kai-m

That means the listed price for a bottle of wine or a glass of champagne already includes service?

Since here in germany we are not familiar with that "tipping culture" (or waiters get a decent salary AND 5-10% tip...), I have one question: is this service charge at per se kind of "fixed" from the start, meaning: is it 20 or whatever % of the *menu price* only (as is implied)? And do you have to give extra tip for the beverages-bill then (which would mean that the service charge is not really included, but only a part of it)? Or do they take the whole check as a base and add the service-%age? In this case it would be absurd to say that the service charge is included in the 250$-menu-price since it actually is not... Thanks Best kai

Since we are -finally!- going this weekend I want to revive this thread. Iam not sure about BACCHUS anymore - since almost all reviews I have found (Guardian, Time Out, eating-london-website etc) are rather negative and especially mention the "very dodgy", "run down" neighbourhood... I didn't find many substantial things about MAZE. And what about AUBERGINE? Thing is: I do not want to spend a fortune. Dinner (means at least 4-5 courses) for 2 including drinks, service and all should not exceed 150-200 pounds. Thanks! best kai

Thank you!! To be precise: we stay just south of Roman Rd. and east of Grove Rd. (south of Victoria Park). For our "fine dining night" we have not yet decided...(I will revive another, older thread regarding that) best kai

We'll be in London for the weekend, visting friends. They live in the Bow-area (around the Mile End-subway-station, or was it Bethnal Green?). They are not really "foodies", and they've only been living there for like 10 months - means I can't really rely on them when it comes to food... So any suggestions for the area (or areas that are easy to reach ny foot, with the subway or the bus from there) would be great!! Best kai PS: Is tax included in the menu&wine-prices in GB? And how much does one tip?

For a local it's always funny to see those kind of articles... "Holbein's" is just mediocre, a place for hipsters who don't really care for the food. If you want to dine really well on the "museum mile" you better go to "Emma Metzler" in the Museum for applied arts ("MAK"). "Silk" is good and very unusual but unfortunamtely it is located in an industrial suburb of town. "Zarges" is okay. The recently opened a gourmet restaurant in the souterrain of their deli that is said to be very expensive but not that good... best kai

Yeah, my girlfriends cousin, a sicilian who lives in palermo, told us that italian waiters love german (and other foreign) guests, because they tip so well as opposed to italians... But at a place like La Pergola, where, at least as I've read somewhere, the "super rich jet set" of rome makes for most of the guest, I would've thought that huge tips are rather common...

Thanks for the details, mbernstein! We will definetely try Matricianella (we have 4 nights in rome). Regarding sicily: where exactly is that restaurant "Vittorio"? We have been to sicily 3 times (my girlfriend is sicilian) but never heard of it... best kai

Wow, thansk for the great report, mbernstein! This puts my expectations even higher... Iam surprised about your pasta-comment, though, since Beck is famous for his pasta dishes... How was atmosphere? Very formal (not to say "stiff")? (I find it kinda funny that waiters in italian upscale places still wear those black, old fashioned, tux-like suits and those huge bow-ties...) One question regarding the price: 460,- euros just for 2 menus (one 6-course & one 9-course)?? Wow! Or does that include some kinda drinks & coffee & tip? Because as far as I know the large menu at La Pergola is around 190,- and the "smaller" one 175 - which would be rather like 360,-... And can you comment on wine and/or drink prices? Just curious, since tasting-menus in german 3*-restos cost way less (between 120,- and 160,-) but wine/champagne/water is more expensive than in italy, as far as I have experienced. Thanks alot! best kai

We have secured a reservation for october 6 now - can hardly wait...! Still I cannot believe that *nobody* has been to rome and La Pergola in the past months...?!? best kai (by the way, paul: the 6 course menu is 175,- by now - so I guess it'll be rather 250 p.p. even though I hear that wine is not as expensive in italian restaurants...)

The march 2007 issue of *the* german gourmet magazine (Der Feinschmecker) reccomended the following restaurants: TO DIE FOR BASIL SPRING & SUMMER MAHANAGA Any opinions? (Sometimes they are way off base in that magazine...) best kai

Thanks a lot! No Iam not Thai at all...but good to know that my name must sound kinda funny for Thai people... Anyway: I'll be in town for the BKK Film Festival, which takes place at "Central World"...so I guess my hotel will be in this area as well... Where exactly is that "street food area" you liked, ImportFood? Usually Iam a bit wary of that kind, too, for the same reasons as you are... By the way: a couple of years ago we had dinner at "Blue Elephant"...what a disappointment that was (my hometown Thai around the corner is better...) Peter: who is Jan Ganser? D'Sens seems like a good place to go - given the background of the french owners, at least... If you find the time, it would be great if you posted your thoughts and pictures of Vendome (and others...). And compared to european prices, french-restaurant tasting menus in BKK are still a pretty good deal... Thanks a lot! kai PS: how far in advance does one need to place a reservation for dinner for 2 at places like Vendome and Baan Khanita etc?

Hmm, yes, after checking out all the websites a bit I have to say: london 1*-restaurants are pretty damn expensive...(compared to italy or germany and even many in france...). Therefore BACCHUS seemed like a good choice (60,- for the large tasting menu...!). But what do you mean by "I would be wary of making the hike out there"?? On the map it doesn't look like it's out of town or something...?!? By the way: we are staying with friends who live between the "Bethnal Green" and "Miles End" underground stations - maybe that is of help in deciding where to go... Thanks Best kai PS: I already went to ROBUCHON in Vegas - real nice...

