Favorite Luxe Restaurants where I have eaten:
Paul Bocuse: Lyon, France
Le Bernardin: New York City, New York
French Laundry: Yountville, California
Michel Rostang: Paris, France
Hotel Cipriani Fortuny Restaurant: Venice, Italy
Oustau de Baumaniere: Les Baux de Provence, France
Taillevent: Paris, France
Babbo: New York City, New York
Masa: San Francisco, California
Tour D’Argent: Paris, France
Twist by Pierre Gagnaire at Mandarin Oriental: Las Vegas, Nevada
Picasso: Las Vegas, Nevada
Le Cirque: Las Vegas, Nevada
Providence: Los Angeles
La Bourgogne: Alvear Palace Hotel, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Favorite high-end restaurants:
Bar Boulud: New York, New York
Harry’s: Venice: Italy
Michael Mina: San Francisco, California
Crustacean: San Francisco, Beverly Hills, California
Papagallo: Bologna, Italy
Bar Tartine: San Francisco, California
Circo: Las Vegas, Nevada
Carnevino: Las Vegas, Nevada
Perbacco: San Francisco, California
Bouchon: Yountville, Las Vegas
Fifth Floor: San Francisco, California
Farallon: San Francisco, California
Julian Serrano: Las Vegas, Nevada
Miró (French): Bacara Hotel & Spa, Santa Barbara, California
Maravilla (Ojai Valley Inn): Ojai, California
Patina: Los Angeles, California
Baronessa Ristorante: Taormina, Sicily, Italy
Two Oceans Restaurant: Cape Town, South Africa
Azul (Asian fusion, Modern European): Miami, Florida
L’Origan (French): Chateau d’Artigny, Montbazon, Loire Valley, France
Circa 1886 (New American): Charleston, South Carolina
Westgate Room (French, Seafood): San Diego, California
Best casual/upscale eateries:
Bistro Paul Bert: Paris, France
Chez Denis-La Tour de Montlhery: Paris, France
Risorante Hosteria Vecchi: Modena, Italy
Trattoria da Gemma: Amalfi, Italy
La Regalade Saint-Honore: Paris, France
La Rotonde Brasserie (Hotel Negresco): Nice, France
Osteria del Tempo Perso: Ostuni, Puglia, Italy
Trullo D’Oro: Alberobello, Puglia, Italy
Benoit: Paris, France
Allard: Paris, France
Jacaranda (Seafood): Sanibel, Florida
Raco de la Vila (fire-grilled meats): Barcelona, Spain
Elizabeth on 37th (New American): Savannah, Georgia
Churrascaria Palace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Brasserie Georges: Lyon, France
‘ULU Ocean Grill (Seafood) : Four Seasons Hualalai, Kailua-Kona
Palmilla Restaurant (Seafood; European-inspired): San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Café Epicerie: Lyon, France
Bistro de Saint Jean: Lyon, France
La Brasserie Bordelaise: Bordeaux, France
Olde Pink House (Southern): Savannah, Georgia
Vin Antico (Italian): San Rafael, California
Sansei Seafood: Waikoloa, Big Island, Hawaii
Merriman’s-Waimea (Hawaii Regional Cuisine): Kamuela, Big Island, Hawaii
Merriman’s Market (Hawaii Regional Cuisine): Waikoloa, Big Island, Hawaii
700 Drayton (New American): Savannah, Georgia
Il Cortile (Italian): Paso Robles, California
Koberl at Blue (New American): San Luis Obispo, California
Café de la Paix: Paris, France
Travatore: Venice, Italy
Ty Lounge (Tapas): Santa Barbara Biltmore, Santa Barbara, California
WP24 (Asian fusion): Los Angeles, California
Hidden Treasure (Garifuna, Belizean): San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Sunset Grill (Seafood, Central American): San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Hoppe’s Garden Bistro (French-inspired): Cayucos, California
Bertrand at Mr. A’s (New American; Great city views): San Diego, California
Crown Room (Sunday brunch): Hotel del Coronado, Coronado, California
Sevilla (Spanish): San Diego, Long Beach, California
Blue Point Coastal (Seafood): San Diego, California
George’s at the Cove (New American): La Jolla, California
Hexagone (French): San Diego, California
Jack and Giulio’s (Italian): San Diego, California
Chez Loma (French): Coronado, California
Trattoria alla Madonna: Venice, Italy
Jayne’s Gastropub: San Diego, California
Azu (Mediterranean): Ojai, California
Ranch House (Traditional American): Ojai, California
Payard Patisserie and Bistro: Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Mon Ami Gabi (French bistro): Las Vegas, Nevada
