"High End" dining?

[Big George's BBQ]

Hope you had a Happy B Day. I am not impressed by RC or Mortons. I do like the Capital Grill. They have awesome calamarie and their Porterhouse is very Good

 

[Bigmista]

Don't know about there but Joe's Crab shack ain't high end dining out here. And I am a hole in the wall type of guy. I like hunting down good food in places that most people pass by.

 

[Paul B]

Me too ^^^^^^^.

Paul B
SS UDS

 

[SacramentoHusker]

Kapn,

Would definitely echo your comments about Emeril's. Went to his "Emeril's" restaurant in New Orleans last year with low expectations, expecting what you often get in "celebrity" restaurants (pretentious food, overpriced, overbearing waitstaff). What we found was silmilar to your experience. Really tasty food, not too much/not too little, good value ($80 for lunch for two with appetizers, drinks, dessert and tip) and attentive, helpful waitstaff. We agreed that it was probably our best meal in New Orleans. Their banana cream pie is super! I had a similar experience when I went solo to the restaurant in Orlando. I sat at one of the seats overlooking the kitchen and had a great chat with the chef over dinner.

I'm a big fan of Commander's Palace in New Orleans. Fantastic food, incredible service, and $0.25 martinis at lunch during the week. Nothing like having a great 3-4 course lunch and getting sloshed for about $30.

 

[BlkJeep]

I hear ya on this one.. I went to Paula Dean's in Savanha a few years back, it was oaky but not OMG!!!

 

[Bacon_99]

Personally, when I'm looking for fine dining I avoid any chain or celebrity owned places. Frankly, many of the best meals I've ever had are usually at restaurants that are one of a kind and local in whatever city I'm in.... However, the odd higher end hotels sometimes have decent kitchens.....

Heck - our family stopped going out for ribs and steaks and what not.... only bother going to places that makes stuff that requires a lot of effort or is something I don't cook at home - and of course - the odd pizza...... I find spending money on good ingredients instead of a restaurant usually results in a much better meal : )

 

[MOS95B]

I've only been to one or two "high end" resturaunts. The food was good, the prices were outrageous (as expected), but I was very uncomfortable. I was raised in a fairly large, poor family out in the boonies of Central Texas. For us, a "fancy resturaunt" was the mexican food place with ceramic plates, and no drive through.

But, if Joe's Crab Shack is high end, then I guess I'm OK. I love that place!!

The Missus and I used to go to Outback for large steaks. Stewart Andersons (which is no longer here) for the "meal for Two" special. Now days, we may head to the casino to eat (can't afford to gamble) at the buffet or romantic "sit down" resturaunt. But usually it's a trip to the butcher shop. Or Famous Dave's if it's sub-zero outside

 

[hav]

I had something similar happen a few weeks ago. I agreed to go out for dinner with a friend on Long Island, his favorite steak place, called Major's. We had a few beers and I ordered there Ribeye and boy was I disappointed. Not evenly cooked and next to no seasoning, I had to hit the sauce hard on it.
I have been making my own for a few years now and I believe I can do a better job on my Weber. As far as service is concerned, the waitress was a cute 19 or 20 year old, so that was good, her table manners well...she was cute, so she still got a tip.

 

[Louisiana Smoker]

A few years ago a buddy and I went to Vegas. We ate at Bobby Flay's restaurant. He was buying and celebrating a business deal. With tax and tip we spent almost $400.00 Would I spend that kind of money? no. Did I mind spending his money? No. lol

 

[ljh34465]

Interesting thread - thanks. Have had a couple really good meals at Vitos Chop House in Orlando.

And have always had a good meal (not the best in the world but very good) at every one of Emeril's restaurants we have been to.

 

[MRI_Guy]

When the MRS & I were visiting Brother Keale - her & I splurged on one dinner at 'THE' seafood place on the island.

Great atmosphere, great drinks, and I had great company.

We order a fancy appetizer with about 8 or 10 bites of seafood on it. The platter had a nice variety and was arranged beautifully. But when the MRS sampled the prawn.........I think that she gave a compliment on my cooking abilities. "It tastes just like what you make at home"

I still flare my chest out every once in a while thinking about that story.

 

[OneHump]

I'm not sure a steak house is fine dining.

Being in close proximity to San Francisco dining and Napa County, I have had the good fortune of dining at some of the most amazing restaurants in the country. The #1 restaurant in the country, The French Laundry, also happens to be here. My last bill at that restaurant was $4,200 for four people. This included the extended tasting menu with a grand wine pairing and gratuity.

Most people won't understand such a thing, but I think all of the good people on this forum will get it. It's certainly about the food, but it's more about the experience.

I think a good question is whether a $4,200 dining experience is better than good BBQ shared with family and friends. I don't think it's *better*, but it's certainly a different experience that is worthy of its price.

When it comes to dining, it's not about "eating", it's about enjoying the creativity of the food and the experience of the event. The same holds true for BBQ in my opinion.

By the way - I've been around for about a year, but my first account got killed because my name was "vulgar". The good admins here gave my dromedary reference an exception. I've been very fortunate to learn about BBQ from some of the amazing talent on this site.

