# What's the best restaurant where you've eaten? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 23, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058 "2005-09-23T14:51:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/21 "2005-09-23T17:51:59Z")
**Best appetizers** I know it’s ubiquitous but I like the Bloomin’ Onion at Outback Steakhouse. **Best Salad** The Ceasar at Pizzaria Uno’s in Arlington, VA (Ballson - no longer there). **Best entree** The Sesame Chicken at Charlie Chang’s in Arlington, VA (Shirlington). **Best dessert** The Old Dixie Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce at King Street Blues in Arlington, VA (Crystal City). **Best drinks** Margaritas at Ninfa’s in Houston. **Best service** Romano’s Macaroni Grill in Arlington, VA (Ballston Common). **Best atmosphere** Toss up between Tom Sarris’ Olreans House in Arlington, VA (Rosslyn) with their wrought iron balcony & riverboat saladbar, the Phillips Flagship in DC with their view of the DC waterfront, and the Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans which probably isn’t as nice now. **Most expensive** Phillips Flagship in DC. $120 for three. **Best Overall Experience** Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/22 "2005-09-23T18:48:21Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > **Best appetizers** > I know it’s ubiquitous but I like the Bloomin’ Onion at Outback Steakhouse. The Bloomin’ Onion is one of my guilty pleasures. That also gives me wicked heartburn. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/23 "2005-09-23T19:52:27Z")
**Best appetizers** - I’m gonna be flexible here and count soup as an appetizer and state that the lobster bisque at **Ruth’s Chris** is unimaginably good **Best entrée** – believe it or not, **the steak au poivre** at the original Field’s in the Wisconsin Dells **Best dessert** – Portillo’s chocolate cake 😃 **Best service** – Ambria in Chicago **Best atmosphere** - Ambria in Chicago **Most expensive** - Ambria in Chicago ($320 for two people to have the 12 course degustation with wine) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/24 "2005-09-23T21:12:14Z")
Daniel’s Broiler near Seattle has some of the best atmosphere as well as some damn fine meat. And it’s not too cheap. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/25 "2005-09-24T00:25:45Z")
Appetizer would have to be at Topolobampo in Chicago. Best freakin’ guacamole I’ve ever had in my life. All the other categories can easily be awarded to [The Oakroom](http://www.seelbachhilton.com/hoteldining_theoakroom.html) at the Seelbach hotel in Louisville. Just a fabulous place. And if it’s good enough for Al Capone it ought to be good enough for anyone, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/26 "2005-09-24T00:50:39Z")
Best appetizers Best entree Best dessert Best drinks Best service Best atmosphere Most expensive I don’t know the name of the place, but I worked on a boating video in Ohio awhile ago and the producers took us out to dinner. I had escargot in mushroom caps and garlic butter for appitizer and roast duck for entree. Probably the best for both of those. Don’t drink or eat desserts. Not sure about the ohers. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/27 "2005-09-24T01:19:33Z")
Bearing in mind that I am SO not an appreciater of fine food… **Best Salad** : At **La Fondue** in Saratoga, CA. It’s just the house salad, or whatever. **Best Appetizer** : Israeli Cigars at **Zibbibo** in Palo Alto, CA (they’re cigar-shaped potato dumplings of some sort. Heavenly.) **Best Dim Sum** : I’ve had Dim Sum at supposedly the best places in LA’s and San Francisco’s china towns, and the best I’ve ever had was at the chinese restaurant in **Bellagio** in Las Vegas **Best Atmosphere** : **Humuhumunukunukuapua’a** , at one of the fancy hotels in Maui. The eating area is built right over a little inlet with fish swimming right under you, and ocean/sunset as far as the eye can see. Plus, the one and only time I was there was taking my parents for their wedding anniversary, so it was a special occasion **Best hit-the-spot food** : Shredded BBQ pork sandwich from a roadside stand on the north shore of Maui after driving and hiking around and being exhausted and hungry and thirsty. Runner-up: This pizza I had in New Jersey this one time after a long and miserable plane flight. **Best dessert** : Chocolate Fondue at **La Fondue** **Best Overall Restaurant Experience** : The buffet at the top of **Hotel Granvia** in Kyoto. Probably the best meal I’ve ever had. A bewildering variety of foods, ranging from the basic (big hunks of meat being cut up) to exotic (octopus thingies), all of them fantastic, all-you-can-eat, great view of Kyoto, great service, AND only like $35 per person if you’re staying at the hotel. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/28 "2005-09-24T01:50:16Z")
