Choose one restaurant.

[Laelth]

Assume you just won the restaurant lottery. You get life-time free meals (no tip required) at just one restaurant (or chain restaurant) on Earth for you and one guest (if you like), and this will last for the rest of your life.

You don’t have to choose a chain restaurant, but, obviously, if you do, you have a lot more geographic diversity (range) and can still get free food.

Which restaurant do you choose and WHY?



-Laelth

[Laelth]

1. Some context--I know which restaurant the President would choose.

-Laelth

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Texas de Brazil

I wouldn’t necessarily have flame-broiled steak every night. I could make a meal from their salad bar alone.

[Laelth]

12. Where is that? Sounds delicious. n/t

-Laelth

[Cirque du So-What]

20. They're all over

https://texasdebrazil.com/

If I’m gonna get free meals, I don’t wanna be restricted to one locale.

[Laelth]

22. All urban, but very diverse with great-looking food.

The closest one to me is 45 miles away. That’s not too bad. Nice choice!



-Laelth

[Sherman A1]

3. I would go with a local restaurant

Hendels Market in Florissant, MO. It is a old grocery store from the 1800s that has been converted into a restaurant and one that we have enjoyed for years.

[Generic Brad]

4. It's got to be a Chinese buffet then

The variety at those things are endless!

[Laelth]

10. You must name a specific restaurant.

Would you want Panda Express, or a local restaurant that (almost certainly) serves better food but that you can not access nationwide?

-Laelth

[Generic Brad]

23. I'd prefer a local one

But I would have to relocate. The one in my town got shut down after they were busted for human trafficking.

[Laelth]

24. Great story.

Not sure that I want to hear the rest of it.



-Laelth

[trueblue2007]

42. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Portland

i would want ........ Ruth's Chris YUM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.ruthschris.com/restaurant-locations/portland/events/portland-event/




Midnight at The Masquerade Mystery Dinner

Ruth's Chris Portland
Friday, October 26, 2018 at 6:30pm
$95 per person (plus gratuity)
Portland • 503-221-4518 • 850 SW Broadway

First Course
******************************
BBQ Shrimp

******************************
Second Course
Steak House Salad

******************************
Third Course
8 oz. filet* --- Oscar Style
?h=720&w=530&la=en&hash=4A381D741A16D191AC2B4DA5E521E727222A1811
******************************
Accompaniments
Au Gratin Potatoes
Broccoli

******************************
Dessert Course
Chocolate Sin Cake with Raspberry Sauce
RSVP TO THIS EVENT

[Laelth]

43. There are lots of those all over the country.

In my experience, that’s reliably good eating.

Nice choice.

-Laelth

[SCantiGOP]

48. But you would get to eat for only a few months

before the heart attack took you out.

Actually, I love Ruth's but my evil doctor tells me that I should severely limit red meat and alcohol. Might need to find a new doctor.

[trueblue2007]

66. NOT JUST STEAK. THEY have many other choices ....

mood for chicken, fish or lighter vegetarian fare, we've got something to please every palate.
stuffed chicken breast

roasted double breast, garlic-herb cheese, lemon butter
Barbecued Shrimp Entrée

sautéed in garlic butter & bbq spices, over roasted garlic mash
sizzling crab cakes Entrée

three jumbo lump crab cakes, sizzling lemon butter
chilean sea bass*

citrus-coconut butter, sweet potato & pineapple hash
King Salmon Filet*

chef ’s seasonal preparation
lobster mac & cheese ;;; tender lobster, three cheeses, green-chile sauce


https://www.ruthschris.com/menu/dinner/

[Buckeye_Democrat]

29. I'd have to pick the same.

I'm not going to name them, but there's some decent Chinese buffets around here.

I'd prefer SOME kind of buffet restaurant just for the variety, anyway!

[Laelth]

44. COVID-19 may drive all buffets out of business.

It’s just a highly unsanitary way to get food. Every single serving spoon you touch could spread the virus to you and every other person who touches that spoon in a given day ... until it is thoroughly cleaned.

I like the variety that a buffet offers, but I am hesitant to eat at one during a pandemic.



-Laelth

[Buckeye_Democrat]

64. Oh, in this Covid-world too? Lol.

It would have to be a restaurant that delivers. So maybe a Chinese restaurant again?

And I might be concerned about that too! I haven't ordered anything from a restaurant since February. No indoor or outdoor dining, and not even drive-through or delivery! Groceries only, and that's all been ordered through scheduled pick-ups.

