Without a doubt 1770 is one of the most romantic restaurants in the Hamptons. The small elegant and intimate dining room has beamed ceilings and fans and thick crown moldings above walls half painted beige and half covered with a subtle grass cloth. Wall sconces and antiques clocks adorn the walls and the dark hardwood floors are covered with Oriental rugs. Antique dining tables are surrounded by brown wicker chairs with comfortable cushions. When the fire is going, there is no more romantic room around. The menu is limited in number of choices, but long on innovation and flavor. Some highlights: Montauk Sea Scallops with yellowfoot mushrooms, sweet peas, spring onions and ham hock jus, Braised Veal Osso Bucco with saffron and escarole risotto and Heritage Pork Ragu with cavatelli, Calabrian cilis, leeks and local carrot.
Not much of a dessert eater, I usually like the cheese course (of which 1770 has an excellent one), but ricotta cheesecake with a graham cracker crust is quite amazing.
This is a well crafted wine list by someone who really knows their wine. Not too many people know the Gruet Brut Blanc de Noirs from New Mexico (an excellent sparkling). The list is excellent with California, Long Island, France, Italy, Australia and Spain well represented. Prices range from reasonable to very expensive, but there are plenty of selections under $75.
Tables #5 and #6 are the most intimate at the front of the room, overlooking the tree lined street and near the fireplace.
A cozy, but more casual Tavern, also with a fireplace, offers burgers, meatloaf and other comfort foods.
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: High
WHAT OTHERS SAY…
Wine Spectator Award Winning List
“Charming, elegant environs whisk diners away to an earlier time at this East Hampton standout an intimate inn set in a 1663 home dishing out fabulous American fare with a local leaning; the very special surrounds and gracious service fetch expensive tabs, but a cozy, fireplace-warmed tavern downstairs offers a more casual escape from the typical buzz.” ZAGAT
Set in a renovated Federal house in Georgetown, 
Tracy O’Grady helms the kitchen and comes to 1789 after owning her own restaurant and from stints at Kinkaid’s and The Watergate.
Dessert was a decadent flourless chocolate cake served with homemade coffee ice cream. All the ice creams and sorbets are made in-house. While we didn’t order it, the cheese course looked delicious.
Service was flawless and our white jacketed waiter was pleasant and fun.
Tables were set with white linens topped with grass cloth place mats and sea foam colored frosted glass chargers with a fresh orchid and votive candle. Servers were dressed in white shirts with black aprons and “team” served each course. Snack on some pimento cheese and crackers while you sip one of their creative cocktails. Then try the Shrimp & Grits wit lamb sausage, goat cheese and mint oil. The seared pork tenderloin entree was served with red wine apple butter and pickled mustard. Yum. The bourbon brown butter apple crisp was served with almond cream and we paired it with a wonderful Domaine Bordenave, Cuvee des Dames.
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: Very high, this is what romance is about.
I love the Bubbles & Oysters to start with six market oysters, hackleback caviar, lemon-chive créme fraïche, 1/2 bottle Lanson Rosé Champagne. 
There is an extensive (@25) list of wines by the glass and reasonably priced. The regular wine list, a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner, numbers 250 labels. There are nearly 30 half bottle selections which is a wonderful option. This is an exceptional wine list that is very fairly priced. Lots of good choices under $50 and even the higher quality wines are good values.
“Dramatic” only begins to describe 
room and the lake beyond. Our server was smartly dressed in all black; suit, shirt and tie and the service was impeccable.
A delightful cheese course (4 types) with more homemade bread and fruit ended a very memorable meal.
the heart of town adjacent to the Marshall Hotel and is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. The lively bar is the place to be for Happy Hour and a good start to your evening. Fun bartenders and a place locals frequent. Brick and pale green walls are accented with colorful local art. Tables are set on hardwood floors and adorned with crisp white linens and gleaming tableware.
Dacquoise as desserts.
I like it because it is laid back, it is open year round, you can sit outside in nice weather, the food is outstanding and you can get lunch/brunch or dinner. Surprisingly, for a Hamptons restaurant, the pricing is very reasonable.
amazing Ricotta Pillows, with porcini cream, black truffles and Telaggio cheese.
restaurant at the Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla. Many of the artist’s works are displayed throughout the restaurant. Serving regional San Diego cuisine, the timbered and elegant restaurant features both indoor and patio dining with views of the 18th green and the Pacific beyond. The restaurant itself is a tribute to Southern California heritage and craftsman architecture, with a metal-strap post-and-beam structure, handcrafted wood-framed windows, stained-glass lanterns and a frieze painted with pine boughs.
one of America’s greatest chefs.
Michelin stars, AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star Awards and Wine Spectator’s Grand Award. Chef William Bradley is a Grand Chef of Relais & Chateau and was the winner of the Culinary Master Competition.
menu is marked by glorious presentations and enhanced by the harmonious application of global flavors.
The rarefied mien of this setting suits the cooking beautifully—with plush marble columns and inlaid floors. Service is at its peak, combining genuine hospitality with gracious pacing.” Michelin Guide
recovery from illness to eating small bites of food with wine between meals. So convinced was he of the merits of this style of dining that he decreed that no tabernas could serve wine without being accompanied with food.
clams and chorizo, beef shortribs with horseradish, parmesan and bacon, chicken and beef brochettes served with lemon, garlic and parsley, charred green onions, spicy potatoes (fries with a sauce that tasted like the smell of burning logs, wonderful) and the signature lobster and seafood paella with fava bean salad and piquillo pepper aioli. What a fantastic adventure. Each dish better than the last.
The 40 glass/bottle wine list is primarily Spanish and South American with a sprinkling of California, Italy and France. Some very interesting selections and all reasonably priced. The sangria, however, is something you must try. Served either with a spicy red or a crisp white, fresh chunks of seasonal fruit, herbs, orange liquor and Spanish brandy it is light, not too sweet and perfectly balanced.
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: High. There is something intimate about sharing food with someone and in this sexy environment it’s even better. The tables in the bar are very intimate, the front tables at the window would be my next choice or if you have a group, there is a raised platform table in the middle of the dining room with a curtain that encloses your table.
What’s nice about this place is when you eat alone here, it has the feel of an old men’s club, comfortable and cozy. Sit at the bar and drink in the local color. If it’s a romantic dinner you are seeking, an intimate table beside the fireplace in the bar or a table in the adjacent Atrium will do the trick. You might even sit next to Billy Joel or Uma Thurman.
and chilled lobster, various kinds of caviar, tuna tartar, oak smoked Irish salmon and a more.
started her career as a manager at The French Laundry restaurant and refined her skills as general manager of Bistro Jeanty and Bistro Don Giovanni.
For dessert we chose a warm apple and walnut bread pudding, almond streusel and bourbon crème Anglaise and paired it with a Chateau Roumieu-Lacoste Sauternes.
Start with a drink at the handsome oak bar and sample one of their interesting martinis. Downstairs ask for a booth, upstairs a table by the fireplace or overlooking the street.
There’s a lot to like about this wine list with about 60 white wines, a third under $40 and about 16 by the glass. 16 of 70 reds are priced under $50 with about 10 by the glass. As always we wanted try something new and our server suggested a Albarino, Burgan from Spain, a delicious and crisp white at $34. The list is almost evenly divided between California on the one side and a mix of French, Spanish, Australia and Italian on the other.
and cozy two tier bar area. The lower area has intimate tables along the paned window overlooking the patio. Antiques abound, the walls are adorned with oil paintings and collectibles and you feel as if you have been transported to another time. This delightful hideaway is a wonderful choice for a romantic and delicious dinner.
grilled shrimp with coconut rice and peanut sauce. Delicious. Have to try and recreate this one at home.
The yellow flag on the white clapboard building above two bay windows on Duval means you have found one of the best Italian restaurants in Key West, 
The New York Times called Antonia’s Key Lime Pie the best in Key West, quite an accomplishment in a town where everyone makes an attempt. My favorite was a Chocolate Fondant, a melt-in-your mouth delicate chocolate cake served warm with raspberry and mango sauces.
Two of our favorite authors, Stuart Woods and Linda Fairstein use Patroon in their books as the backdrop for dinners with their friends, so we thought we needed to try it.
How do you improve on something that was so good to begin with? You design a dining room that is cozier and more intimate than the original, making sure that maximum advantage is taken of the lake and mountain views and you call it 
stay. Created by restaurant veterans, Eli Levy and Jamie Zambrana, the 200 seat venue offers a variety of unique indoor and outdoor dining spaces and can accommodate groups of varying sizes.
though, with one of their interesting appetizers. Maybe the A5 Hokkaido Japanese Beef Sushi with foie gras, wasabi and barrel aged maple syrup or the Merguez Sausage; spicy lamb sausages, frisee salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, green onions, pine nuts and pomegranate citrus oil.
The dining room has a kind of rustic elegance with exposed beams, wood furnishings , rich yellow walls and abstract artwork. A wood burning fireplace centers the room.
