Best Restaurant Meal of 2013

[RWBooneJr]

I can't believe that 2014 is now more than a week old and nobody has started a "best of 2013" thread.  As my father once told me after our family's power had gone out due to a storm, "it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness."  Despite his obviously literal intent, I'll seize on the metaphor and start:  the best meal I had at a restaurant in 2013 was at The Farm and Fisherman, a tasting-menu BYOB in Philly.  The best locally was at Rose's Luxury.  What were your best meals last year?

[SeanMike]

I've gotta go with Rose's Luxury as well. My visit there just blew me out of the water. If I lived near there it'd be a struggle not to eat there so much...

[Pat]

My best restaurant meal of 2013 was at the chef's counter at Beuchert's Saloon.  The Red Hen and Kapnos come in with honorable mentions.

Despite living nearby, I have not been to Rose's.  I haven't been eating out at all lately.  Perhaps I will get to include that on a best of 2014 thread.

[liz2041]

A tasting menu dinner at One Block West in Winchester

[Joe H]

2013:  Roberto's Four followed by several extraordinary meals when Tarver King was still at the Ashby Inn.  Best "out of town" dinner was at Fore Street in Portland, Maine.  Again.  Sooner or later this is going to win Beard's national award.

2014:  a standard bearer starts at Rose's.

[ktmoomau]

I think my problem is I can't remember all my 2013 meals.  I remember I went to London and had a really fantastic Indian meal and I still remember many of those dishes.  It was a place right by Selfridges.  I remember eating a great meal in Hvar with a zucchini carpaccio and ragu.

I had a meal at Husk in Charleston that was delightfully good.  I had a great meal last January at the Source that I still remember, as well.  The fried apple slices with powdered sugar served from a street stall in Zurich were ridiculously simple and good.  But I know there is more... I know there are other things that I loved, I just forget them.  I had some really good meals at Mintwood Place, not ridiculously different or mind blowing, but very tasty, with good company.

[Tujague]

Yeah, I think I have to go with Rose's Luxury, too, for the overall combination of food, service, and atmosphere. While Le Diplomate has wowed me on those last two points, in the end, the food has proven to be less memorable (though not bad, either). Casa Luca and Del Campo had their moments, but both let me down on atmosphere. I also need to lift up the fine burger at Beuchert's, continually excellent food at Montmartre, and good meals at Rasika West End and Woodward Table, both shining during summer Restaurant Week. The Eddy Bar at Hank's on the Hill still excels for drinks, though my meals there really varied in quality. My few out-of-town meals this year were highlighted by Pabu in Baltimore and the always-solid Artisanal in NYC. Worst has to be the dispiriting birthday breakfast I had at Ted's Bulletin (though it was probably my favorite posting here to date).

[astrid]

Locally, might be Rose's Luxury for me as well.  The kitchen's combination of creative flair and flawless execution puts them over the top for me. Though we had such excellent experiences at Robert's Four, Seasonal Pantry Supper, Sushi Taro Omakase, Bangkok Golden, and Izakaya Seki that it would be unfair for me not to mention them in a "best of" context.  We also had an excellent brunch at CORK Wine Bar that deserves honorable mention.

Elsewhere, Le Filet, Le Club Chasse et Peche, and Le Quartier General in Montreal were all tremendous, at the level of Rose's Luxury for me.  Abattoir in Atlanta and Kitchen in Denver were also memorably great.

[porcupine]

Locally: Rose's Luxury, The Red Hen, Bob's Shanghai 66, summer Restaurant Week special at Rogue 24, and a late night dessert meal at Fiola (because of circumstances).

Elsewhere (I'll admit to succumbing to "vacation effect"):

Ulla in Victoria, BC

Shanghai River in Richmond, BC

Santouka Ramen, Blue Water Cafe, and The Flying Pig in Vancouver, BC

Best of the Best?  L'Abattoir, in Vancouver, BC

[Choirgirl21]

I think my problem is I can't remember all my 2013 meals.

I was thinking that was my problem as well, but then I looked back through my calendar and honestly, I think I barely ate out, at least particularly nice meals this year.

I think my winners all go to New Orleans, my dinner at Coquette, which was imperfect but a few of the dishes were just outstanding and overall we really enjoyed the experience and my Donald Link late lunch where I put together some dishes from Peche and Cochon. Every single bite of food that I put in my mouth (I think I had 4 dishes total) plus the drinks I paired with them were outstanding.

Locally, the tasting menu at Beuchert's might take the cake if it weren't for one dish that was such a letdown for me that it somewhat marred the experience (don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it, but it won't beat out the NOLA meals as a result).

[DanielK]

Locally, Roberto's 4.

Out of town, August in New Orleans.

[PappyVanWise]

Belmont Food Shop.

Our first real outing after relocating to Richmond in April.  This is a very small, smart restaurant that is bound to make some noise this year.  I've been meaning to write full review, but it's been so long I think it'll come after my next visit.

[Rovers2000]

Out of Town: Alinea (Chicago) - special evening (1st wedding anniversary), transcendent dining experience from top to bottom (food, wine, service, atmosphere)

DC Based: Roberto's 4