DLers which famous restaurants have you been to?

I had the best steak at the Tokyo Park Hyatt New York Grill. Thankfully, it was on the company's dime. The bill was over $2,000 for a party of 6ish. I don't know the culinary reputation of the place but one of its claim to fame was being featured in Lost in Translation. Well, at the bar was.

No meal is worth over $100 a piece.

Olive Garden is definitely a fine dining experience. For 3 entrees and two drinks the bill was $70. The staff are very friendly and we had no problems getting our waiter when we needed more of those scrumptious breadsticks.

Umberto's Clam House - post Joey

Windows on the World

The Ivy in LA. Its ground zero for celebrities who want to be seen in public. We spent about $200 for 2 people and that was lunch. Fried chicken no less.

One Fifth

Food

PUMP in West Hollywood. Dost waste your money. Its over priced and the only reason people go there is because its tied into a realty show. The food is OK at best. Why everyone wants to keep going here is beyond me. You are NOT going to be discovered there, get real, its a tool of the show not a casting couch. Its like mass merchandise a product nothing more.

Chez Panisse twenty years ago. Not memorable and the flavor was so subtle that I could have been eating air. Not cheap.

BOA on Sunset Blvd. Its very popular hip steak house. Steak and Lobster was very good, but when the bill came it was over $600 for 4 people, no wine.

Brasserie Georges in Lyon. Delicious. Had an Omelette Norvegienne for desert.

Alinea in Chicago. It was spectacular. It was $1,800 for 3 of us but that included the matched wines with each course plus we also got option for upgraded wines in the pairngs.

Went to The Shit Stops Here diner in Elks Ass, Montana. They serve great bologna sandwiches and natural but smelly water from a sulphur well. And for desert, a box of Cracker Jacks. Can't beat that!

Do their meals leave all the diners constipated, r13?

Ruth’s chris

L'Orangerie on La Cienega before it closed. Very famous French restaurant in LA for 30 years. Food was good but way too many servers pretended they knew you like a regular. I hear its since been reopened in another location.

Foxtrot Oscar -- a Gordon Ramsay restaurant on Royal Hospital Road, in London

Gordon Ramsay, his first restaurant in London. The menu didn’t have prices, except for the guy who was paying. The food was incredible.

Also, Alice's Restaurant in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, only it was Michael's Restaurant when we got to it.

Musso and Frank. My friends and I did a Bucket List jaunt to eat at Table One.

Berghoff's in Chicago

Central Grocery in New Orleans for the muffuletta

Citrus on Melrose with chef Michel Richard back when it first opened. I loved that place, such a California experience. Too bad its long gone. He was the first chef I ever knew by name. He opened other restaurants and was very successful but I think he died a couple years ago.

I've been to the Cheesecake Factory. Their portions are so huge and I was so stuffed afterwards that I didn't have any room for Cheesecake! LOL! How ironic!

The Palm Court, Oak Room, Persian Room, Trader Vic's in the old Plaza in NYC

Top of the 666s

21 CLUB

Sardi's

POLO LOUNGE

Chasen's

Ebbit's Grill

[quote]Citrus on Melrose with chef Michel Richard back when it first opened.

That's where Linda Ronstadt threw a fishbone at Carly Simon.

Windows on the World, The Ivy/London, (Contrary to a lot of reviews, I've always been treated warmly/professionally as a couple & also solo; The Carriage Trade, Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, El Coyote, Los Angeles, El Sombrero/Embarcadero/San Francisco, Ponders Restaurant/Ardmore, Oklahoma, Da Vinci dining room, Ruby Princess, Jonathan Club/Los Angeles, AA137/LHR-LAX/Biz

Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa-several times when I lived across the bay. Excellent meal.

The Eat-Mor Restaurant in Denison, Iowa, which was next to the Sleep-Mor Motel, which was next to the Play-Mor Lounge. A culinary delight.

The Carriage Trade! Ha, ha, that was a male hustler bar in LA.

Oh, this is hilarious, OP - I was reading the replies and nothing made sense until I realised that you meant ‘best / most famous restaurants in the USA’! CUTE!

