ladysprite | Picking the Brains of My Friends

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Picking the Brains of My Friends

So it seems that, whatever else one can say about my job, my boss is actually quite a nice guy. I already knew this, but it's occasionally pleasant to have tangible proof of this.

You see, I was holding down the fort by myself for the past two weeks while he was out of the country. And apparently he's very happy with how smoothly things ran while he was gone, and his gratitude has taken the form of a not-insignificant bonus that I have been told is to be spent on a Very Nice Dinner for my hubby and me.

There's just a wee problem, though. We're not so much fancy restaurant people, mostly due to not generally being able to afford dinner at a fancy restaurant. Our average date-night restaurant is more along the lines of The Cheesecake Factory, with occasional forays up as classy as Legal Seafood.

So, I'm asking y'all - if money were no object (within reason - on the one hand, we don't drink alcohol, so that brings down the overall price of dinner quite a bit; on the other hand, it's not quite enough of a bonus that we can travel out of the area for a meal), where would you go for dinner?

Heck, even if you're not local, where would you suggest? Someday I might be in your area and looking for a way to burn cash, and it'd be nice to have a list of fancy expensive restaurants in random areas of the world....

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Tuscan Grille in Waltham. Reservations are recomended.

What sorts of foods do you like?

Generic answer - it is my firm belief that Gargoyles on the Square, in Davis Square Somerville - is one of the finest restaurants per dollar spent you can find.

I took a friend there one, who travels a lot professionally and stays at 4 star hotels and eats very well - he is quite a bon-vivant. He said he would happily twice that price for the same meal, in any restaurant.

Ah - how recently have you been there? I used to love Gargoyles, but now I think the chef is on acid. Same impeccable construction and preparation, but now exponentially more likely to include Coca-Cola, Rice Krispies, or packing peanuts. (I am not inventing these - I have seen them.)

I've been there recently - while they had the rice-krispie concoction on the menu. I think I even blogged about the truffle ice cream.

Everything I have ever tasted there, worked. Worked WELL. Even the wacky desserts.

Chacon a son gout, then - I miss the more graceful synthesis of the older menu.

Last time I went, they still had duck confit with coconut milk sauce - and that covers a lot of sins, baby. :-) (I couldn't eat it, of course - but Robin really loved it!)

Hm. I try my best to be open-minded, and I'm not *too* picky. I'm slightly less fond of some of the more heavily spicy Asian cuisines, though I'm becoming quite fond of Indian food. In general, I'm willing to try almost anything once - and this is a good way to find stuff I wouldn't otherwise seek out on my own....

I have an inordinate fondness for Gargoyles on the Square, which is right here in Davis Square and lovely. If you like the idea of a classic old-fashioned steakhouse, Abe & Louie's could do. One of Todd English's restaurants, like Olives or Bonfire, maybe?

I just recommended Gargoyles as well.

Consensus. Motion carried. :)

Ye Olde Steakhouse in Knoxville, Tennessee. Not fancy, but expensive and Fleepin' Good.

Dali - expencive but superb tapas place

And four blocks from my house.

I do enjoy Dali. Though recently, I ate at Casablanca, and liked their tapas a little bit better than Dali's. (Though part of that was slightly bigger portion-sizes which worked better for large groups, which doesn't apply for dinner for two.)

I don't think of either place as "fancy" in terms of the "ought to get dressed up to go there", though...

I never eat high-end fancy, myself, either. So, I really don't know.

Depending on which cuisine you favor:
Blue Ginger, in Wellesley
L'Espalier
Carmen, in the North End
Aujourd'hui

I knew you would weigh in with Blue Ginger, and I wanted to second it. ;)

I went to Blue Ginger, once, on their recommendation.

The food was in the top ten, for sure. The service was arguably the best I've ever seen. The prices were somewhat high...

If you were out here in San Diego?

Dinner at Mesquite, no question, which is fabulously wonderful and you don't have to dress up too much. Mesquite specializes in organic produce and well-cared-for meats (not sure that they're all organic, but similar), and pretty much everything is grilled to absolute perfection. You should get the California spiny lobster if you're here in the appropriate season.

