reedm

That's an amazing amount of excellent information. I've been to Tokyo a handful of times on business, so my food adventures were typically solo. I applaud you for accommodating kids and less than adventurous eaters--that must have been quite the challenge.

I almost always ventured out on my own, but on occasion, I ate with some of my colleagues. They were fairly experienced, but we quickly learned to ask how to eat certain dishes--yakiniku being one of them. 

I didn't see Tonkatsu mentioned--ask around for a good spot. It was always much better than anything I found in the US.

Reservations are essential--many Tokyo restaurants "screen" their customers to prevent no-shows, so you can either use Tablelog--a website that charges hefty service fees and requires non-refundable advance payments, or a concierge. I was surprised how many times I was unable to secure a reservation for one person, even when using a concierge (ANA Tokyo hotel), and also how many times some of the better-known hotel restaurants were fully booked.

I was only less-than-thrilled a couple of times. Puffer fish is hyped in the US, but while the experience was interesting, it was very expensive, and the flavor of the fish was unremarkable. I also tried a "higher end" hibachi restaurant, and while everything was well executed, it wasn't something I'd do again.

10 minutes ago, genericeric said:

I continue to think the lounge is the best way to enjoy Le Bernardin.  It's rarely crowded, especially early in the evening, the service is more friendly and prompt, and you have the choice of a la carte or you can also do the full tasting menu.  Last Saturday evening brought Tuna with Foie Gras Brioche ($54 and pictured in the post above) and Lobster Rolls ($54).  Portioning was generous, with 4 mini lobster rolls presented with truffle butter.  Fabulous wine service - in and out in an hour for <$200.  Then across the street to Aldo Sohm for a bottle and charcuterie.

I watched an extremely interesting "behind the scenes" video on Youtube (produced by Eater). Le Bernardin is not inexpensive by any means, but it looks to be worth every penny. 

As usual, Rocks provides outstanding advice. I've not been to Osaka or Kyoto, but I've been to Tokyo a handful of times. The other contributors to this thread provided great information as well. 

While it is an incredible city for food (among other things), the choices can be overwhelming, as the population is around 13 million people, and there are more than 125,000 restaurants. 

How old are your kids? That will certainly influence your choices. 

I thoroughly enjoyed a couple of food tours from Ninja food tours. ("Asakusa food hunt" and "Wagyu and Sake pairing"). 

During my most recently trip, I had an amazing dinner at Sushi Yuu in Roppongi. Reservations are essential, and the chef/owner is a great guy.

Random thoughts:

It may seem like I'm stating the obvious, but if you want to experience authentic Wagyu, Japan is the place to do it. Same goes for sushi restaurants. 

If your hotel has a concierge, use them for recommendations and reservations. Many Tokyo restaurants will not accept reservations from non-natives unless they are pre-paid, reservations can be hard to come by.

Even though the indoor Tsukiji fish market has moved, I highly recommend a tour of the outdoor Tsukiji fish market.

Tonkatsu restaurants are plentiful, and the Japanese pork is uniquely delicious. 

Don't miss the food selections at 7-11s or Family Marts.

Don't to see/hear English spoken or written. (Google translate will help to some extent.)

The USD/JPY exchange rate is incredibly favorable to Americans at the moment, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding affordable places to eat. 

Has anyone been recently? I booked an anniversary dinner there after hearing positive reviews from friends/colleagues. For my tastes, there are plenty of more exciting options, but my wife is not as "adventurous" as I am. (She does not care for most fish or shellfish, but she does enjoy crab.)

FWIW, we have been fortunate to have dined at some great places--Fiola/Fiola Mare, Metier, Marcel's, Chloe, Obelisk, etc, but I'm looking for something a bit different this time, and I'm hoping Joe's fits the bill. (No pun intended.)

Thanks!

1 hour ago, genericeric said:

Ludo Lefebvre's Carrot Salad (gift link) is one of those recipes that looks much more impressive on the plate than it is challenging to make, and it gets rave reviews every time.  There are a number of components, but most can be pre-made to an extent with the final product assembled right before serving family style.

Last night was a more-or-less standard chicken noodle soup with Jenn Segal's Ham Sliders.  Nothing earth-shattering but fed 6 in under an hour for about $40 all in, meaning the food was significantly less expensive than the Georges Vernay Condrieu it was served with...