The wine list, presented on an IPad with lots of information to help you decide, is one of the largest and most extensive in the Valley and features over 40 wines by the glass. It is a wonderfully diverse list with plenty of choices under $75. It may be the best selection of Cabernets we have ever seen.
Set in a gorgeous 19th century French Creole building in the business district, the restaurant has maintained many of its old architectural details with hardwood floors, mahogany paneling, tall columns and antique mirrors. The bar is particularly stunning with high ceilings, rich paneling and huge bouquets of flowers.
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: The Gravier Room is intimate and conducive to a little romance.
Housed for 20 years in an elegant old brownstone on the Upper East Side, Aureole moved in June 2009 to new more spacious digs in the Bank of America building at 1 Bryant Park on 42nd Street. I loved the intimacy of the original space, but there is a vibe here that was missing uptown. The bar area is spacious, with huge windows looking out onto the street and anchored at one end by a sophisticated bar that appears to have become a local favorite after work. It was packed at 6pm when I was there recently. Overlooking the bar area is a dramatic glass enclosed wine “cellar”. The main dining room, as in the original space, is beautifully decorated and elegant, yet infused with the vibrant bar scene viewed through glass windows separating the two rooms.
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: This is an elegant, sophisticated restaurant, equally good for an afternoon rendezvous as for dinner.
The menu is classic French brasserie with daily specials like Coquille St. Jacques, Bouillabaisse and Dover Sole. You’ll find standards like charcuterie and fromage, onion soup, escargot and steak frite on the regular menu. But, you’ll want to start with the excellent raw bar, one of the few around, which is strange for an area by the sea. Fresh East and West Coast oysters, shrimp, King crabs, clams and lobster will satisfy just about anyone’s need for fruits de mer.
What is unique and wonderful about this restaurant is that they specialize in freshly caught fish purchased through select European exporters and with special arrangements with local purveyors at the New York Fulton Market. Fish is grilled on charcoal with fresh lemon-olive oil and herbs in cages whose handles are bent away from each other. This done so that the fish is kept elevated from the fire, therefore cooked evenly with crisp skin. The fish is then cleaned of all the bones and seasoned with salt, pepper, oregano and a light lemon and olive oil sauce. The head and tail are left on.
The wine list is interesting with many Greek choices (ask for help) and very reasonably priced. After dinner there are many single malt scotch, grappa, port and coffee drink specialties.
Weather permitting, ask for a table outside. Inside, ask for a wall booth. This restaurant has it all; ambiance, great food and wonderful value. Don’t miss it. Additional location on the Upper East Side.
The look is as close to a Parisan bistro as you will find outside of Paris. The space is a converted wearhouse with high ceilings and columns and gold walls covered with antique mirrors. Small bistro tables and chairs sit on black and white tile floors and waist high partisans with brass railings divide the room into intimate sections. Waiters in long aprons scurry about and even after 10 years, there’s still a buzz here. Odds are pretty good you’ll even see a celebrity or two.
The wine list, as might be expected, is all French, but surprisingly very affordable French. There are about 17 wines by the glass, and about 18 1/2 bottles, Lots of full bottles under $40 and very little over $100. This is a fun list and an opportunity to try some good French wines without taking out a mortgage.
There are few chefs as accomplished as Daniel Boulud. The author of eight cookbooks and the recipient of multiple James Beard Foundation awards including “Outstanding Chef” and “Outstanding Restaurateur,” chef Boulud has also been named a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French government. He is chef-owner of restaurants around the globe including the three Michelin-star New York City restaurant DANIEL.
dozen burgundy snails, garlic almond herb butter; Boudin Blanc, 
place to enjoy good food and wine. Owner Giovanni Scala is the consummate host and his personal touch has made this landmark a favorite of local winemakers, winery owners and anyone who enjoys food and wine. When it is cool outside, the flower filled dining room with a wood burning fireplace takes the chill away. As the days warm, the gorgeous outside terrace (also with a fireplace) sits amid olive trees and vineyards and the air is fragrant with the aromas of the land. This is the perfect place to while away an afternoon or linger over dinner with friends.
with a tuscan bean ragu, natural jus and gremolata was perfect for this chilly day and when paired with a Tenuta di Arceno, Chianti Classico, Toscana, it was a near perfect meal.
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Jeanty was born in the Champagne region of France, his father worked for the great Champagne house of Moet & Chandon and Moet is where the young Jeanty got his first culinary job. He came to California in 1977 with the first team from Epernay, France to open the Chandon Restaurant in Yountville. In a year’s time he was made executive chef. The next twenty years of accolades, awards, and praise from customers and critics proved that Jeanty was one of America’s finest chefs. His creative style introduced new flavors and dishes to the thousands of diners at Chandon during this time.
then. It’s a place for ice cold martinis, cool jazz and meeting people. Tucked down an alleyway, it almost feels like you’ve come upon a speakeasy. The two story venue has a main floor and a mezzanine that oversees all the action. Soaring columns, wood paneling, cozy banquettes and stunning artwork create a wonderful vibe. Bartenders in crisp white jackets serve up some of the best classic cocktails in the City. Service is professional, but friendly. Live jazz entertains every night.
Sauce, Green Tomato Chutney and Steak Tartare, Shallots, Capers, Parsley, Mustard, dressed tableside.
trip. Much from the old bar remains; red leather booths, juke boxes and old time theater posters on the walls. But that is where the similarities end….this place is serious about food and wine.
Housed in the Park Hyatt Hotel, the 
Wood Oven Roasted Bone Marrow, Sauteed Soft Shell Crab, Pork Loin Confit to name a few dishes. Try the Morello Cherry Cobbler for dessert.
A magnet for 
created a 10,000 square foot restaurant with 250 seats that pays homage to the mid-century and art deco eras. Downstairs is classic steakhouse décor with leather booths, wood paneled walls, green marble table tops and lots of brass. Makes you think of old Hollywood glamour. Upstairs is a delightful open-air rooftop dining room, overlooking Little Italy, with a rectangular bar centering the room and booths around the perimeter.
Louis, plus Martinis, Manhattans and Rob Roy cocktails shaken at the table. This is one of the few steak restaurants we’ve encountered that offer classics like Steak Diane and Beef Wellington.
been so impressed, well taken care of, and stuffed, than I have been at 
his skills working at four-star restaurants such as The Dupuy Canal House in High Falls, New York, Chez Hosten in France for 2 years (one of 60 2-star Michelin restaurants in all of France) and Le Chateau in South Salem, NY for 15 years.
to The French Laundry. This charming bistro on Washington Street in Yountville offers the same attention to detail as its upscale counterpart in a more casual, laid back atmosphere.
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: Inside can be noisy, but the outside patio is very intimate.
Keller, the Chef/Owner of the world renowned French Laundry, also in Napa, has created a near perfect restaurant where guests can enjoy breakfast, brunch or dinner, inside or on the patio.
one. Then try the Hachis de Merguez, house-made merguez sausage hash served with two eggs any style & whole wheat toast or the Poulet et des Gaufres- roasted chicken with bacon-chive waffle. Crown maple syrup & sauce Chasseur.
sourced from the wine regions surrounding their restaurants. These wines are selected in barrel and are only available in the restaurant while the barrel lasts. These wines are delicious and very affordable.
Opened by acclaimed chef/owner Nancy Oakes in 1993, 
enjoy 3 amazing wines that I would never spend on for a full bottle. The list changes but here’s a recent sampling: Puligny Montrachet, Francois Carrillon, 2020, $45, Chateauneuf- du-Pape, Chateau de Beaucastel 2006, $45. The rest of the list is varied and very fairly priced.
Located in a strip mall, the space is decorated with bold colors and striking artwork which adds a touch of whimsy to a very serious restaurant.
The restaurant has been a favorite of locals and visitors since 1976 and it is easy to understand why. It can be a wonderful special occasion destination in the cozy mezzanine room or a fun spot for a casual meal, a glass of wine or a late night snack in the Bistro. The people are nice, the service is excellent and the food is terrific. It is the restaurant most often mentioned by locals when you ask them for dining recommendations.
WHAT OTHERS SAY…
Start with a cocktail at the small six seat marble-topped bar and watch the evening unfold. Celia makes a killer dirty martini.
You enter the garden through a high white gate into a lovely haven where the aromas from the kitchen heighten your anticipation. Sit in the garden, the small bar area which has two tables or an intimate back room. The garden is beautiful, the bar area a bit hectic but in the center of all the activity, and the back room is private and cozy.
. It was perfectly cooked and served with a very tasty red pepper zabaglione. Coupled with a glass of a crisp white Bordeaux, this was one of the best meals I had in Key West.
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: High. While the garden area is very nice, I actually prefer the more intimate back room.
Our menu for the evening is indicative of “New England with French Twist” style of cooking. We started with North Atlantic Oysters with sorrel, meyer lemon,vodka creme fraiche and Peekytoe Crab
There’s good reason to come here for a celebration. The setting is spectacular, with water views from both dining rooms, and the food is equally as special.