Roy’s (Hawaiian fusion): Waikoloa, Big Island, Hawaii
Prima Ristorante (Italian): Walnut Creek, California
Oak Grill (Best Cobb salad): Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai, California
Pacific Dining Car (Steakhouse): Los Angeles, California
Water Grill (Seafood): Los Angeles, California
Silk (Vietnamese): Portland, Oregon
Paragon Restaurant (New American): Portland, Oregon
Armando al Pantheon (Roman): Rome, Italy
Cicada (Italian; gorgeous Art Deco): Los Angeles, California
Osteria Mozza (Italian), Hollywood, California
Bacchanal (Buffet): Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Rue de Jean (French bistro): Charleston, South Carolina
Biba Restaurant (Italian): Sacramento, California
FIG (New American): Charleston, South Carolina
Church and State (French): Los Angeles, California
Mario’s (Italian): Riverside, California
Oviedo (Spanish): Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sea Rocket Bistro (Seafood, Vegetarian): San Diego, California
Bistro Jeanty (French bistro): Napa, California
Waterboy: Sacramento, California
Kosebasi (Meze): Istanbul, Turkey
The Stonehouse (Contemporary American): San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara, California
555 East (Steakhouse): Long Beach, Califonia
Plantation House (Hawaiian, seafood): Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii
Brown’s Beach House (Seafood): Fairmont Hotel, Kamuela, Hawaii
db BRASSERIE: Las Vegas, Nevada
Casa de Jamon: Altea, Spain
El Pescador, Altea, Spain
Great closed restaurants:
Daniel Boulud Brasserie: Las Vegas, Nevada
Alex at the Wynn: Las Vegas, Nevada
Sky Room at La Valencia: La Jolla, California
Copia: Napa, California
Angele: Napa, California
Mr. Stox: Anaheim, California
The Madison: Long Beach, California
Best cheap or dive eats:
Juanita’s Taco Stand: Encinitas, California
El Calamar (Mexican seafood): Santa Ana, California
Mama’s Meatballs (Italian): San Luis Obispo, California
Sea Chest: Cambria, California
Jean’s (French): Colton, California (sadly, he died last year; restaurant closed)
Joyful House (Chinese): Las Vegas, Nevada
Lotus of Siam (Thai): Las Vegas, Nevada
Jambel Jerk Pit (Jamaican): San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Bamboo: Hawi, Big Island, Hawaii
Schooner’s Wharf (Seafood): Cayucos, California
Clary’s (Breakfast, brunch): Savannah, Georgia
Brodard (Vietnamese): Garden Grove, California
Versailles Restaurant (Cuban): Miami, Florida
Papa Cristo (Greek): Los Angeles, California
R & G Lounge (Chinese, Seafood): San Francisco, California
El Fogon (Creole and Mestizo): San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Willow Creek (Comfort): Buttonwillow, California
Chiaro di Luna (Italian): Bologna, Italy
Hula Grill (Hawaiian, American): Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii
The Lobster Trap (Seafood): Avalon, Catalina Island, California
Valentina: Altea, Spain
Over-rated restaurants:
Mix (French, New American): Las Vegas, Nevada
L’Atelier de Joel Rubuchon (French): Las Vegas, Nevada
B& B Ristorante (Italian): Las Vegas, Nevada
Jaleo (Spanish): Las Vegas, Nevada
Valentino (Italian): Santa Monica, California
Comme Ca (French): Los Angeles, California
1500 Ocean (Traditional American): Hotel del Coronado, Coronado, California
Tapenade (French): La Jolla, California
Sensi at Bellagio (Asian Fusion): Las Vegas, Nevada
Scarpetta (Italian): The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, Nevada
Charleston Grill (New American): Charleston, South Carolina
Mr. Chow’s (Chinese): Beverly Hills, California
Donovan’s San Diego Gaslamp (Steakhouse): San Diego, California
Zeffirino (Italian): Venetian, Las Vegas, Nevada
Casa Cruz: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ristorante Terrazza Danieli: Hotel Danieli, Venice, Italy
Lucky’s (Steakhouse): Montecito, California
Disappointing return visit:
Marine Room (Seafood): La Jolla, California
Fish Story (Seafood): Napa, California
Canoe House (Hawaiian): Mauna Lani, Kamuela, Big Island
Starr Treks 
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