HNL: Local, upscale casual in Waikiki (maybe an alternative to Town?)

Hi all,

We'll be in Waikiki for 2 nights, but only for one dinner, in late August. This will be followed by 5 nights in Kauai and 7 nights on the Big Island. We're agonizing over our meals in HNL. Might be taking the Hawaii Food Tour, which would take care of lunch (and much of breakfast). But I wanted to focus on dinner.

We were deciding between Alan Wong and Chef Mavro, but decided we don't think we want to spend the money and would like to have drinks and appetizers at House Without a Key. So, a big fancy dinner probably doesn't make sense.

What we'd like is something upscale casual and local. Town seemed like a good option, but we will be without a car.

Any similar suggestions or other upscale casual and local (i.e. locally sourced food) establishments you'd recommend in Waikiki? We're staying at the Marriott.

Alternatively, if you think there's anything we need to eat in HNL that we simply won't find on Kauai or the Big Island, please let me know.

Thanks,
David

-----
Alan Wong's Restaurant
1857 S King St Fl 3, Honolulu, HI 96826

Chef Mavro restaurant
1969 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96826

dis1010 in Hawaii

Christmas Eve in Santa Fe (again...)

Hi all,

I know this has been discussed ad nauseum, but I have a variation on the question of Christmas Even dinner in Santa Fe:

My partner and I are visiting Santa Fe for the holidays this year. It will be the first trip there for his parents. My partner and I have been several times. We have a good amount of time planned in the area and plan on hitting a number of our favorite restaurants.

But my partner's father is not the world's most adventurous eater. Kind of a meat and potatoes type. He is willing to venture out of his comfort zone on this trip. But for Christmas Eve, we want to make sure he can have the kind of dinner he would want. This would mean:

1) Relatively traditional Christmas food (turkey/ham, mashed potatoes, etc...);
2) NOT a fancy or stuffy environment (so, while Geronimo or The Compound may offer a turkey entree, I don't think that would be the right atmosphere).

A good hotel restaurant buffet with carving stations would probably suffice.

The alternative is just for us to cook, which would be fine except for the fact that we want to do the Farolito Walk and so would have to cook before that and just heat up food when we get back...

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks,
David

dis1010 in Southwest

Dinner near SEATAC Airport

Hi,

I'm looking for a suggestion for an early dinner between Seattle and SeaTac airport. Have an 8 pm flight on a Tuesday night and will be coming from Seattle.

Certainly nothing fancy or that would take too long. Other than that, hoping to find something local and non-touristy.

Thanks!

David

dis1010 in Greater Seattle

Portland (PDX): Good regional lunch spot

Hi all,

I was looking for a recommendation for a place for lunch in or around Portland on a Friday or Saturday that serves regional/Northwest cuisine. We only have one night in Portland and want to hit Apizza Scholls (finally). So, we're stuck with doing regional food for lunch.

We'll plan to hit a brewery for the OTHER lunch (but I can do other research on here for that).

On a separate note: on an average Friday night, how long a wait could be expect at Apizza Scholls for 4 for dinner at a normal time (7ish?). Or what time should we get there to minimize the wait?

Thanks!

David

dis1010 in Metro Portland

Engagement Celebration Dinner w/ DC-Hounds

Hi all,

We will have friends visiting the area from Washington, D.C. later this month. They were recently engaged and wanted to take them out to dinner to celebrate. There will only be four of us and it will be a Thursday night.

Here are the preferences:

1) Not red meat focused (not a steakhouse);
2) Something unique to the Bay Area (can be "California cuisine" but does not have to be);
3) Can be in San Francisco, East Bay, Peninsula or South Bay
4) Budget is relatively open (not looking to spend French Laundry type money, but looking for something nice)
5) They won't have suits/dresses. So nothing with a very strict dress code.

We tried to get a reservation at Chez Panisse, but it was booked.

Potentially thinking of Zuni Cafe. But we'd like some other options.

Thanks everyone!

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

Full Menu at the Bar in NOLA? (Also, best apps/small plates? desserts?)

