The best thing I've ever eaten

[guroo270]

Just curious. As a former employee of OpenTable I'm a big foodie. What are the best restaurants you've been to, either by reputation or experience? Curious mostly about places like French Laundry, Attica, Morimoto restaurants, etc. Guy Fieri recommendations automatically dismissed.

I research restaurants any time I'm going anywhere. On road trips I'm always looking for the best cheesesteak, my passion, but restaurants drive me.

What chu got?

Ichiran Shibuya (Tokyo) - best ramen by far. Totally customizable ramen, unique singular stalls to dine, in a basement, love it.

Mama's Fish House (Maui) - favorite restaurant of all time.

Frankie's (Tucson) - seriously best sandwiches ever, coming from a guy that literally flew to Philly just for a cheesesteak tour.

Hattie B's (Nashville) - the best fried chicken you've had. Alton Brown concurs.

Catbird Seat (Nashville) - never went, but it's on the bucket list.

My own Loco Moco - familiarize yourself with this dish and make it often.

Lancelot (Vail) - their prime rib is off the charts.

Slanted Door (SF) - never went

Mine (SF) - went but left when I saw I didn't have a Rolex or diamond cuff links.

I love truffles but have never had a world class dish with them. Worth it? Same vein, Matsutake mushrooms? Never had, but want.

I've never had A-5 Wagyu or Kobe beef. Thoughts?

Anyone that chimes in here should watch Chef's Table on Netflix. It's infinitely interesting.

[4matic]

Teenage pussy

[guroo270]

You think youth has something to do with that? I always thought it was god's gift with a tinge of ph balance.

[BmillsSkier]

Top 5 meals in somewhat order:

Chateau Jöel Robuchon Tokyo - NYE, easily best meal of my life 15 courses, best table in the house, and chef Alain Ducasse joined us for dessert. Best part was the multi continent angling, fibbing and arm twisting we had to do to get the table.

Le Bernadin NYC - youngest sister worked for Ripert for 3 years. Got introduced to everyone. Impeccable seafood and service that is the standard bearer.

La Degustation Bourgeiose Prague - two tasting menus, one continental, one from a 150 year old Czech cookbook each paired accordingly. Wife and I got one of each. Some of the most inventive and intense flavored dishes I've ever tasted.

Le Pigeon PDX - been going here since Rucker opened it and have been lucky enough to be recognized in arrival and treated to some very special dishes. Still one of the most talented chefs in a very great space. Extra points for methheads trying to rob us outside after one visit.

Husk Charleston - I'm a touch biased because I get here pretty often but Sean Brock's food is amazingly thought out, very flavorful without being pretentious in presentation or in ingredients and highlights southern cuisine and seafood better than anyone I've seen. Best bourbon selection too doesn't hurt.

Honorable mentions:

Higashi Yama Tokyo
French Laundry - pre renovation
Four Seasons NYC
Martini House St Helena CA
Baccahnalia ATL
Pok Pok PDX
Brooklyn Fare, Brooklyn


You'd really like Catbird Seat but it's not the same as it was when it started getting all the press. Still great food.

[Bromontana]

Her name was Chloe. She was incredibly sweet.

[Tippster]

Best thing I've eaten recently was a Kobe (or Wagyu, not sure) beef tartare nigirisushi at a place called ZEI in DC. No idea what they mixed into the minced beef but whatever it was, along with the dollop of black truffle relish on top was... astoundingly good.

One of the most interesting meals I've ever had, from appetizer to dessert, was at Michel Richard's Central. Just really tasty fun takes on traditional Bistro cuisine.

[guroo270]

Did you eat the Fugu in Tokyo?

[Kenny Satch]

Polenta con Capriolo (roe deer) at the top of Marilleva Ski hill in northern Italy
OMG it was so incredible I had three plates of it
To my surprise the owner came out to say hello and told me no one had ever eaten 3 portions.
He sat down and treated me to some free Grappa
to this day I grave it all the time.. I need to go back

[SKIORFORGETIT]

hadn't had Luke's Lobster (NYC/MTK) in a few years & had it 2 weekends ago. Was amazing.

Peter Luger's for the bacon cheeseburger

i went to Four Seasons about 10 years ago, can't remember the food, but great atmosphere.

Bowery Meat Company for the burger.

Mighty Quinn's bbq- unfucking real especially the brisket.

I don't know if it's still open, but went to a place called Country years ago. Not only was the food great, but the presentation was something I have never seen before.

Maloney & Porcelly

[Marshall Tucker]

I'm not as into this a lot of people. That said, a large steak at local bones NEVER disapoints.

