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Archive for the ‘Restaurants’ Category

Here in late January, we are just a few short months away from the 2012 summer Olympics to take place in London, England.

Because I know that many people from around the world will be traveling to this venue to watch some of the top athletes in their sport compete to win gold for their country, I decided to find a restaurant in London (so it’s close to all the Olympic action) that looks not only delicious, but absolutely British to the core.

Our pick for best dinner in London has to go to Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. I love the Dinner website! It has a modern dictionary-esque take on the concept of dinner, providing the part of speech (Noun), definition, and etymology (From Old French disner.

Let’s Talk about Food

My favorite thing about the Dinner menu is that it is all traditional English food. The appetizers sound positively medieval with names like Meat Fruit (from the 1500’s), Roast Marrowbone, and Rice and Flesh. If you get an appetizer, expect to spend about £15.00, or $23USD.

The main courses follow the same traditional English theme. I would go with the Hereford Ribeye, described as being served cooked in “Mushroom Ketchup, Red Wine Juice and Fries.” You can’t go wrong with a ribeye, right? If you want to go with something else, other choices are Powdered Duck, Spiced Pigeon, or Cod in Cider (yum!). The cheapest dinner is Braised Celery, a vegetarian option for £23.00, or about $36USD. The most expensive is the Spiced Pigeon for £33.00 or about $52USD.

The desserts look absolutely divine! A chocolate bar is on the menu, but it is made with passion fruit jam and ginger ice cream for £9.50 or $15USD. You can also choose from British Cheese (interesting dessert, no?), Lychee Frozen Ice, Brown Bread Ice Cream, or Taffety Tart. I would definitely go for the Brown Bread Ice Cream that comes from the 1830’s.

The Cost

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is a great deal for all of you fine diners out there. For all three courses, you can expect to leave paying around £55.00, which comes out to $87USD.

It seems like that is a great cost to pay for a genuine traditional British meal.

You can make a reservation online at the Heston Blumenthal website or call to speak with a member of their staff. All of the contact information is on their website.

Happy Dining!

There are few places in the United States can boast of the natural beauty and romance that is abundant in California’s wine country. As would be expected in an area that is famous for wine, there are also many fantastic fine restaurants that are that definitely fit the bill for fine diners out there.

Today, I am going to focus on one restaurant in particular that seems as though it would be a fantastic place to dine: Cyrus Restaurant in Healdsburg, California just of the Redwood Highway.

The fascinating thing about Cyrus Hotel is that it features either an 8-course dinner or a 5-course dinner.

When I looked over the 8-course menu, called the “Tasting Menu,” it had options like “Foie Gras Torchon with Quince,” “Roasted Lobster with Cauliflower Cream, Uni Emulsion,” and “42 Hour Short Rib with Potato, Mustard Greens and Crimini, Sauce Bordelaise.” In addition to these mouth-watering dinner selections, the Tasting Menu has 3 courses of dessert.

Like the 8-course menu, the Five Course Menu has very similar options, but the dishes you can taste are more limited.

For the Tasting Menu, you should expect to pay $135 per person, and for the Five Course Menu, expect to pay $108.

Not only is the food amazing, but as you would expect, the wine is reputed to be fantastic as well. There are 45 pages filled with hundreds of different kinds of wine from all over the world.

After looking over the wine menu, my eyes rested on a pretty impressive number. $6750. That is how much the Cyrus Restaurant’s most expesive bottle of wine costs.

On average, if you come eat at the Cyrus Restaurant, you should expect to pay around $300 for a bottle of wine. It is definitely possible to spend less than this, but from what I have seen $300 is probably the average.

One reviewer said of the Cyrus Restaurant:

“When people ask where I’ve had my favorite meal, this is it. Each one of the eight courses is exceptional beyond compare. Although the menu changes seasonally, it seems as though more often than not they will include the amazing bone marrow custard, pork belly, and short rib, which are all the best I have had in my short but well-fed time on earth.”

Another reviewer said that the Cyrus Restaurant was the “best restaurant in [the] bay area, if not country, bar none.”

So there you have it! If you happen to find yourself in California’s wine country hungry for a fine dining experience, try out the Cyrus Restaurant.

