Paris dining with a group of 7?

Thank you for the Neva Cuisine recommend. This was on my radar, but after looking closer agree that it may be perfect. I'd say this is tops on my list, along with L'ami Jean (although I cant seem to get through to them on the phone for some strange reason).

Also, thanks for the note on L'Avant Comptoir. I was skeptical when a friend had mentioned it as somewhere good for a group! Perhaps he meant as a pre-drink.

My girlfriend and I were able to book reservations, for ourselves, at both Frenchie at Chateaubriand which we are both very excited about.

Merci

Hoover13 in France

Paris dining with a group of 7?

Thank you everybody for your comments. The more I think about it the more I agree that perhaps I'm making too much of my group being "picky". Perhaps this wont be the problem that I was worried about.

Having said that, I still need to find a place that can accommodate a party of my size. Sadly, Les Papilles is closed for the holidays! I'll be in town 5/5-5/11 - does this fall under the holidays? I was unaware.

I'll need to look into some of the restaurants recommended - any further advice is still appreciated.

Thanks,

Hoover13 in France

Paris dining with a group of 7?

P.S. We are staying in the 2nd arron. but willing to commute to dinner - thanks

Hoover13 in France

Paris dining with a group of 7?

I'll be in Paris next week and need to arrange a few dinners for a group of 7 adults. I've found that this can be quite difficult. The nights will most likely be Saturday, and Wednesday evening.

My biggest concern is that some of the diners can be picky, and while I enjoy (actually love) the idea of Prix-Fixe dinners this may be a problem for them which is why I'm second guessing my first pick, Les Papilles which I hear is good for a group.

Ideally, we would go some place lively/fun, bistro affordable, with good wine options and a la carte menu selections.

Some other spots I was considering, but have no idea if they can accommodate a group of 7 would be:
L’Avant Comptoir
Au Passage
L'ami Jean
Les Fines Gueules

Any ideas or feedback are much appreciated.

Thanks!

Hoover13 in France

Northwest Indiana restaurants

I realize that I'm totally in the wrong board area here, but would you happen to know of any recommendable spots in or within a 30 minute drive of Kentland, IN? I have to make a sudden trip out there this weekend and would appreciate any into you can share with me. I've done some research and come up completely empty handed. Many thanks!

Hoover13 in Chicago Area

Looking for Hudson Valley rec's

A quick update, way overdue, from our trip...
Route: Beacon – Rhinebeck – Hudson
“84 Diner” (Beacon, Late-Dinner) - Due to timing (late night) I grudgingly began the trip at this highway diner. What a pleasant surprise. I’m no diner expert, but while somewhat simple this was solid food with really wonderful service and a hometown feel. Large menu but everything coming out looked good. I had the grilled cheese with fries – recommended.

Ixtapa Taco truck (in Newburgh just outside of Beacon by the Family Dollar storefront, Lunch). It’s easy to get lost coming here but totally worth the trip. Coming from California I didn’t know what to expect in terms of authenticity but was again pleasantly surprised. I think tacos are the key here – carne asada, lengua, cabeza etc. all delicious. Super cheap – stop here if you’re craving Mexican food like I always do when away from home.

The RhineCliff (Rhinecliff, Drinks): Do not miss the sunset here! Beautiful view looking directly over the Hudson River. We did not eat here, and to be honest I probably wouldn’t want to unless I was in town for an extended time, but they have a very nice cocktail program going on. Mostly of the classic variety, and a bit overpriced but they go down very well with that incredible view.

Mercato (Red Hook, Dinner): Let me begin with an apology as I know this is going to flair some tempers, but I just really wasn’t impressed by this place. I know, I know. It was one of the most highly recommended restaurants of the trip and maybe I had unfair expectations, but it simply didn’t come together for me. They were out of a number of their nightly specials as well as their menu items and we settled on 2 antipasti's, an insalate, a primi and a secondi. Nothing wowed me and to be honest I found some of the dishes to be flat out bland. I really wish we would have stopped at the recently opened “The Local” instead. I will say that our server was great and helped us walk through a number of wines before we were able to settle on something we liked. The interior is quaint with a good vibe, but the seating arrangements were a bit cramped. Perhaps the normal chef was out of town?