My mom in 1986 took my brother and me to some Manhattan eatery that was supposedly famous, only I was too young to pay attention. It was one of those with the 8x10s framed on the walls. NOT Sardi's, something like Leo Lindy's, or Lou Levy's or Leo Levy's...

I've eaten at Arthur Bryant's Barbecue in Kansas City, Missouri, and also in Kansas City Winstead's and Stroud's and Gates Barbecue. Calvin Trillin was rhapsodic over those restaurants, and we saw photos of US Presidents eating at Arthur Bryant's.

I ate at the Russian Tearoom.

It was fun to be there but the food was dreadful.

Gusteau's Restaurant in Paris, although the chef was something of a rat.

r29 here I just searched online, and I think this must be where we went...

Le Bernadin is very good, very expensive. Daniel is also very good.

The place where you see Mary Tyler Moore eating with her real life husband in the MTM credits. It was called Basil's then.

Sardi's

Rainbow Room

Tavern on the Green

Carnegie Deli

Arthur Bryant's

The Inn at Little Washington

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Bookbinder's

Durgin-Park

The Eccentric

Oprah's Chicago restaurant that included a lot of her favorite food.

Oprah's Potatoes - buttery mashed potatoes with horseradish mustard

In London, I ate at Rules (opened 1798} and Simpsons-in-the-Strand (opened 1828)

Le Bernardin which was sublime, the Ivy, and the Ritz in Paris where princess Di had her last meal.

R38 Agree Le Bernardin was phenomenal.

Brennan's, Café de Monde, Arthur Bryant's, Tujague's

The Ivy in London never disappoints.

Mama Leonies?

Le Train Bleu, Gare de Lyon, Paris

Caffè Florian, Venice

Harry's Bar (Hotel Cipriani), Venice

The Palm, Robaire’s, The Grill, Le Dome, Spago. One major perk of being in the music biz. Dining at the best restaurants and never having to foot the bill.

Nellie's Cafe in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. It is a real place.

[quote]One major perk of being in the music biz. Dining at the best restaurants and never having to foot the bill.

What do you do in the music biz? I thought there practically was no music biz left.

Per Se in New York. Meh for the price. $1500 for 3 people

Charlie Trotter's in Chicago, amazing for the price. $2000 for 4 people. However my stepfather got Hep A from the shellfish there on a different meal.

McDonald's

KFC

Taco Bell

Popeye's

Pizza Hut

Burger King

Wendy's

Bird Bakery. They make fabulous cookies and the CEO is a multi talented baker, actress, journalist, wife, mother, philanthropist, humanitarian & social media influencer.

Harmonia Gardens. Hated it.

Are you people high ? Why in the hell would you pay $1500-$2000 for a party of 3 ?.......its outrageous, and grotesque. No meal is worth that kind of money regardless of the atmosphere or whos preparing the food.

The original Nobu. It wasn’t great. Matsuhisa, his Japanese/ Peruvia fusion restaurant, was wonderful.

Is Geoffrey’s in Malibu famous? I’ve been there. It was gorgeous, good food, too expensive. I remember seeing a family of 12 celebrating a birthday there. I can’t imagine that kind of affluence, the bill must’ve been astronomical.

And restaurateurs wonder why they cant stay in business.

The Red Cross Tent

[quote]Bird Bakery. They make fabulous cookies and the CEO is a multi talented baker, actress,

That sounds totally gross. Do they bake birds? Why would any sane person name their bakery that unless they serve crow pie?

46 work with artists. Expense accounts.

Chicago: Charlie Trotter's (entirely too precious for my taste); Les Nomades (superb food, exquisite service)

Who’s been to French Laundry? Is it worth it?

Hojo's Room Service.

Big portions.

Never would set foot in any of these restaurants. I dont eat she she food.

sometimes it isn't just the fame of a place.

my daughter works for a company around D.C. that sets up seminars and conventions . She used to be the person that would recommend the hotels and restaurants for people to eat and stay. One time the company had a three day meeting at Whistler in British Columbia. Each person was allowed to bring one person so she took me.