I made that carrot salad some time ago, and it is certainly delicious.

Great write-up and photos! I'm headed to SA soon to spend Christmas with my parents. Perhaps I'll get a chance to check one of these places out.

On 8/2/2023 at 12:35 PM, Tweaked said:

Back from a several day road trip through the Midwest.

Scotts Bluff National Monument

Nebraska doesn't have a lot to offer in terms of national parks, but Scotts Bluff is a good visit if you are in the Western side of the state.  800 foot bluffs jutting out of the High Plains along the old Oregon Trail.  There is a hiking trail and roadway to the top for sweeping views of the surrounding countryside as well as a couple of walking trails at the base.  You can do pretty much everything in 2-3 hours, so it's an easy half day visit.  

North Platte

Small town vibe with a couple block historic district.  Good Life on the Bricks, a BBQ and pizza place was fine but nothing special.  The La Quinta hotel was perfectly nice for the night, indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi open until midnight.  

Overton

Taste of India Truck Stop.  I found out about this place via a New York Times article about a growing trend of South Asian run truck stops that basically cater to the growing number of South Asian truck drivers in the US.  The main part of the store is typical truck stop stuff, on the side is a cafe serving a full Indian menu, everything from your typical Indian veg dishes to lamb and goat biriyani.  They are serving really good Indian food:  good samosa chat, great buttered roti, and decent pakora.  The food tasted more like the food you get in India than the food we get in American Indian restaurants.  Exit 248 I-80.

Golf

No seriously.  Nebraska isn't all flat and corn fields.  In fact, the Sand Hill region is quietly becoming a quality golfing destination for what is called "in-land links" style golf courses, with the sandy soils and wide open vistas reminiscent of the traditional links courses of Scotland and Ireland.  

Wild Horse Golf Club, Gothenburg:  Frequently listed as one of the best public course you can play at a reasonable price.  Wild Horse is in the lower Sand Hill region with gently rolling fairways along prairie land.  

Landmand Golf Club, Homer:  Opened last year, Landmand is already receiving national attention.  Not technically in the Sand Hills, but built along a sandy ridge this massive course is a rollicking ride.  Some of the greens are a little too tricked out, but just go and have fun.  I'd suggest a late afternoon tee time, sunset along the ridge is breathtaking.  

 

Golf and food recommendations--right up my alley. Thanks!

On the surface, Hawkers is an interesting concept. However, as someone who has been fortunate enough to visit Singapore a few times, Hawkers is the antithesis of Singapore hawker stands. I took a quick look at the Hawkers menu, and most items are $10+. In Singapore, a $10 item at a hawker stand is rare.

Coincidentally, I was there last week, and I will tell you the quality and variety of hawker stand food writ large is amazing. 

I realize it is extremely difficult to replicate indigenous foods in the US (it goes both ways, of course), but the price point appears to be very high in relation to quality.

We celebrated a birthday a couple of weeks ago, and all 6 of us were impressed by the quality of food and drinks. We enjoyed a sizable portion of the menu, to include the florentine steak, the cabbage dish, and many other items. All were delicious. Try the cabbage--trust me! Our service was similar to Don's--it was hit or miss at times, but overall, all of us would return!

8 hours ago, Pat said:

Not outside but I used a grill pan inside yesterday to finish some beer brats* (marinated about 6 hours, then added to the brazier with sliced onions that had been braising in the rest of the spiced marinade). They were served on brioche hot dog buns with the onions. Things got a little soggy, so a harder roll might have worked better, but they were delicious.

Sides were a recipe I found online for roasted cauliflower and white beans, plus leftover mac and cheese that I topped with excess of the panko topping for the cauliflower. I didn't measure the ingredients too carefully and my orange cauliflower was pretty small, so I opted for splitting the topping over two dishes. I don't usually put bread crumb topping on mac and cheese, but was a good variation when reheating yet more of something that created a lot of leftovers.

*pork bratwursts and buns from Whole Foods; cauliflower from H Street market

Coincidentally, I made beer brats a couple of days ago as well. I browned them in a cast iron pan as well. Potato rolls, btw.