Hi all,

A friend and I are visiting New Orleans and are planning one night's dinner as a "progressive" style dinner. In other words, we'll go to maybe 3 restaurants and order appetizers or small plates at one, share an entree at another and then dessert at a third (or maybe small plates at two restaurants and dessert at a third?). This allows us to try out a bunch of restaurants in one night.

Anyway, in order not to take up a table to just order small amounts of food, we like to eat at the bar.

Any suggestions of good restaurants that would allow us to eat at the bar?

And where would you go (and what would you order) for:

1) Appetizers/small plates? Entree?

2) Dessert?

Thanks!

dis1010 in New Orleans

Light Dinners in Charleston and Savannah

Hi all,

Currently in Charleston and then traveling to Savannah. We've already been to SNOB and Magnolia, and we're going to Hanks. So, we're getting some good meals in Charleston. But are there any suggestions for a lighter option in Charleston for one night, to take a break from the heavier food?

We have the same question about Charleston. We're going to Mrs. Wilkes for lunch. What would be a good place for a light dinner that night?

Thanks a lot!

David

dis1010 in General South Archive

Baby Friendly and good for groups?

Hi all,

I am looking for a restaurant for a 30th birthday celebration, either in San Francisco or on the Peninsula. We would be a group of 10 or so and there would be a baby joining us.

Any suggestions on a place with good food, but that's also baby friendly? There are some picky eaters in the bunch. Good cuisine options would be American, Mediterranean/Greek, Mexican.

Thanks,
David

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

30th birthday dinner

Any suggestions on a restaurant that might still actually have availability for 6-8 people for a Saturday night in 2 weeks for a 30th birthday dinner?

Looking for something upscale casual (no jackets or ties, but not a place you'd wear shorts). I particularly enjoy not too complicated, but well prepared and local food (think Blue Hill, Grammercy Tavern, but maybe a step down in fanciness). I was thinking Craftbar, but I've been there many times and would like to try something new. Does not need to be American food either. I'm open.

Thanks a lot!

David

dis1010 in Manhattan

Please rate my eating itinerary for this weekend

Hey all,

Just wanted to report back on the weekend. Everything went wonderfully.

At the Ritz Carlton, we did the 8 course "Salt and Pepper" Tasting Menu, with wine pairings. Unfortunately, the overindulgence in wine left me somewhat fuzzy on all of the details of the menu. Suffice it to say, we very much enjoyed it. The Kobe beef w/ glass noodles was a standout. The quail egg and caviar served on top of a vessel emitting cedar smoke was, well, interesting...Service was incredibly attentive. Bread service was my only issue. Uneven and choices were uninteresting.

I have wanted to go to Zuni for a long time. My friend and I both enjoyed the burger (the chicken would have been nice, but we couldn't eat that large a meal). The homemade pickles served w/ the burger were a nice touch.

Cortez for dinner was the least favorite of our meals. That being said, I liked it and would go back. It just wasn't particularly memorable. At the same time, we weren't exactly starving at that point and maybe it would be better to judge on an emptier stomach. The french fries, oddly enough, were excellent.

Slanted Door was, well, what one would expect. We ordered the spring rolls, shaking beef and stir-fried rice noodles. While everything was wonderful, the noodles were the surprising hit of the meal. Incredibly savory and flavorful. I was surprised.

So, thank you for all the tips and comments. I definitely have a lot more places to try, based on your postings.

David

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

Please rate my eating itinerary for this weekend

Thanks for all the tips. A bunch of changes (due to scheduling, etc):

Friday: Same

Saturday Lunch: Same
Saturday Dinner: (early, before show) Cortez

Sunday late lunch: Slanted Door

I'm going to look into some of the brunch choices you guys suggested for Sunday. But had to take the Slanted Door reservation when I saw it. It's going to be a hard choice.

What do people think of Cortez? I've read good things and like the small plate option (we might want a lighter dinner).

Any suggestions on a place for dessert Saturday night, post-show? Somewhere in Civic Center/Union Square, possibly? But can travel...

Thanks again.

David

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

Pre-Theater Dinner Near Opera House

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately, my plans had to change. But I'll keep these recommendations in mind for the future.