When we arrived at the Vancouver airport there was a bus waiting for just us. Once we left the airport someone came around with a large silver platter with freshly chocolate dipped strawberries. Our first meal at the resort, we were seated in an L shape. I think there were 22 of us. Every 2 people had a waiter and we didn't even pass the rolls to each other, the waiter would pass them to us. All we had to do was lift the fork.

One afternoon we had a 5 course wine lunch which we were served a different wine with each course. It was topped off with a piece of cheesecake with a chocolate "sail" to look like a sailboat and blue squiggles to look like waves.

This trip was in July so there weren't many people at the resort. One evening we took the tram to the top of the mountain and they opened the restaurant just to cook for us. It was 75° at the resort and it was snowing and sleeting at the top of the mountain.

ALL of the food was delicious every day. But it wasn't just the food, it was the way it was presented, and the service combined. I never expect to be treated like that again but it was a wonderful experience. (and it was free, The hotel provided everything to get this company's business.)

what happened to my post?

21

Tavern on the Green

Russian Tea Room

The Polo Lounge

Harrys bar in Venice

Berghoffs

The Waffle House

The NuWay /Macon , Ga.

The Varsity in Atlanta

There was a restaurant in Wheeling, Illinois called Le Francais. It was considered the best places in the country by many. This was back in the 1970s and 1980s.

It closed a few years ago and is now just an empty little building available for sale.

So sad.

This Chinese restaurant in the East Village back in the day. Famous to nearby ERs for giving people food poisoning.

I've never been to a restaurant. Will one of you take me?

Probably elBulli (three times). I have also been to Jiro. I have also been to the top restaurants in Paris (Arpège, Pierre Gagnaire....) and NYC, Chicago, SF and London. I truly hated Per Se. I went after it opened and it was terribly dated. My new favorite restaurant in the US is Saison (in SF) and Smyth in Chicago

The Van Nuys Choo Choo - not just famous, but legendary.

St Elmo's Steakhouse in Indianapolis,( top Notch) Ivy in LA,, Nobu, 21 Club in NY.

r51, those totals include wine, which is at least 1/3 of the total.

Les Ambassadeurs in Paris

L'Europe in St. Petersburg

Rules in London

Sam's and Tadich Grills in San Francisco

El Cardenal and the San Angel Inn in Mexico, DF

The Queens Grill on the QE2

The Occidental in DC

Shanahan's on the Green in Dublin

La Terraza in Rome

Botafumeiro in Barcelona

The Pump Room (RIP) in Chicago

Locke-Ober (RIP) in Boston

Chasen's (RIP) in Los Angeles

Musso and Frank in Los Angeles

Dachgarten Restaurant in Berlin

21 Club in NYC

Rockpool in Sydney

House Without A Key in Honolulu

r71....that doesnt excuse the excessive cost for FOOD

Mel's Diner, of course. Deluxe chili, big burgers, supersized fries and endless glazed donuts. Things that are supposed to kill you but don't - and neither will the price: $15 for All You Can Eat. The line up at the trough starts here...….

I went to Carroll O'Connor's restaurant in Beverly Hills the Gingerbread Man in the 80s with my dad when we visited LA.

Not long after we visited, Janet Charlton wrote in Star magazine that Grace Jones was heard singing La Vie En Rose at the top of her lungs from one of the bathroom stalls.

[quote][R51], those totals include wine, which is at least 1/3 of the total.

Uh, no. Wine pairings are an extra supplement.

The Pump Room, Ambassador East Hotel, Chicago.

I've been to 21 four times in the past week! That's EIGHTY-FOUR!

I guess, r76, as I didn't pay for those meals.

The Ivy Spago's Citronelle Jockey Club Victor's Cafe Jezebel's The Watergate (don't remember the name of their restaurant way back in the day) The Palm Sam & Harry's Antoine's Galatoires Magnolia's Arnaud's Broussard's Boudros Pascal's Harry Caray's Sammy's Roumanian Sylvia's

"I went to Carroll O'Connor's restaurant in Beverly Hills the Gingerbread Man in the 80s with my dad when we visited LA."

Geez, you just reminded me that my mother and I were there in 1978 when we went to L.A./Beverly Hills/Disneyland.

Stone Barn in Westchester (north of NYC) is amazing, although I believe it's gotten pricier recently.

^ Sorry, the restaurant is called Blue Hill at Stone Barns (in Tarrytown)

It's gone now even though Fairmont took over the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, but we always ate at a swanky supper club when we were in Montreal with my parents because 1: they were there the night it opened (Burl Ives and the Incomparable Hildegarde were the headliners - I cannot tell you how many times I heard that, complete with "The Incomparable" - was it her first name?) and 2: because the food and service was terrific.

My brothers and I used to titter when they told us where we were eating, though, because it was called "The Beaver Club."

Noma. Yes.

OP and R58 I've been to French Laundry as well. Generally, I thought it was underwhelming given the high price points. Take note though, I am one of those people who just does not believe in "high-end" food and find the concept to be completely ridiculous. And I never would have gone but for the fact that it was my close friend's bday and she just loves stupid shit like that. The food is good, no doubt, but it's not worth the $300 or whatever for tiny tasting-menu portions. I will say though, despite the cost, I am happy I went. It was a very beautiful, memorable experience with a great presentation, the tables and tableware are gorgeous, and the restaurant is so light and beautiful; also, it is fun to drop it in conversation with friends who are foodies. But I'd never go again.

Yay you, R72. In an age of lowered expectations it's nice to know there are people willing to spend the money for a superb meal.

I'd love to warm a barstool with you and hear all the details.

Per Se in Manhattan, followed by Alinea in Chicago.

As God is my witness, we saw this in the lot after our fab dinner at El Coyote this past Sunday :)

When my son was living in Cheyenne, Wyoming, his in-laws took our entire family to the Flagstaff House in Boulder, CO, as a post-Christmas treat. It was the most piss-elegant evening of my life. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. As stated upthread, it seemed like there was a server for every couple of guests. I was almost afraid to reach for the salt, lest one of them swoop in and grab it for me. It was decadent.

I was treated to some further entertainment after we left. As we were leaving Boulder, a police officer stopped us for reasons I'm not sure of, since I was driving safely and breaking no laws. He asked if I'd been drinking, which I actually HADN'T been, since I didn't want to navigate 100 miles of unfamiliar, mountainous roads in an impaired condition. Not satisfied, he put me through the entire battery of roadside sobriety tests, all of which, of course, I passed. I'm sure the reasons I was stopped included the fact my car had California license plates, it was a Mercedes, and the time was nearly midnight. I can't claim racial profiling, since I'm white, as is the entire population of Boulder.

Now, this event took place something like three days after JønBénèt Ramsey crossed the Rainbow Bridge in—Boulder, Colorado. Where I was now. Amusing one of the city's Finest by reciting the alphabet and doing toe dances at the side of the road. It's a very good thing I WAS sober, as I was very tempted to say something like, "Shouldn't you be somewhere trying to find the killer of that little girl instead of annoying the tourists?" But I didn't.

I would love to have a classy restaurant like the Flagstaff House near where I live, but I don't think that's ever going to happen here in Barstow.

We went to the Inn at Little Washington last year. It was a fun experience: the town, restaurant and lounge are beautiful but It is past its heyday. The food, service and wine pairings were underwhelming considering our bill was about $900 for two people.

That's a shame, r91--it's been reliably wonderful for years and years, but I guess nothing lasts forever.

Spago, Matsuhisa, Lola, French Laundry. All very good but I didn't have to pay so even if they were mediocre I wouldn't have cared.

Inn at Little Washington -thank you R91 . Always wondered and drove by twice. Great location but way overpriced.

[quote]Hojo's Room Service. Big Portions.

I agee with R59 - sometimes I like to just tuck in with a big ham sandwich

[quote]NuWays/Macon, GA

Thank you for the reminder, R63.