For my entrée, I chose a pan roasted halibut with a crushed basil and shaved garlic crust served over a sweet potato ratatouille with a saffron infused foam. The delicate white fish, the pungency of the basil/garlic crust, the sweetness of the potato, the acidity from the tomatoes and the hint of saffron made this a marvelous taste sensation. I won’t be so quick the next time to judge a menu by its cover.
January of 2017 saw the opening of 
Sunday Brunch 11-2:30pm
one of their favorites.
For some unknown reason, I had never eaten in the restaurant and a recent visit made me realize what I was missing. This delightful spot has it all; atmosphere, food, service and a wonderful wine list.
If you have room for dessert you won’t want to miss the decadent chocolate fudge layer cake with an espresso creme anglaise or the warm apple and walnut tart served with walnut frangiapan, pate sucree and vanilla ice cream.
WHAT OTHERS SAY…
town of Napa. The 100 seat restaurant (plus 12 at the bar and 50 outside) sits in the center of town and occupies a unique stone building circa 1886. Inside, the two tier restaurant has the original open truss ceiling and Douglas fir floors. The golden plaster walls are decorated with antique French advertising posters and the bar is an antique mahogany from the Honduras.
house hashed browns you’ll feel like you’ve died and gone to heaven. Finish it off with a flourless dark chocolate cake with raspberries and whipped cream.
Located among the mansions in the Garden District, Commander’s serves lunch and dinner Monday-Friday and an amazing Jazz Brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Hard to decide which meal to enjoy when you only have a few days in town.
WHAT OTHERS SAY…
The main dining room is dramatic and nothing short of spectacular. Fashioned in a Venetian Renaissance style with soaring 18 foot ceilings, massive chandeliers and marble columns, it is bathed in soft light and decorated in hues of silvery gray and chocolate brown. The dark carpet sets off the creamy wall panels and rich red leather chairs add a splash of color. The main dining floor is surrounded by intimate dining knooks and there are fragrant bouquets of flowers everywhere. The artwork, personally selected by Boulud, is quite remarkable.
Boulud has a wide ranging culinary empire from the U.S. to London and China, yet he seems to keep a firm grasp on his operations. He still cooks and you will never hear he’s stretched too far as you do with other celebrity chefs.
The wine list is remarkable both for its depth and very fair pricing, unusual at a restaurant of this stature. 15 countries are represented in over 2,000 selections and 25,000 bottles. There are about 15 wines by the glass, starting at $12, lots of half bottles and 100 full bottles priced at $50 or less. Of course, if money is no object, there’s a Romanee Conti for $10,000 and a Lafite that dates to 1798. Daniel takes its wines seriously and it is evident in the knowledge of its wait staff.
The space is huge at 24,000 square feet…..and dramatic….with soaring ceilings, marble columns and a central staircase leading to the balconies. But soft lighting, candles, area rugs and piano music transform even this vast space into a warm and cozy haven. The stage could not be better set for what is to come.
For dessert the flavor parade continues with items a chocolate ricotta tortino, with toasted Sicilian pistachios and extra virgin olive oil gelato or a selection of cheeses like robiola due latte bosina, Piemonte 40 day, eggplant crostata and chocolate or my favorite four chocolates and four rums.
does it can be a magical evening. Such was the case when we visited 
This is a wonderful wine list for many reasons. I love the way it is organized; dry white, aromatic, other great reds and so forth. There are a healthy 13 wines by the glass and 9 1/2 bottle choices. The care with which the list was developed is evident. We enjoyed a delicious Argiolas “Costamalino” Vermentino Di Sardegna and a quite amazing Cline “Ancient Vines” Mourvedre. Couldn’t resist a second glass.
Located in the renovated and historic Roosevelt Hotel, the friendly bar is a lively after work spot and a draw for locals working downtown. Custom brewed beers, an Italian oriented wine list and delicious pizzas and other small plates make it ideal for a quick bite or a light dinner.
the world. He is known as a culinary pioneer for his revolutionary products and cooking techniques. Over the years, Chef Burke has become one of the most recognized chefs on television, including appearances on two seasons of Top Chef Masters, guest spots with Rachael Ray show, NBC’s TODAY Show, Fox and Friends, Bloomberg’s small-business television series The Mentor and more.
The Apple Harvest Pisco Punch is made with Pisco 100 a colorless Peruvian Brandy, Apple Cider Liqueur, lemon juice, cinnamon-honey simple syrup and a cinnamon sugar rim. Yum!
The formula is so simple you wonder why others don’t get it; warm and cozy decor, great staff and wonderful food. The bright, white decor of Della Famina has given way to a darker, more intimate patina with dark woods, striking artwork and fresh flower displays. The open floor plan is now smaller with more intimate dining nooks. The lively bar area remains mostly the same.
“There’s something for everyone at this happening East Hampton American from the group behind Houston’s, specializing in upscale comfort food heaped in large portions; dark lighting and wood-accented decor are warm to some, un-Hamptons to others, while a few take issue with expensive tabs and service that can be in a rush.” ZAGAT
brainchild of Chef Elizabeth Terry with a focus on regional cooking using traditional recipes and making use of local seafood and produce. Decorated with antiques and historic (dark) colors, the dining rooms have fireplaces and are festooned with fresh bouquets of flowers and the tables are set with gleaming crystal, china and silver.
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: High. Ask for the table for two in the front dining room at the window.
which is featured in our New York Profile. Coincidentally, on my visit to 
wait until your table is ready. Limestone floors in the entryway and bar area give way to wide planked floors covered with rich area rugs. Vaulted ceilings overhead, some with deep blue ceiling tiles, others with exposed beams draped in flowing sailcloth create an open and airy atmosphere. Iron chandeliers and sconces add a rustic touch. Arched doorways separate intimate dining areas with rustic farm tables and white cushioned ladder back chairs. Cozy dining nooks are created with upholstered banquettes. Whitewashed walls are covered with luxurious tapestries and olive trees are strategically placed around the rooms and to lend a kind of courtyard feel.
Before you get to the entrees though, try the Estia chips, thinly sliced zucchini and eggplant, lightly fried, salted and sprinkled with oregano and served with a cucumber, dill yogurt dipping sauce. Another delicious option; Spanakopita; leeks, scallions, spinach and feta cheese wrapped in phyllo.
The 300 bottle wine list features mostly Greek choices but also selections from Europe, Israel and Lebanon. Most choices are under $60. There are about 20 wines by the glass priced from $9-$13. I do not have a lot of experience with Greek wines, but our server was very helpful and thoroughly enjoyed her suggestion of a crisp, floral white.
Chicago Stock Exchange was nothing less than spectacular. It was the perfect start to an incredible meal at this acclaimed Jean Joho restaurant. The menu and wine list are inspired by Joho’s roots in Alsace, France and brought to mind the legendary André Soltner from Lutece in New York City also from that region of France.
venison with wild huckleberries and Alsace knepfla (a kind of dumpling) and an amazing hazelnut crusted skate wing in a brown butter caper emulsion. For dessert we chose a “Selection of Five Chocolate Tastes” paired with a 2007 Banyuls, M. Chapoutier and a “Composition of Ice Creams and Sorbets” that was paired with a 2009 Moscato d’Asti, San Giuliano.
Everyone has their “go to” restaurant, that place where you feel so comfortable, it comes to mind every time you think about dining out. Fratello’s is one of our “go-tos”. The atmosphere is cozy, the staff is well-trained and fun, the owner is always there to greet you and the food is delicious
swimming in their award winning tomato sauce. The Garlic Shrimp is wonderful with jumbo shrimp sauteed with garlic, diced Roma tomatoes, scallions, capers and fine herbs in a chardonnay white wine and served over a crostini. The Rigatoni Baresi is a favorite with the pasta tossed with sweet Italian sausage, roasted peppers, garlic and oil and cannellini beans. The dish we come back to time and again is the Chicken Scarpariello; boneless chicken and sausage sauteed with garlic in a balsamic and white wine reduction. Big fan too of the Cesari “Mara” Valpolicella priced very reasonably at $39.
Delightful private room that can accommodate up to 40 people for a private party. See menus 
Ask the locals where their favorite place to eat is and more often than not, the answer will be 
The one page wine list is heavily Italian and mostly the in the $40 range. Premium Italian reds were very fairly priced with a delicious Amarone at $75 and a Super Tuscan at $40.
The high ceiling room with white wainscoting below hunter green wallpaper and hanging gold ceiling fans helps contribute to the high noise level, but the mood is festive as tuxedoed waiters glide through the room. This is where New Orleans high society dines, particularly Friday at lunch when the place is packed with locals in their seersucker suits, bow ties and suspenders.
