Restaurants worth visiting in the USA

[Oneworldplus2]

Hello AFF community,
As most of us know, the 'Yanks' aren't known for their artistic flare in the kitchen. I'm sure that AFF has members that are based in the USA and also travel frequently there too. So, what better place to start a thread than here on AFF asking about food?

With an upcoming RTW trip that includes the states either this year or early next year l thought that l'd start a thread, 'restaurants worth visiting in the USA'. Since l have worked in the food industry (all over Australia and Internationally), l get a lot of e-mails from friends when they travel abroad on places that are worth checking out. This can range from a small shop offering a specialty to die for, to the other end of the spectrum (fine dinning).
I don't mind paying $$$, as long as l get quality ingredients and a good meal. Some of the best meals l've had were from small restaurants that are 'off-the-beaten-track' so to speak and cheap as chips too.

My first stop would be LA and having last visited LA ~11 years ago l'm sure that the food scene has changed since then. The only thing l don't really eat is offal (l go as far as Foie gras with Sauterne, YUMMY!).

I'll start the ball rolling (some of these are from friends, others from Google). Please feel free to add to this thread - the more the merrier..............


Chart House
13950 Panay Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 822-4144
Californian Contemporary, Bar/Lounge. Dinner, Lunch is served on Saturday and Sunday.
Seafood and steaks.


Jer-Ne Restaurant + Bar
4375 Admiralty Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 823-1700
Californian Contemporary, Bar/Lounge. Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Discover upscale, up-to-the-minute waterfront dining at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina Del Rey, where chefs parlay only –the-freshest ingredients into inventive cuisine.


Sapori Italian Restaurant
13723 Fiji Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 821-1740
Italian. Dinner, Lunch
Waterfront bistro in Fisherman’s Village, Italian/Mediterranean cuisine. Specialties include solo in lemon Chardonnay sauce and jumbo prawns.


Shanghai Red’s
13813 Fiji Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 823-4522
American Traditional, bar/Lounge. Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Fisherman’s Village, waterfront restaurant. Highly popular for their weekend brunch buffet.


SugarFish
4722 Admiralty Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 306-6600
Japanese/Sushi. Dinner, Lunch.
Serves fresh-fish sushi. The master chef decided on each day’s fixed menu based on his knowledge of what’s most flavorful.


Vu Restaurant & Bar
4160 Palawan Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 439-3033
Californian Contemporary, Bar/Lounge. Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Innovative American Small Plates. Vu’s uniqueness comes from its location and with a focus on small plate cuisine and fresh California-grown ingredients.


Warehouse Restaurant
4499 Admiralty Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 823-5451
California Contemporary, Bar/Lounge. Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Marina Del Rey’s longest-running original restaurant features steak, fresh seafood. A brunch buffet is offered Sundays.


BOA Steak
101 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA
310-899-4466
This steakhouse is one of my favorites. The table side Caesar salad, bone in Kansas City Filet Mignon and chipotle corn are absolutely to die for.


Spago Beverly Hills
176 North Canon Dr.
Beverly Hills, California 90210
Spago Beverly Hills, the flagship restaurant of the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, continues to set the standard for cuisine, service and style, and is consistently recognized as the ultimate in fine dining.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I found the food in the states as good as anywhere. I am not talking burger king.Masa 14 in DC and hells kitchen in NYC for starters .

 

[cove]

If we are catering for all tastes......Inn N Out Burger.....I used to go past them at 75 miles an hour thinking I shooda exited at.......Houstons for lunch and Flemings for dinner on Rosecrans El Segundo work well without hammering your pocket too badly.For every day eating try the Cheesecake Factory chain if you are into big helpings.

 

[cove]

When travelling inside America I read the airline magazine in the seat pocket to find the names of great steakhouses and restaurants in the larger cities.Ruths Chris, Mortons and Scotts are all in Orange County if you are around South Coast Plaza shopping centre which is not too far from Disneyland.