1. The French Laundry in Yountville, CA has an average check size of $957. The owner of this restaurant also owns the second most expensive restaurant in America. Their website states that “a great meal is not about the food and the wine. A great meal is an emotional experience… a great meal is not one that fills you up. A great meal is a kind of journey that returns you to sources of pleasure you may have forgotten and takes you to places you haven’t been before.”
2. Per Se located in New York City. Main chef and owner, Thomas Keller also is the owner of French Laundry. The average check size at Per Se will run you about $883. Per Se is the “urban interpretatoin of The French Laundry.”
3. Michael Mina in San Francisco will cost you about $844 on average. It is described as”Japanese ingredients and a French influence.”
4. Alinea in Chicago. The average ticket here is $736. In May of 2010 this restaurant was listed as number seven in a list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. It was also in Chicago Magazine as the best restaurant in Chicago in a list of 40.
5. Charlie Trotters is the fifth most expensive restaurant in America at an average check amount of $666. This restaurant is in Chicago as well. It was in third place on the list done by the Chicago Magazine in May of 2010. The owner recently said: “I do not want guests walking out of the restaurant feeling as if they over-indulged because of excessive cream, butter, and alcohol. I want them to feel stimulated and alert, knowing that they will be able to look forward to breakfast the following morning. Food doesn’t have to be rich to taste good.”

Does the tagline “You’ve Arrived” mean anything to you? If not, it will. Smith & Wollensky is a premier steakhouse where political figures, celebrities, and those who appreciate fine dining experience elegant food.

Smith & Wollensky is almost an elite restaurant, having only nine locations in prime cities. It was established in 1977 in New York. Now, the signature green and white building is known for luxury. The nine locations include the iconic restaurant in New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami Beach, Columbus, Houston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.,  and Boston. An additional Smith & Wollensky is being built in another part of Boston this summer.

So what is the Smith & Wollensky claim to fame? Although the restaurant has been in several Hollywood flicks like “The Breakup” of “The Devil Wears Prada,” the food is more noteworthy. Smith & Wollensky is the only national steakhouse to dry-age and butcher on site.

Dry-aging is a process used to make meat more flavorful and tender. Smith & Wollensky places fresh beef in coolers for several weeks, usually up to 28 days. The top 2% cuts the restaurant uses dry-ages with near perfect marbling for intense flavor.

When it comes to lobster, they fly fresh fish in daily. Every side and pastry is made by hand daily as well.

To top off the experience, Smith & Wollensky has top honors from Wine Spectator magazine for excellence. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence requires interesting selections, wide range of appeal, and appropriate to cuisine. Smith & Wollensky has some of the best wines the United States produces.

One of the intriguing qualities about this steakhouse is the dress code. For such a classy and quality restaurant, Smith & Wollensky encourages comfort above anything else. Some guests prefer suits, while others dine casual.

Overall, Smith & Wollensky’s is fine dining at its finest.

One of the greatest French restaurants around the bay area in San Francisco.

Nestled in the Berkley neighborhood of the Bay Area, Cafe Rouge is a favorite dining destination for locals.

Open for all-day service, this restaurant and meat market was established in 1996 by a Northern California native. Marsha McBride takes pride in the Mediterranean and traditional American fare that she offers to her loyal fan base.

The novelty of having a meat market within the restaurant is allowing customers to purchase the same meats they have enjoyed in a fine Cafe Rouge meal. Their shop selection offers a wide range of fresh sausages, pâtés and cured meats. Shoppers can even request special orders from the butcher if called in ahead of time.

If you’d rather skip the meat market and have your meal prepared for you, the menu at Cafe Rouge has an array of options that are updated bi-weekly.

If you step in for brunch, try one of the many salads that are prepared fresh or another signature dish. The kale Caesar and steak tartare are favorites of online reviewer’s. Lunch can be busy in the restaurant, but bar service is available all day, so you can enjoy a meal without waiting for a table.

Cafe Rouge is famous for its $1.00 oyster selection, available daily. If oysters aren’t your thing, the wine list is said to be one of the best available in the Bay Area and the appetizer menu has something for everyone.

A full meal at Cafe Rouge will start around $30, but the price is well worth the fine dining experience you will enjoy.

