My $.02 - go to Robuchon and don't look back. It's simply on another level than anything else I've been to. The food is edible art. Service is sublime - unintrusive, polite, and almost telepathic in sensing what you need or would like. They didn't hesitate to oblige my wife's request for a kitchen tour, and answered her many questions without hurrying her at all. Decor is Parisian billionaire-with-taste mansion, it's like stepping into another world as soon as you pass the curtain. Your wife will be floored, and you'll have built up a store of good-husband points that will last for a long time.

Hi all, in from Los Angeles for the next two weeks on a business trip, staying downtown at the Hilton very near Queen and King streets but I have a car so can drive if necessary. Where should I eat? Looking for great places in the $50 and under per person range, everything from nicer sit-downs to cheap local favorites! Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

I've read so many good reviews of the place, I really hope things were just very off that night for some reason. I mean, the guy trained under Robuchon for goodness sake, and eating at Robuchon in Vegas was easily, no question, the most amazing restaurant experience of my life.

Hmmmm, wifey and I went there about 2 weeks ago and were very, very disappointed. Got the tasting menu w/ wine, and also the lobster salad. Potato leek vichyssoise w/hokkaido scallops was so bad my wife actually sent it back, very unlike her..miso sea bass wasn't nearly as good as the misoyaki butterfish at the chain, Roy's...lobster salad was dressed with what was basically thousand island...on top of all this, service was spotty and the atmosphere and cleanliness of the place left much to be desired IMO. We both agreed that it was the worst $200 meal we'd ever had. And Akira was there that night, we saw him carving for the table next to us!

I'm a serious food snob...and I love this place! Quality of the food and atmosphere, at the price point, are fantastic. The poketini appetizer, miso-yaki butterfish, and the mai tais are awesome...the sushi is nothing to sniff at either. All in all a perfectly satisfying place.

King Taco baby!

Thanks for the recs! We'll have a car so we can get out a bit...and we'll probably do a few expense account meals so maybe we'll have to try Fenouille. Hopefully Portland food is as good as Seattle, I miss it up there.

Any thoughts on places to try? I'll be on a business trip, staying at the Marriott at 1231 North Anchor Way. I don't know Portland at all so I don't know what area that's in or what's nearby...am up for suggestions for everything from fine dining to local-favorite hole in the walls...help is very much appreciated, thanks!

-Trojan

Just got back from Vegas myself from LA, we went to Joel Robuchon at the Mansion and Le Cirque. Robuchon was amazing, overall the best restaurant experience of my life - but it was SO expensive! We went in a group, got a few bottles of good wine and the 10 course tasting...and it was $600/person. If that doesn't make you gulp then definitely go there! For similar food in a more casual atmosphere, and a more reasonable (but still expensive) tab, try L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. Le Cirque was nothing special. Friends went to Picasso and loved it - I've also heard Alex, Bartolotta di Mare, Il Mulino, and Lotus of Siam are excellent. Happy eating!

http://www.mgmgrand.com/dining/joel-r...

Sounds like a good plan to me. I know others disagree, but I really think Santorini is very mediocre. Magnolia, though, is a GREAT spot! I go there with the work crew almost every Friday, so if I may recommend from the menu:

edamame, you can get it with ponzu sauce or spicy, or half & half like we get

crispy coconut shrimp

french fry trio (includes herbed wedges, and sweet potato fries - it's very good)

turkey chili (with a cornbread crust/topping)

cheeseburger - it's actually pretty darn good, and i'm kind of a burger snob. they use good beef and put sauteed onions on top

fruit/cheese plate - solid. good triple-cream, a cheddary thing, and parmigiano.

cornflake chicken - always popular, we get it every Friday. Personally I don't think it's all that special, but everyone in my crew likes it a lot. Served with a sweet/sour Asian saucy stuff that's pretty good

My wife had a "lemon bundt cake" drink which she enjoyed (although of course my pride would never let me order such a thing :) )

Have fun Kat, and let us know what you think!

Go Trojans!!! Yup the wine room is upstairs, I think they call it the Napa wine room. It's enclosed by smoked glass, and is very classy feeling. As far as steakhouses go, Mastro's does it right, the seafood tower is very good and the steaks are awesome, and the service was so good I wrote a letter to the manager commending our waiters and bussers.

But to be honest, I think our group (the wives especially) is a little steaked-out!

Firefly Bistro maybe? I've only been there once, and it was pretty good food in a cool and funky atmosphere. Which is more than I can say for my one visit to Santorini.

Also if you're in the mood for drinks afterward head to Magnolia (East side of Lake, between California and Del Mar) - delicious pomegranate mojitos, tasty bar food, and the best crowd and atmosphere in Pasadena IMO.

Hope you have fun!

You might want to re-read my post title, haha. Thanks for the advice!

Thanks! You speak the truth, kjs - most of the group probably aren't "foodies" but my wife and I definitely are. We're coming from LA, last meal we had as a group was Mastro's (we're businessmen so the default is a steakhouse). That said, it was a pretty top-notch meal as far as steakhouses are concerned - we had a private wine room, and all told it was about $350/person. Not sure if they're going to want to spend quite that much again, though!