I'd probably prefer a restaurant that prepared the food, quick-froze it before delivery, and followed by me reheating all of it in the oven to help kill the little buggers. Lol.

[happybird]

5. My coworker is wondering if 7-11 counts as a restaurant?

He’s got a Red Bull and taquito addiction.

[Laelth]

7. Does the 7-11 take food stamps (EBT)?

If so, it’s not a restaurant.

-Laelth

[happybird]

40. Yep, they take EBT.

Mr. Redbull is outta luck, lol! He picked the local diner. They do have really good food- breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.

[Laelth]

45. Honestly, a "diner" with broad geography is high on my list.

The trouble is coming up with a diner that has a broad geographic range and a moderately-healthy and reasonably diverse menu.

I am tempted to choose the Waffle House, as awful as that may sound.



https://www.wafflehouse.com/

For the record, I have not declared my choice yet.

-Laelth

[happybird]

52. I love Waffle House!

We used to eat there every Saturday after my ex’s weekly doctor appointment. I always got the hash browns with cheese and ham, sometimes hot peppers and/or mushrooms, and two eggs over easy. So good.

[Laelth]

55. We, Deep Southerners, call it the "Awful Waffle."

But ignore that. Most of us love it.

-Laelth

[Danmel]

6. I want to pick up every open check at a local Colombian restaurant

In a working class latin community near my home. If I won the lottery I would pick.up all the checks, a leave the wait staff a huge tip.
But alas I'm just a regular person so probably the really good sushi place nearby

[Croney]

8. I guess it would be Legal Sea Foods. I remember the original one

here in Cambridge decades ago. Just some long tables and wooden benches.

[Laelth]

58. I assume you mean Cambridge, MA.

Last time I was there was 1986–a debate tournament at Harvard, but I didn’t make it to Legal Sea Foods.

Curious name. What, exactly, is “legal” about their cuisine?



-Laelth

[Croney]

63. Yes, MA. It was a store first, and Wikipedia says

In 1904, Harry Berkowitz opened the "Legal Cash Market" in the Inman Square neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The name for the market came from the "Legal Stamps", also known as trading stamps, given to loyal customers.

[Laelth]

73. Nifty. Thanks for the backstory. n/t

-Laelth

[ret5hd]

9. Olive Garden...come for the breadsticks, stay for the...

Breastfeeding, circumcision, and smoking!

[Laelth]

11. Admittedly, that one was high on my list.

I haven’t really decided yet, but I must say that the food quality has gone down a bit over the past 20 years, so I hesitate to select Olive Garden, despite the advantage of their widespread geographic diversity.

-Laelth

[ret5hd]

13. My reply was completely tongue in cheek!

[Laelth]

15. Fair. I admit that there are many things I dislike about that company.

Still ... relatively healthy food and a relatively wide variety with relatively good geographic diversity.



-Laelth

[Laffy Kat]

65. Now you've gone and done it!

[ret5hd]

72. I forgot pitbulls.

[unc70]

14. You didn't even require every meal there

I would probably choose a local go to restaurant in Chapel Hill, NC., 411 West Franklin. It is not the best restaurant I know, or even the best restaurant in my area, but it is a very solid dining experience day in and day out. Heavily Italian menu, with good seafood specials. Mostly locally sourced. Very good wine list. Very accommodating to special dietary needs or wants. And great service.

A friend ate dinner there nearly every evening for years until his death at near 90.

Eat at the bar and become part of the family. Come on Monday and all bottles of wine are half price. Take your leftovers home with you.

[Laelth]

16. So long as you never move, that sounds like a good choice. n/t

-Laelth

[unc70]

18. I've lived in Chapel Hill since 1966

So it is a good choice. Unfortunately I have not been to any restaurant since this March. I am feeling very deprived, missing so many friends and so many good times.

[Laelth]

25. Daughter and I have gotten chinese take-out twice since March.

We’ve had Vietnamese twice too, but that’s it. I admit to missing a little restaurant food.

-Laelth

[CloudWatcher]

17. Rio Grande (in Boulder and 3 other locations)

The food is decent, but their margaritas would keep me happy for many many years. Well ... at least until my liver failed

[Laelth]

19. Nice choice.

I hadn’t considered whether or not alcoholic beverages would be included in the restaurant lottery, but I see no reason why not. If so, that might change some people’s choices and preferences.

Either way, I know where to go when I am next in Boulder. Thanks!