Terrapin (Rhinebeck, Lunch): AVOID. This place was a total tourist trap. We stopped in for lunch and I knew right away we should have kept walking. The interior looked dirty/dingy to me, the patio was loud, the menu was boring and the food was below average. No love in the kitchen here – everything just seemed disconnected.

Swoon (Hudson, Dinner): Loved this place – a excellent introduction to Hudson. Interesting menu, seasonal ingredients, nice ambiance and some very impressive cocktails (made by a very cool bartender). We had the charcuterie platter, oysters, salads, duck, fish – all were terrific and very fresh. This place was hitting on all points for me. A must stop in my opinion.
Tortilla Ville (Hudson, Lunch): Cool food truck parked in a small lot right on main street. More of a modern spin on Mexican, very clean/fresh with good flavor. Ordering was a bit of a pain and I can see the wait being brutal but overall a quaint little place to stop for a light lunch/snack.

Main Street Public House (Philmont, Bar): Stopped in for a quick beer. Ended up staying awhile and enjoying a variety of local beers and chatting with the owner who came out from California to open it (back) up. Splendid patio to kick back on and enjoy this small town’s charm. They serve lunch/dinner but we already had dinner reservations down the road. Definitely worth a stop to say hello and try out some notable micro-brews.
Local 111 (Philmont, Dinner): Located just outside of Hudson I cannot say enough positive things about this place – simply delicious! Much like Swoon it had an interesting menu, seasonal ingredients, nice ambiance – everything was spot on and would be a hit in any town. If you come to Hudson you must make the quick trip up here - highly recommended!

Bear Café (Woodstock, brunch): I wanted to stop in Woodstock on the way home – and without doing much research stopped here not expecting much. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. Reviews made this place sound somewhat corporate and outdated but I totally disagree. We sat outside in their lovely patio, located right next to the running stream (the view is beautiful) and I enjoyed what I may call the best eggs benedict I’ve ever eaten. And, no, this was far from being my first benedict. Bloody Mary’s were tasty – service was good. If you come make sure to sit in the patio – not to do so would be a crime.

Thanks everyone for your help! Hope anyone heading out for the first time enjoys the Hudson Valley as much as we did…

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Mercato
61 E Market St, Red Hook, NY

The Public House
139 Fifth Ave, Pelham, NY 10803

Local 111
111 Main St, Philmont, NY 12565

Hoover13 in New York State (exc. New York City)

Looking for Hudson Valley rec's

Thank you both. We are here now and will definitely be hitting some of these up!

Hoover13 in New York State (exc. New York City)

Looking for Hudson Valley rec's

I just booked an impromptu trip up the Hudson River tomorrow through Labor Day. Unfortunately, due to time, I have not been able to and probably won’t be able to do much research before heading out.

On Wed night (7:30p) I will be traveling from Newark airport to Beacon (spend Thursday at the Dia). Looking for anyplace worth stopping for dinner (not Manhattan) that stays open past 9:00 PM…thoughts?

I’ll be spending Thursday night in Rhinebeck and Sat/Sunday in Hudson. Does anyone have recommendations for any of these towns or anywhere in between on my way up?

Driving from Hudson to JFK on Sunday.

I’m down for ANYTHING (breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner) from high to low end, ethnic, charcuterie, craft cocktails/beer, etc.

THANK YOU!

Hoover13 in New York State (exc. New York City)

Cannon Beach Dinner (1 night)

Yea, I stopped in at Rogue too. I did not eat, but was very happy with the beer selection. My favorite was the "Mole" beer my bartender created by mixing their Chipotle Ale with a Stout. Delicious.