Entrees we loved include; Chicken Bonne-Femme half roasted chicken, cottage fries, bacon, caramelized onions; Shrimp Etouffée – Louisiana Gulf shrimp, shellfish stock, trinity, green onions, light brown roux, steamed rice and any fish (we liked the Redfish)
When we made our reservation we were encouraged to make it for just after sunset and to come early for a drink first. When we arrived we were escorted through the restaurant to a deck out on the sand. With two glasses of champagne, we watched one of the most amazing sunsets we have ever seen, including Key West…which seems to be everyone’s standard for sunsets. The colors in the sky lasted almost an hour after the sun set.
in the heart of the historic district in an 1871 firehouse. Dark woods, curved leather banquettes, a tin ceiling, marble columns, fresh flowers and perfectly set tables set the stage for a memorable dining experience.
and Chocolate Sauce. Amazing.
Stars from Forbes, Four Diamonds from AAA, a Michelin Star and has also earned several James Beard Awards, including Best New Restaurant, Best Service and Best Chef – California. The restaurant has also been awarded the Wine Spectator Grand Award for one of the best wine lists in the world.
sampling of the menu includes:
Open daily for brunch and dinner and for a Saturday/Sunday prix fixe brunch which is an incredible value at $11.95.
George’s is actually three restaurants in one, all have great ocean views. The lower level is the elegant, fine dining, California Modern (temporarily closed as of 12/21) which offers a unique dinner called TBL3 (table 3) a one-of-the-kind 12-14 course tasting experience. There are no choices and no substitutions. Instead, you will be at the whim of the chef. California Modern’s Fish Tacos were also featured on the Food Network’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate” show.
there for drinks. Beyond that, here’s some menu highlights; Butternut Squash Soup, lentils, apple, pepitas, chive; Shrimp & Grits, Anson Mills polenta, grilled broccoli, salsa verde; Braised Short Rib, potato purée, red cabbage, crispy onion; Crispy Mahi Mahi, avocado purée, pickled carrots, watercress, tortillas; Warm Chocolate Cake, caramel crunch ice cream, dulce de leche espuma; Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée, salted chocolate buckwheat cookie.
waves crash against the cliffs that is very romantic.
the Gold Coast. A favorite of locals for years, it is also a “must stop” for visiting celebrities and sports stars. Seldom will you dine here without seeing someone famous. You just can’t help having a great time.
with garlic. The “local’s favorites” like meatloaf, chopped steak and baby back ribs are particularly good and reasonably priced. Make no mistake this is a serious steakhouse and you won’t be disappointed.
offshoots 
With soft jazz playing in the background, your first sensation upon entering are the wonderful aromas of the wood burning oven in the large, comfortable tavern area. A large curved wood bar with copper shaded lamps anchors this wood beamed section which serves a more casual menu and does not require reservations. At the front of the restaurant are two cozy tables surrounded by two couches suitable for 4-6 people, ideal if you want to be in the center of all the action.
I love the cheese course, especially when paired with a dessert wine or port.
was talking about it. We kept hearing, “Have you been to Green Truck yet?” Too many people open restaurants with no real vision as to what they want to be or how they will differentiate from others. Not so, Josh and Whitney, founders of the Pub. They wanted to create a place where Savannahians could eat and drink well and they accomplish that by hand making everything from ketchup and pimento cheese to salad dressing and veggie patties and by sourcing everything from meat to cork boards close to home.
The menu changes often and it is not lengthy, but what is there is delicious and perfectly prepared. Some highlights:
tree covered alley, first to the Boathouse for cocktails. The Boathouse is open just for cocktails, no food; not even peanuts, but the setting is so comfortable and charming that you wouldn’t want to miss it. Just across the courtyard is the delightful 
working in Stowe, they wanted a place where locals and visitors alike could enjoy comfortable, creative and affordable food in an environment that was casual yet upscale and unique to Stowe. That goal has been accomplished in a wonderfully cozy restaurant on the bottom level of a historic building on Main Street.
fresh lemon; marinated Tomato Brushetta, grilled ciabatta, marinated mixed tomatoes, pesto, scallions, basil, capers, crumbled feta cheese, balsamic syrup drizzle; Statler Chicken Breast, pan seared Statler chicken breast, Cabot cheddar cream sauce, carmelized apples, mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli; venison Flank Steak, grilled marinated venison flank steak, red wine vinaigrette, crumbled blue cheese, roasted potatoes, wild mushrooms, bacon, grilled onion, baby spinach; Harrison’s Burger, local Boyden Farms beef, toasted brioche bun, Cabot cheddar, shredded romaine, tomato, special sauce, hand-cut fries, pickle. For dessert, try the Peanut Butter Pie, creamy peanut butter pie, chocolate ganache, Oreo cookie crust, crushed peanuts, fresh whipped cream.
Blanc, Ken Wright Cellars Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir ’17 Willamette Valley, OR, Shea Vineyards produce the best Oregon Pinot Noir grapes and Michael David “Petite Petit” Petite Sirah/Petit Verdot ’16 Lodi, CA is a wonderful wine.
Using locally raised meats and game, organic produce and artisan cheeses they have created a menu that is both creative and so flavorful you will find yourself savoring every mouthful.
mushrooms and they didn’t disappoint. Mixed with garlic, parsley and pancetta and served with grilled red hen bread the flavors were quite delicious. We also had perfectly grilled asparagus, wrapped with proscuitto and served with a mustard crème fraiche.
Hard for me to pass up a cheese course and I was delighted to find such a wonderful selection of unusual cheeses. I picked two, added a glass of vintage port and that completed one of the best meals I had in quite some time. Jen, who seldom has dessert, had a strawberry rhubarb crisp with house made buttermilk ice cream that she talked about for days.
a beautiful mahogany bar (where they serve a killer Bloody Mary and Bloody Bull with Low Country Spice Rub on the glass rim) and outstanding comfort and Southern style cooking served in two elegant rooms. Top all that with live jazz every night and at Sunday brunch and you can see why it’s a favorite with locals and tourists.
Black Angus steaks come with your choice of Henry Bain steak sauce, peppercorn garlic butter, truffle blue cheese, béarnaise, red wine reduction and bourbon bacon sauce. Don’t miss the Vidalia, bacon creamed sweet peas as a side dish.
selections, is very reasonably priced.
This is “old school” Vegas. It’s dark with cozy booths, candles, artwork in gold frames splashed with light and waiters in tuxedos. The walls are brick and the tables set with crisp linens and sparkling tableware. The menu is classic with items like escargot, duck flambe, rack of lamb, charbroiled steaks, prime rib and more.
returned with a hot towel and then made a wonderful Bananas Foster table side. As they were preparing my bill, a server brought a plate of chocolate covered strawberries and figs.
Every once in a while, you come across an experience so sublime, you feel the need to tell everyone about it. Such is the dining experience at the 
private setting. Having read all the accolades for this restaurant, there is a sense of anticipation in the air, of something special to come. And it does not disappoint for one second.
Just reading the menu fills your imagination with the varied flavors and textures; Salty Virginia country ham, sweet D’Anjou pear, peppery baby arugula and tart parmigiano-reggiano to name just one. I started with an herb crusted baby lamb that was sliced carpaccio style and served with tabouli and rosemary mustard, a perfect example of O’Connell’s creative take of a restaurant standard. Jen had freshwater prawns over charred Vidalia onions with a mango mint salsa. Great flavors. As we finished our first course, we were served a chilled vichyssoise with fresh sorrel in a small demi-tasse cup. The sorrel added a wonderful pungency to the potato and leek soup. Sadly, I have tried to duplicate these wonderful flavors unsuccessfully so far. For the second course, Jen chose the fricassee of Maine lobster with potato gnocchi and curried walnuts. Who would think to marry curried walnuts with flour dusted and sauté chunks of lobster? I like the combination of poultry and fruit and the marinated pan seared squab on garlic polenta with a fresh blackberry sauce was a perfect choice for my second course. For the main event I had a duet of veal; pan roasted loin of veal and braised veal cheek with raviolis of Virginia country ham, asparagus and forest mushrooms. I love the use of the salty Virginia country ham with the mild veal flavors. Jen had prime tenderloin of Angus beef on red wine risotto with morels and baby white asparagus. Cooked perfectly and the risotto was rich and wonderfully seasoned.
“Seven Deadly Sins”, a sampling of the Inn’s most decadent desserts; chocolate cakes, flans, tarts, homemade ice cream and sorbet. Next we tried the southern butter pecan ice cream sandwich with hot caramel sauce and ended with a selection of imported cheeses. Wow!
