Lenski

Sorry, I just read the message.... I am a big fan of Le Pigeon and, of course, Higgins.

Oregon or Maine?

WOW!! This has to be one of the most beautiful presentations I have ever seen. Thanks, as always, l.

Just a brief note to say that I went to wd-50 last week. A top-notch experience again, great staff and great food. Two dishes were new to me: Sweetbreads, cabbage-kaffir, water-chestnuts Incredible, I could have eaten two more servings. I do not know how they were cooked, but they were served with a coating of (dried) Chamomile. The combination was outstanding. Coffee cake, ricotta, maraschino, chicory ice cream New to me. It was served after the "soft-chocolate" so if you are a choc-aholic you would have been in heaven. It was nothing new but very good combination of flavors. It reminded me (a little) of the Havana at Celler.

I have never thought about it because I have never had such a problem in my life.

I have spent many summers in Fiesole (outside of Florence, highly recommended for a visit) and avoid Enoteca Pinchiorri at all costs. I really do not get it. My first time was bad, the second time we asked for the check during the middle of our meal, paid and left. The only time that has ever happened to me in my life. I would recommend you (I do not know what your budget is) to go out to Villa San Michele for dinner. It is one of my fav. things to do in my life (long list). The restaurant is a cloister overlooking Firenze....order a Negroni and a bistecca alla fiorentina. Glorious. l

I have been to both several times and like them both. However, I think wd-50 is superior in terms of cutting-edge cuisine. I think the most important issue is to know how you define a great restaurant.

Great post and great pics. I am a huge fan of Can Roca and 5Sentits. However, what really makes me drool is the bocata de jamon serrano....To me that is perfection in a sandwich.

Yes, that is their telephone number. They rarely answer the phone after four pm since they all start cooking. A colleague told me (can anyone confirm?) that they might be close all July.

I just booked for late May and June, but not for the dates I wanted. It is very difficult to get a table there since the space is very, very small. Also, they close on Saturdays (few exceptions aside).

Thanks for the link. I went to "Schwa" a month or so ago and, as you know, I have been a huge fan of that restaurant. However, the last meal that I had there was the best meal that I have ever had at Schwa. I had the oysters "thing" and it was out of this world. Desserts have really improved. If it only were easier to get a table there.....

I just went back to Babbo last week. We had the Pasta tasting menu (I always swear that my next time I will try something different, but...I always end with the Pasta TM). It was very, very good. Two of the dishes "Black Tagliatelle with peas and pecorino" and the Garganelli with “Funghi Trifolati” were outstanding. I had had the "pyramids" before and they are very good. The Baccala “Mezzalune” with Black Olive Butter was a little on the salty side (obviously) and the portion was too big for my taste, but very good. The only thing I did not go crazy over was the "Bolognese" since it was way too normal for Babbo (good, but nothing that I cannot make myself,really, that boring). However, the big surprise for me was the three very excellent desserts (actually four). I do not have the menu here with me. However, the first one was a sabbiosa with blood oranges. Good. The second one (my favorite) was a panna cotta/ricotta with a fig on top. Tiny but out of this world. Then we got comped and we got the Chocolate polenta (coffee ice cream) and a lemon/almond tart. Both excellent. I do not remember having such good desserts at Babbo on my previous visits. Truly excellent. The place was busy as always (sat downstairs) but it still deserves all the press that it gets, IMHO. Ciao, t

My g/f lived in Sweden for a year, and she thinks it's very Scandinavian. (Look at the on-line menus for a few high-end Swedish restaurants, and you'll see the Swedes are much more broad-minded than you're giving them credit for.)As bang-for-the-buck goes, I think the front room at Aquavit, at a much lower price point, may be the better deal. ← I am not going to get into how "Scandinavian" the menu is since I have never been to those countries. However, last week I went to "Aquavit" again after a long hiatus. It was a lot better than I remembered. My table had the tasting menu (2 different menus) and all the dishes were very good. THe place is quite dark so no pictures (I would have had to use a flash) were taken. Desserts were also very good. We tried several Aquavits (FIG being my favourite)--careful, they are expensive and they quickly add fast to your bill. I will probably go there more often (along with the Modern Cafe, pre-theatre menu becomes very attractive) and I will soon try the lunch menu. Overall, give it another try.

I decided to revisit Wd-50 after seeing Doc's pif of the "Yuzu curd, spruce yogurt, pistachio" dessert. Thus, last week, in Siberia-like weather I went to the LES and a great meal was had by all. We all did the tasting menu and it was great. THe only dish that I have not seen in any of the pics/reports above was the first dish of the night "olive oil noodles/spaghetti" very, very good. I am totally addicted to the Beef tongue and fried mayo. And the dessert that prompted the visit was delicious. Great service and great ambiance. And the price is a steal!!!! l

Indeed, restaurants and patrons operate on a time continuum with many fluctuations on both sides of the equation. I operate under the assumption that a great restaurant is one which will maintain the "worth mentioning" status over several meals and over a relatively long period of time. However, given scarcity of time and funding, I am not inclined to give a second chance to a restaurant which doesn't wow me the first time, be this the case because of the kitchen or the staff or the purveyors or what-have-you having a bad day. Too many restaurants, not enough time. What other places did you visit in Barcelona this last trip? ← Since my experiences were not very good, email me, and I will tell you.

