[Los Angeles Restaurants: Recommendations & Reviews]

Okay, since I have our chicago dinners (almost) settled, I need to plan for our 4-night-stop in Los Angeles.

Where should we go for fine dining (2 nights) and casual dining (2 nights)?

We will stay either in Santa Monca or West Hollywood.

For casual dining I have no idea where to go.

Our fine dining shortlist so far:

Providence

Ortolan

Sona

Mori Sushi (price range? the webiste gives no real info, nor any pictures of the place)

Any comments?

We do not like too formal places, let alone stiff waiters. We are not looking for "classic french" cuisine, like Melisse seems to offer. We are more into "modern" or "experimental" cuisine. Our limit is 400-500$ for 2, including drinks, tax & tip.

On the other hand, for casual dining, we have no preferences - good asian, good french bistro fare, good american comfort food or even a place for good steak, burgers or takeout-sandwiches is appreciated.

Oh, and: where is a good area to have some casual after dinner drinks? Meaning: is there such a place in L.A. where you can actually *walk* a little bit and have a selection of bars/pubs at hand?

And gfron1 & rjwong: could you let me know where to get those wonderful sweets...??

Thank you!

best

kai

[Avenues Chicago]

There is a menu online, but it doesn't offer more than a rough ingredient list for each dish.

...and they are so smart as not to give away any information regarding the prices...

Anyway: nobody been there yet?

[[CHI] Alinea – Grant Achatz – Reviews & Discussion (Part 3)]

Okay, thank you, UE and Lenski.

Since neither me nor my girflfriend drink very much alcohol (we get distracted too easily from the food with alcohol... ), we should maybe ask for the other kind of splitting - that is: just half the selection but a regular pairing-pour each.

We'll see

kai

By the way: reading user-reviews of american restaurants Iam more and more surprised how many people stay with water or soft drinks in fine dining restaurants...(something I already noticed on our last trip to L.A. - at Providence, for example, we seemed to be the only ones going for an aperetif and some wine...)

[[CHI] Alinea – Grant Achatz – Reviews & Discussion (Part 3)]

Two questions regarding the wine pairing: Is it possible to "split" the wine pairing between 2 people? Or is it rather useless to split because you have barely any wine in your glass then? (I don't know how much they usually pour). Or do they also split in the way that you get half the number of wines each, but the full pour. (And do they charge more for any splitting than for one full pairing?).

And how is it at aliena: are you taken to a bar area first, for an aperetif? If so, do they offer interesting american sparkling wines, as well? (I always like to try regional stuff - Chamapgner is something I can get over here all the time; besides, I heard something about 50$-a-glass-champgne at alinea, which is something I certainly don't need...)

Or is an aperetif-like drink part of the pairing, anyway?

thanks

best

kai

[Sicily Restaurants: Reviews & Recommendations]

I can reccomend "La Gazza Ladra" in Modica. A very nice and ambitious restaurant with a good mixture of "modern" and "traditional" dishes. If weather allows, book a table on the terrace.

But be aware: if you come before 9 p.m. you will be virtually alone - when we where there this june, most local guests arrived between 9.30 and 10 p.m.

The prices are very reasonable as well: the 9 course tasting menu is 70 euros, then there is a 5 course menu for 55. Wines are around 6 euros a glass - and they are real good. Service is very attentive and friendly, especially the lady of the house and the japanese sommelier.

But tell them at the beginning that you need some time between every course - otherwise they will fire out the 9 dishes and you will be out after 2 hours. The reason might be the late arrival of most guests.

Anyway: a very good "fine dining" restaurant that didn't seem "touristy at all to us, even though it is located in a hotel.

[Your Top 10 in Las Vegas]

Inspired by a similar topic about Chicago in the Heartland-forum, I would like to know what the Vegas-regulars here would consider their Top10 (or top 5) in the city - fine dining & casual dining.

I think this could be a helpful topic since there are so many restaurants in LV that seem worth going to - personally I have lost track...

So, keep it coming...

regards

kai

[The reopening of Schwa?]

