review.
- Herb Farm (Seattle)
- Heathman (Portland)

Southeast
- McCrady’s (Charleston) - southern tradition mixed with the new chemistry techniques. See the chef’s blog here.

Southwest
- Pizzeria Bianco (Phoenix) - best pizza in the country?

France
- Citrus Etoile
- L’Ambrosie - the height of ingredients and classic technique?
- Louis XV - the greatest restaurant in the world?
- Roellinger - based on reviews, with is emphasis on fish and spices, it could be my favorite restaurant in the world (MAY 2008). I have also been told the butter is 120% of the magical L’Arpege butter.
- Hotel Meurice - they are closed for my upcoming Paris visit so this will have to wait
- Carré de Feuillants - an off-the-radar restaurant in Paris?
- Bonbons Verdier (Pau) - celebrated chocolatier
- Le Colombier (Domme) - a duck feast
- L’Etoile d’Or - not a restaurant, just a candy shop dealing in the highest quality. Chocolate & Zucchini did a nice write-up.
- Le Cerf

Spain
- El Capricho - the best beef in the world?
- El Kano - some of the world’s greatest seafood - Read the Chez Pim review.
- Hispania - near-perfect ingredients. Read the Gastroville review.
- Sant Pau - couldn’t make it on last year’s road trip

Hong Kong
- Bo Innovation - crazy asian gas-mol. Read the Tasting Menu review.
- Yung Kee - get the goose. Read the Tasting Menu review.

Italy
- Le Calandre - the OA review
- Gambero Rosso - Jan 07 Gourmet says it could be the best in Italy
- Trattoria della Posta
- Giardino da Felicin
- Da Vitorrio
- still need to do more research - suggestions appreciated.

Japan
- Kikunoi
- Ginza Jiro
- Kozue
- Shima (Tokyo) - beef
- Ryu Gin - few interesting dishes.
- need to do more research - suggestions appreciated.

UK
- The Sportsman - a gastro-pub where one man does *everything* - bread, butter, hams, fishing, and more. Read the Amedana review.

Other
- Oud Sluis (Zeeland, Netherlands) - cutting edge yet still retaining some historical relevance - another review can be found at the Ulterior Epicure. (MAY 2008)
- Hof can Cleve (Waregem, Belgium) - there could be reasons to travel outside of France. (MAY 2008)
- Noma (Copenhagen) - sounds absolutely stunning (MAY 2008)

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11 Comments »

Scott Solomon said,

June 6, 2007 @ 11:57 pm

I would suggest you try the restaurant Esca, chef David Pasternack’s fish place on 43rd and 9th Avenue in New York. He gets the best oysters in NYC, and shaves fresh horseradish over them! Simple, but genius. Also, it’s now salmon season. He’s gotten in Copper River salmon, but the real treat is the Yukon River salmon. Supposedly this year he’s found some new nomadic Eskimo group that is going to get him salmon out of some archipelago. He says that’s going to be amazing. I’d also recommend the housemade fettucine with tuna bolognese. And the branzino baked in a salt crust.

I’d also suggest you try Veritas. Sit at the bar. And, of course, per se.
good food said,

August 21, 2007 @ 3:11 pm

Hi Chuck

Thanks so much for linking to my blog I noticed today.

I’m exploring your blog. Love the food porn. But it’s really a waist cutting those truffles that thick. Should be paper thin, it’s more delicate. I believe. Anyway.

Unfortunately, I don’t come to the US that often, but enjoy a lot your reports on FR/UK/ES dining places. Lovely, lovely photos.

Thanks for sharing!
Trine
wk said,

October 25, 2007 @ 6:51 am

I see that you have Oishii (Boston) on your list and just read your review of Sushi Yasuda (8.5?). If you think Yasuda is only 8.5, don’t bother with Oishii. I came to Boston from the Bay Area, and Oishii is not even as good as Sushi Tomi in Mtn View.

I’m surprised you gave Yasuda only 8.5. I think very highly of that place. Both times I was there, Yasuda himself served us, and the sushi was superb. The rice tasted just like Hotel Shilla (Seoul) and Kyubei (Ginza), two of my favorite sushi places.