The best Hit the Spot food has to be a mighty dog with ketchup, pickles, grilled and raw onions from Red Hot Lovers in Ann Arbor Michigan. Practically lived off of em in college and every once in a while I gotta go back and get one. Lived in Chicago for 3 years and never found a Chicago style dog as good as the ones in Ann Arbor. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/29 "2005-09-24T14:47:44Z")
> [@SuperNelson](#): > > Best Drinks: Strongbow cider at any decent pub in London. My wife and I loved that stuff. We’ve even tried to get it here in Texas. **Best appetizers** - Crawfish Bread at Copeland’s in Mobile, Alabama. It’s like a pizza with Crawfish and cream sauce! YUM! **Best Salad** - I can’t help it. I gotta credit the Olive Garden! (Screw you, in advance!). If the Olive Garden is not accepted, then I offer the Ceasar Salad at the Red Lion Hotel in Portland, Oregon. **Best entree** - The Tour of Italy at Olive…just kidding… **Best dessert** - Turtle Fondue at the Melting Pot in Houston. **Best drinks** - Margaritas at Papasitos. **Best service** - The Bahamian Club at the Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas. **Best atmosphere** - Hooters. Heh, I mean The Rainbow Room in New York. **Most expensive** - Hell, the exchange rate was so bad when I went to London, Burger King could be near the top in this category. Seriously, it was probably the Rainbow Room. I think my bill was like $400 for two people. I have eaten at more expensive restaurants, but I had to pick up the check for that one. **Best Overall Restaurant Experience** : The Rainbow Room. It had a great band, a great view, excellent food. Plus, it was my first anniversary. A few other categories: **Best BBQ** : Other than my dad’s backyard, I’ll go with Good Company BBQ in Houston. The answer may differ, but if it isn’t in Texas, it is not the best. That’s right. I’m looking at YOU, Kansas City! **Best Sushi** - I’m still looking. I’ve had some great stuff, but nothing to distinguish itslef as the best. **Best Buffet** - Marketplace at the Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas (breakfast). **Best Seafood** - Pappa’s Seafood in Houston. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/30 "2005-09-24T15:50:47Z")
**Best Entree** Pepperoni and cheese pizza at The Pizza Factory **Most expensive** Louis IV in the South of France, $1000 per person :eek: ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/31 "2005-09-24T16:15:34Z")
**Best appetizers** Black Angus, love their potato skins. **Best Salad** Spuds Pizza Parlor in Tacoma. Homemade dressings and a big pile of mozzarella on top. **Best entree** Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. 16 ounce porterhouse please. **Best dessert** A restaurant near the entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park. Huckleberry pie with homemade ice cream. **Best drinks** I don’t do alcohol, anyplace with decent iced tea. **Best service** Salty’s at Redondo. **Best atmosphere** The Space Needle. Too bad the food was terrible. **Most expensive** Spirit of Washington Dinner Train. **Best Overall Restaurant Experience** Duke’s Lake Union Chowder House. It was just me and my twin granddaughters. Anita made the meal a treat despite the lousy weather outside. How about worst experience. I nominate **Bubba Gump’s** at Pier 39 in San Francisco. I was served farm raised Atlantic salmon at a restaurant within view of the Pacific Ocean. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/32 "2005-09-24T22:01:02Z")
For me, in all categories it was the Goose’s Nest (Ganzneste?) in Rijsweig(?) in Holland. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/33 "2005-09-25T04:23:00Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > It’s on Boylston, between (I think) Fairfield & Exeter. > > Its entrance is very subtle, looks almost like the entrance to a corporate office. It sort of is, Morton’s is underneath offices and my old job’s training facility. You can see a front for Morton’s, but you have to go into the revolving doors that don’t look like the enterance for a restaurant. Also, it is the restaurant I thought of when I read the OP. Both the most expensive (about $250 for two of us, including wine), and the best. steaks. ever. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058/34 "2005-09-25T13:26:07Z")
> [@badbadrubberpiggy](#): > > It sort of is, Morton’s is underneath offices and my old job’s training facility. You can see a front for Morton’s, but you have to go into the revolving doors that don’t look like the enterance for a restaurant. > > Also, it is the restaurant I thought of when I read the OP. Both the most expensive (about $250 for two of us, including wine), and the best. steaks. ever. I agree. Better than the other two high-end steak houses I’ve visited (not a huge sample, I’ll admit!). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-restaurant-where-youve-eaten/323058.md?page=1)