On 5/11/2023 at 1:48 AM, will_5198 said:

Zavala's Barbecue

Since moving to Texas over a decade ago, the majority of my favorite barbecue experiences have been special occasions. The occasion being, a planned trip out of your way, solely to eat at an acclaimed barbecue establishment, in which you wait in an hours-long line to order the entire menu in one shot and never finish the entire tray. Crossed off the list, to say you have been here or there and can rate them properly on the internet or among strangers in the next barbecue line you stand in.

And I love all of that.

But Zavala's Barbecue showed me a new type of barbecue experience. The kind where you become a regular, where you're only a 10-minute drive away, where you never really have to wait in a long line, where you have eaten nearly every special and regular menu item a dozen times over.

This personal convenience does not equate to lesser barbecue -- they made the cut on the most recent Texas Monthly top 50 list, for those counting -- and I'm sure there are plenty of customers who do in fact make a special detour to their Grand Prairie address.

To those looking to make it a special occasion, I'd say their very black-peppered brisket has always been good but has come a long way in the past year or so (I prefer their lean over their moist). Not the rarefied air of the very best places across the state, but nothing you wouldn't be happy to see on your butcher paper.

Their pork ribs, however, are one of my favorite versions anywhere. Love a spare rib that has a beautiful crust without being over-glazed or sugared up, while still being tender enough that every bite leaves a clean bone. The best ribs I've ever eaten in Texas have come from City Market, Goldee's and La Barbecue -- Zavala's, on top of their game, can compete with any of those three.

Sausages are all enjoyable, from the spicier pizza pepper (ie crushed red pepper) links to my favorite, the boudin (filled with rice and brisket scraps). Turkey and pulled pork are tasty but can be skipped, like nearly all Texas barbecue spots.

As for the sides, those lean more Mexican: pico de gallo on the side instead of pickles and onions, flour tortillas (not made in-house, regrettably) instead of white bread, cheesy hominy instead of macaroni. One of their signature items is a Sloppy Juan, which is chopped brisket doused in barbecue sauce and wrapped in a large tortilla (taking the place of a regular chopped brisket sandwich). Or just get some of their beef cheek when they have it, top it with pico, their intense salsa verde, and make your own taco that'll be even better.

Shout-out to their potato salad by the way. It's more of a German version, served warm, mayo-heavy and loaded with bacon bits and green onion. I am a potato salad person and this one touches my heart.

So yeah, Zavala's is the home team. From the owners (Joe Zavala and wife Christan, who herself runs a coffee shop up the street called Mas Coffee, serving the same barbecue as breakfast tacos) to every single person I've met working there, they all have been nothing but gracious and hospitable on each visit. I've even run into the pit crew at least three or four times while in line at Goldee's on a Sunday (mutual respect and a long history, as Goldee's did one of their pre-restaurant pop-ups at Zavala's).

I never knew I needed a neighborhood barbecue restaurant. But every barbecue lover should be lucky enough to find one for themselves.

 

Ribs and pork steak special. They just added a direct fire pit and should be doing more pork steaks and even whole hog.

 

DIY brisket taco.

 

Favorite potato salad.

 

Spicy coleslaw, pork ribs and beef cheek. Future tacos.

 

Steak fajita night special. 

Wow--what a mouth-watering report. Despite the fact you rekindled my "I sure miss Texas BBQ" thoughts, I enjoyed your comments. There's just no substitute for high quality Texas barbecue. 

16+ years and the pricing and inventory are the same. Quite a deal.

😁

21 hours ago, saf said:

Apparently they were being picketed yesterday by animal rights activists.

And both websites are working for me now. 

They must have hacked their website as well. Seems to be up and running again. Thanks!

I just tried to find out what Kinship and/or Metier are currently offering, but the website is not working correctly. Does anyone have any idea what's going on? A google search turned up a potential foie gras controversy, but I'm not sure if that is related.

Cheers

Our experience at Roberto's was wonderful. The staff was warm and welcoming, and the food and drinks impressed us all. The restaurant was full the entire evening (it was a Saturday), but it was not hectic or overly noisy. 

Between four of us, we were able to try several dishes, and they were all absolutely great. (Looking forward to trying the gnocchi next time, Don.) There is something for everyone's taste on the menu, and it making decisions was difficult, only because everything looked so good.

Surprise hit: Onion-potato soup. 

We will certainly be back. 

