A.R. Valentien was a talented 20th century California artist and is the namesake for the signature restaurant at the Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla. Many of the artist’s works are…
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Places selected for AAA Four Diamond Dining
Chef/owner John Besh is a nationally acclaimed chef and a certified rock star in New Orleans. He was named “Top 10 Best New Chefs in America” by Food & Wine Magazine, won…
View full profileAs you look around the bar and restaurant at Castle Hill, it is evident that this is a special occasion destination. Everyone is dressed up and everyone seems to be celebrating something.…
View full profileThere’s a reason chefs become celebrities…they start out being very good at what they do and Charlie Palmer was no exception. Trained at the Culinary Institute of America, he cut his teeth…
View full profileThere 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…
View full profileOpened by acclaimed chef/owner Nancy Oakes in 1993, Boulevard is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. The restaurant has received local, national and international accolades, including The James Beard Foundation Award…
View full profileNearly floor to ceiling windows capture the spectacular ocean vistas from Cara’s elegant dining room. White walls, striking artwork create a backdrop for coral colored chairs adding a splash of brightness. Chandeliers…
View full profileOVERVIEW of The Castle Hill Inn The stately and elegant Castle Hill Inn is a top choice for accommodations in Newport. Slightly formal, yet very comfortable. The property sits on 40 acres…
View full profileFor many, myself included, Commanders Palace is the quintessential New Orleans restaurant. I mean how can you not love a place that offers $.25 martinis at lunch. Owned since 1974 by the…
View full profileOVERVIEW of Encore at Wynn Wynn and Encore are sister properties in Las Vegas. They sit next to each other on the Strip and are, in many ways, interchangeable. Here are the differences;…
View full profileOVERVIEW Just outside the Sante Fe city limits, Encantado is tucked away against the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The adobe style design is integrated perfectly to the stunning desert…
View full profileI never miss an opportunity to visit George’s at the Cove in La Jolla when I am in San Diego. It’s cliffside location with views of the ocean is nothing short of…
View full profileThere is good reason for the Gramercy Tavern to have been rated among the Most Popular Restaurant in New York by Zagat’s for the last few years. First, it’s not stuffy or…
View full profileOVERVIEW The Hotel Bel-Air opened its doors in 1946 and quickly became a favorite of the Hollywood elite including Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Purchased in 2008 by…
View full profileOVERVIEW of Inn at Dos Brisas Every serious traveler, foodie and oenophile has dreamed of owning their own place, but few of us, have the resources or the experience to pull it…
View full profileOVERVIEW of the Inn at Perry Cabin Movie buffs will recognize the Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond as the site of the wedding in the film “Wedding Crashers” with Owen Wilson…
View full profileOVERVIEW of Keswick Hall There is much to enjoy in Charlottesville, but it will be a struggle to leave the confines of the exquisite Keswick Hall, located just outside of town in…
View full profileOVERVIEW of L’Auberge Carmel Built in 1929 and recently renovated, L’Auberge Carmel has only 20 guestrooms that surround a charming brick courtyard. The white stucco building with arched doorways, green trim and…
View full profileWhen I lived in the Washington area in the late 70’s L’Auberge was one of the highest rated restaurants in the DC area and amazingly after over 40 years, it still is.…
View full profileOVERVIEW of L’Auberge de Sedona It would be hard to find a better setting for a romantic weekend away than L’Auberge de Sedona in Arizona. From the spectacular Red Rocks to cozy…
View full profileSadly, the era of the formal, traditional French restaurant seems to have passed. Lutece and my old favorite, La Cote Basque are just two of the standards who are no more. Happily,…
View full profileChef/Owner Ken Frank came to love French cooking while living in France as a teenager. He first achieved national acclaim in 1977 when he was Chef of La Guillotine Restaurant at age…
View full profileLacroix is the signature restaurant of the wonderful Rittenhouse Hotel, but it is as far from a “hotel” restaurant as you can get. There’s so much to like here. Let’s start with…
View full profileI am kind of a stickler when it comes to seafood. If it has been frozen, I can tell with the first bite and I am done with it. That makes Lakeside…
View full profileIf pedigree means anything to the success of a restaurant, then it explains Les Nomades perch atop the list of Chicago restaurants. Owner Mary Beth Liccioni and her husband Chef Roland spent…
View full profileSet in an old townhouse and tucked into a corner of the North End, Mamma Maria is one of my favorite Italian restaurants, in a town of excellent Italian food. I like…