Hoover13 in Pacific Northwest

Cannon Beach Dinner (1 night)

Thanks everyone. We had a great (though) short trip along the coast. In Cannon Beach we ended up at the Wayfarer and were pleasantly surprised. The food was better than expected (for a more casual/family type restaurant) and the view and especially the service were excellent. Our waiter seemed to be running the entire restaurant and never skipped a beat. I could have done without the baby crying in the corner for the first half of the meal, but I guess that's to be expected at a family type restaurant. Nice wine selection too.

We also stayed a night in Astoria and had an excellent meal at Bridgewater Bistro. Some interesting menu options (all of which were well executed) and, again, a great view.

I have to say though one of my more memorable meals on the trip was at the Bowpicker (in Astoria) for Fish and Chips. A truly unique setup with great food to back it up. Perfect for a casual lunch - although try to avoid the crowds as the line can get pretty out of control. DO NOT miss the Astor Column - the view was amazing.

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Bridgewater Bistro
20 Basin St, Astoria, OR 97103

Hoover13 in Pacific Northwest

Cannon Beach Dinner (1 night)

Coming through Cannon Beach (with my GF) for one night and after doing a lot of research I'm still lost. Currently in contention I have: Wayfarer (although it looks a bit touristy?), Newmans at 988 (reviews are all over the place), Bistro (no website!), and something I am yet to see on the boards but have heard good things about is Irish Table. Stephanie Inn looks nice but a bit too pricey (I'll be broke after my 5 day trip eating in Portland/Seattle) for what I'm looking for which is a good VIEW, good DRINKS (full bar is preferable) and FRESH quality food in either a lively or romantic atmosphere.

If you had to choose one restaurant for an out of towner visiting for the first time - what would it be?

THANK YOU!

Hoover13 in Pacific Northwest

Craft cocktail bars in the OC

Not much going on in LBC wrt to Craft Cocktails. The closest thing I have found, is at the newly renovated Kelly's on 2nd Street. However as I go through their menu online now I see that they took their cocktail menu down so who know's? 320 Main is obviously not far away. I know that the Congregation Alehouse is serving cocktails, not sure if any good though...

Hoover13 in Los Angeles Area

Brooklyn (Irish Hills), Michigan and surrounding areas

No, I work for the X PRIZE and ran the competition (while not driving all over Michigan stuffing my face).

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn (Irish Hills), Michigan and surrounding areas

Thanks for the kind words vtombrown. I actually really liked West Texas BBQ, in fact I snuck over there for lunch today! I got the sampler platter each time - once with Brisket, Turkey and Polish Sausage and another time with Beef, Hot link and Pork. I can't say I'm a huge fan of their BBQ sauce, but will admit that I was really surprised by the turkey! Wow. I was hesitant to order it but it ended up being one of my favorite items. The same woman was working the counter both times I visited and gave me a free side each time which goes a long way in my book. Great road-side ambiance in there too.

I'm glad you made it over to the Common Grill. It really has been my best experience on this side of town so far. I'll admit though that my first trip was much more successful then my second. Perhaps I was starved from anything decent for so long that I blew it out of proportion after my first visit, but needless to say - still a favorite. If you get a chance try to get out to Evans Street Station (Tecumseh) and The Main Street Stable & Tavern / The Hathaway House (Blissfield) too. All were really nice surprises for me. Though I'll caution you now that Evans Street is quite expensive.

I've really enjoyed my stays here - and I'm sure I will roll back into town one of these days (my Mom recently moved out to Indy). I'll make sure to check your posts for all the new spots when I return. : )

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Evans Street Station
110 S Evans St, Tecumseh, MI 49286

Common Grill
112 S Main St, Chelsea, MI 48118

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn (Irish Hills), Michigan and surrounding areas

Having spent six weeks (over a six month period) in Brooklyn, Michigan (for work at the Michigan International Speedway) I wanted to post my favorite local restaurants and those in the surrounding areas. I'm leaving out Ann Arbor as it's just too big and there are already many threads on it.