[Dantheman]

Best steak I ever ate was the Bistecca Fiorentina at a place called Perseus in Florence. Top notch old school Italy.

[iceman]

In less than 48 hours in San Sebastian Spain (they'd say Pais Vasco, not Spain) last year we did 9 Michelin stars - Martin Berasetegui For Dinner, Akelarre for Dinner the next day, then Arzak for lunch the day after. It was bloody insane. No idea what was best, it all blurs together. But that was the best two days of food in my life.

At Martin Berasategui the Maitre d' noticed I am left-handed before we even had anything to eat and had the table completely reset in about 10 seconds. Still amazed at that, how did he know?

[BmillsSkier]

Did you eat the Fugu in Tokyo?

No but we saw the knife work involved in presenting that fish and that alone was awesome to see.

[Pegleg]

Lobster roll from Red's Eats in Wiscasset, ME. Or lobster roll from Eventide Oyster House in Portland, ME. Two different takes on it, both absolutely amazing.

[riser4]

The rack of lamb at Kuleto's on Union Square in SF, April, 1991. I believe it was a wood fired set up. Some sort of squash risotto. Blood orange creme brulee for desert. Some 20 yo tawny port. I don't remember the brand. The whole experience was pretty nice. Whole thing set me back $45 plus tip IIRC. Maybe it $65. Either way, I left thinking that was inexpensive for what I got. Nothing else has really come close since then.

[riser4]

In less than 48 hours in San Sebastian Spain (they'd say Pais Vasco, not Spain) last year we did 9 Michelin stars - Martin Berasetegui For Dinner, Akelarre for Dinner the next day, then Arzak for lunch the day after. It was bloody insane. No idea what was best, it all blurs together. But that was the best two days of food in my life.

At Martin Berasategui the Maitre d' noticed I am left-handed before we even had anything to eat and had the table completely reset in about 10 seconds. Still amazed at that, how did he know?

They still let left handed children live? Devil-spawn, you.

[Mazderati]

Corn soup from Mistral is right up there.

[irul&ublo]

The rack of lamb at Kuleto's on Union Square in SF, April, 1991. I believe it was a wood fired set up. Some sort of squash risotto. Blood orange creme brulee for desert. Some 20 yo tawny port. I don't remember the brand. The whole experience was pretty nice. Whole thing set me back $45 plus tip IIRC. Maybe it $65. Either way, I left thinking that was inexpensive for what I got. Nothing else has really come close since then.

Kuleto's is underrated. I've always had good meals there

[Danno]

man, there are some hifalutin motherfuckers up in here.

Seriously, though, I'd love to try eating at some of the places mentioned, but sadly lack the cash to do so. I have had some good meals, of course, and I love good food, but can't recall many "oh my god that was amazing" things. I blame the weed and the kiddo, not necessarily in that order, but mostly it's the wallet or lack thereof.

That said, I know where to get the best chicken wings I've ever eaten. Wild Mountain Smokehouse in Nederland. Goddam are those things good. Smoked, then finished on the grill, and tossed in a buttery hot sauce. :drool:

[iceman]

About 150 yards from here is a commercial fishing pier. At 5:00 one of the guys starts selling lobsters as he unloads the days catch from the boat. About 6:00 I'll walk over there and grab a couple nice ones. So that will be the next best thing I eat.

[Pegleg]

Best thing I've eaten recently was a Kobe (or Wagyu, not sure) beef tartare nigirisushi at a place called ZEI in DC. No idea what they mixed into the minced beef but whatever it was, along with the dollop of black truffle relish on top was... astoundingly good.

Definitely wasn't Kobe, probably not real Japanese Waygu... big issue with mislabeling in the US. There's a good article about this here.

[riser4]

Kuleto's is underrated. I've always had good meals there

It was even better than teenage pussy, and that's saying a lot.

[jamesp]

Definitely wasn't Kobe, probably not real Japanese Waygu... big issue with mislabeling in the US. There's a good article about this here.

waygu is overrated feed lot grain fed shite anyway. Grass fed beef is the only way.

[Tippster]

Definitely wasn't Kobe, probably not real Japanese Waygu... big issue with mislabeling in the US. There's a good article about this here.

They claim Kobe on the menu (I just checked) and in this town/clientele you don't get away with faking it.

Edit: never mind, just read the article. Anyway - it was super tasty. Probably just a US Wagyu breed.

[Caucasian Asian]

Same vein, Matsutake mushrooms? Never had, but want.

My grandmother used to make matsutake gohan. Basically steamed rice with sliced mushrooms.

I had an amazing roasted elk tenderloin once. It was listed as "Market Price", but I forgot to ask what that was. Turns out the Market Price was the same amount as the rest of our bill, including drinks.