I will be in Spokane alone on business shortly. Where should I eat? I eat anything. Upscale is fine but really I will go to whatever is the best use of my limited time in Spokane (I will have to take a cab from my hotel, so perhaps nowhere too far inaccessible).

I had posted to ask for a good place for an excellent meal, dining alone, in SF, and had been steered to Atelier Crenn. I went last night, and wanted to thank the recommenders, as well as to offer my quick thoughts.

First, my server made excellent suggestions and did not flinch at a half-full table, make a lot of awkward small talk, or hustle me along (things I occasionally encounter when dining alone). The chef emerged from the kitchen a few times to check on things. I had the four-course tasting menu with wine pairings, which was a fairly sizable amount of food. I started with the potato, and then moved to the foie gras ($10 supplement), the duck, and the chocolate mousse/pear dessert. A few extra dishes appeared as well; a frozen pea soup, a mushroom broth, a cilantro palate-cleaner, etc.

I thought the foie was the best dish and well worth the supplement (it was one of the server's recommendations). Of all things, I have to also highly praise the wine pairings; the sommelier did an excellent job, and I also appreciated that (as the wine came out well in advance of each course) they made certain I had wine left when my dish would actually arrive. I thought the only thing that didn't work was the mushroom broth -- it didn't have a lot of flavor, although in full disclosure I admit that I am not a soup person -- but since it was an extra, I feel a bit guilty mentioning it.

Overall, a really great experience, and I will direct others this way.

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Atelier Crenn
3127 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Sorry, should have been more specific. I have no budget (I was planing French Laundry with a friend but have cancelled my reservation because of the logistics). I really do eat all styles; I am hoping for something hard to find in Seattle, where I live, which I suppose means "please, for the love of God, no small plates."

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The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

I have been to SF dozens of times in the past ten years, but always with kids; I last went to the city in adult company in perhaps 2000. I will be in town for business, and have one night when I am on my own and would like a good solo dining experience with great food. I eat absolutely anything; my only constraints are that I need to make reservations for early June (so nothing where I need months of lead time), and I need to be able to walk or take a cab from downtown. Since I have four kids, "kid-unfriendly" would be quite welcome. Suggestions?

Have you been at all recently? I took my kids to the Ruby Foo's on the UWS over maybe a five-year period, and noticed it was getting progressively emptier and less tasty.

I lived in NYC for years, but moved out in 2000. I will be in town with my six-year-old for a long weekend. I am looking for lunch and dinner suggestions in and around Times Square (we are mostly in town for shows); she will eat anything and is well-mannered, although I'd prefer not to go anywhere where I am likely to get The Look from fellow patrons for bringing in a child. She has a particular liking for Greek food or anything involving duck.

I would love some suggestions.

I have pretty much gone on meal plan at Cafe Presse (12th near Madison); I don't think it opened within the past year, but it has grown steadily more hopping. I have also been enjoying small plates at Licorice.

Perhaps not (the dining companions are not people with whom I'm particularly close), but I am willing to put aside propriety for good food.

I have not one, but two dinners at Flying Fish this week.

What's good there right now? The only time I've been, I was eh on the food, so I'm hoping I just ordered incorrectly.

Thanks for the link. I had noticed that Crave had shut down, but, frankly, after my last experience there -- when my food was seriously mediocre -- I wasn't missing it.

I'll miss Beato, though. It was a nice, low-key, tasty spot.

I was in W. Seattle today and drove past Beato; it looks to have closed. Is that true? What happened? I have been there maybe three times in the past year, and it was always hopping.

I have a soft spot for the Nutella-laced hot chocolate at Tutte Bella

I was there recently, and thought the food was really mediocre.

I'll be in Portland for a long weekend with my kids (aged six and two). I am looking for places with excellent food that will tolerate my reasonably-well-behaved but still-definitely-kids-and-shouldn't-go-to-adults-only-places children. I am lucky in that the kids will eat anything, so I do not need a place that is geared towards kids or has a children's menu, but I would like to be able to relax while eating.

Steelhead's is good, although I agree with others that you will not suddenly think you are in Montreal.

Quinn's has been serving it recently as well.

I had posted here a few weeks ago to ask about good solo dining near Woodley Park; at the recommendation of a few posters, I tried Palena in CLeveland Park last nightl. I couldn't get a seat at the bar, but the staff was happy to give me a table for one, and I ordered a la carte off of the menu. The handmade gnocchi were fantastic, and the loup de mer was excellent (I particularly liked the squid in its sauce). My one complaint (and I imagine had I not been alone that this would have been less noticeable) was that the tables were so close together (I was seated in the cafe portion in the front) that I could not avoid hearing absolutely everything my neighbors had to say.

My follow-up request is this: it would appear that I may be required tonight to dine in Woodley Park with a small group (4-5 people). We are in from Seattle, so Asian food (Thai/Vietnamese/Japanese) would not be a big draw. Suggestions?

I will be in DC for a conference and am looking for a good place to sit at the bar and have an excellent meal (as opposed to, not that I mean to defame such fare, chicken wings and so forth). I am staying in Woodley Park, but am open to taking a cab elsewhere.

What I am hoping for is a place where I can fairly reliably arrive during the dining hour and get a seat at the bar, as opposed to a place where the bar is very crowded and I cannot expect to sit.

Thanks in advance.