toploin's Profile
spondi
Spondi is an excellent restaurant better than several two star restaurants in France. The cuisine is modern French and the desserts are absolutely superb. My advice is go.
Santorini & Mykonos - suggestions?
In Santorini: SELENE, which has always been a good bet, is going thru an excellent phase this summer and is a must. It's in Fira.
Mykonos: I hate Mykonos! A total rip-off!
Love letter to Quinn's
Quinn's is an EXCELLENT place to go for dinner in Seattle. See also my posting "Excellence in Seattle". Bravo!
Excellence in Seattle
A couple of months ago I asked for suggestions concerning steakhouses in Seattle. Although I didn't visit Canlis which was many a hounder's suggestion I did go to the Metropolitan Grill which I heartily recommend.
This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to, and believe me I have been around. Congratulations to the owners, this is an all around top establishment and not just for meat (which, by the way, is incomparable -absolute tops). Many comments on this board emphasize that this is an expensive place and, yes, a 60$ steak can be intimidating -but it really is worth the money. Also, the service was just fantastic, the ballet of waiters reminded me of my favorite Parisian brasseries -only they were more polite!
On another note I would also like to recommend Quinn's on Capitol Hill, who also has excellent food (although I didn't much appreciate the loud music). I went there twice and had first-rate, impeccable food both times, with really friendly, professional service. Bravo to Mr Scott Staples, the owner-chef. (Funny thing is, I went there for the hamburger -which is divine- but all the other dishes were a revelation too).
My one disappointment in Seattle was a highly rated restaurant called Lark (also on Capitol Hill) where food portions are ridiculously small in some sort of an attempt to mimic nouvelle cuisine circa 1980. I found the food rather bland and lacking imagination (and sometimes poorly executed: a cassolette of wild mushrooms with sand and water in them!) while the studiously run-down decor only added to our sentiment that we had fallen into some sort of pretentious trap. Too bad...
Anyway, congratulations to Seattle for its overall very high food standards!
El Gaucho
We had dinner at El Gaucho last year and I really couldn't stand the noise and the lighting. You literally can't see what you're eating... This restaurant is a trip back to the 70s.
Steakhouses in Seattle
Thanks again, to everyone for taking time to post your suggestions. Seattle, here we come!
PS Continuing the discussion on serving alcohol to minors, I was reading the 2008 Wine Report by Tom Stevenson and the chapter on the Pacific Northwest is excellent, written by a locally-based wine writer (sorry, I forget his name) where he explains that the Washington State Liquor Board seems to be among the more anachronistically minded on the States... Pity... Personally, it is beyond my comprehension how someone can be entrusted with the vote and called upon to die for king and country and not ne allowed to decide upon his alcohol intake.
Paris Wedding in August
Hi there cabbage23. There is a small, unpretentious bistrot at 107 rue de Sevres, called Le Petit Lutetia that might be willing to rent you their space or perhaps part of it (there is a back area). If they are a go I don't think they'd be expensive. (By the way this is a pretty good address for people looking for something relatively inexpensive yet authentic in this very expensive neighborhood). Good luck with your wedding!
Steakhouses in Seattle
Thank you, too, Walters. I will certainly try your suggestions.
(The only disagreable thing about dining in the States are your crazy drinking laws. For someone coming from a culture where wine flows from childhood, going to a restaurant with your 20 year-old kid and not being able to share a glass of wine is frustrating beyond belief!). Otherwise, I really enjoed the food in the States...
Steakhouses in Seattle
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Very much appreciated, this year I will make the pilgrimage to Canlis.
Steakhouses in Seattle
Hi there hounds. My wife and I will be flying over from Greece to visit our daughter-student at UW in April and I would really appreciate any suggestions for locating Seattle's top steakhouse. Last year we went to El Gaucho but it was so dark we couldn't see what we were eating! (Plus, very expensive). Could Canlis be a suggestion?
P.S. The best steakhouse I have ever been to is La Queue du Cheval in Montreal...
Thanks for your help.