Kaufman and his wife Joyce and meticulously restored as an inn and restaurant. There are three dining rooms, all charming, warm and romantic. The upstairs room is lined with bookshelves and the tables are interspersed with loveseats next to the fireplace. Downstairs my favorite table is in the alcove just before the garden next to the stone archway and door. In nicer weather, the stone wall enclosed patio is magical with its flickering candles and sparkling tableware and the place to eat.
with watercress butter and Coquilles St, Jacque were just some of the old favorites. Try the homemade pates with the wonderful warm, baked bread.
travelers kept their clay at their favorite inn – the thin stemmed pipe being too fragile to be carried in purse or saddlebag. Keens’s pipe tradition began in the early 20th century.
until 1905 when actress 
flowers. Your mind takes you to a small Greek Island and an intimate taverna. This is 
never heard and cooked over wood fires. Entrees include favorites; Kotopoulo Souvlas – lemon-oregano roasted chicken with briami, cilantro yogurt & Kokkari potatoes. The chicken is cooked on spits over a wood fire. Arnisia Paidakia – grilled lamb chops with lemon-oregano vinaigrette & Kokkari potatoes is another favorite. Have the Baklava for dessert, it’s quite amazing.
When I lived in the Washington area in the late 70’s
Great Falls is about 45 minutes outside of DC, depending on traffic. The trip is an adventure and the drive to the restaurant evokes thoughts of an excursion into the French countryside. In fact, “auberge” refers to little Alsatian, countryside restaurants where the chef is the owner and “the guest is served like a neighbor”. The décor, a kind of upscale Bavarian, hasn’t changed much since I was last there; stucco walls, stained glass windows and dark wood beams. In this age of sleek and stylish, it is a throwback to another time and may seem a little eccentric at first glance. But, not long after we were seated, we slipped into the warm contentment of visiting an old friend.
delightful and helpful waiter, guided us through the choices, inquiring about what we liked and steering us in the right direction. We started with homemade veal, chicken and rabbit sausage and a scallop wrapped in bacon on a bed of lentils and medallions of beef tenderloin on toast with tomato and onion confit and garlic butter, both very satisfying. Other choices included; escargot, frogs legs, foie gras, an assortment of pates and terrines, quenelle of lobster, pike and shrimp mousse and much more.all the classics.
ham, wild mushrooms and a Madeira cream sauce. Amazing.
The food is sensational and a pleasant diversion from the normal items or preparation on most menus. Oysters for example, were served two ways with a cranberry mignonette and a Champagne Limoncello cream. Delicious. Or, a sautéed spice crusted foie gras with a crispy exterior and delicate interior was served on a pumpkin leek puree with pear dice and brioche with Sauternes, leek and verjus glaze. A wonderful taste sensation.
A rustic country dining room, centered with a fireplace, outstanding food, a great waiter and one of the best value wine lists we have ever experienced in a restaurant made this an extraordinary experience.
Our French born waiter, whose father was a chef in France, could not have been more attentive. He made an exceptional experience even better.
Inside, a marble bar with redwood wine racks behind it, is separated from the dining room by a ½ wall. The walls are done in a beige patterned wallpaper and the room has marble columns, funky hanging globes in a track lighting arrangement and tile floors. The 14 or so tables in the dining room are elegantly set with white tablecloths and sparkling accessories. Large windows on two sides allow you to take in the scene outside.
Entrees, served with roasted potatoes, string beans and carrots, were equally satisfying. I had a wonderful Pollo Savoya, tender chicken breast with sweet peppers, cherry peppers, garlic, rosemary and a balsamic demi-glaze. Jen’s Veal Fiorentina was sautéed in a lemon white wine sauce, topped with spinach and melted mozzarella and sprinkled with roasted tomatoes.
Many of the guests appear to be regulars and are warmly greeted by Armel, Maitre d’ Hotel. No one is rushing back to the office or anxious to leave their table. This is a place for romance and for catching up with friends.
achieved national acclaim in 1977 when he was Chef of La Guillotine Restaurant at age 21. He was the original Chef at Michael’s in Santa Monica, considered the Los Angeles birthplace of “California Cuisine,” which he left in 1979 to open the first 
Dow’s Trademark, Finest Reserve Porto
There’s so much to like here. Let’s start with 
Cichon, a French native, has created a wonderful “fusion” menu drawing on past experiences with Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, Japanese, and American cuisines.
marshmallow and whiskey-pecan ice cream.
WHAT OTHERS SAY…
and I am done with it. That makes 
Lakeside Seafood salad is a great starter with shrimp, scallops, octopus, baby calamari and fingerling potatoes all in an olive sauce.
king crab legs and oysters on the half shell along with brunch specialties like crab cake eggs Benedict and char-grilled flat iron steak frites. White Pineapple Bellinis, Bloody Marys and handcrafted cocktails flow.
I knew that 
What came next was probably the best fish I have ever had. Wild striped bass, steamed in a delicate ginger, scallion and tomato broth. The thick pieces of bass were so perfectly cooked, so tender, so juicy that I began to cut it into tiny pieces so that it would last longer. The broth added a hint of flavor that enabled you to taste each of the flavors without any overpowering the dish. I was truly sad when it was gone.
Prepare to dine on 
I have a soft spot for French bistros and they don’t come more authentic than
Persil, snails in Burgundy wine, Boeuf Bourguignon, beef braised in red wine, Bouillabaisse “Le Bouchon”, fish, clams, mussels and shrimp in a saffron brothand Les Ris de Veau, sautéed veal sweetbreads with a mustard sauce. For dessert, try the tarte of the day.
TIP: Have at least one meal at the marvelous restaurant when you are in town. Go very early or very late, and avoid Saturday nights. Even with reservations, you are going to wait.
that has no pretension and is the toughest reservation in town. It is perfect for an after work drink, a mid-week supper, a weekend brunch or a romantic evening for two on the weekend.
purée, jus de poulet; Trout amandine, ROUT AMANDINE, toasted almonds, haricots verts, lemon brown butter; Steak Frites, herb roasted, maître d’butter, pommes frites; Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, warm madeleine.
Maybe the 
There are a number of dining choices here; outside on the terrace, downstairs in the intimate cafe with low ceilings and blue checkered tablecloths, at the downstairs 8 person bar (this is where the locals congregate) and in the upstairs elegant dining rooms where crisp white wood trim and ceilings are offset by gold or burnt rust walls, iron chandeliers and well spaced tables set with dark mission chairs and formal table settings. Where you choose to sit will depend on your mood for the night.
spent a portion of their career working with acclaimed chef Jean Banchet at Le Francais in Wheeling and later bought the restaurant from Banchet. A 70’s dinner I enjoyed at Le Francais remains the meal against which all others are measured.
gnocchi, English peas, summer truffle and roasted veal sweetbreads, Spanish chorizo, smoked paprika and potato; entrees: lobster ragoût, preserved Meyer lemon, Cognac and roasted venison loin, Hubbard squash, compressed apple, sherry gastrique; desserts: classic soufflés, Grand Marnier, lemon, raspberry, hazelnut or passion fruit, warm chocolate tart with raspberries, white coffee bean ice cream, vanilla froth and chocolate sauce and fresh apple tart with green apple sorbet.
The small, intimate dining room has a casual, relaxed look with exposed beam ceilings, hanging Edison lights, white walls and blue banquettes.
to a great meal.
Housed in the building on South Beach Street, a short walk from town, that was formally the Blue Fin, the exterior is typical Nantucket cedar shingled with two prominent bay windows. Inside is sleek and stylish tin ceilings, a handsome marble topped cocktail bar and separate, semi-circular sushi bar surrounded by about a dozen tables. The walls and banquettes are shades of taupe with mirrors and contemporary art adorning the walls. The effect is a sophisticated bistro that would be comfortable in any major city.
outdoor favorite. There is no more romantic setting in Key West. Ask just about anyone and they will tell you that 
Opened in 1992 in a former residence, the restaurant has three charming and intimate dining rooms. Although there is no bar, there is an upstairs “waiting” room if your table is not quite ready. The room I dined in was steps down from the entry way and had only 5 tables. Two of them were in small alcoves that looked out onto the street. Gold painted walls adorned with kitchen artifacts and ivy, a single pink rose on the table and crisp linens and tableware created an atmosphere that was at once homey and elegant. With opera playing in the background, candles flickering on the table and wonderful kitchen aromas, the setting is ideal for a special night.
Set in an old townhouse and tucked into a corner of the North End, 
evening.
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: High
Guests are greeted warmly at the door and ushered either into the lounge to directly to your table. The elegant dining room is decorated in soothing shades of beige with mirrors lining the walls and vases of fresh flowers offering a splash of color.
I like this wine list. It’s predominantly French and tends toward the expensive, but there are still lots of choices under $50 in both reds and whites, particularly from the Rhone Valley and Provence. There are about 18 wines by the glass and about a dozen ½ bottles.
WHAT OTHERS SAY…
organic ingredients. The menu changes often to offer sustainable and seasonal produce that is at its peak – much of it grown at their own nearby farm. Meat, fish and dairy are locally sourced, where possible, from humanely treated, pasture-fed animals free of antibiotics and hormones.
lighting fixtures from L’Observatoire International.
With its gold hued walls, mirrors, tile floor and wonderful dark wood antique bar, Meauxbar looks like a classic French bistro and turns out delicious bistro food. Arrive early for one of their excellent cocktails like the Pecan Old Fashioned; pecan bourbon, vanilla, toasted orange oil.