I've never eaten there but I've heard of it for years.

arpege, paris,left bank, twice, sublime, if you have to ask how much it costs, don;t bother

Many who eat at Per Se have to get up and go outside halfway through dinner so they can throw up.

[quote]Many who eat at Per Se have to get up and go outside halfway through dinner so they can throw up.

Like at Jack In The Box.

R98: Is it the food? The prices? Anorexia?

[quote]Is it the food? The prices? Anorexia?

Their pupu platter is made with real pupu.

Even though Per Se's tasting menu is a series of small bites, 21 courses adds up.

Nobody ever mentions it but Victoria and Alberts in Disneyworld. Went years ago when it was $100 per person and very decadent. Not sure what it is now.

Was it worth it? Yes. But I'm not a person with the means to probably ever do it again.

All of them.

The new hype resto his that stupid salt guy! dumb! dumb! dumb! never went, but heard the food is overrated.

Cafe du Monde

Gallaghers Steakhouse

Katz Deli

Is Pierre Herme any good outside of the books?

Pat's and Geno's seemed fun and fairly priced in 1980. Not so much in 2015.

Still even in 1980, there were better places and it was fun seeking them out.

[quote]The Watergate (don't remember the name of their restaurant way back in the day)

Jean Louis? Best restaurant in DC then. I liked the Inn at Little Washington, too.

In LA, there were two famius Delis -- Cantor's and Langer's. At Langer's, my sandwich came with the cole slaw inside, and so much meat I nearly dislocated my jaw trying to take a bite.

[91] ditto...completely agree about Inn at Little Washington...charming place with meh food. Way past it's prime. My tuna entree was so fatty it was inedible. Way too much fois gras, which we did not eat.

[quote]Way too much fois gras

foie gras

Gilt on the UES. What TV show filmed there? The people we went with were very excited about the connection. It closed a couple of years ago.

Club Collette in Palm Beach. Had lunch at the Everglades Club against my better judgement. Had Easter brunch at Mar-a-Lago and ‘it’ was there - I think four years ago. Our PB friends insisted we join them as they are members at all these places. Creepy.

flos hot dogs. yum. york, maine.

The Pump Room in Chicago is how I knew my parents thought me ready to be in society My manners had been tested at my imperious grandmother's table, and then lesser restaurants. It was one of the more sublime nights of my life. I've been to my share of lovely places over the years, but nothing will equal the quarter glass of wine and my parents' obvious approval- I believe I was 12.

I've been to fine restaurants round the world and yes, the food and wine are usually always worth the prices. But I find ambiance to be a very major factor in the dining experience and, of course, this is a matter of personal taste

So I would say my favorite well known restaurant is the Ivy in London. I like the lighting, the comfortable booths, the understated formality and the fine service. My kind of ambiance.

Bouley (at the original location in the 1990s.) Sublime.

21 Club, Le Grenouille, Windows on the World (RIP), the Ivy, Spago, Matsuhisa, ABC Kitchen, Balthazar, Union Square Cafe, Veselka, Bemelmen's Bar, Tavern on the Green, Odeon, Cafe des Artistes (RIP), Cafe Luxembourg, The Modern, Gramercy Tavern, Felix in Venice, CA .

Chez Odette, New Hope, PA

Gee, I can't think of any.

Hattie B’s Fried Chicken. Two hour wait and worth every minute standing in the scorching sun!

Holsten's (in Bloomfield , NJ) where the last scene of The Sopranos was shot

Has anyone eaten at Masa? I'm not a big foodie but I would like to experience eating there.

The Apple Tree Shanty.....

Interesting that I've eaten at 4 of R118's restaurants so I haven't done so bad.

Oriole in Chicago

Le Cirque 2000 - very 1998

I used to loved to have lunch at Blum's in San Francisco and treats at Rumpelmayer's in New York. Been to Katz Deli in New York, that was fun.

Le Cigare Volant in Seattle in the 1990s. The food was fine, but the two men at the next table were rude and pretentious.

Tonight, I'm going to the world famous Black Bass Hotel in Lumberville, PA.

As I said earlier: Jealous, bitches?