-Laelth

[rurallib]

26. We ave such a dearth of good restaurants in the midwest

I'd have to do some traveling and tasting. Nothing around here sounds like a candidate for me.

[Laelth]

46. Ever tried Skyline Chili?

I don’t know if there’s one near you, but my friends in college used to love it. For my part, I wouldn’t eat it.

-Laelth

[rurallib]

49. Well I live in Iowa, but in my working days I had to visit Cincinnati frequently

And I love chili. But not Skyline Chili. I thought it was awful.
There was a competing Chili restaurant there in the 90s whose name I forget. They were pretty decent.
There was also a pizza chain called Edwardo's that was really good.

Iowa - because of its small population I guess - just doesn't have much in really good food. There is a place in Ames called Hickory Park which is really good.

Maybe I am too picky.

[Laelth]

51. Do you have Runze there where you are?

That’s probably my favorite fast food from the plains. Admittedly, I haven’t been to many local places.

-Laelth

[rurallib]

54. no I think I have heard of it and it is in Nebraska

Runza's is a Nebraska restaurant chain with a couple of stores in far western Iowa. heard they were delicious.

[csziggy]

27. Ted's Montana Grill

There are only a few of these, started by Ted Turner (who started CNN) to sell bison raised on his ranch. The locations for the chain originally were places where Ted owned land - that is the only reason there is one in Tallahassee. He owns a plantation in Jefferson County and has to fly into Tallahassee to get there.

The menu is American, and ranges from bison and beef steaks and burgers, to chicken, fish, and, one of my favorite, bison stew. The food is good, made fresh, and there is enough variety to keep me happy.

That said, I would probably eat there only a few times a month, even if meals were free every day. We live about twelve miles away and it's just too much hassle to dress and drive into town to eat out regularly. Heck, the closest place to get a meal is two miles away at the country store (the smoked sausages they have been selling out of the same building for a hundred years are world famous and they also smoke their own bacon!). Next closest places are five or six miles by road, but I seldom go out.

Ted's is where my husband and I go out for our birthday and anniversary dinners and I'd just as soon keep it a special place that we seldom indulge in.

[jmowreader]

28. Sarge's Deli in New York City

Okay, I would only get to eat there about one week a year, but Sarge's it is.

1. History. Sarge's is one of the first 24-hour eateries in the City. It was founded by a retired NYPD sergeant (hence the name) named Katz, who is no relation to the family who founded Katz's Deli. Until 2020, the only time it ever closed was after a huge fire.

2. Food quality. It's exceptional. Make sure to get the Fresh Fruit Cup.

3. Portion size. Sarge's offers a line of "Combination Sandwiches." They cost $25. Do not, whatever you do, order a Combination Sandwich unless you're with someone. These things are two-person meals. They also have a sandwich called The Monster, which costs $50 and has corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, fresh turkey, salami, sliced tomatoes, lettuce, cole slaw and Russian dressing. I believe they bring it to you with a forklift. The regular size sandwiches are plenty for one person, and make a fine supper. A slice of Sarge's cheesecake is at least twice the size of the average slice, and is very light and fluffy.

4. "Real New York-ness." Now that Carnegie Deli is gone, there are basically two true old-school Jewish delis left in the City. Katz's is where all the tourists go. My Idaho accent gets me looked at REAL strange when I eat at Sarges, because that's where the locals go.

5. Genuine Tiffany lamps.

[Laelth]

57. What a superb, informative reply! Thank you.

When I next visit New York, Sarge’s it is! I am hungry already. I may over-order, but I assume it’s not socially unacceptable to take half a sandwich home.



-Laelth

[jmowreader]

61. Sarge's is on 3rd Avenue

What I normally do is take the subway to Grand Central Terminal, walk East to 3rd, then go south. Sarge’s is on the west side of the street and has a door canopy.

[Laelth]

62. Excellent. Thanks. n/t

Do they serve beer?

-Laelth

[Totally Tunsie]

75. Sure miss the Carnegie Deli.

The Omni Park Central was usually our base when in NYC, and it was just a couple of doors up from the Carnegie. I still dream of their pastrami, mac and cheese, and cheesecake. Yummmmm.

[Harker]

30. Can I drive my time machine? n/t

[Laelth]

31. No, sorry. All real-world constraints apply.

But, frankly, I would still like to hear what restaurant from the past you would choose if you could.