11 hours ago, Steve R. said:

There’s a Hampton Inn on the corner, less than a block from The Grey, and we stayed one night last week on our trip down to Florida.  It’s the only Hampton we stayed at that charged for parking ($30/night) but, since it was a free stay with Hilton points, I didnt care.  We like Hampton (see my separate “ode to Hamptons” elsewhere on the board).  The stay was just about perfect.

The Grey, on the other hand, wasnt.  The menus in the bar area and main dining room have recently been revamped and are now the same in both.  The fixed price is gone from the dining room and the a la carte menu did not yield interesting results.  It seemed to me like they are walking thru the motions without inspiration & the chef is clearly capable of better (she was in the open kitchen, in charge of what was going out).  Reservations are still tough, the place was full & others were enjoying their food, so maybe its just me.  Or maybe the new menu is not yet tweaked.  Whatever - it was a disappointing dinner.  Nothing bad, just something I can get elsewhere without fanfare.  We’ll go to Husk next trip thru Savannah.

That matches my experience from a couple of months ago. Stopped by late afternoon for a bit on Sunday, and sat at the bar. They were closing, and while crab fritters were good, and the cocktail was fine, it wasn't anything particularly special.
I stopped by a coupe of other Savannah spots, and was not overly impressed by any of them. 

On 12/15/2022 at 4:47 PM, DonRocks said:

Last Friday, I had the best gnocchi I’ve ever had at Roberto’s. Every dish was good, but the gnocchi was extraordinary - it’s enough for a meal by itself.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Our friends are taking us there to celebrate my birthday in a couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to the experience even more now. Grazie

23 hours ago, dcs said:

The Impossible Art of Keeping a Restaurant Afloat, by Vivian Howard, January 20, 2023, on nytimes.com.

One of the things I enjoy about this site is that it is full of hidden nuggets of information. Don's thread about Kinston is over 6 years old, but as it turns out, my daughter and SIL had their rehearsal dinner at the Chef and the Farmer, and It was quite good, particularly for that part of the country. Little did we know, the night of the rehearsal dinner was the same night as the BBQ Fest on the Neuse, which occupied several blocks and made parking an unexpected challenge. Sad to learn that Vivian had to close the place. 

8 hours ago, Bart said:

Even you must admit that is a bit tacky.

If you do the "all in" meal, it's $1025 per person, before tax and tip.  To add $2.50 to that is beyond insulting.  It's like, "The joke's on you, sucker!".

It reminds me of the movie "The Menu" which, if you haven't seen it, you should!  It's great.  One tip:  Read nothing about the movie before you see it.  Going in cold makes for the best experience. 

We watched "The Menu", and it was completely different than I expected. No spoilers, but it quickly went off the rails for me. The beginning of the movie made me laugh quite a few times...

3 hours ago, Bart said:

This is really off-putting.   

I have no problem dropping major coin on a meal, but to be charged an extra $24 to get the sauces you assumed were an integral part of the dish that the chef designed, smacks of tackiness, a bait-and-switch scam, or both.  And you don't mention it in the review, but why do I assume that the server simply said, "And what sauces would you like this evening?" as if you were choosing options for sides at regular restaurant, without mentioning they were not included in the price of the entrée?   How long before they list the price for a bottle of wine, and then charge you $20 per (empty) glass, to drink it in, because "glass fee" was buried in small print on the 23rd page of the wine list?

I'm having flashbacks to the $650 tasting menu at Jont where they have the gall to add a $2 service charge to take the reservation.

One person in our group asked about the sauces, and our server (who was excellent overall) replied that there were three options. He didn't mention the cost, but I read the menu somewhat carefully, and noted the price. 

I'm not sure how to express my thoughts accurately, but the Fiola brand has evolved to cater to a high end clientele, who may not care about cost. Speaking for myself, cost is a factor. I can't afford/justify a spot where I know I'll pay hundreds per person unless it's a special occasion. Two of my close friends, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed their Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes at Fiola, and the bill exceeded $1k. They said it was wonderful, but that price is too much for me.  

Minor segue...we had dinner at Imperfecto several months ago, and I think it is wildly overpriced. 

Six of us enjoyed dinner at Del Mar last night to celebrate the holidays, and we all agreed the experience was outstanding. Yes, Del Mar is very expensive, but the quality of the service, food, drinks, and atmosphere justified the cost for us. Pay close attention to the menu/pricing, as nothing is complimentary, but it sometimes sounded like they were.(I would not recommend Del Mar if you are dining on a budget)

For the wine enthusiasts/experts in the group, the sommelier recommended a 2013 Paco and Lola Albarino, and it was wonderful, and the bottles paired nicely with the variety of dishes we ordered. 

I won't detail everything we ordered, as the list is long, but I can tell you the kitchen nailed every dish in terms of preparation and taste. 

We started with the 5J Gran Plato, which was a generous serving of smoked meats, bread, and few other items. We also a total of five tapas dishes. (Don't miss the patatas bravas!)

The Lubina Aquanaria (branzino/sea bass) was cooked perfectly--tender, a tad smoky, and delicious.

For some reason, I was a bit hesitant about the paella, but I think that is because I read too many untrusted "reviews" from other sources. We also ordered the Paella De Pescado Y Mariscos, which featured Maine lobster (a very generous portion served in the shell) Tiger Prawns (2 of the largest prawns I've ever seen), a few mussels, and monkfish. The dish was advertised for 4, but it was plenty for the six of us. It was all extremely clean and fresh tasting, enough so that it pleased my wife, who is not generally a fan of most seafood. (@genericeric's description above was spot on.)

Desserts included a flan, which was tasty and beautifully presented. 

If I had one quibble, it is that the three sauces offered (for the beef?) were $8 each, served in very small ramekins, I don't think the fish or beef needed them. 

(Minor edits for clarification.)

On 11/14/2022 at 8:46 PM, Ericandblueboy said:

Meater Plus - wifi bluetooth temperature probe.  Saw this in the Wapo gift ideas.

I have a meater Plus -- it works great, and is meant to be left in the food while cooking. (I use it for beef, chicken, etc.) It connects directly to the app on your cell phone.

Thermopens serve a different purpose, and work extremely well. 

On 3/22/2011 at 7:08 PM, mbalaver said:

You're making me wish I were in Dublin! One of my favorite restaurants there doesn't have an Irish menu -- it's Dunne and Crescenzi, on S. Frederick Street (just south of Trinity College and a couple of blocks east of Grafton St.). It's basically a wine bar, owned by an Irishwoman and her Italian husband. The menu is nothing novel these days when you can find some version of an Italian wine bar all over DC, but the ingredients are high quality, the menu is now pretty extensive, and the atmosphere is warm and convivial. (Once my family was standing outside on the sidewalk trying to decide how long it would take for a table to open up and a guy who might have been the manager came walking by and started dancing with my Mom. I won't soon forget that (or him -- he jumped into one of my photos and waved). And then he helped us get seated promptly.) It's also next door to my favorite place to stay (Trinity Lodge), so you can't beat that! They've expanded their city center restaurant since I first started going there shortly after it opened, and opened another location in Sandymount, and I hope they'll continue to do well despite the terrible financial situation in Ireland.

A large group of us on a golf trip ate there once for dinner, and the food and service was very good. Everything from the antipasti to desserts was a pleasant surprise, and the current favorable exchange rate makes the cost quite affordable. Everyone we met during our trip was extremely welcoming, and Dunne and Creszenze was no exception.

3 hours ago, Ericandblueboy said:

I don’t really read his reviews anyway but I would prefer stars so I don’t have to read his reviews.  In any case, his latest dining guide is atrocious.  I think Wapo needs a new critic.

While I understand his Fall Dining Guide is not supposed to be a "best of" list, I agree that some of the selections are odd. I live 5 minutes away from Himalayan Wild Yak, and ordered delivery once. I don't judge a restaurant on their take-out, but nothing made me want to try it again. Yak is a stone's throw from Ahso, which I think continues to be the best restaurant in the Ashburn/Leesburg area, bar none, but the place doesn't get a mention. 
 

On 7/6/2022 at 6:47 PM, reedm said:

Heading to Dublin next month for a week-long golf trip, so I would appreciate restaurant recommendations. Open to all cuisines, and our primary limitation is that it must be able to accommodate 13 people.

Thanks in advance!

Still headed to Dublin, but I'm open to any/all recommendations. Cheers.