I'm giving the real decision makers (the wives) some recs, and so far, the list is:

Joel Robuchon
Guy Savoy
Michael Mina
Okada
Nobhill
Bartolotta
Alex
Fleur de Lys
Prime
Bouchon
Daniel Bouloud

I really appreciate any further thoughts!

Kat, King Taco is one of my favorites! IMO it's all about when you go, not about one location being better than any other. I've been to most of them. Try hitting it up at about 10:30 pm on a Wednesday, there's usually a little rush around then and everything is freshly cooked.

Try the sopes! They are awesome!!!! The al pastor and asada can't be beat.

Thanks Bill, good rec. Any experience with Michael Mina, Aureole, Bartolotta, or Bouchon (for breakfast)?

Hi all, I need some help! Will be in Vegas in late April with a crew from work, celebrating a recent client engagement. Everyone is accustomed to fine dining, especially the partners who will be there - where should we eat? It will be expensed, so price isn't too much of an issue - but Robuchon or Savoy, if they're really $1,000/couple, are probably a bit over the top. We're staying at Bellagio but could take a cab anywhere as long as it's not REALLY out of the way. Thanks in advance!

For really good, fresh lamb and beef kebabs and excellent falafel, hummous, and baba ghanouj, try the mediterranean cafe on lake avenue. It's only accessible from the back (parking lot) side, and is just down from wahoo's fish tacos. You can get a combo plate that will fill up even a big eater for under $10.

Don't know if it's too late but the pork osso bucco is excellent, and the panna cotta is AMAZING.

My wife got the black cod, and it was good but nothing to write home about. Our friend got the rabbit and it was very good.

That's too bad they can't accomodate, La Paella is really good, especially the black squid-ink paella. A fun spot to take a larger party for good paella is Cha Cha Cha, there are 2 of them and IMO the Hollywood one has a little nicer atmosphere. Don't miss the sangria and mojitos there, as well! Happy birthday!

Well, that's nice, but if you think that Tarantino's is so outstanding that it makes up for everything else in Pasadena, I really think that maybe we have different standards.

Am I losing my mind, or did I never say that they're all horrible? Unless somehow, "overall, I'm disappointed" translates to that for you...

Well if you DO go to La Brea Bakery, make sure you get one of the sour-cherry brioches and a few caneles. I used to live right there and was a regular, and have taken many friends and relatives, and the consensus was always that those were the standout items.

Haha, well I'm glad you had a good experience there, I'll have to add it to my "try" list now!

I don't know if you've been to Lucques, I was there last night for the first time and from your post it sounds as though you might enjoy the food. They have an excellent pork osso buco and an AMAZING panna cotta. I'm not terribly knowledgeable about wines but I was there with a chef friend from Seattle and he said it was a very good list.

I had it last night and oh my good lordy it is DELICIOUS!!!! It's a honey panna cotta with blood orange/date saucy stuff and sesame seeds. It has the most amazing texture, and a wonderful subtle creaminess...one of my top 5 desserts, ever.

Sniff...y'mean you didn't invite me along to prove me wrong about Pasadena? :)

Well between my earlier posts I've mentioned quite a few, and believe me there are plenty more. Due to the nature of my work, we eat lunch out every single day, and often dinner as well. I've been to Parkway Grill, Arroyo Chop house, nearly every place on Lake except that Caribbean cafe, EVERYTHING in Old Town, etc. etc.

My main places of comparison are the areas in and around San Francisco and Seattle. Maybe it's just mid-priced, non-chain LA food that I have a problem with...I don't know. For those familiar with the two cities I just mentioned, it's thinking of places like Zachary's pizza or Salumi that make me all misty-eyed!

Thanks all for the recs! This has given me an awesome list of new places to try.

To the few who were oh-so-cleverly sarcastic...sorry if I hit a nerve, didn't mean to get anyone all defensive about their pride and joy hometown. To be fair, I never really thought that Pasadena was all THAT bad (perhaps my title mislead, although give me credit for being attention-grabbing). But, like some others who posted, I DO feel like there are a lot of ho-hum, mediocre eateries in Pasadena. Even places that are sometimes lauded here, like Wolfe burgers, Pie n' Burger, Central Park, Saladang/Song, and yes even the vaunted Europane (La Brea bakery is better, and doesn't have the attitude. Before you point it out yes I know Sumi came from there).

That said, Tarantino's is pretty good. The Dianne salad at Green St. is good. Magnolia is an awesome place for a drink, and good bar food too. The skirt steak at Porto Alegre is very good, and Gayle's does a great burrata appetizer. And after lunch today at Matsuri, I definitely recommend that place as well.

Tops on the list to try are Yujean Kang, Maison Akira (heard it's awesome), breakfast burritos at Lucky Boy (ditto), Tony's pizza, and Tonny's.

i LOVE juan pollo...grew up in Alta Loma (just north of Ontario) and we had one out there but I thought it was the only one!!!