The French leaning wine list is compact but with some very good choices like a 2014 Jean Luc Colombo Rosé ‘Cape Bleu’, a 2013 Berthier Coteaux de Giennois Blanc, a 2013 Delas Freres Ventoux and a 2013 Domaine Jean-Jacques Girard.
chefs in Barbara Lynch and the brilliance of its Wine Director, Cat Silirie.
By day, the room seems anything but romantic, but at night it is transformed. Hardwood and tile floors, modern art, eclectic overhead lighting and sleek modern furniture all come together into an intimate and warm delight with huge windows overlooking the sparkling harbor.
I opted for the small plates, so I could try more things. I began with a duet of Champagne mignonette laced Duxbury oysters and fried oysters with smoked pepper mayonnaise and paired that with a glass of Nicolas Feuillate, Brut Premier Cru Champagne. A delightful Vernaccia di San Gimignano “Ab Vinea Doni,” perfectly complimented a sweet pea and shallot filled cannelloni with braised rabbit and pea sprouts. I selected a Meritage “Seña,” from Chile to go with a Kobe beef duo of tartar and charred carpaccio and served with a crispy potato cake and sweet garlic aioli. Finally for dessert a chocolate tasting plate of white chocolate chiffon cake with green tea ice cream, milk chocolate ganache tart and dark chocolate Boston éclair paired with a Barbera d’Asti “Panta Rei,”
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: High. Ask for a table by the window.
The walls are a soothing taupe, arched doorways and wall openings provide a line of sight from room to room and fresh flowers and vivid artwork provide the color. Stickel style tables and chairs are set with crisp linens, silver, crystal and china.
and Warm Carrot Pistachio Cake with Vermont Cream Cheese Ice Cream.
wraparound porch. The locally sourced fare changes with the season, and dishes like herb butter-poached lobster with white beans and preserved lemon can be ordered à la carte or as part of a tasting menu.” ZAGAT
Minetta Tavern was opened in 1937 on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. Over the years it became a hang-out for various literary types including Ernest Hemingway and Dylan Thomas. The McNally group took over in 2008 and despite extensive renovations, the restaurant looks like you would imagine it looked in the 30s, mahogany bar, black and white tile floors, wood paneled walls covered with photographs, tin ceilings, red banquettes, crisp white tablecloths and gleaming stemware. Today, the restaurant is one of the most sought after reservations in the City.
WHAT OTHERS SAY...
Wow, inadequately describes the view from 
like spaetzel, choucroute and house made sausage. As an example of this, we enjoyed a wonderful Pork Schnitzel with brown butter sauce, lemon and capers at lunch one day.
WHAT OTHERS SAY…
Minneapolis, she received a degree in hotel and restaurant management from the University of Wisconsin and received further training at Le Cordon Bleu and La Varenne in Paris. Her first job was at the renowned Pump Room in Chicago and in the early 80’s she went on to be the opening chef at Meadowwood. She opened Mustard’s in 1983 and has helped spawn a number of other Bay area restaurants. She is an inductee of Who’s Who of Cooking in America, has also been twice nominated for the James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef in California and is the recipient of the Robert Mondavi Award for Culinary Excellence.
the many mustard rabbit, with proscuitto, brussel sprout leaves, sage roasted butternut squash and currants. Don’t leave without enjoying an order of onion rings with a tomato apple ketchup.
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT
After 20 years as the best fine dining restaurant in New Jersey and one of the best in the country, Chef Nicholas Harary and his wife, Melissa have introduced a bold, new concept, Nicholas Barrel & Roost, that has raised the bar for casual style restaurants. They continues to produce outstanding food, but in a more relaxed setting. Gone are the white tablecloths and formal service. In its place is a modern farmhouse interior with a delightful al fresco patio. Lunch and weekend brunch are now served. The select drinks menu makes use of the season’s freshest ingredients and highlights liquors from Nicholas’ private-barrel stash, made exclusively for him under his direct guidance. The well-appointed bar also features craft beers on tap as well as an expertly curated wine collection.
pig, pan roasted King salmon, butter poached Nova Scotia lobster tail and more. New items include a sirloin, short rib burger, artisan pizzas, fresh pastas and salads.
WHAT OTHERS SAY…
The décor is crisp and clean, white walls and tablecloths, oak and cane chairs. Color is introduced in the artwork and the flowers. The burning wood oven aroma is intoxicating and a portent of wonderful flavors to come.
Located in a townhouse in Beacon Hill, just across from the Boston Commons, 
50 Restaurants in America.”
Chef Lynch is renowned for her pastas, having learned technique directly from women in Italy, so the choice for a first course was easy, a Shrimp Tortellini with fava beans, green garlic and spiced pistachio. A wonderful Grilled Swordfish was prepared with tarragon cream, porcini mushroom and pickled cherry. For dessert the Banana Bread Soufflé with milk chocolate and crème anglaise was fantastic.
The first thing you notice upon arrival is the buzz. People are happy to be here…this is the place to be on a Saturday night., even on the night we were there in the pouring rain. The second thing you notice is the soft elegance of the decor, a bit of a Gramercy Tavern feel, which is understandable. Pale blue walls, white wainscoting, thin plank pine floors, beamed ceilings, Andrew Wyeth like artwork, a black slate bar and an antique white armoire. Tables are dressed with crisp linens and comfortably spaced. There are a number of intimate nooks like table #31 for two or a table for six toward the back of the bar room.
WHAT OTHERS SAY….
marrow-crusted charred flatiron steak, rutabaga-langue cake, rainbow chard, horseradish butter, glazed beets; desserts: banana, pineapple, caramelized pineapple, warm banana cake, Szechuan ice cream, tapioca pearls, macadamias and 80% dark chocolate mousse, Meyer Lemon, seville and moro orange, satsuma sorbet, ancho caramel, “cake”.
seating and great food and wine. It’s as perfect to close a business deal as it is for a romantic interlude. Not too many get it right these days….but the 
Classic Steak Tartar came with capers, cornichons, parmigiano-reggiano and crostini. For once my steak came out right the first time…just pink…with a crispy crust and Oak’s house made streak sauce. Absolutely perfect. Classic creamed spinach had just the right amount of cream and spices and Parmesan that still allowed the flavor of the spinach to come through. Truffled pomme frites was a perfect accompaniment. I paired my meal with a delicious Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon at $23 the glass.
WHAT OTHERS SAY…
The service is impeccable and unpretentious. Long-timer Juan Miguel took care of us on our last visit and he was both professional and fun. When I asked him to suggest one of two entrees, he just smiled, wrote something down and walked away. The choice he brought was perfect. We enjoyed a house cab so much we wanted to order a bottle, but it wasn’t on the wine list. Minutes later, he arrived with a bottle for the table.
The restaurant is housed on the upper floor of a traditional New England building. Entry is into a delightful bar area with a half moon shaped bar. Dining rooms broken up into are small, intimate spaces.
While it is 18 miles from Edgartown, the trip takes about 45 minutes each way. With tip, the taxi ride, round trip, is about $80. If you haven’t brought a car over, I suggest renting one for a day or two. You’ll save money going to our favorite restaurant at the western part of the island and there’s plenty to see and do outside of Edgartown. However you get here, it’s worth the trip.
pictures of the amazing sunset.
meal. Modeled after a French bistro, authentic design elements like antique brass fixtures and vintage framed artwork were imported directly from Europe. Red leather banquettes topped with frosted glass provide a sense of intimacy. French doors open to the sidewalk where tables afford wonderful people watching. This is the kind of place that you could easily linger after your meal to enjoy just one more glass of wine.
white wine, shallots and garlic. In the afternoon enjoy a cheese and charcuterie platter and at dinner maybe Roast Chicken, Steak Frites or Trout Almondine.
where those lucky enough to nab an 
Pascal and Sabine are characters from French filmmaker Albert Lamorisse’s signature work, The Red Balloon. In the film, Pascal finds a red balloon with a mind of its own that follows him around the city. You’ll see that red balloon outside the doors of the restaurant.
side garden patio, you sense you are in for something special. Entering through a side door, you pass the beautiful dark bar, and reach a subtly lit, elegant dining room that reminds you of a very exclusive club. The walls are covered in rich velvet with antique Cyprus woodwork, 19th-century oil paintings and contemporary renderings of local plantation life.
from the East Coast (makes sense, huh?) and served with a tangy Champagne Mignonette. Jenny had Lobster ‘3 Way’…Ravioli, Tempura and Sauteed with Warm Tomato-Basil Vinaigrette and it just may have been the best appetizer she ever had. The appetizers were served with steaming hot bread that was soft and fluffy inside and thick and crusty out. Perfect for getting up every last ounce of sauce.
butter, horseradish cream and maitre d’ butter. This is a great idea. And certainly beats the standard sauces offered by so many restaurants.