Please chime in if you have any other suggestions (I'm here for another week!)

My favorites/Worth the trip:

The Common Grill (Chelsea):
Excellent, fresh, nice wine/beer list. Best ambiance/interior in the area.
www.commongrill.com/

Evans Street Station (Tecumseh):
Inspired chef, seasonal menu, some hard to find beers/wines, atmosphere is nice (but a bit dated and overly formal).
www.evansstreetstation.com/

The Main Street Stable & Tavern / The Hathaway House (Blissfield):
Two separate restaurants located right next to one another (same owner). Hathaway is the more formal of the two and I believe only open on the weekends. MS Stable is very informal with a great bar. Pleasant patio as well. Look out for their events which include backyard bbq's and farmers market dinners.
http://mainstreetstable.com/
http://hathawayhouse.com/

By town:
Brooklyn:

Jerry's Pub -
Owned and Operated by a really welcoming/friendly family, a step or two above standard pub fare with a outstanding lake view and outdoor bar. Food is hit or miss depending on who's in the kitchen and I'd suggest sticking to the "specials" menu.
http://www.jerryspub.com/

Others in the area that I can't necessarily suggest but will list herein as they are the best options in town (I've tried everything):
The Beach Bar (horrible layout, lots of senior citizens, uninspired/boring menu but it’s near the lake and they make a decent pizza)
Popp's Place
Randy's BBQ
Harold's Place (never actually been but hear good things)

Napoleon:

Aggie's Sports Bar
The name says it all. Ordinary (but done well) bar food with a solid burger. Divey. Boring beer list. Don't come here expecting any surprises - but it works.
108 Brooklyn Road. Napoleon, MI 49261

Napoleon Cafe:
Standard home cooking - good breakfast and lunch. Never went for dinner though it looks like they have some interesting specials including various Easter European offerings.
6816 Brooklyn Road. Napoleon, MI

Jackson:

Daryl's Downtown:
Apparently run by former chef of The Common Grill. Some similar menu items, but certainly not as fresh or as good. They have a huge dining room which felt awkward as it was dead when I was in there. Some nice seafood options.
www.darylsdowntown.com/pages/main.html

Knights Steakhouse:
Not the greatest (or anywhere near it) steak, but it works. Sit in or at the bar (it's dark and welcoming) and order yourself a stiff cocktail.
www.knightsrestaurants.com/jacksonsteakhouse.html

West Texas BBQ:
Off the side of the highway. Very odd hours (lunch only) so make sure to consult the site before heading over! Cool spot.
http://www.westexbbq.com/

Clinton:

Clinton Tavern (AKA Dan's Sports Bar)
Ordinary bar fare well done, enormous and very tasty burger. Some hard to find beers beers.
124 West Michigan Avenue. Clinton, MI 49236-9577

Saline:

Mac's:
Seafood. Some interesting dishes. Oyster Bar. Upscale interior. Nice place for lunch too.
http://www.macsinsaline.com/

Chelsea:

Seitz's Tavern:
Old School bar. Awesome. Grab a beer or two before heading over to Common Grill. Never tried the food, but they do offer it.
110 West Middle Street. Chelsea, MI 48118-1225

Spending long hours at the track can be daunting and the local food choices may get you down, but if you’re willing to travel a bit out of town you will be rewarded. Don’t be scared.

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Evans Street Station
110 S Evans St, Tecumseh, MI 49286

Common Grill
112 S Main St, Chelsea, MI 48118

Seitz's Tavern
110 W Middle St, Chelsea, MI 48118

Daryl's Downtown
151 W Michigan Ave, Jackson, MI 49201

Clinton Tavern
124 W Michigan Ave, Clinton, MI 49236

Harold's Place
Corner of US 12 Onsted Hwy, Brooklyn, MI 49230

Jerry's Pub & Restaurant
650 Egan Hwy, Brooklyn, MI 49230

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

Yea, my post Lafayette Coney Island gas!