There's also the Marine Room, which I interned at for a week, but they are *extremely* expensive, and dressing is mandatory. (: Sample Marine Room *lunch appetizer*, as I still have the menu from when I interned -- duck confit and foie gras quesadilla with cumin gouda, candied onions, huckleberries, and Banyul barbecue sauce. OMG.

Bonfire and Blue Ginger are both places I've wanted to go for a while.

If you wanted to go as far out as Worcester, The Sole Proprietor is very nice.

In Ft. Worth - Cattleman's Steak House

In Dallas - Sammy's (preferably the one on Greenville Ave)

In Annapolis - Red Hot and Blue (if you like really good bar-b-q.

In Pasadena - Tokeyo Sushi

I am too tired to spell correctly tonight.

Depending on the size of the bonus, have you considered Top of the Hub, at the top of the Prudential Center? I have a friend whose husband proposed there - serious special occasion place, great view. Probably runs $50 per person or more. Best enjoyed when someone else is paying the bill.

Can't say much about this place (or anywhere else fancy in MA), but

qarylla and I felt we got our C$150 worth (back when the Canadian dollar was worth less than the American one) at the CN Tower in Toronto. If this is a similar experience, go for it.

I second this--the view is v.nice & the food is memorable in a good way

In Lexington, Kentucky: Malone's steakhouse, I recommend the bone-in filet and apple pie: http://www.malonesrestaurant.com/ (http://www.malonesrestaurant.com/)

In Columbus, Ohio: The Refectory, incredible froggy cuisine with great wine, very pricey: http://www.therefectoryrestaurant.com/ (http://www.therefectoryrestaurant.com/)
and Giuseppe's, not pretentious, not big, not expensive -- but the best espresso in town: http://www.giuseppesritrovo.com/menus/dinner.htm (http://www.giuseppesritrovo.com/menus/dinner.htm)

In Indianapolis, IN: St. Elmo's Steakhouse has its own kinda weird traditions but is super-friendly and tasty: http://www.stelmos.com/ (http://www.stelmos.com/)

In Seattle, Washington: Buenos Aires Grill, everything's good and so are the desserts and the live tango dancers(!): http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=15080 (http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=15080)
and The CanCan, a strange little French place in a basement of the Pike Place Market, not too expensive: http://www.thecancan.com/ (http://www.thecancan.com/)

In Toronto, Ontario: Grappa Ristorante for incredible Italian and yummy digestifs: http://www.torontolife.com/guide/restaurants/italian/grappa/review/ (http://www.torontolife.com/guide/restaurants/italian/grappa/review/)
and Fat Cat, generally high-class, high-budget fare but omg flavor is never sacrificed: http://www.fatcat.ca/ (http://www.fatcat.ca/)

In London, England: Rules is the oldest restaurant in London and might be a little imposing, but is actually affordable and exceptionally tasty, with none-too-shabby wines available by the glass: http://www.rules.co.uk/ (http://www.rules.co.uk/) Also, Yorkshire pudding AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD!

And restaurants being part of chains doesn't mean they're bad, especially ones by BDI and Cameron Mitchell, from Brio (http://www.brioitalian.com/ (http://www.brioitalian.com/)) which has lots and lots of locations, to Bon Vie, which has one in northern Columbus which is amazing, and one which is apparently totally different, in Somerset, MI (http://www.bon-vie.com/ (http://www.bon-vie.com/))... and I'll always love Claim Jumper's mango martinis and meatloaf and ribs and hugehugehuge desserts (http://www.claimjumper.com/hypertext/home.htm (http://www.claimjumper.com/hypertext/home.htm))

Well, I'm salivating already...

Should you be interested in venturing down to NYC:

Esca -- magnificent Italian restaurant focusing on seafood. The chef is a fisherman himself, so he treats his fish lightly but magnificently (never lots of breading or sauces). And the pasta is the best I've ever had in my life (the place is co-owned by Mario Batali, so the pasta is up to his level).

Rosa Mexicano -- the best margaritas -- pomegranate -- in the world. Plus the best guacamole, and authentic Mexican food that's probably like nothing you've ever eaten before.