Hello, Just ate there last night (Bar) since we wanted to have a quick bite, see the Aitken's exhibit (impressive, by the way, urban drive-in experience) before heading out to see "Spring Awakening." My party had the Torchon, the Tarte Flambee, the Egg in a jar, the Cannellini bean soup, the Tuna with Cauliflower and the Pork Belly. They were all good (the Tarte was ok--big for one person--and I did not like the egg but I was alone in my opinion) but the standouts were the Tuna, very good, and the Pork Belly. Only one dessert was sampled....3 beignets(served warm) with caramel, maple ice cream and mango marmalade. Delish. The bill, before tip, $179. A good experience (I ate at the dining room last summer, good), fast service, very happening kind of place and good food given our limited time. Questions ask, L

You are luckier than we were. Mind you this was about a year ago, but the person having dinner with me shared my reaction. ← I think that enjoying restaurants (we are talking top restaurants) depends very much on too many factors both from the restaurant's and the diner's side. I had a glorious time at Sant Pau and so did my companions. However, I think that luck has a lot to do with it. How else could you explain the wide range of opinions on this board? It is also a highly subjective game. I found, on my last visit to Barcelona, Sant Pau and C24 the only restaurants worth mentioning, and I went to 10. I only talked about those two and "Akelarre" (that was such a bad experience for us, one of the worst of the year, I think,given the expectations).

I'm not a big fan of Sant Pau. Excellent execution, great product, but IMHO nothing to write home about. ← Wow, must be tough to please. I've never seen "excellent execution" and "great product" used to describe a restaurant that doesn't merit a positive review. ← You're misinterpreting me. For a three star, excellent execution and great product is (or should be) a given. When I go to a place like this, I expect to be "wow-ed", so to speak. I want to remember several, or at least one of the dishes I've had for several weeks if not months. This is not the case with Ruscalleda's cooking. ← I am surprised, it has been over a month since I was there and I can still remember every single thing. I did not do a top ten meals but I think Sant Pau would be on the top of my list. I was wowed big time

I always buy my "fideo fino" from Latienda.com for my Fideua. My recipe is like my paella but with fideos....not much change.

Lenski, I can not see how you could put that restaurant as a reference point to Spiaggia. Even if you are not a fan, the ingredients alone are in another world as the place that you named. The ownership in the restaurant has changed over the last year so perhaps it has suffered, but not to that extent. The accolades were well deserved while Chef Paul Bartolotta was at the helm. I think the restaurant is better now than when Chef Mantuano ran the restaurant previously. Molto E ← I was using babern38 point of comparison, which I thought exaggerated. However, you take the setting away from Spiaggia and you are left with, in my humble opinion, a very expensive restaurant and so-so food. And I was there in 2006 (a friend works there) .

I will just echo John's comments. My last experiences at C24 were the highlights of my five trips to Barcelona and the Basque Country last year, and as I said I was not a total devotee after my first visits. Good but not great. Now, it is one of those obligatory stops. I am surprised that it was THAT bad...did you have the Festival or the Super Festival? Did you order--from what I have heard is a no-no--a la carte? I can see where the service might feel cold, very catalan, and a tad distant but I doubt that it was that bad. However, this is not the first time that I have heard "we were instantly treated like dumb Americans" regarding some restaurants in Spain and C24 is always packed with locals.

I have been to "Spiaggia" several times and, prices aside, I have never understood the accolades. I would not say it is the "Olive Garden" but, in my humble opinion, it is terribly overrated. A beautiful restaurant with a great view.

Sadly -- especially in light of recent reports on this forum -- I have to admit that I've never been to Moto. It was on my list for 2006 but I never got there I won't let 2007 lapse without going to Moto. I ate at Spring once in 2006 and I definitely enjoyed it. It just didn't come to mind when I thought about the highlights of my year. I agree about Shawn McClain, though. Green Zebra is also an inspired and distinctive restaurant but I didn't get there in 2006. Starters at Vie are priced low to mid teens, soups and salads are around $10 and entrees are mid $20's to mid $30's. The first time I ate there, I was suprised by how "in line" Vie's prices were with city dining. But after experiencing the level of care that goes into sourcing the food that winds up on chef Virant's menu, I realized that it was definitely money well-spent. =R= ← You have convinced me. Next stop for me in Chicago will be "Vie" and I will report back. Thanks for the information, L.

I loved your list. I am surprised that Moto was missing and also I think Shawn Mcclain's Spring should be there. I am amazed how he has been able to craft 3 restaurants with three very dramatic and different visions (and he is also a genuine great guy). I have to admit that I have never been to "Vie." Time to change that. What is the price point? Thanks, L

No, just a regular wonderful dinner between Xmas and NYears.