My Favorite Restaurants
United States
(updated 05/12/08)
- Manresa (Bay Area) - perfect expressions of ingredients, will only get better with their bio-dynamic garden producing wonderful vegetables. Read review.
- Sawa Sushi (Bay Area) - the highest quality fish in America. Read review.
- Urasawa (LA) - the definition of refinement, the soul of a chef on a plate. Read review.
- Providence (LA) - it blew me away on my only visit. I will be re-visiting soon.
- Momofuku (NY) - the cheapest on this list but very high quality, particularly the pork and seafood. Read review.
- Kuruma Zushi (NY) - the 2nd best fish in America. Read review.
International
- Pierre Gagnaire (Paris) - “organic” experimentation that explores taste and texture, stunning. Read review.
- Michel Bras (Lagouile) - ultra-refined yet deceivingly simple, some of the best ingredients on earth. Read review.
- L’Arpege (Paris) - the best vegetables on the planet. Read review.
- El Poblet (Denia, Spain) - possibly a future for cuisine - completely unique - highest recommendations. Read review.
- Ledoyen (Paris) - simply, a beautiful meal.
- Regis Marcon (Hermitage area) - refined, technically exact, more what every Michelin 3 star restaurant should aspire to be. Read review.
- Fat Duck (London area) - experimental but more “organic” and very satisfying. Read review.
- Can Roca (Barcelona area) - incorporate time into their dishes, many have long-lasting taste notes. Read review.
RIP
- Alex & Aki’s Keyah Grande - wilder experiments with very high quality ingredients - more worked than not. They will re-open with a new place; for now, you can read their blog. Read old review.
- Ludo’s Bastide - experiments in taste, texture, and temperature; a baby Gagnaire. He will open a new place in LA sometime later this year. For now, you can buy his book or watch his wife on the current Apprentice. Read old review.
Restaurants That Could Make This List
These restaurants are at the cusp - it may just take one more visit or it may just require a few more very good to excellent dishes in a sitting.
- French Laundry (Bay Area) - it’s technically perfect but lacking a bit of soul. Read review.
- Marinus at Bernardus Lodge (Carmel Valley, CA) - a beautiful meal that would make the list if it sustained its highs. Read the review.
- The Restaurant at Meadowood (Napa, CA) - an exciting young talent that could grow into one of the country’s best. Read the review.
- Alinea (Chicago) - he should focus on refining a few dishes instead of creating more and more.
- Bouley (NY) - work on the pacing and progression of the meal. Read review.
- Mugaritz (San Sebastian) - it needs to sustain the highs throughout the meal. Read review.
- Eigensinn (Toronto area) - I just need to return on a non-off day; will probably do in July for the Montreal Grand Prix. Read review.
- Masa (NY) - if they could extend the meal and a bit of hospitality, it would easily qualify. Read my last excellent meal.
- Jean Georges (NY) - intense flavors that can’t be found anywhere else. You must go in accepting it on its own (bold) terms. Read the last review.
- Le Benardin (NY) - I considered it the best cooked fish anywhere (save for maybe Gagnaire.) Read review. Unfortunately, the last meal was a poor showing.
- Quince (SF) - When it’s good, it’s near sublime.
- Etxebarri (San Sebastian) - the master of the grill with near-perfect seafood but it was missing something. Read review.
- L’Ambrosie (Paris) - perfect modern French, read about it on Gastroville, or boring food stuck in the 80s?
- Hispania (Barcelona area) - perfect ingredients cooked perfectly, read about it on Gastroville.
Restaurants That Need More Work
There’s potential but they need to try harder; give them 2-3 years.
- 11 Madison Park (NY) - Humm has some incredible dishes but the rest of the menu needs to be lifted. Read review.
3 Comments »
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Michael Grace said,
April 15, 2007 @ 11:09 pm
you are missing out on Providence Restaurant in Los Angeles.
Administrator said,
April 16, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
Michael, the Providence review is coming Apr 17 - I *think* it will make this list. It was a very good meal.
chuckeats.com Blog » 2007 » April » 18 said,
April 18, 2007 @ 12:48 am
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