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

Please rate my eating itinerary for this weekend

Hi all,

Spending an weekend up in SF this weekend and wanted to know people's thoughts on my restaurant choices:

Friday Dinner: Ritz Carlton Dining Room

Saturday Lunch: Zuni Cafe
Saturday Dinner (late, after a show): Frascati

Sunday Lunch/Brunch: Don't know. Maybe Fog City Diner? Looking for good food, but casual.

Thanks everyone!

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

Pre-Theater Dinner Near Opera House

Hi everyone,

I'm spending the weekend with a friend in SF and am in need of recommendations for a pre-theater (curtain at 8 pm) dinner near the War Memorial Opera House for this Saturday night. Friday night we're eating at the Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton (where we are also staying). It's a special weekend (and thus the splurge on the Ritz). So, I'd like something nice, though it doesn't need to be fancy. Good food and atmosphere are more important.

Thanks everyone!

David

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

Casual Lunch on Rt. 1 btw SF and Mendocino?

Hi all,

I'm going to be traveling up to Mendocino from the South Bay on Friday and will be driving on Highway 1 once I'm north of San Francisco. I plan to stop for lunch somewhere between SF and Mendocino. Looking for something casual, but good quality. Sit down restaurant or not doesn't matter.

I'm hoping to get a few recommendations along the way, so as to have options depending on where I happen to stop.

Thank you!

David

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

Lunch between PDX and Hood River or Mt. Hood

Hi all,

I'm arriving at PDX tomorrow at around lunch time and plan to drive straight to Hood River (either along the Columbia River Gorge or around Mt. Hood). I'm wondering if anyone has any good lunch suggestions along either of those routes, but closer to PDX (we'll probably want to eat within a half hour of arriving).

Looking for something non-fancy, but good. Open in terms of cuisine, but would prefer something unique or unique to the area (breweries or northwest cuisine are both good option). We're coming from the SF Bay Area, so we'd prefer something other than Asian, Indian, Mexican...

Thanks all!

David

dis1010 in Pacific Northwest

Good, but simple, dinner for tomorrow night

I'm trying to choose a restaurant (in the vicinity of North Beach) for tomorrow night. There will be four of us. Three of us are 30 or under. The fourth is much older and is not an adventurous eater. She is from out of town (New York) and I want to make sure we pick a restaurant she'll enjoy.

Basic criteria:

-Relatively affordable; nothing fancy
-In the North Beach vicinity
-Takes reservations (preferably)
-Nothing adventurous (or at least with good non-adventurous options)

Thanks everyone!

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

Party Rooms in Las Vegas

I am planning a 60th birthday party in Las Vegas for about 30 people and I need a restaurant with a party room for a group that size. Looking for a place with good food, but not fancy and relatively affordable. We have some picky eaters in the group. So, that's something to keep in mind, as well.

Any thoughts? I realize I haven't given much detail there, but this is all the info I've been given so far.

Thank you all.

dis1010 in Southwest

Reasonble and quiet restaurant near Fishermens Wharf

Thanks for the responses. I would love to take a taxi to another part of the city, but I'm not in control of this. There will be two of us dining.

Reasonable? Entrees under $25, maybe?

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

Reasonble and quiet restaurant near Fishermens Wharf

Hi all,

I'm looking for a restaurant in the vicinity of Fishermens Wharf for a business dinner. We're not looking to break the bank. Hopefully someplace that is semi-reasonable.

But also important is that I need a restaurant that is relatively quiet. That's sometimes hard to find in a touristy area.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

Russian River Valley Recommendations

Thank you for all the suggestions. I really appreciate it.

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area

Best tasting menu with emphasis on fish/veg

Hey all,

I'm taking a friend who is visiting San Francisco to dinner next week. It's a last minute thing. So, not sure where I'll be able to make reservations. We're both "foodies" of sorts, but neither of us are familiar with the local restaurant scene (I just moved here from NYC).

We'd like to go somewhere where there's a good tasting menu, but that doesn't focus too much on meats (as opposed to veggies and fish). We're not vegetarians. So, some meat is fine. I'm also hoping to find a place that is more on the creative side.

The budget is not particularly important. But since I don't get to do this all the time and my friend is a visitor to San Fran, I want to make it a great experience.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

David

dis1010 in San Francisco Bay Area