Ruth’s Chris is, without question, one of the best known names in the restaurant industry.

With over 121 locations across the US, this steakhouse chain is the be-all end-all of fine dining legends.

Larger than it’s competitor, Morton’s, Ruth’s Chris has been in operation since 1965 when “Chris Steak House” was purchased by a single mother named Ruth Fertel. A chemistry and physics graduate from LSU, Ruth mortgaged her home to afford this single-location steakhouse in New Orleans.  Eventually renamed “Ruth’s Chris” in 1970, franchising began that same year.

Targeting a large male demographic, the refined atmosphere of this classic steakhouse attracts businesspeople, couples and families for special life events and every-day dining experiences that exude luxury and class.

The menu is built around their signature steak selection. Seared at 1800° F and served sizzling, on heated plates, the cuts of meat available are fillet, rib eye, NY strip, porterhouse and t-bone. The rest of the Ruth’s Chris fare is meant to compliment the simple yet savory steak offerings. Portions are generous and home-style sides make this a fine dining comfort food restaurant of sorts.

Food critics praise Ruth’s for their “perfect” and “melt in your mouth” steaks – and if a restaurant can please people who criticize food for a living, then it’s a safe bet that you will be pleased with what you find at your local Ruth’s Chris. Add to the reviews a 2006-2007 award for “Best Steak House Chain” and you have a recipe for success.

So, it’s time for you to enjoy the charm of a world-famous steakhouse while being treated to one of the best meals of your life. We recommend finding a Ruth’s Chris in your area and making reservations for your next dinner if you have not visited before. You will not be disappointed!

Fashion week in New York is known around the world. But have you ever heard of Restaurant Week?

Started as a promotional event in 1992, New York Restaurant Week has become so popular that cities across the country have followed suite with restaurant weeks of their own.

Held during one week in the summer and one week in the winter, this biannual event gives foodies a chance to dine at upscale restaurants for a fraction of the price.

Next month, Winter Restaurant Week 2011 will kick off with three-course lunches offered at fixed prices of $24.07 and dinners at $35. The prix-fixe menu prices do not include tax and tip, however.

Part of the week’s popularity stems from being able to sample new restaurants that might otherwise scare people away with prices. Who wants to spend $100 a plate when you might not like the fare? Lower prices encourage a little adventure.

Over 200 food establishments are likely to take part in the week long special, including Michael Jordan’s The Steak House and The Palm. Whether you’re a fan of Asian or Italian cuisine, you will be sure to find something that piques your interest.

If New York Restaurant Week is on your radar, then keep an eye out for the first ever Broadway Week that will debut at the same time. And if travel just isn’t in your plans, look for a local version of this great event. Boston, San Diego and Denver are only a few among your many options.

Le P’tit Laurent is an upscale French restaurant in the Glen Park neighborhood of San Francisco, California. With mostly positive reviews from critics and rave reviews from online users, business has been booming for the charming bistro ever since they set up shop in 2007.

Le P’tit Laurent is owned by Parisian chef Laurent Legendre. After learning his trade at a famed culinary school, he became a successful chef, first at prominent bistros in Paris and later in his adopted home of San Francisco. Le P’tit Laurent is his third successful venture in the United States since the opening of his first restaurant in 1998.

The restaurant is currently served by sous chef Julio Caceres, who has made the French dining experience a favorite for San Francisco natives and tourists. He manages to serve up fresh, classic French dishes that you won’t find at other restaurants.

Since the restaurant is quite popular with locals and only open for dinner service, it would be wise to make reservations ahead of your visit. The menu will delight French cuisine connoisseurs and newcomers alike, although your meal choice will not be easy.

You may decide to start with the Escargots or Soupe à l’oignon gratinée (onion soup). The menu also touts French classics such as Boeuf Bourguignon and Filet Mignon, and (if you leave room) dessert is sure to please with offerings like Crème Brûlée and fresh Cappuccino. The prices are very reasonable for the dining and cultural experience you receive.

International dining choices can be difficult when you are not familiar with the area, but the next time you are in the neighborhood, be sure to have Le P’tit Laurent on your list of dining destinations. You will be pleased to find yourself enjoying a little bit of Paris when you step inside.