 

[drron]

I love eating in the States.Some great restaurants,good value chains and a lot of cheap and unusual places to eat.
First I will suggest some of the chains we eat at-we drive and usually stay in the Burbs or smaller towns.The chains give us a known product.You can also join their loyalty programs on line getting regular discount coupons which you can print from your computer.We often go to-
Red lobster.Really good value lobster and seafood.The extended family just back-11 for dinner eating crab and lobster and drinking wine-$300.

Texas Roadhouse-one of the cheapest steakhouse chains.Main meals start from $9.99.

Texas Land and Cattle-more upmarket but very good steak.

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse-actually a Canadian company so more in the north.Good ribs.

Logan's Steakhouse.A fun night out.Get a Good Ole Logan's Yee Haa if youre having a birthday.

Joe's crab shack.Good for...crabs!

Legal Seafoods-unfortunately declining numbers but lots around Boston.Lobster roll is a lunch favourite.

P F Changs-if we need an asian fix this is where we head as often Asian food in the states is.......

Rainforest cafe if you have kids with you.Join there loyalty club and beat the queues.

Johnny Carinos-cheap and reasonable Italian.again US Italian is grossly overrated.

Tony Romas.Yes not spectacular but good solid fare.If we need a rib fix this can do the trick.

Ones we avoid-Outback steakhouse(go once for a laugh).Olive garden.

will come back with more ideas.

 

[Fantic125]

In San Diego;

Il Fornaio
1333 1st St
Coronado CA 92118
(619) 437-4911
Italian.

Fishmarket Restaurant 750 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 232-3474
Seafood.

In New York;

Cafe Au Bon Gout
276 5th Ave (Corner of 30th Street)
New York, NY 10001
(212) 685-2727
Fresh & cheap buffet, breakfast, lunch, dinner.

In Pittsburg;

Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
1411 Grandview Ave # 2Pittsburgh, PA 15211-1159
(412) 481-4414
Seafood, steak.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Fantastic!
Thank you for the replies.

 

[kamchatsky]

I Love Red Lobster !!! :mrgreen:

 

[drron]

Near San Francisco
Go Fish,Main rd,St Helena,Napa valley.

The Dead fish-San pablo ave,Crockett,Ca(East side of Carquinez bridge).Great platters of crab,mussels,shrimp with liberal garlic.

The Stinking rose-325 Columbus ave,San fran-Now you really have to like garlic to eat here-dishes such as 40 clove chicken.Of course no one will talk to you for several days.Garlic lovers Heaven.
They do have a branch in Beverley hills I believe.

 

[cove]

Wow Oneworldplus2 you really started us thinking about food. Lucky we are just back from our local diner!Always look out for the local promos in the newspapers and the internet so you pick up the deals with dining.

 

[drron]

Upmarket New York.
Every time we go we have lunch at Le Bernadin-155 west 51st street.
3 star Michelin restaurant.The only one we will ever be regular visitors to.Incredible value lunch-$70 for 3 courses.
Seafood.Fantastic.
Per Se-Time Warner centre,Columbus circle.Another 3 michelin stars.
$295 for set menu,lunch or dinner.So a visit once restaurant for us.Lunch friday,saturday and sunday has a shorter menu for $185.
Food and service are excellent though.

River cafe-1 water st Brooklyn.1 michelin star but a great tourist event.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge and have lunch looking at the Manhattan skyline.

L'Impero-45 Tudor city place.Overlooking the UN.
Not in the same league but the best Italian we have had in the US.

 

[Dyslexic traveler]

My favorite place to eat in NY is Per Se it's the other Keller restaurant a wonderful dinning experience the other is Gordon Ramsay at the London it's also a great place to stay and if you have Amex they include breakfast for 5 dollars There is a great bar that I found last time I was there called Please don't tell 113 Saint Marks PlaceNew York, NY 10009, United States it's well worth a trip to the East Village it's a Speakeasy Look-it up it's not your average bar Small and only seating no standing at the bar they have great hotdogs and great chips also if you need a Tim Tam fix the Australian pie shop is in the same block As I'm typing I just remembered Gallagher's steakhouse 228 West 52nd Street New York, NY good place to get a stake not cheap but a New York institution.For the most amazing sandwich try the Carnegie Deli but be wormed you only need to order one sandwich between two there so big.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Every time we go we have lunch at Le Bernadin-155 west 51st street.
3 star Michelin restaurant.The only one we will ever be regular visitors to.Incredible value lunch-$70 for 3 courses.
Seafood.Fantastic.

That is indeed incredible value. It's now on my list.

 

[pshepvic]

In LA go to Mozza. You'll need a booking but the food is amazing. It's on the corner of Highland and Melrose from memory. Free Valet parking of course (with tip!) and make sure you go to the fine dining part. Bit of an A-list hangout too. Have been twice and loved it both times.

In'n'Out burger for junk food is the best (only in CA, NV, AZ and UT). Google the "secret menu" before you go and try the animal burger!

If in NY, go to PDT (Please Don't Tell). It's a bar hidden behind a secret door inside a phone booth in a hot dog shop in the Village! You have to ring and book at 3pm to get a table, and might have to keep re-dialing to get through. Opens at 6pm and has very limited space at the bar for walk ins (or maybe that should be sneak ins). Have the mini cheese burger and bacon-infused-bourbon - strange but interesting! Also have a hot-dog in the shop before or after - the hot dog shop is called Krif Dogs.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouses are excellent but I find overpriced. Especially the wine list (Jacob's Creek $8.99 Shiraz is $45 USD a bottle). Try The Keg for a good steak and not pricey. Not sure what states they're in but definitely up north-west.

 

[drron]

Now just a few cheaper NYC restaurants-cheaper,or different,or some other reason for going-
Chinese Merch-120 lexington(at 28th).Chinese with an Indian twist.Owned by a Chinese family from Goa.You have to like spicy food to enjoy though.Are franchising now and expanding to other states-
Chinese Mirch | Welcome

Hill country BBQ-30 west 26th.Just good ole bbq sold by the pound.My favourite BBQ in NYC.Also now in DC.

Foodie-246 east 44th-used to be boi an upmarket Vietnamese.Now cheaper and obviously more downmarket but good.Now I believe a west side branch.

Mee noodles-922 2nd ave at 49th.Always busy,wait for a table.Very cheap but tasty.

Smorgas-used to be on second but now moved to 58 parK ave(Scandanavia house).enjoyable scandanavian cuisine with most ingredients coming from their Hudson valley farm.Also branches downtown.

East.210 east 44th.cheap Japanese tapas style.Good food.always crowded so service can be minimal but we are there for the food.

City lobster and Steak.121 west 49th.go there as covenient to NYC Hilton where we stay.Is on AA dining so earn miles!.lobster is lobster.

Tsukushi-300 east 41st.you wont just find this place.Is near where our son lived in Tudor city.Great japanese.The menu is what the chef has decided for that day-so you need to really love Japanese food.

 

[blackcat20]

There's a great list of NYC restaurants in the Escape section of today's Herald Sun. Some of the above are listed but there are some others as well...

 

[rechoboam]

chicago

Any suggestions in Chicago esp just north of the river would be gladly accepted too!

 

[Dyslexic traveler]

Moto at 945 W Fulton good food but it's not cheap Alinea is also great hard to get a booking for pizza try La Gondola Italian restaurant deep dish yum

 

[Blackadder]

For a good Italian feed in NYC at reasonable prices www.carminesnyc.com, make sure you book ahead.

 

[thommo9]

If we are talking reasonable quality food, can't go past Legal Sea Foods. If you want that authentic US fast food grease fix, I suggest Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits. Best fried chicken around! 10 times better than KFC

Also, in NYC Katz's Deli is a must. Beware of the massive lines but worth it for the massive meal you will receive.