-Laelth

[Harker]

32. I'll stay home and cook mostly Asian, as usual.

If I were firing up the time machine, though, I'd enjoy taking my sweetie to 1122 Pearl St., Boulder, CO, circa 1973 - and buying a meal ticket for Hanna Kroger's restaurant upstairs from New Age Foods.

Plenty of tasty, creative, vegetarian entrees, soups, and salads for very little money.

It's decades (and 1700 miles) away, but it was very nice to remember it. Thanks for the mind trip!

[Laelth]

33. Thanks for taking us along for the ride. n/t

-Laelth

[Harker]

34. Any time!

There's room for all.

[Initech]

35. Karl Strauss Brew Pub

Some of the best beer and mac and cheese around!

[yellowdogintexas]

36. Lucille's in Fort Worth TX a long time FW favorite

Well known for its prime rib and excellent Margaritas, Lucille's offers fine pasta dishes, salads, steaks and seafood.
The house dressing is a fabulous Blue cheese vinegarette.

I'd eat there once a month if I could afford it so this offer would do the trick!

[Laelth]

59. Been there. I have family in Fort Worth, and yes!

That’s good food, but if I were locked into a single restaurant in that area, I would probably choose La Madeleine or El Fenix (the best Tex-Mex I have ever eaten).

Lots of good choices in Fort Worth.



-Laelth

[DFW]

37. Shun Lee Palace on Manhattan's East Side

I love northern Chinese cuisine, and their hot and sour soup, Szechuan eggplant and Beijing duck are the best I've ever had.

Good thing I don't live in NYC. I'd be broke, but happy!

[Laelth]

60. That one I will have to try. Thank you.

Must be good to get a recommendation from someone living in Germany.

I assume you made it “home” safely and with minimal hassle after your visit to the states.

-Laelth

[DFW]

70. I made it back with almost no trouble

Lufthansa had trouble finding my bags, and I spent two hours at baggage claim, hearing that they would show up in 5 to 10 minutes. I forgot that they meant 5 to 10 minutes EBT (European Bureaucratic Time), where each of their minutes is ten of ours. I then had to drag my two large suitcases and two handbags through the airport to the airport train station to get my (now re-booked) train up to Düsseldorf. First, I had to get the mandatory virus test, without which I had to self-quarantine for two weeks. The registering for that took half almost half an hour, and when I got done, I had 12 minutes before my train left. The testing place said, yeah, you can forget making that. But I was very cooperative and they suddenly became cooperative, too, and I made my train with two minutes to spare. It was 20 minutes late getting to Düsseldorf (it's an 85 minute trip if on time, which it rarely is), but my wife waited for me.

Sure enough, the test result (negative) was sent to me online within 24 hours as promised (non-government agency), and I was able to travel three days later. I had a backlog of stuff to do, so I was grateful for the speedy result. I was also at the U.S. consulate in Frankfurt to apply for a new passport, since mine expires in January, and Washington said it would take 4 months minimum to get a new one in the States. Frankfurt said 4 weeks, and I could keep my old passport in the meantime if I needed it for work. But when I got to the consulate, they said the rules had changed (thanks for letting us all know), and I had to give them my passport after all. I asked what I could use in the meantime, and they gave me a document signed by the consul general saying I had applied for a new one, and attached it to a photocopy of my current one. It might be OK with internal EU border guards, but who wants to find out if it isn't? I need to get down to France soon, and they are having a big new Covid-19 outbreak, and check the ID of everyone coming into Paris from outside France. Who knows if they'll let me in, or out again as a US citizen without a passport? I have my valid German residence ID, but it states clearly on it, only valid with US passport so-and-so, which I of course no longer have. So far, except for travel within Germany, I have only been to the Netherlands and Belgium, and they were no problem.

The Shun Lee Palace on East 55th street (at 3rd) has been one of my favorites for 40 years now. The former owner, "Patrick" has retired, but some of the old staff is still there, and, luckily, the quality of the food hasn't diminished. They make their own hot and sour soup (pretty strong), and have their own in-house recipe for hoi sin sauce for the duck, of which I haven't tasted the equivalent anywhere. The baby eggplant Szechuan style is to die for. Other favorite dishes of mine are the prawns and broccoli in Chinese curry (don't know if they still do that), hu-nan filet mignon (I'm not supposed to eat beef, but I make an exception here), chan-do chicken, Szechuan scallops, and "slippery" chicken, which is shredded meat with spinach. The lemon chicken has no kick to it, but a nice fruity flavor that is seldom duplicated. I NEVER tire of eating there. I haven't been there since January, but I don't think they have closed down.