Oh my...I just reached someone by phone at Schwa! But...they don't take reservations for september yet...too sad...I hope this wasn't my one lucky chance to reach them...

Useless post, I know...I just had to get it out...

greetings

kai

[David Burke Primehouse]

Anybody been there recently?

I think about skipping one of our "high end" dates in the city for a real good steakhouse since this is something you really don't get in germany in sufficient quality...(as opposed to "modern french" or "experimental" cuisine. And after reading molto e's post, I think my dad would be grateful for something that suites *his* preferences for a change...)

There is just one thing that I have often seen now on pictures from US-steakhouses: the steaks often look rather black and "burned" on the outside - is this american custom and a question of better aroma or something? Because in germany they would never ever do that (actually most people here would send the meat back if it looked like this...but maybe that is because we don't know how to cook steak... )

Anyway, thanks for an update on Primehouse (or other steakhouse suggestions).

Regards

kai

[[CHI] Alinea – Grant Achatz – Reviews & Discussion (Part 3)]

"dress code"? (While Iam always dressed appropriately, I always find it a bit silly if restaurants that praise their "playful" and "innovative" food on any occasion, on the other hand are anything but playful and expect their guests to be dressed as if attending a wall-street-business meeting... )

[Moto Restaurant - Chicago]

Thanks for the replies, all!

@docsonz: maybe "tasty" was the wrong word - "appealing" might be better.

Still I guess I will go for the 5-course, I don't wanna risk getting a food overkill on the night after, while visiting Alinea...(because usually, after a fine dining night out, especially if it was "experimental cuisine", I crave classic "comfort food". But since we have so little time in chicago this won't work out...plus I have a feeling I'd rather safe my capacity for 9 courses at Schwa on the 3rd night - if we get a table...)

greetings

kai

[Moto Restaurant - Chicago]

No misunderstanding please: I didn't express my own impressions regarding the service above, but those of reviews that I stumbled upon, browsing the web...

[The reopening of Schwa?]

I wouldgo for the nine - if I hadn't 2-3 more high-end-restaurants to go to the nights after (or before).

[Chicago restaurants - your top 5?]

Hi all,

we will be in Chicago in mid-september for 4 days.

3-4 nights are reserved for some of the "top 5" restaurants named in this thread - the question is: which ones?

Our shortlist so far consists of (if possible in that order, which seems like a nice "arc"

to me):

-Moto (5 course) *or* Schwa (3 course)

-Alinea (tasting)

-l2o (4 course; even though it seems a bit overpriced to me, in comparison...)

-Schwa (rather 9 course, depending on our capacity after the former days...) *or* Moto (5 course)

What do you think? It could well be that 1 has to go (we might need a night "off")

Any other ideas?

And how is it at l2o and Moto with short notice reservations on weekdays?

Thanks

Best

kai

[The reopening of Schwa?]

In case I will be able to reach someone on their phone (calling from germany...) and get a table for mid-september, I have a question (similar to the one in the Moto-thread):

Can anyone comment on the 3-course-menu? (It's too sad that they don't offer something in between the 3 and the 9 courses)

And it seems that Schwa is a rather casual place, right?

Thanks

Best

kai

[Moto Restaurant - Chicago]

It seems like everybody is ordering the 10course-menu at least - can someone comment on the 5-course-experience? Because *if* we go there (I know molecular cuisine quite well, but honestly, the dishes pictured here look "interesting" but not really "tasty"), 5 courses is all we will try, since we intend to do 3 restos in 3 days (see general chicago thread) and Iam a bit afraid of a "food overkill".

Oh, and: do I get it right that Moto is more of a "casual/informal" restaurant?

And could someone say something about the service? Because I read horrible things about it (snotty, arrogant etc)

Thanks

best

kai

[San Diego: Steak & Seafood wanted...]

Wow, thank you! That is a lot of choice, indeed...(we have only, like, 3-4 nights to dine out)

To narrow it down a little bit: where would you go, personally?

[Chicago Restaurants: Reviews & Recommendations]

Any suggestions for a relaxed, casual place to eat on our arrival night in Chicago? We arrive in the late afternoon/early evening and will be tired after a long flight, so we really don't need anything fancy. Just a good burger or steak or maybe even just a good sandwich place.

