nikkib

the truffled arancini have been a ramsay canape since i worked for them in '04

http://www.top100restaurants.co.uk/page/th...rants_2008.html so it would appear that restaurant magazine have expanded from the top 50 world restaurants to a uk top 100 too - some interesting choices and ommisions - thoughts?

yauatcha http://www.yauatcha.com/ upstairs and tea palace http://www.teapalace.co.uk/?

jean philippe has been the maitre'd there since they opened under ramsay/wareing...

there were plenty of cepes at the market by the palce boulnois when i was there this weekend, didn't notice the price though i'm afraid

has anyone eaten at bordeaux?

but it is not the uber rich who will suffer - they are still happily set for life on their £22million bonuses etc, don't forsee any high ends closing to be honest - ducasse a possible exception as i dobn't know anyone who has been and enjoyed it..

Mark hix's Oyster and chop house/ scotts/ st john

The capital (see the capital threda) £30 last time i went and amazing. Otherwise River Cafe is lovely on a sunday -pricier though as no set menu

Amazing!! Thank you soo much fro all the recommendations, will definitely do my best to check most of them out, think we may skip the ritz as we have brunch at the crillon and can't afford to get too accustomed to such luxuries!!! Will let you know how i get on

"I have some great spots for you to check out…First a bar owner here in NYC has two happening bars in Paris. Phillip Morgan who owns Suba here in the city owns Stolly in Paris and the Lizard Lounge in the Marais District. A bar crawl would be incomplete in Paris without a stop at Hemingways favorite bar the American Bar in the Ritz Hotel Dress for this one, and please say hello to Colin Field the Master bartender in residence. The original Harry's New York bar opened in 1911 is a must for a hamburger and a Bloody Mary. Finally near the Plaza Vendome is the bar in the Hotel Costes very classy" so said dale de groff on egullet in 2002 - are these bars still going strong and are they worth a visit? Am over this weekend and was looking for inspiration... Experimental cocktail club is a must as is Costes and le fumoir but apart from that i am a bit stuck

well not sure why i was so worried - spent an absolutely wonderful afternoon at waterside yesterday. Glorious weather meant we were able to sit outside on teh terrace ebnjoying our champagne and canapes befor moving through to the restaurant. We went for the menu exceptionelle making a couple of substitutions to suit our differing tastes which didn't so much as cause them to bat an eyelid. I thought the service was friendly and professional and everything was running like clockwork. I will post in more detail and add photos but just thought i would add this now.

will report back in a couple of weeks

not a pub and not whisky related but you should really check out bramble, a tiny speak-easy style cocktail bar while you are there - 16a queen street. Kitchin was great - you will have a brilliant time.

tiny - 25 or so covers i would imagine...

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=118406 link to my meal at giaconda dining room here

well i second the feeling heavy - my god! Talk about hearty!! Giaconda dining rooms was where i ended up after asking for advice on this forum for new and interesting openings and i was not disappointed. It is a no fuss, no frills restaurant with friendly down to earth service and made we wish eating out could be more like this. We started with shellfish bisque and the baked eggs with spinach, cheese and cream which were both lovely although really generous portions and very rich as well. I went for the special fish of the day - john dory with aubergine puree and olives and my friend had steak tartar which was served with both toast and chips(!). The menu is one where you literally want to eat everything, from the carpaccio to the pumpkin risotto through the corned beef hash and fried egg, vitello tonnato, tir a misu etc etc etc. When we arrived at 7 the place was releatively empty, by the time we left it was heaving. Great, well priced wine list - i had a sancerre from henri bourgeois at £25 which was amazing value. I found the wine glasses absolutely fine despite comments elsewhere. £75 for dinner for 2 including coffees and truffles but no desserts (just too full) was great value and i will definitely be back

pegu pdt death and company milk and honey angels share

I had a great meal at Kitchin - would not disagree with you there

have you eaten at the maze chefs table howard? That is great and you can see pretty much the whole kitchen, we got to cook scallops too!

the head chef at Petrus is Alan but their sous is an amazing kiwi girl called chantelle - would imagine they were both in if Marcus was off, but rest assured alan is an immensley talented chef as well

thats us brits abroad for you!

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fo...ivo-856031.html this is definitely my favourite campari drink at the moment....

sounds amazing - good luck to him!

pretty much - well it used to be - i haven't eaten there this year. They offer you the choice. Last time i went the three of us all had different dishes for every course - a terrine of foie gras for one person, one had a ballotine of foie gras and smoked duck and one had pan fried foie etc - really impressiva and allowed for different preferences and dietary req's to be taken into consideration. I manot a big fan of a main course of meat on a tasting menu as i find it too rich so i had another fish dish which was lovely.