View full profileOVERVIEW of Mandarin Oriental The Time Warner Center has become a mecca for New Yorkers seeking the hottest restaurants and shops. Occupying floors 35-54 of the Center, the Mandarin offers stunning views…
View full profileMarcel’s is a favorite of the Washington elite, whether you are a Congressman, lobbyist or someone with a niece in town. Robert Wiedmair’s flagship restaurant never disappoints. First stop is the sleek…
View full profileThere was a time when hotel dining was a last resort, but that has changed. Today, many hotel restaurants can hold their own against the best in their city. Such is the…
View full profileOVERVIEW of Nemacolin Woodlands Nemacolin began life in the late 60’s as a private game reserve where Pittsburgh industrialist, Willard Rockwell entertained friends and business associates for hunting and fishing weekends on…
View full profileLocated in a townhouse in Beacon Hill, just across from the Boston Commons, No. 9 Park is on just about everyone’s list of favorites. It is a small (@16 tables) and intimate…
View full profileHoused in a restored carriage house once owned by Aaron Burr, One If By Land is a favorite romantic restaurant in the City. Piano music in the background, fireplaces, brick walls, French…
View full profileFrom the minute you walk through the curved iron gate of the Peninsula Grill opening onto the side garden patio, you sense you are in for something special. Entering through a side…
View full profileOVERVIEW of Rancho Valencia Resort Set on 45 acres of lush gardens and olive groves, the Mediterranean-inspired Rancho Valencia, is an all-suite property and recently completed a $30 million renovation including remodeled…
View full profileOVERVIEW of Ritz Carlton, Atlanta Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the Ritz Carlton Atlanta is a luxury oasis close to the city’s attractions and minutes from Georgia Aquarium and Centennial…
View full profileOVERVIEW of The Royal Palms Located at the base of the Camelback Mountains, The Royal Palms Resort & Spa is truly an oasis in every sense of the word. There is a…
View full profileSlightly off the beaten path, downtown, the romantic Tuscan delight, Scalini Fedeli, embraces you from the minute you enter. The warmth is reflected in the greeting at the door and the vaulted…
View full profileThe setting for Spiaggia couldn’t be more dramatic. Tables in the two tiered dining room face huge windows looking out on Michigan Avenue and the lake. The dark, intimate room with flickering…
View full profileOVERVIEW of Sunset Key Cottages Few choices are better for a truly special occasion than the Sunset Key Cottages located on a private 27 acre tropical island, just a 10 minute boat…
View full profileOVERVIEW of The Little Nell Aspen is a wonderfully designed village with most everything contained in a 5-6 block radius. They have preserved the old buildings and blended in new ones seamlessly.…
View full profileSince opening in 1941, The Marine Room in La Jolla, has become renowned for its beachfront location, spectacular sunsets and high tide surf that creates incredible activity right outside your window. In…
View full profileThe Mill Room is the signature restaurant at The Boar’s Head Resort, but its wonderful lakeside setting and creative menu make it a worthy stop even if you are not staying at…
View full profileOVERVIEW of The Palazzo at the The Venetian This is another instance, like Wynn and Encore, where there are two sister hotels, side by side, that share a lot of features. There…
View full profileIn a city with hundreds if not thousands of restaurants, how do you stand out from the pack? ….attention to detail. Seems easy, but few get it like Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar…
View full profileOVERVIEW of The Sanctuary Perched majestically on the shores of Kiawah Island overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, The Sanctuary is a blend of modern convenience and Southern charm. The design goal was to…
View full profileOVERVIEW of The Vanderbilt In a town with great accommodations, the relatively new The Vanderbilt takes its place among the best. Originally built in 1909 by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, the former Vanderbilt…
View full profileIt’s not called The View for nothing. The Inn is set on a hillside overlooking Mirror Lake and the Adirondack Mountains. The view from the dining room in any season is nothing…
View full profileOVERVIEW of Wequassett Resort & Golf Club Located on The Cape (Cape Cod) on 27 exquisitely landscaped acres overlooking Pleasant Bay, Wequassett (pronounced we cwoss it) is a privately owned and operated…
View full profileOVERVIEW of Windsor Court A $22 million renovation has restored Windsor Court to the top of the list of New Orleans hotels. All 316 guestrooms have been refurbished, the Grill Room and…
View full profileOVERVIEW of Woodstock Inn Sometimes, when we visit a property it exceeds even our expectations and that was the case on our visit to the Woodstock Inn & Resort in Woodstock, Vermont.…
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