Hmm, couldn't find a website about Beaulieu (Sofitel's is crap). Anyway: can you tell me about wine and champagne prices at those places? At Sirocco it was a bit of a shock for me to pay around 40 dollars for a glass of (standard) champagne...(and around 15$ for a glass of mediocre red wine). best kai

Thanks a lot for the detailed reply, Peter! If VENDOME is "very, very elegant" in the evening, does this mean it is a stiff/overly formal place (tie required??). 'Cause I don't like that kind of atmosphere at all (and my experience is that in europe an all too formal atmosphere is way out of fashion...thankfully!!). And, yes,*please*, post your pictures of VEBDOME...! As for the other fine dining options, Iam not a big fan of "hotel restaurants" (for the atmosphere) Thanks! best kai PS: how is the BED SUPPER CLUB?

Hi all, I will be in BKK at the end of july. And apart from lots of street food I would like to try "refined" thai food that is still "authentic"...I read somewhere that BHAAN KANITA (spelling??) is such a place - but I can't find anything about it on the net... Any other reccomendations?? Also, I would like to give "fine dining" in BKK a try. On my last (short) visit I went to SCIROCCO at "The Dome" - amazing view, but the food was just "good" for european standards (and the wine&champagne-prices were downright obscene...). What about VENDOME? Thanks! best kai

I'll be in london in august for a couple of days. Not much time for fancy dinner, but one night is reserved for a good night out - since we won't be able to make it to the FAT DUCK Iam looking for a place where the cooking goes in the same direction - sort of... Also, I do not like all too "formal/stiff" places. And since we are rather young (33, looking way younger) a kind of "younger" place would be great... So far I have singled out the following restaurants: FOLIAGE NOISETTE PIED A TERRE TOM AIKENS MAZE What do you guys think? Thanks a lot!! kai

Thank you for those very interesting and detailed picture reports!! Iam surprised about your Table de Gourmet review, since I only read real positive things about it (I even thought about skipping JG Klein for it, once...obviously it was a wise decision not to do so...). Looking forward to your coming reports!! best kai

@Robyn: wow, Vendome *and* Müller...!! I see you are not travelling on budget... The large tasting at both is around 150,- euros plus drinks (which are no bargain at both, either) and tip (no, not as much as in the US). Le Moisonnier is very different in style but one of the favorites (not only) among locals. And really very good... the 4 course lunch-menu is 50,- www.lemoissonnier.de/ In berlin restaurant "Goldrot" might be an option. Very modern in every way. The chef has worked at el bulli before - and it shows on the menu. Never been to "Vau", but I hear it's quite good. Unfortunately most of the good restaurants in berlin are located in the huge hotels - a thing I don not like at all. In munich, "Tantris" is a truly legendary place - in the 70s it was the starting point of the german gourmet cuisine...a classic 2* place with a very idiosyncratic interior design. best kai

Yeah, the prices in german 1*-restaurants are a big problem...they are almost the same as in 2 and 3*-places... "Margaux" is said to be great (but very expensive). If your are in Cologne, "Le Moissonnier" (1*, going on 2) is a *must*!! They serve terrific french/experimental cuisine in a very relaxed bistro-style ambiance. The prices are very reasonable (something like 70 euros for the large tasting menu). But booking is essential. They also serve lunch. Have fun kai

Wow...sorry...i didn't mean to insult anyone...but I certainly wasn't talking about the food pictures, which are great, but about the pics of the restaurant itself (not the kitchen!!)...which, to me, still don't like a very "warm" place. These pictures are "cool", but not in a positive sense. So yes, I find them extremely unfortunate. My opinion. But of course I believe you all that in reality the atmosphere at Alinea is very different. That's why I asked. So thanks! best kai

Forgive me if this has been up before, but I have a question regarding the atmosphere/ambience at Aliena: judging from the pictures they have one their website, this restaurant looks stiff as can be and *cold as ice*...not like a place where you are meant to have a joyous dinner. Especially that picture with the 2 guys in suites and the lady rather looks like a stock broker company with depressive employees in bad mood, than like a place where creative, open minded people work for guests to have a good, relaxed time... In other words: as much as would like to try the cuisine on my next trip to Chicago, those pictures really could prevent me from doing so... Or is it just unfortunate pictures? thanks best kai

Just a short note regarding "safety" in berlin, since robyn mentioned it: apart from some areas where no tourist ever goes anyway (like "wedding" or "neukölln"), berlin is a pretty safe city. On the other hand, unlike in the US, you will see many young and drunk and noisy people in the streets in all areas of the city, even in yuppie areas such as "Mitte" or "Prenzlauer Berg". Sometimes there is some "agresiveness" in the air with certain groups of drunk/stoned youngsters, but rarely (or never!) have I really felt "threatened"... Relax and have fun!

Okay, lists are fun...but (with all due respect) "Zuni Cafe" in the top 100 *of the world* is plain ridiculous...how do these guys expect to be taken seroiusly in any way??? But what is this greek place named "48"? Never heard of it...

Thank you Paul!! We'll be there in late summer, can't wait... But Iam still curious: nobody else been there?!? Unbelievable... best kai PS: by the way: after your post we skipped our Copenhagen trip for now, since it would have been primarily for dinner at Noma (it is L'Arnsbourg now)...thanks again!!