We will stay at the Monaco Hotel (225 N Wabash Ave).

Thanks

kai

[Chicago Restaurants: Reviews & Recommendations]

Hi all,

we will be in Chicago in mid-september for 4 days.

3 nights are reserved for some of the great restaurants this city has to offer - the question is: which ones?

Our shortlist so far consists of (if possible in that order):

-Schwa

-Alinea

-Moto (even though I read terrible things about the service there...)

What do you think?

Any other ideas?

And are the "Food Planet Food Tours" a good thing to do as "sightseeing"?

Thanks

Best

kai

[San Diego: Steak & Seafood wanted...]

Hi,

we will be in the San Diego area in september, visiting family in Spring Valley.

The family members we are visiting are not really into food, so I want to ask you guys:

What we are looking for is

1. a real good steakhouse

2. a good seafood restaurant (since San Diego is by the sea...)

Both are things that you do not really get in sufficient quality in germany...

(We are not looking for "upscale fine dining" places, but nice restaurant with nice settings and maybe even a "view" or something...)

Thanks

Greetings from germany

kai

[Bastide]

Has anyone been to the "newest" Bastide yet?

[[CHI] L.2O - Laurent Gras]

Thanks for the great report and gorgeous pictures yellow truffle! (I start to panic now that I realize how many restaurants I want to try out on my chicago-trip.....)

Just one question regarding the number of courses: even if one doesn't count the extra course, your 4-courses turned into 14 courses, including 4 amuses, 2 pre-desserts and 3 (!) regular desserts...

Are they always that generous (the dessert-course turning into 3...!) at L2O or was it because you ordered expensive extra/substitute dishes or are known at the restaurant or something like that?

Also, could someone comment on the selection and price-range of the wine list? How are the prices if you go for wines by the glass with each course?

Thank you!

best

kai

[Viaggiatore Gourmet]

There is juts one problem with this website: I have yet to find one single negative or really critical review...

Nice as the website with all the pictures is, it seems more like a sponsored guidebook to me (and the guys obviously never dine anonymously - Especially the sicilian "correspondent" is horribly pompous, judging from some of the pictures on his blog, where he resides on his table with huge notepads etc).

[Foie Gras Process]

Ducks and geese aren't fed like that anymore.

They have bred ducks and geese for this purpose and all they want to do is eat.

There is no cruelty to animals involved here (...)

Could you explain that to me in detail. I have been to alsace many many times - but never ever have I seen or even heard about what you describe. No duck and no goose eats enough to gain a "natural" foie gras...

I truly madly deeply love foie gras - but still I know very well that producing it is cruel to animals, no doubt about that. So Iam not sure if we should really be "happy" to see the ban reversed...

[[CHI] L.2O - Laurent Gras]

Wow, the dishes look really amazing - thanks for the great report! (I guess I'll have to spend more time in Chicago, than I planned...)

I don't want to get to off topic, but being from germany there is one thing that strikes me, when I look at all those pictures from US-restaurants (and especially the ones in chicago!): everything looks hyper-modern, with sharp lines and geometric patterns, the favourite coulor for the interior design seems to be black&white&beige, with some touches of glass, chrome and polished wood. The waiters are dressed in sharp-black and the favourite colour of the diners seems to be black, too. In other words: everything and everyboy looks incredibly "cool" (I hardly see a waiter or diners smile...).

I just find this funny, because in germany (and as far as I remember in italy and france, too) restaurants rather try to establish a "warm" and "cozy" atmosphere in the coulors and designs they chose.

I may have a totally wrong impression, but even though the dishes from restaurants like L20, Alinea etc look absolutely *fantastic*, the look/atmosphere of the restaurants themselves rather "scares" me off...

But as I said - this is off topic. I just got to me, looking at those L20-pictures...

greetings

kai

[Moto Restaurant - Chicago]

Thanks for the great report and pictures, docsonz!

Still I cannot figure out the culinary sense of this "battle ship" plate...could you elaborate on that - or is this presentation just a "gag"?

Thank you!

best

kai