When I'm in NY for a week (usually in January), I'm usually there at least three times.

[First Speaker]

38. Nick's, in Madison, CT...

...right on the Post Road, soon after you cross into town from Guilford. I *hope* it's still in existence--God knows these days, and I haven't been out that way since this all started. But it's small, intimate, and has the best cheap--ten-dollar range--meal specials you can imagine. Heavenly roast beef, the best broccoli in the universe, beef stew to die for, chicken cutlets... Every time I go, I frown and tell myself, *this* time I'm actually going to look at the menu. But there's something on their specials board that I *have* to have...LOL...

[happybird]

39. After much deliberation, I'm going with Outback

They’re everywhere, and I’ve never had a bad meal there. The steaks are good, plus they have chicken, shrimp, pasta, salads, that yummy brown bread with honey butter, ribs, the mighty blooming onion, steamed veggies, salmon, various sides and apps. And bacon. Bacon is very important. As a contest winner/regular customer, if I asked nicely, I’m sure they could whip me up a BLT. Or a salmon BLT. Yum.

I’m sure I’d get sick of everything eventually, regardless of the wide variety, but I think that would be true of any restaurant.

[Laelth]

56. Not a bad choice. Wide variety of relatively healthy food.

Pretty wide geographic diversity as well, but I always found their steaks too salty/peppery. The exploded onions is the bomb, but it’s probably really bad for my cholesterol levels.

-Laelth

[MissMillie]

41. Le Bernardin

I haven't eaten there, but I can't imagine ever being disappointed.

[LAS14]

47. We used to do one pricey dinner out every year. We did go to Le Bernardin. Not memorable...

... I think too crowded, but that may have been a different Manhattan big deal restaurant.

[egduj]

50. Golden Corral

I went with variety over quality.

[Laelth]

53. If I get to eat there for free, as often as I like, I agree.

I want moderately healthy (at least) and a wide variety.

But I hesitate to choose a buffet for reasons I spelled out earlier in the thread. COVID-19 may drive all buffets out of business. It’s just a highly unsanitary way to get food. Every single serving spoon you touch could spread the virus to you and every other person who touches that spoon in a given day ... until it is thoroughly cleaned.

I like the variety that a buffet offers, but I am hesitant to eat at one during a pandemic.



-Laelth

[electric_blue68]

67. Finally picked one! :D

Kismet in upper Washington Heights (sometimes known as Hudson Heights).

It's been making good North Indian food (with a bit of regional fare, I think) for over 20 years now!

It's just one neighborhood away from me, and it has an all you can eat Sunday Brunch Buffet! Well maaybe not that particular offering for the moment- but we will get a vaccine. Yes!

Should that fold I'd then go to

Amy Ruth’s. 2619. $$Southern, Soul Food. [phone]. 113 W 116th St. Harlem. …

Serving wonderful Soul Food for years now! Fried Chicken, Corn Bread, a thick crunchy topped Mac & Cheese. Then I think I vary the 2nd side.
Since I love Chinese Spare Ribs - I stick w the fried chicken bc it's some thing I wouldn't cook myself. I'm happy to pay someone else to do the work!

Hopefully it will make it through covid19, and I'll be there by next Late Spring 2021.

[electric_blue68]

68. Finally picked one! :D

Kismet in upper Washington Heights (sometimes known as Hudson Heights) in NYC, Manhattan.

It's been making good North Indian food (with a bit of regional fare, I think) for over 20 years now!
It's just one neighborhood away from me, and it has an all you can eat Sunday Brunch Buffet! Well maaybe not that particular offering for the moment- but we will get a vaccine. Yes! I'm hoping to stop there this Sunday for take out, or Monday at last after my first visit finally to a park (Ft Tryon) this year!

Should that fold I'd then go to

Amy Ruth’s. 2619. $$Southern, Soul Food. [phone]. 113 W 116th St. Harlem. …

Serving wonderful Soul Food for years now! Fried Chicken, Corn Bread, a thick crunchy topped Mac & Cheese. Then I think I vary the 2nd side.
Since I love Chinese Spare Ribs - I stick w the fried chicken bc it's some thing I wouldn't cook myself. I'm happy to pay someone else to do the work!

Hopefully it will make it through covid19, and I'll be there by next Late Spring 2021. Happy Thoughts!