Again, don’t bother with Oishii. Boston does not serve sushi well.
ChuckEats said,

October 25, 2007 @ 7:05 am

thanks wk. the Oishii suggestion came from Zagat awhile ago and I’ve since read a few less than flattering reviews. it’s been officially removed. don’t take my 8.5 lightly - i would give your average sushi place a 1! in fact, i will only eat sushi at 5 places in america - Urasawa, Sawa, Masa, Kuruma, & Yasuda. Sebo in SF was pretty good but I haven’t been back; I suppose that’s telling.

i will also take notes of your suggestions and try to do some research on them.
alifewortheating said,

October 27, 2007 @ 3:38 am

Re: California. I definitely think Ubuntu deserves its spot on your list. Especially given your fondness for Manresa. You can see my thoughts on the place and several pictures here http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/ubuntu/.
I found Fleur de Lys dreadfully boring, comically un-seasonal, and overall just plain lackluster. Personally I wouldn’t bother if I were you.

Re: NYC. Just my 2 cents, but Gari on its best days does not approach Yasuda or Kuruma and can not seriously be mentioned in the same sentence as Masa. I don’t know how much of purist you may be when it comes to sushi, but Gari is not the place for a stunning traditional omakase.

Re: Italy. I know many people will disagree with me on this one, but I found Le Calandre incredibly disappointing. The sweet/savory balance is terribly skewed toward the former. Check out pictures/thoughts from my meal there 2 months ago here http://www.alifewortheating.com/italy/le-calandre/.
If you’re still open to other Italy suggestions, let me put in a good word for Uliassi in Senigallia, Le Marche. That place absolutely blew me away. Chef Uliassi is especially brilliant when it comes to both contrast within each dish and the progession of his tasting menu as a whole. Undoubtedly the best meal I had during nine weeks in Italy when I ate very well. See http://www.alifewortheating.com/italy/uliassi/.
Another strong recommendation would be Osteria La Francescana in Modena. See http://www.alifewortheating.com/italy/osteria-la-francescana/.
Have heard great things about Gambero Rosso from friends in Italy, as well, though I’ve not been myself yet.
Cheers,
Aaron
ChuckEats said,

October 28, 2007 @ 10:04 pm

Aaron, I just tried Ubuntu last night (review forthcoming) and it was very good.

I will check out your Italy suggestions. Thanks.
Kevin said,

November 1, 2007 @ 12:47 am

In Italy I would take a look at Combal.zero in Rivoli–the “cuisine experimentale” section can be awesome….
Aaron S said,

December 4, 2007 @ 11:36 pm

I would re-think Komi. Its a nice looking restaurant, easy to love idea of a restaurant (young chef serving only tasting menus in an unpretentious space) but the food gets less interesting as time goes on. If you have to be in DC I would say that Citronelle, Cityzen, Palena or La Paradou are better choices. If you are stuck in DC for a week than go, but if this restaurant was in NY or SF or Chicago it would NOT be famous.
Dave G said,

December 16, 2007 @ 8:15 pm

Hi Chuck
Me too, I really recommend El Paseo, it is very inovative cuisine and I think this place will make it soon. The chef is such a talent!
Steve said,

April 8, 2008 @ 2:00 am

Chuck -

Don’t waste your time at Cut. Aside from the bone marrow flan and the smart sommelier, the place is mediocre. Cut ruins its steaks with excessive black pepper and is so expensive that it could have caused the credit crisis. Go to Jar or one of the better K-town bbq’s the next time you pass through town.

Thanks for the nice comment on your Providence review.

Steve
ChuckEats said,

April 8, 2008 @ 6:38 pm

Thanks Steve - I’ve since found a great source of meat locally (dry-aged 8 weeks) so I’ve dramatically cut back on eating steak when going out. And since Urasawa seems to consistently have his A10 Wagyu, I doubt there is a need to try Cut.

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11 Comments »

Scott Solomon said,

good food said,

wk said,

ChuckEats said,

alifewortheating said,

ChuckEats said,

Kevin said,

Aaron S said,

Dave G said,

Steve said,

ChuckEats said,

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