Beachfan

The only time I remember having it is at Silver Oak. And all I remember is the crowds (I'm not a Silver Oak fan).

That's a lot. However, they let me stroke the rare wines for free.

Steve, I thought there were a few good buys at Lavinia. One that they have (but couldn't find the day I was there) was Ogier 1999 Cote Rotie at 30 euros. And 1988 Pegau CDP for maybe 24 euros (maybe a little more). Are those prices high?

Can you make lunch? I know it's not the same, but the prix fixe option is probably the best deal in Paris. And when I asked for an extra course because I wanted to try a particular entree, I got charged only an extra 7 euros. I was prepared to pay an additional 20.

Sorry, haven't heard of it, and didn't see a review in either Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, or International Wine Cellar. Let us know!

I'm not sure of the question. It's consistent because I"ve never been disappointed, and they handle everyone's dietary or culinary preferences. Other restaurants in LA are more hit and miss.

How was the wine pricing at the restaurants? One thing great about the Rhone is that some of the restaurant's wine lists haven't been picked over and you can find some great bargains (like Chave 1990 Hermitage for 100 euros).

Lovely post Steve! As I am hard pressed to do both lunch and dinner out, dinner being the same as lunch doesn't sound too bad. Sounds like the truffle portions were ample! PS With your wheat intolerance, how do you eat cous cous?

I had a fabulous meal at Spago last night. Very good plus to Excellent. First Course Me: Chino Farms Celery Root Soup with wild black trumpet mushroom and crisp duck confit and poached egg. Super delicous, satisfying, mostly puree only a little cream. The textures and flavors of the duck and egg were very nice Wife: Pumpkin and Butternut Squash soup (Sorry, less details here). Strong and delicious pumpkin and nutmeg flavors. Share: White truffles from Alba over taglietelle. Not grated tableside, but otherwise very nice to excellent. Very simple preparation, truffle portion fair (but not generous). But the dish was fabulous. Entree Me: French turbot with chanterelles and parsnip puree. A perfect preparation of one of my favorite dishes. Not fancy, put the puree was a wonderful- comfort food with a fancy flavor. Excellent quality, generous portion. Wife: Garganelli Pasta with wild and domestic mushrooms (garlic, shallots, parsley and reggiano). Perfect mushrooms and wonderful al dente garganelli in a toothsome mushroom sauce. We had switched our original order to this one after seeing a neighboring diner get a portion chock full of mushrooms. Ours had no where near as much; the waiter brought a very generous extra helping. Normally we wouldn't get pasta and pasta, but my wife is a light eater and basically just had the mushrooms from the entree (I was the beneficiary of this, as I loved the pasta). Desert: Braeburn Apple Tart Tatin, with apple cider granita, calvados ice cream and pomegranate seeds. The granita and pomegranite seeds took this dish to the next level. Service: We had a short wait in the bar, during which they promptly gave me a copy of the wine list after I had requested it. The waiter had excellent timing, greeting us after we were seated, checking in after every dish (hence the mushroom remediation was almost immediate). The wine service was also well done (other than spilling a couple of drops on the first pour). The only flaw was a very long wait before the entree. However, we really didn't mind as we were enjoying the wine and the room, and as soon as we inquired seriously, it appeared. The most reliable restaurant in So Cal. Where would LA be without Spago!

The listed dish (quenelles) is what caused me to chose Leon de Lyon, so in that one case, yes. Otherwise no.

Not sure about weekdays, but on Saturday night, Le Dome was open late. I arrived at about 10pm (late for a 9:15 reservation), and was seated about 10:30. People were still arriving at 11:30

I absoluteloy loved Osteria del Fiore. Also very good was Ai Covo and Ai Gondolieri. Fabulous Pizza at Taverna San Trovasso (near Accademia) and Trattoria Pizzeria San Toma. The latter won my individual "Best of Italy summer 99" for their gorgonzola/mozzeralla pizza from heaven (about 30 candidates from Vencie to Sicily).

My favorite is vintage port of course. After that, it's 20, 30 or 40 year Grahams Tawny. But if you like this stuff, some incredible values are coming out of Australia. My favorite is Yalumba Muscat Show Reserve (around $12 for 375 ml). The Wine Advocate just mentioned some by Buller for the same price that they raved about.

How's the food at the Enotecha?

I'll second Babbo. Morrell Wine Bar by Rockefeller Center is also very nice - not as good value as Babbo but a great selection.

Correct by design, yes. Insulting to residents of Hawaii, also yes.

I've been to Fleur de Lys 5 times over 8 years. I've always been impressed by their ability to tailor the tasting menu to the individual tastes. The first time I went, there was one vegetarian, two no - meat fish lovers and an omnivore. We got 3 different tasting menus, each course different. Something like 24 amazing and unique dishes, almost all 10s with a 9 there intermintently. They've taken their tailoring to the next level. They will do Atkins, vegan, just about anything with notice.

Well, one thing I've learned from E gullet. There isn't any restaurant that someone hasn't had a bad meal at. Buerehiesel was one of my all time great meals, where I had a fish tasting menu, and my wife had a vegetarian menu. The rouget was fabulous, among many others. The vegetarian food was even better.

I can highly recommend the Janasse 2000 Cote du Rhone Village. The vineyard is just a stone's throw (gallette?) from the Chateauneuf du Pape appelation, and tastes better than 70% of the CdPs. I goes for $13.99 in Woodland Hills Wine Co., a great price since Madame Janasse charged me $12.99 at the winery.

Already showing that he has good taste.

A well respected restaurant (listed in Michelin, highly recommended by Frommer's), called Antique Restaurant in Budapest was surprisingly easy to get a reservation. When we arrived, the owner was waiting for us outside. I wanted to bolt. But she called out my name, and sure enought the place was empty. It was a gorgeous room, but the emptiness just reinforced my instinct. In fact, I have a rule about not going to empty restaurants. My wife used to think it was silly. The best part of the experience is now my wife subscribes to the same rule. The meal was not terrible, but not average for it's class. Unlike every other restaurant that served fois gras, this one served a bloc rather than a tranche of something more akin to fois gras entier. I still hadn't had what I thought was an obligatory chicken paprikash. It was pretty mild and boring. And my wife's vegetarian plate stood out as the most mundane in the city. Thankfully, the meal was quick. Too bad, it was our last night, and I almost went back to Alabardos, which was superb and should have had a Michelin star (no starred restaurants in Budapest).

I reserve my big lunches for 1)places that do special prix fixe for lunch, such as Bouley and/or 2) days that I'm going to the theatre. If the $$ and available time are comparable, I choose dinner.

Ajay, I wonder if you got the same thing, and there are different tastes involved, or if my several reminders of this being a special occasion got us an upgraded menu?

We were completely wowed by our lunch there. And they did a very nice vegetarian menu too. I'll dig out my notes and post over the weekend.

I guess it's also a question of taste. I would have said those years might be too old. Of course, I may be the minority, but I prefer the 89 and 90 Lynch Bages to the 82, 85, 86. And I love the 89 and 90 Pichon Baron and recently had the 90 Beaussejour Duffau. All were yummy!