Dave

 

[leanza]

I agree we can prepare a better steak at home. Here, at the link, is what about $25.00 got me on the home front, that I prepared. Un-beatable flavor, texture. Just the way I like it.

http://bandera-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83829

 

[Brewmaster]

Now when it comes to a nice thick steak, I like to keep it real simple and taste the meat. S&P and maybe a little garlic. So since I prefer my steaks this way, how could a restaurant compete with what I can do at home.

So when my wife and I go to a fancy restaurant it is typically for the ambiance and I order the fish.

Now, tonight I am going to Citizen Kane's for work and will most likely order the Fish. I don't know I might order a Ribeye. Depends on the number of before dinner drinks I have. Still won't be as good as a home cooked steak.

A steak you cook always tastes better because you cooked it.

Cheers,
Nate

B.S........Joe's is not high class!

 

[SmokeInDaEye]

I'm not sure a steak house is fine dining.

Being in close proximity to San Francisco dining and Napa County, I have had the good fortune of dining at some of the most amazing restaurants in the country. The #1 restaurant in the country, The French Laundry, also happens to be here. My last bill at that restaurant was $4,200 for four people. This included the extended tasting menu with a grand wine pairing and gratuity.

Most people won't understand such a thing, but I think all of the good people on this forum will get it. It's certainly about the food, but it's more about the experience.

I think a good question is whether a $4,200 dining experience is better than good BBQ shared with family and friends. I don't think it's *better*, but it's certainly a different experience that is worthy of its price.

When it comes to dining, it's not about "eating", it's about enjoying the creativity of the food and the experience of the event. The same holds true for BBQ in my opinion.

By the way - I've been around for about a year, but my first account got killed because my name was "vulgar". The good admins here gave my dromedary reference an exception. I've been very fortunate to learn about BBQ from some of the amazing talent on this site.

Dave

I dunno if I wouldn't call high end steak restaurants fine dining. French Laundry is probably better referred to a luxury dining. At the end of the day just want to walk out able to talk about a truly memorable meal. Sometimes that's Ruth' Chris because it's a bunch of guys from the office who just closed a huge deal or its Per Se with my wife for our 10 year anniversary.

 

[big brother smoke]

I went to Houston's in Orlando a week or so ago and it was par at best. I have heard many things about the restaurant, but had never been.

My favorite restaurant on earth is the Palace in Santa Barbara followed by Gibson's in Chicago. Killer food at both!

 

[RichardF]

I dunno if I wouldn't call high end steak restaurants fine dining. .

Agree - a 3 to 5 course meal in which one of the courses is a green vegetable in a cream sauce and another is a big hunk of grilled meat is not necessarily fine dining no matter what the bill comes to or how many servers show up when the courses are presented.

French Laundry is probably better referred to a luxury dining. .

what's your definition of luxury dining. it can't be purely price driven so does it include a large component of what also contributes to the fine dining experience.

At the end of the day just want to walk out able to talk about a truly memorable meal. Sometimes that's Ruth' Chris because it's a bunch of guys from the office who just closed a huge deal or its Per Se with my wife for our 10 year anniversary.

agreed - it's all about the (hopefully) pleasant and memorable experience of the meal.

 

[The drunken pig]

For high end steaks I like Flemming's, they do a good job but I really like their sides they have onion rings, creamed spinach, sauted spinach and their mac and cheese is fantastic. That being said the local market has prime steak at the counter and I can make one every bit as good as theirs if not better.

My wife and I on our first and last trip to Ruth Chris had such an awful time with the service and her meal that she will not go back. It was one of those deals where we had to wait forever and then the waiter just disappeared for about half an hour. The manager did give us our meal for free but my wife was still so mad it really didn't matter.


Personally I don't think steak places are fine dining, they are just steak places. Fine dining is more cuisine that is made by a Chef and comes with new and interesting food combinations and is prepared masterfully. All in all it better taste fantastic and be something that you really wouldn't or couldn't be able to make in your own kitchen.

 

[SmokeInDaEye]

what's your definition of luxury dining. it can't be purely price driven so does it include a large component of what also contributes to the fine dining experience.

I'm a food snob and am fortunate enough to have eaten at tons of top rated places across the country so I was trying to differentiate between what many people across the country feel a fine dining experience should be versus what I in New York City feel. Luxury dining in my mind is something that I don't necessarily need, is not business driven, but is a once-in-a-lifetime (or hopefully more) memory.

 

[Southern Home Boy]

I agree that often, what one can get in a restaurant doesn't even hold a candle to what you can do at home.

That being said, my most fondly remembered "out to eat" steak experience was a Brazilian Churrascaria in Dallas called Fogo De Chao.

Some of the meat was no better than what I can prepare, but some of it was better, and what's more, there was an amazing variety of goodies coming out of that kitchen; Rib Eyes, sausage, Lamb, shrimp...

I mean, what's NOT to like about an all you can eat meat buffet that comes to you??:becky::becky::becky: