The most fantastic resturant dining experience you've had?

[Anonymous]

The Farnhouse in Sonoma.

Our B&B host recommended it and called in the reservation. We had no idea it had a Michelin star until we got there. It was incredible from start to finish, especially because it was so unexpected. It was our first time working with a sommelier and capped off a wonderful week sampling wines.

We have had plenty of other great experiences since, but the Farmhouse always stands out.

[Anonymous]

I think that discussing amazing restaurant experiences is no more pretentious than other DCUM threads where people prattle on about getting Larla into the 'best preschool' that will then feed into their desired $30k a year 'top' private school when they live in a county with some of the top-performing public schools in the USA.

Our family will not be paying for private school tuition, but I am willing to drop $400 on a memorable meal. To each their own; I'm not going to rain on their preschool anxiety thread.

And it is CERTAINLY less obnoxious than the thread about whether birthday parties at Chikfila are low-class or if you should get a crappy gift just because you don't like the child. Those are truly pretentious.

[Anonymous]

In DC: Komi. Amazing. Outside of DC, we had amazing meals at the chef's table at Keswick (Charlottesville) and a little place in Paris called Je The Me. We were there over a decade ago but it was off the beaten trail, cozy, delicious--just an all around wonderful restaurant experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that discussing amazing restaurant experiences is no more pretentious than other DCUM threads where people prattle on about getting Larla into the 'best preschool' that will then feed into their desired $30k a year 'top' private school when they live in a county with some of the top-performing public schools in the USA.

Our family will not be paying for private school tuition, but I am willing to drop $400 on a memorable meal. To each their own; I'm not going to rain on their preschool anxiety thread.

And it is CERTAINLY less obnoxious than the thread about whether birthday parties at Chikfila are low-class or if you should get a crappy gift just because you don't like the child. Those are truly pretentious.

Agreed. How is it any more pretentious than any number of DCUM threads (from private school to resorts to expensive housing to HHI)?

[Anonymous]

I think there is often a difference in the best food and best experience. I posted two of my best experiences above, the best food was a taco in a suburban strip mall that cost a buck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to have to vote this most pretentious DCUM thread ever. And I"ve been to half these. I think I hate myself for even reading it.

I don't agree with you. I've never been to any of these restaurants. They seem like wonderful places but I would have to save to go to some of these so I'm going bookmark this thread and add some to my bucket list. Keep the reviews coming.

Signed,

One of The Poors

I've been to many, I could go every week if I wanted. You're not missing anything. They're mostly filled with strivers.

Oh, get over your snobby self, PP.

The OP asked about "the most fantastic restaurant dining experience". For many people, the most fantastic is something out of the ordinary, a once in a lifetime experience. Sure, that can translate into a very expensive meal somewhere they won't have the luxury to visit again. That doesn't make them strivers, anymore than it makes the simple dining posters boring.

Let the people like what they like and check your smugness at the door.

[Anonymous]

Mamas Fish House in Maui.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so underwhelmed by places like Inn at Little Washington. They're nice enough, but they never really do anything for me. I always feel like I'm supposed to like it just because it's fancy and expensive.

I like a good lobster and steamed clams at a picnic table on a dock overlooking a harbor in New England, or a pulled pork sandwich at a dive BBQ joint in North Carolina. Stuff like that.

That's so cliched though...

What is "cliched" about eating lobster in New England or pulled pork at a BBQ place? Should you have BBQ in New England and the lobster at the BBQ joint? Would it be better to have the pulled pork sandwich "deconstructed" and served at 10x the price? The pp clearly enjoys simple food prepared well rather than overly fancy food in a pretentious atmosphere. Nothing wrong with that.

Np here. Whether it's cliched or not to eat lobster in New England or bbq in NC, it is certainly expected. Weirdly enough, and this is just an observation on my part, I think that the gulf coast of Fl has better bbq than OBX NC does.

I just, and this is my personal opinion, think it's very "special snowflake" to claim that you hate expensive restaurants and prefer cheap joints.

It's very, "if you like Pina Coladas..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so underwhelmed by places like Inn at Little Washington. They're nice enough, but they never really do anything for me. I always feel like I'm supposed to like it just because it's fancy and expensive.

I like a good lobster and steamed clams at a picnic table on a dock overlooking a harbor in New England, or a pulled pork sandwich at a dive BBQ joint in North Carolina. Stuff like that.

That's so cliched though...

What is "cliched" about eating lobster in New England or pulled pork at a BBQ place? Should you have BBQ in New England and the lobster at the BBQ joint? Would it be better to have the pulled pork sandwich "deconstructed" and served at 10x the price? The pp clearly enjoys simple food prepared well rather than overly fancy food in a pretentious atmosphere. Nothing wrong with that.

Np here. Whether it's cliched or not to eat lobster in New England or bbq in NC, it is certainly expected. Weirdly enough, and this is just an observation on my part, I think that the gulf coast of Fl has better bbq than OBX NC does.

I just, and this is my personal opinion, think it's very "special snowflake" to claim that you hate expensive restaurants and prefer cheap joints.

It's very, "if you like Pina Coladas..."

Bahaha. Love the Escape reference.

It also shows a really unrefined palate. I can appreciate the food the original poster described, but if you can seriously go to places that are renowned for having incredible food, where people go who actually get PAID to review and mark food and have food the offerings to be exceptional... well, it's quite likely that your palate is not very refined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to have to vote this most pretentious DCUM thread ever. And I"ve been to half these. I think I hate myself for even reading it.

I don't agree with you. I've never been to any of these restaurants. They seem like wonderful places but I would have to save to go to some of these so I'm going bookmark this thread and add some to my bucket list. Keep the reviews coming.

Signed,

One of The Poors

I've been to many, I could go every week if I wanted. You're not missing anything. They're mostly filled with strivers.

No one believes you. You sound like you enjoy a nice helping of bittercakes though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every meal I've had at 2941 in Falls Church, VA

We had our wedding there. The food has been good but they've changed chefs a few times since our wedding. Little Inn at Washington is by far the best I've ever experienced. First time in 2000 and then in 2009, both times were fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Np here. Whether it's cliched or not to eat lobster in New England or bbq in NC, it is certainly expected. Weirdly enough, and this is just an observation on my part, I think that the gulf coast of Fl has better bbq than OBX NC does.

You're seriously complaining that the food at a resort town isn't good? Whoda guessed that?

[Anonymous]

Kobe Misono Teppanyaki at the top of the Simitomo building in Tokyo. Our own private chef and dining room. Food brought out alive before to show how fresh it is. Best Kobe I ever had. Sigh.

They brought a live cow into the dining room at the top of the building?

[Anonymous]

^^^
Sorry, didn't see someone asked this on page 3.

[Anonymous]

The Fish Market, Charleston, SC, early 90s. Don't look for it--it's not there anymore.
The grilled lobster and corn thing was an explosion of summer in your mouth (in winter).
The service was old school -- Caesar mixed tableside; bananas foster flambeed tableside. The nice touch was while he was there flambeeing dessert, he also warmed the half and half, so it wouldn't make your coffee cold.