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

Thank you for your concern. Things are actually looking up for me - had a great meal last night at Zingerman's Roadhouse and luckily this time I had my ID. Work (a non profit organization!) picked up the pulled pork, but, sadly, not my adult beverage consumption. Gotta run, valet just pulled up in my yellow Lamborghini convertible - got a tanning appointment and then I'm off to frost my tips (hair). Toodaloo!

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Zingerman's Roadhouse
2501 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

Hit up Seitz's last night followed by Common Grill. Sadly, I did not have my license on me and was not able to grab a drink at Setz's, but I did walk in and suck up all the atmosphere - a really cool spot (bought a shirt too). Common Grill was wonderful and would be considered so in any city. Great seafood selections and beer/wine too. My only note would be they could simplify some of their dishes a bit, but other than that excellent. I'll be going back, to both, on future visits.

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Common Grill
112 S Main St, Chelsea, MI 48118

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

I sure am : ). Lots of hard work going on out here! Not much time for food adventures yet...

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

To be honest, I'm really not a car guy. But, I am helping run a competition to bring more fuel efficient vehicles to market. However, I am a burger, beer pickle guy indeed and appreciate the info!!

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

PS, think I'm gonna make it over to Common Grill on Friday night and will def. report back.

And, thanks, good to be back. : )

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Common Grill
112 S Main St, Chelsea, MI 48118

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

Yes, thanks - heard a few good things on ole' Blimpy. Will try to sqeeze it in though I'm not sure how much time I'm gonna end up having in Ann Arbor any more (especially with the graduation and Obama rolling into town).

Was also thinking of hitting Sidetrack up: http://www.sidetrackbarandgrill.com/food.php
Ever been? thanks...

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Blimpy's
4180 Luna Pier Rd, Luna Pier, MI 48157

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

Yup, was luckily able to nail down a reservation at Zingerman's Roadhouse on Saturday night (pretty amazing given how crazy it's gonna be out there this weekend with Obama there for the graduation). Looking forward to it - thanks!

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Zingerman's Roadhouse
2501 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

Yes, out here working at the track (for a few weeks at a time) over the next several months.

Yes, Jerry's...been back twice now. Solid spot, thanks! I like the atmosphere in there as well as the view. Some nice beers on tap too. The food was really good on one trip, and then not so much on another. I suspect it depends on who's in the kitchen on any given night (I actually asked and there was a different chef in the kitchen on each visit). I suspect this will be a fun place to be during the warmer months.

Got a good, simple, breakfast over at Momma’s and Poppa’s too…

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

haaaaaa! not funny. : (

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

Yea, I hear you. I personally bought into both the burger and the novelty, but to each thier own.

There are also some other burger joints (some suggested by others below) , that I wanted to try and hit while I'm out here including the yet to be recommended Sidetrack Grill.

Gonna hit up Jolly for sure...thanks!

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

Well then I'll just have to drown my sorrows at Miller's Bar!

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

Brooklyn, Michigan and surrounding areas (including Ann Arbor)

I've heard good things on Common Grill. Interestingly enough, I also read (via Yelp) that one of the former chefs went on to open 'Daryl's Downtown' in Jackson (which is pretty close to me).
http://www.darylsdowntown.com/

I might give it a shot as well.

Seitz's looks AWESOME. Right up my alley. I'll add it to my list.

Thanks for the info - much appreciated.

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Common Grill
112 S Main St, Chelsea, MI 48118

Hoover13 in Great Lakes

2010 Detroit Auto Show - Looking for local rec's

Boagman,

I'm back (but in a different area this time). Help! : )

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/703739?tag=boards;topic-703739

Thanks for all your advice on my last trip...hope you are well.

Hoover13 in Great Lakes