20 Best Restaurants in America

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/20-be ... 00002.html

A list full of the heavy hitters, a bucket list.

I had lunch at Chez Panisse about 4 years ago & was very disappointed with the service & certain aspects of the food. With me, sometimes I get huge expectations with a big name, and end up disappointed with the results, maybe I put the place on too high of a pedestal.

Unless you have a lot of spare change it's my experience that these type places serve incredible food but after you plonk down anywhere from $500 - $1000 or more for a dinner out - you have some significant buyer's remorse. If you can pull it off on someone else's dime so much the better.

I'm with you Mark. I just can't justify it. I think it's pretty crazy too that The French Laundry charges the same for the vegetarian menu as the meat menu. $270 . Wow.

You can have an amazing lunch at Gramercy for $30 or so- a lot for lunch but a steal for a memorable experience.

I'm with you Mark. I just can't justify it. I think it's pretty crazy too that The French Laundry charges the same for the vegetarian menu as the meat menu. $270. Wow.

lol. I don't think you're paying for the meat. Would you feel a whole lot better if you paid $262.75 instead of $270? I don't think these places are even remotely concerned about those of us that would give such a thing even passing consideration.

The BBQ place in Austin is cheap. I think there are others in Austin equally good, including Lamberts & others, but I think the main reason Franklin wins is that it's easy to get to and easy to find (plus the fact that they purposely run out of food is a great marketing technique)!

(The BEST BBQ in Ausin in my opinion is Salt Lick - the original location in Driftwood, which if you don't have a good GPS have fun finding)

I'm going to #4 ( Eleven Madison Park) next week! ( Happy Dance )

Deb