[Brother Buzz]

69. GUELAGUETZA, Baby

Koreatown, Los Angles. It's a Mole house extraordinaire; black as midnight, black as tar, black as Dick Cheney's heart.

https://www.kcet.org/the-migrant-kitchen/the-family-story-behind-guelaguetza-the-restaurant-serving-las-best-mole
http://www.ilovemole.com/menu

[NNadir]

71. I'd choose Nepenthe in Big Sur, but then I'd have to go to California all the time...

...which means it's probably not worth it.

There's a nice little family restaurant on the border of Ewing and Trenton NJ, small little family Italian Restaurant, just a warm place, BYOB, Sal Deforte's.

We don't go to restaurants very often, and in the days of Covid, never, but I just really like the quiet, Italian American ambiance, no flash, no nonsense, very nice people, reasonably priced food that's quite good.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

74. Top Of Binion's for the Chicken Fried Lobster

Hold the veggies and give me a side of Filet Mignon! 😋

[Laelth]

78. Chicken Fried Lobster?

That’s a new one on me.

Can I find a “Top of Binion’s” anywhere outside of Las Vegas?



-Laelth

[Floyd R. Turbo]

84. It's incredible!

Only in Vegas!

[GoneOffShore]

76. Sounds hellish.

[Laelth]

79. It's a tough choice, admittedly. n/t

-Laelth

[GoneOffShore]

86. Especially because I don't do chain restaurants. And there's no place close by that's that good.

Just because I live in France now, doesn't mean that the food is always amazing. Fresh, but sometimes pretty boring.

[mucifer]

77. Chicago Diner in Chicago because

It's a vegetarian restaurant. Everything on the menu can be vegan which I am and the food is so good.
http://www.veggiediner.com/menus/

[Laelth]

80. I think it's interesting that nobody has chosen a pizza joint yet.

I figured there would be at least one Chicagoan craving a lifetime supply of deep dish. Vegetarian out of Chicago is not what I expected, but to each one’s own.



-Laelth

[mucifer]

81. Pizza every day could be a bit much

[Laelth]

82. I hear you.

But the question, here, is not “what do you want to eat every day for the rest of your life?,” but, rather, “what do you want to get for free whenever you have a hankering for it?” (assuming that you can access it—a factor that’s built into the scenario).

I still haven’t chosen. This is a tough one.



-Laelth

[ProfessorGAC]

89. Lots Of Pizza Joints...

...do good Italian food, too. Alternate beef, chicken, veggie (eggplant), and sausage, with three different sauces.
Then add beef & sausage sandwiches.
A good pizza joint could be a really good choice because it would provide variety!
We have 2 around here. One about 4 blocks away & another in the next town west.
My wife & I would be pleased eating at either every day.

[demmiblue]

83. Damn you!

I am so hungry and I looked at the menu.

Mine would be Seva (it's a drive, though):

https://sevarestaurant.com/menus/d2main7-31-20
https://sevarestaurant.com/menus/a1main8-20-20.pdf

[mucifer]

87. Don't hate me. I'm getting the Soul bowl for dinner. Yours looks great, too!

So many more choices for us than years ago.!!

[demmiblue]

88. Yes, indeed (vegetarian, but on the plant-based path)

There is a vegan restaurant in the D that is run by Black women who highlight soul food fare. That is on my restaurant bucket-list.

Beans and greens (and a lot more).

[Aristus]

85. The Copperleaf in Burien, Washington.

It's a very nice, farm-to-table restaurant with an extraordinary seasonal menu. The dishes are all rather unusual, always made from the best and freshest ingredients.

The have an excellent wine cellar, and offer sterling recommendations for pairing with the various dishes.

At the changing of the season, they shut down the restaurant for one full day while the chef discusses his new dishes with the staff. They sample each item on the menu and get a full briefing on it, in order to be able to explain the dishes to patrons.

They have a pastry chef who provides exquisite little hors d'oeuvres as palate cleansers between courses. Each diner is provided with a little wooden tray with containers of various kinds of salts (yes, there's more than one kind) for seasoning their meals to taste. These are rarely needed, as the food is beyond compare.

Every meal is finished off with a small aperitif glass of house-made ginger soda as a final palate cleanser.

I could eat there for every meal, every day for the rest of my life...

[GReedDiamond]

90. I'd go with Casa Bianca in the Eagle Rock area of Los Angeles...

...which is right next to me in Pasadena.

The best pizza in all of the L.A. area, at least.

They were featured on Vice TV's "Pizza Show."

If you get tired of pizza, they have all the usual Italian favorites.