Weather permitting, I would suggest eating outside. The patio and garden is beautiful and with the flickering candles, quite romantic. Inside we like tables #71 and #72, along the wall and next to the windows that face the patio. Even in a bustling room, these tables seem to be more private.
Las Vegas is less than 10% the size of NYC, yet it has only one less Five Star restaurant than the Big Apple. This is a foodie town! The point is, there are lots of choices for an over-the-top meal, but 
James Beard Award winner and has earned two Michelin Stars at Picasso. His cuisine is a blend of Spanish and French flavors and textures.
The wine list, a Grand Award winner from Wine Spectator, has some 1,500 selections.
A mahogany bar festooned with fresh flowers lines the left side of the room as you enter. The rooms are all decorated in white with burgundy accents (booths and curtains) and colorful artwork. Diners can enjoy a fireplace in the back room or outside dining in warmer weather.
The dinner menu features a wonderful variety of beef, chicken, shellfish, fish and more. Some highlights; 2 lb Maine lobster fricassée, flambé with Cognac and tarragon. Served with French fries, Grilled tuna steak with an olive oil and lemon juice dressing. Tabouleh salad & shoe string potatoes, Roasted ORGANIC free-range chicken, with ratatouille and potato purée, Aussie Free-Range Natural rack of lamb prepared with mustard and “herbes de Provence” Served with French string beans and gratin Dauphinois and Grilled Pasture raised hanger steak with Béarnaise sauce, watercress and French fries.
Start your evening in Quill, a dark and intimate cocktail lounge with an excellent drink menu. Tuesday through Saturday, legendary Peter Robinson entertains at the piano. Hotel guests can also enjoy their drinks in the cozy Book Room beside a roaring fire.
Vacche Rosse, slow-cooked Amish hen egg, entrees like Seared fallow deer saddle; chestnut steamed bun, brussel sprouts, sweet and sour cabbage and cranberry deer jus and desserts like lemon blueberry sable Breton blueberry cremeux, lemon curd Tahitian vanilla ice cream.
ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: One of the cozy dining nooks or around the fireplace offer the ultimate in intimacy.
the vineyard hillside, large fireplaces and both indoor and outdoor seating. It is sophisticated, yet very comfortable.
you up at night dreaming about having it again.
She made the Clams Oreganta and the Chicken Parmesan sound so delicious, we had to try it.
Di Vitello Harris, thinly sliced veal with mustard sauce and radicchio; Costoletta Di Vitello Piemontese, veal chop with black truffles and puric of wild mushrooms; Petto Di Pollo Alba, breast of chicken with truffles and fontina cheese. Prices are surprisingly modest for a NYC restaurant.
No stranger to “Page Six” mentions, this “clubby” Italian satisfies its “moneyed UES” clientele with “dependable” pastas at “steep prices”; count on service “with a smile” if you’re a regular, a “celebrity” or “wearing dark glasses”, though first-timers may find the “attitude” “intimidating.” ZAGAT
8 choices of ice cream and 4 toppings are a nice change on the dessert menu, but the blueberry cobbler I had was amazing. I’ll get it again.
Service is friendly and efficient. On one trip our server even gave us a complimentary glass of port after our meal.
Inside, the small, intimate dining room is cozy and comfortable and decorated with faux finished rust colored walls with dark wainscoating and trim. An eclectic art collection adds color and whimsey to the space. Black and white tile floors compliment the dark wood trim and a huge picture window brings light or a views out onto the street. Mahogany tables center the room and booths ( I love booths) surround the floor.
The wine list is small but has some wonderful selections and may just have the best prices on the island. Oggi Pinot Grigio was priced at $28, a Chateau Vitalis Pouilly Fuisse at $48 and a Castle Rock Pinot Noir at $35 ( I buy this at home for $15, so there is none of the usual gouging here). Even the reserve list, called Captain Ahab’s list has choices under $50. Hats off to the owners!
operated restaurants in the country. Its 10 seat NY restaurant is the hardest reservation to get in town. In fact, unless you have “table rights” (a standing reservation for a particular night) or are invited to dinner by someone who does….you won’t get in. On any night the restaurant is filled with politicians, sports figures, Hollywood stars and mobsters. It’s quite a show.
delightful.
This is a dark and sexy restaurant, perfect for a little assignation.
You arrive at the River Café entrance and drive down a narrow cobblestone road leading to a circular driveway lined with lush foliage, ivy covered walls and gardens. Tiny lights sparkle from the trees. The entry way is filled with giant bouquets of flowers and you are led down a hallway to the dining room. The first look of the Bridge above the restaurant and the buildings of lower Manhattan across the river is stunning.
As an entrée I had a red snapper fillet with chanterelle mushrooms, root vegetables and a fresh herb sauce. It was delicate, light and perfectly seasoned. Brent had a crispy duck breast with light pink meat, served with a delicious proscuitto and duck Bolognese sauce. Rich and very satisfying. One Jen had a king salmon with ginger tempura bay scallops and sake and soy glazed shitake mushrooms. The other had a lobster special, small tails out of the shell with a delicate shrimp sauce.
restaurants all over the country, we became fans when we first visited the East Hampton Grill in New York. Here’s the very simple formula; limited but well done casual menu, a fun vibe, great décor, a warm staff and an excellent wine list. We enjoyed the EHG so much on our last visit, we went back a second night!
some outstanding wines with prices to match. However, should you decide to bring your own wine, there is no corkage fee.
There is no celebrity chef here at this highly rated Italian and it is just as well. The attention is on the food and no one is running off to a book signing. The menu offers plenty of choices with some 17 appetizers and an equal number of entrees. As with most great restaurants, the selections reflect a creativity not available in lesser establishments.
WHAT OTHERS SAY…
Rebuilt after a tragic fire, the new Inn has maintained the charm of the historic building while adding in modern conveniences. Stone walls, beamed ceilings, tile or clapboard floors, fireplaces and small intimate dining rooms create a most romantic setting. Crisp linens and gleaming tableware add a touch of elegance.
London Broil, Seared White Pheasant, Buffalo Hanger Steak and Texas Boar Rack. But you can also enjoy Australian Lamb Shank, Braised Boneless Beef Short Ribs, Soy Duckling, Pork Cassoulet, Shrimp Jambalaya and more.
It’s become kind of the “go to” place for locals, a restaurant that delivers consistently and one where you are likely to run into some friends. Trying new restaurants is fun, but when you want to be guaranteed a delicious meal, you won’t go wrong here.
I must admit that I had skipped this restaurant on previous trips in favor of the latest dining addition. Now I know what I was missing. SNOB is a favorite of many in Charleston and for good reason. It feels comfortable to be here. You sense the locals view this as “their place”.
Executive Chef Russ Moore makes generous use of fresh, local ingredients and combines that with traditional French techniques and creative use of low country spices and seasonings.
Really nice wine list with some great choices and very, very reasonable prices. About 20 wines by the glass and about 18 half bottle chocies.
flickering candles and fresh flowers is the perfect place for a special occasion.
entrees: wood roasted Alaskan halibut, cuttlefish and king prawns in lobster saffron broth with fresh chickpeas and whipped house cured baccala and wood roasted Broken Arrow Ranch sika venison loin and sausage with wild spring onions, shaved artichokes and roasted polenta. The desserts all looked delicious, but you cannot come to Spiaggia without having their signature cheese course. Paired with a wonderful port, it is the perfect ending to a memorable meal.
surprising, it is one of the toughest reservations to get in town. The restaurant has garnered accolades from Bon Appétit Magazine and the James Beard Foundation. They have earned a Michelin star, and Zagat even named the restaurant one of the Top 10 in the world.
takes the expected path, offering Cinsault and Albariño from Calfornia and Altesse from Savoie alongside much-loved producers such as Thivin in Beaujolais and Lopéz de Heredia in Rioja.”
Steak Tartare w/ Grilled Pepperoncini $9.00
The interior has a kind of rustic elegance about it. Vaulted ceilings are strewn with hanging fabric. Two walls are weathered cedar shingles, two glistening white trimmed paned windows looking out onto the Harbor. Walls are covered with colorful brightly lit abstract art and the tables are set with white linens covered in a brown paper and set with a pot of fresh herbs and hurricane lanterns. Wonderfully romantic and intimate.
the United States. Their servers average 33 years in the industry and 16 years at Tadich Grill. It’s quite incredible that a restaurant that is 174 years old has maintained its popularity and reputation through all those years.
The food here is relatively simple, but excellently prepared and served by enthusiastic waiters. At a recent meal I started with basic mesclun salad with a sherry vinaigrette and Jen had a lobster chowder that was incredible; chunks of fresh lobster, sweet corn, leeks, cobb smoked bacon and fingerling potatoes. We followed that with a Black Angus ribeye with marinated red onions, garlic fries and a béarnaise aioli and grilled jumbo shrimp over pappardelle with a roasted garlic crème and charred sweet tomatoes. Both meals were wonderful and just the right amount of food.
windows, the dining room is anchored at one end by an open kitchen. Tables are set with white tablecloths and gleaming tableware. Waiters are dressed in white shirts, black pants and tie and aprons.
screw up a good steak, but not here. My 12oz. NY Strip (very fairly priced at $34) was perfectly seasoned and cooked exactly to medium (just pink!). One of the best steaks I have had in some time. Crispy fries and a wonderful AERena cab made for a delicious dinner.