Union Square Cafe -- I've only eaten here once (the other two are longtime favorites and money sinks, at various times), but I *still* salivate thinking about the food. The best salmon I've ever had, and their wine list is the best I've ever chosen from.

Tabla -- Indian fusion restaurant, f-ing incredible. I've only eaten at the Bread Bar downstairs (less fancy food), but I wish I could conveniently eat there more often. It turned me (a decades-long hater of cilantro, thinking it tastes like soap) into a fan of cilantro -- because they know what to do with it! Not everything has cilantro, though, if you're not a fan. And the drinks ... ah, the drinks....

The Melting Pot is a chain, available in most major cities though I don't know offhand where the Boston one is, presuming it exists. It does incredibly decadent fondue meals -- cheese fondue appetizer, meat/veggie fondue main course, chocolate fondue dessert. Takes about three hours and is wonderful.

There's one in Burlington, MA just off of Rt. 3 (exit is for Rt. 62, near MITRE and former Sun campus) or Exit 32B/Middlesex Turnpike off of Rt. 128/I95, past the Burlington Mall. Essentially at the corner of Network Drive and Rt. 62.

(I work in the area, walking distance away.)

I went to one in Chicagoland suburbs a couple of years ago, lots of fun with a larger group, too; that way you can try more. (We had 5 in our group.)

there is also one just opened up on route 9 in Framingham.

There's one in Framingham, next to Jordan's Furniture. We went there for our anniversary. They have it set up so that the two-person tables are very cozy and isolated. You can easily feel like you're the only ones in the restaurant.

Definitely something to consider.

For two, you can expect to spend about $100.

Yeah, I really want to go to the one in Framingham. I had a first date at a melting pot, and it was terribly romantic, feeding each other tidbits of yummy things that we cooked for each other.

In downton Boston I recommend Spire, http://www.spirerestaurant.com/
I went there with some publishers reps who were buying a bunch of us dinner after doing a focus group for them. They have a tasting menu with 3-5 dishes that the chef picks, but all are yummy and some fabu.

In Pittsburgh, I recommend the LeMont. It's on Mt. Washington, the bluff on the south side of the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, and overlooks downtown. The view is gorgeous, the food excellent, and my parents met in the bar.

er um well...

So like how far are you willing to travel and what kinds of food do you enjoy?
Hunting wonderful food is a passion of mine and I have things on my list from little Armenian coffee and pastry shops (which are really good) to decadent food "experiences" (yes sometimes it is too pretty to eat for a while and you just sit there and wonder how they built it)

The main thing about my 'best of food lists' is that there is always an awesome bit of food for whatever mood one may fine oneself in.
This could be something like best comfort food which is either seafood hot and soup from a very nice Chinese place to a bowl of sour cherry soup... the variation is that one is a few exits from my house and the other served best is on a terrace overlooking the Danube River in Budapest.

Let me know some of your likes and I can tune my list...

This is the second time trying to enter this post as something in the web was hungry and ate what I was writing so I didn't type everything in again... sigh..

Here is a short list of some places I have been... they range from being in the top ten to just being really good food in an Irish pub...

Charlie Trotter's in Chicago
Hamersley's Bistro in Boston
Picasso in Las Vegas
Cafe Boulud in New York City
Aquavit also in NYC
Tir Na Nog in Philadelphia
Jaleo in Washington DC

L'Espalier (7 course vegetarian tasting menu, yum!)

I've heard awesome things about Sal de la Terre, over by the Aquarium T stop. Never been there, but someday I want to go. There's also a fusion place in arlington called Mifune, which I've been to, which has the best sushi I've had on the east coast. If you're a sushi person and money is no object, I'd recommend going in there and talking to them about having the sushi chef decide what you eat.

Mifune good. Chinese/Japanese.

Around the corner is a new place, Manna Sushi, Korean/Japanese. I've been once, sat at the sushi bar but didn't get the sushi - but I saw everything that came out and it looked fantastic. Service is uneven (but the place is new), but I am hard-pressed to choose between Mifune and Manna, now.

Sel de la Terre is one of our favorite restaurants. We've been there a number of times for special occasions. Excellent food.

Without alcohol, it will probably be around $75 for a couple, if I recall correctly.

Be sure to fill out a comment card with your birthday, and they'll send you a 20% off coupon for your entire table when you dine during your birthday month. (At least I remember it being 20%.)

Oh, and they have a new location in the Natick Mall.

My current idea of expensive food is probably cheaper than other people but fancy places I've liked recently:

Alta Strada in Wellesley- Very good Italian food with a modern twist

Metro 9 Steakhouse on route 9 in Natick/Framingham- Really excellent food and service

Elephant Walk in Waltham or Brookline - Cambodian food, yummy

Blue Ginger - Very good as everyone else has said, though I've only ever been for brunch, when they participate in the Boston Hunger Brunch (benefits boston food bank)

I think of The Elephant Walk as a special occasion place to go, although it is certainly not one of the most expensive spots. The food is specific and possibly unusual, but quite good.

There is a fine Italian place in Chelmsford called Vincenzo's that I like. It definitely qualifies as expensive and a treat.

In the Camberville area, I'd recommend EVOO, or The Elephant Walk.

The best food I've ever had was from Salts (http://www.saltsrestaurant.com/), outside of Central Sq. They do a tasting menu, a duck for two, and many other truly wonderful things. We spent about $100 each on the tasting menu, but we did get wine.

I'll skip adding details to the recommendations that other people have made. I'd second any of Blue Ginger, Elephant Walk, Hammersley's, Dali, and Salts, only adding that I think you'd like Salts or Dali best.

The Blue Room at Kendall Square, although I still like their lunch better than their dinner menu.

Sibling Rivalry in the South End. We went their for our 10th anniversary. It was spectacular. Great, friendly-but-not-unctuous service, fabulous food, and a neat menu concept. They're also right next to the BCA theater in case your celebration wanted to be expanded to see a show.

If you've never been to Locke Ober, go. I don't know how much longer they'll be around. Yes, it means going into Boston. You can T it to Park St.

On your side of the river, upstairs at The Pudding in Harvard Square. Amazing.

That should be enough, er, food for thought. Must go. Hungry.

I recommend Upstairs on the Square in Harvard. They have two different areas with different menus depending on how much you want to spend.

I'll echo Blue Ginger and Elephant Walk, and add a No. 9 Park to the list (http://www.no9park.com/). Very shmancy.

This is not quite a money-is-no-object place (you'll generally walk out around 20 to 35 bucks poorer, so it's a little hurty for people in our income bracket but hardly "fine dining"), but for your own future nice-dinner reference: the Helmand, in Kendall Square near the Cambridgeside Galleria. On a similar financial and awesomeness level, Sabur in Teele Square. (Get the lamb, I'm told, if you eat meat.)

It's a shame we're not having this conversation four years ago, though—I used to hang out with a couple of seeeerious cooks (he was a line cook at Clio, she was the pastry chef at Rialto) who knew all the high-end places.

Bacco in the North End (Italian). Stephanie's on Newberry ("gourmet comfort food"). Sandrine's in Harvard Square (Alsatian). Scutra in Arlington.

Back to the Columbus, OH area, should you be around and so inclined to spend hard-earned cash, The Bexley Monk is a most wonderful venue! Warm, cozy atmosphere (generally quiet except when they have a live band in), amazing duck and lamb dishes, absolutely incredible service! FA and I enjoyed it as an anniversary place.

Most of the best have been mentioned, but IMO the very best restaurant in the region hasn't been yet: Campania, in Waltham. Extremely high-quality Tuscan food, nestled away in an inconspicuous house on Main Street -- northern Italian done perfectly. Reservations more or less required; not highly dressy, but a place for a sport shirt and slacks.

Highly, highly recommended: my single favorite restaurant at this point, and not well-known. Prices are high, but on a par with many of the others mentioned here, and not too bad if you're not ordering wine. Leave room for dessert, and note that the "order at the beginning of the meal" desserts are worth doing so...

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Picking the Brains of My Friends

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Random areas of the world, eh?

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yummmm foood

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Seconded, er thirded

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