Owners Johno Morisano and Chef Mashama Bailey joined together to transform a 1938 art deco Greyhound Bus Terminal that had fallen into disrepair into 
bourbon, lemon, sugar and red wine) and a fun selection of Atlantic Trade Flights like a Sloop John, Vintage Plantation Rum from Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica. For snacks try the Corn Nuts or the Pickled Egg.
Originally opened in 1949, the 
Prime Rib dinner I have ever had.
Not so much. One reviewer called it “controlled chaos, but in a good way.”
Since opening in 1941, 
highlights; George’s Bank Diver Scallops, pecan crust, citrus celery root, sea beans; Ahi Tartare Cones, serrano soy, kaluga caviar, chive; Local Foraged Farm Mushrooms, black garlic, madeira, truffle; Baja California Swordfish, potato puree, spring onion, shrimp, aji amarillo; Red Walnut Venison, butternut squash, brussels sprouts, balsamic, bread pudding; Spendrift Cappuccino Cobblestone Pie, hazelnuts, chocolate nuggets, maker’s mark bourbon sauce; Organic Lavender Lemon Cake, strawberries, wildflower gelato, mint crystals.
The Marine Room lures a well-heeled crowd to its sleek environs. Set within a luxury beach resort in the exclusive La Jolla enclave, it feels every bit the posh club. It’s also a romantic spot to celebrate a special date, thanks to those dramatic sea views at sundown—when a spectrum of colors light up the sky. Land a table at high tide, when the waves come crashing against their westward-facing windows, for a truly enchanting experience.
The Mill Room
with braised cabbage and leeks with smoked bacon and duck fat potatoes; Beelers Farm Duroc Pork Chop with sweet potato fondant, pearl onion, red pear, mustard demi and Braised Rabbit with Carolina dirty rice with gumbo sauce, rock shrimp, mussels, andouille and rabbit.
We were visiting friends whose vacation home is outside of Middlebury about a 30 minute drive over the mountains. It was one of those softly snowy nights in March, no wind, with a kind of hush over the small village we got to over a quintessential Vermont covered bridge.
helped us navigate the waters and resulted in some great selections. She even had us taste an open bottle of the wine we selected to be sure we would like it.
We ended with a delightful Vermont cheese course, a decadent chocolate pot, an apple tart and a maple crème caramel.
are elegant with hunter green rimmed china with the restaurant’s name engraved on the plates and even the salt and pepper shaker’s are substantial and heavy. Small table lamps with shades add an element of intimacy.
But the Prime Rib is the perfect blend of excellent food, wine, service and ambiance. The atmosphere harkens back to another age when supper clubs were all the rage and dining out was an event. It’s more casual today, but the feel is the same. Dark walls and soft lighting lend an intimacy to the rooms and live piano music injects just the right amount of gaiety. Leather banquettes and leopard print carpeting complete the clubby décor.
The wine list is not particularly extensive by steakhouse standards, but has some good choices, a section of 30 wines under $50 (yeah!) and sections of underappreciated reds and whites. On the night of our visit, all wines under $200 were half price. We enjoyed a delicious Mettler Petit Syrah, priced at $63 for only $30.
terrace, the restaurant is elegant and sophisticated. The cuisine is American with French influences and the menu is crafted from the bounty of local waters and farms.
including produce and seafood from island purveyors. The menu boasts New England delicacies prepared using French techniques, flavorful sauces and innovative desserts. The historic inn, which is carefully appointed with Edwardian-era antiques and surrounded by peaceful gardens, harkens back to a simpler time. Walk into The Terrace at The Charlotte Inn for a delicious meal and leave your worries at the door.” Forbes Travel Guide
The main dining room (the one with the views) has deep raised panel mahogany walls, burgundy carpet and a wonderful marble fireplace. Tables are strategically placed to take advantage of the views. Doesn’t get much cozier.
The wine list has been recognized with Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for 18 years. There are over 300 choices, with all major regions represented and the pricing is very reasonable.
restaurant in all of New York; wood floors, low ceilings, fireplaces, an ivy covered patio, antique artwork, a large mural by Edward Sorel (he has designed dozens of New Yorker covers) and red leather banquettes contribute to the warm feel. Crisp linens, candlelight flickering off tableware make this an ideal spot for romance.
The dining room is the most refined on the island. White raised panel walls adorned with softly lit oil paintings, wall sconces, plaid fabric covered chairs, crisp linens, candles, fresh flowers, fireplaces and cozy booths make this one of the most beautiful dining rooms anywhere.
Few restaurants can offer both the feel and the food of the Tuscan countryside as well as 
imported cheeses, house made sausages, wild mushrooms, and fresh vine-ripened tomatoes. Pizzas are crisped to perfection in a stone oven and game and fish cooked alla griglia are enhanced with oak, hickory, and maple.
delectable Tuscan classics since 1983, but the reliably excellent experience extends to its newish Harvard Square sibling too; it’s no wonder both quaint, romantic branches are busy all the time, packed with well-trained servers, repeat customers and, at the Cambridge locale, tipplers downing generous pours of wine from the fun bar.” ZAGAT
Picture barn wood and red walls, checkered tablecloths, wine bottles with candles, wonderful music, the aromas of Tuscany and you can imagine Trattoria La Festa. Not romantic in the sense of our other choices, but equally worth the trip. Chef owned by Antonio and Giancarlo DeVito and Patty Hammer, this wonderful spot with homemade breads and salad dressings, old family recipes and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is like coming home to your big Italian family. It is rumored that “Mama” still rules the roost in the kitchen.
and flavored with sambuca.
Appetizer $6-$13, entrée $15-$20. Dress is casual. All credit cards accepted.
extraordinary wine program) and excellent food.
asparagus and fiddlehead ferns which I paired with the suggested 2011 Domaine des Baumard Savennières. Perfect.
The dessert choices were enticing, but I had been told not to miss the cheese course. They were right, it was wonderful, particularly when paired with a 1985 Warre’s Port.
The menu focus is on foods from the various regions of Italy, using fish and shellfish from local waters and hand-cut pastas. Gabriel Frasca and Amanda Lyon, partners in life as well as business, have created a delicious menu featuring items like roasted bone marrow, pine nuts, pickled vegetables and grilled bread, osso buco with saffron risotto and ramp gramolata and strazzapeti with braised rabbit, kale, olive, tomato and pecorino.For dessert have the bittersweet chocolate donut, pistachio gelato and chocolate sauce.
but mostly because everyone in Philadelphia wants to eat here. The time on the phone to get a reservation, however, is well worth the effort. This is a most wonderful dining experience on so many levels.
a comfortable and rustic trattoria look and feel. Tables, surrounded by ladderback chairs, are set with crisp linens, tiny vases of fresh flowers and hand-painted plates.
Artisanal cheeses and a glass of port ended a most memorable meal. Next time I try the chocolate polenta souffle with vanilla gelato. There’s a wonderful selection of grappas, dessert wines and single malt scotches.
The only thing keeping this wonderful restaurant from our top rating is a bar at which you can linger and enjoy the wines. Nevertheless, do not come to Philadelphia without enjoying this magnificent restaurant.
but beloved by locals and considered a “find” by visitors who happen upon it. Such is the case of 
booths dot the wall by the entrance and are a perfect spot to watch all the action. Intimate tables set in the step-up back dining room are the second choice. The upstairs, open mostly for private parties and sometimes on weekends is particularly charming. Ask if it will be open when you make a reservation.
with selections like a $40 Gavi de Gavi and our selection, an Ocra Super Tuscan at $42. Plenty to like on this list.
There’s always a Featured Wine, which is usually a real “find” and about 30 wines by the glass or the taste ( 2oz.). The full bottle menu has the most variety and best values I have seen on a wine list anywhere. Where else can you find wines from Basque Country and Lebanon? Most fun is to sample a number of wines through flights. 2oz. tastings are available of each wine segment.
Excellent service from a very knowledge wait staff. They know their wine and they know what tastes good with it.
are awnings for the faithful and now some indoor seating.
butter. The cooks out there know that when sautéed, the anchovies disintegrate and become nutty in flavor. I followed that with perfectly cooked diver scallops in a delicate port reduction. The scallops were crispy on the outside and delicate inside and the port added a nice sweetness.
a roaring wood fired oven and piano music. The interior is kind of rustic chic divided into intimate rooms on multiple levels. It is a favorite of foodies near and far and is also on GQ’s list of “22 Restaurants We Go Back to Over and Over”.
turned twice to insure even browning. The result is moist meat and crisp skin.