Tom's Top n restaurants

Photo, dessert cart at one of my own buffet dinners

Alpha index

Location index

Additional lists

About this blog

This is a purely "for fun" project. Why "Top n" and not "Top Ten"? Well, I already have more than ten, and "n" can be any number. Besides, a 1–10 ranking doesn't make much sense with the variety that I'll post. There are no stars, either—just descriptions of places that I've liked the most. Below the main section is a "quick tips" listing of other places that I'd recommend and a short bonus list of some favorite food markets.

Review sites on the Web offer democracy and safety in numbers but suffer from anonymity. Professional reviews offer experience and sophistication but suffer from unrealistic expense accounts and the need to please editors and advertisers. I've got a limited budget and an ordinary, receptive but not trendy palate—and at least you know from this site who I am. I've traveled a fair amount over a more-than-fair number of years, but thankfully have never gotten to the platinum-flyer league. So after 5 or 10 hours on an airplane, there's no way that I'll go to the same chain restaurant that's a block away from my home.

The common thread here, besides good food, is uniqueness—a combination of menu, place, history, ambience, and experience. I'll let you know at the start of each listing what my own connection is, so you can add as many grains of salt as you like. Postings will be in random order, most recent on top, so hopefully you'll have a reason to come back from time to time. Locations are all over the map, but if you find yourself landing near one of these, I hope you'll give it a try. Bon appétit!

Restaurants

Imperial Dynasty, Hanford CA

Sadly closed in 2006 after over 100 years in business, the Imperial Dynasty still warrants an "in memoriam" entry here. Yes, Hanford is out in the middle of nowhere in California's San Joaquin Valley, but it was a regular dinner stop for me and my friends on the way to Yosemite (with an overnight stay at nearby NAS Lemore) during the 1970s and 80s.

This has to have been one of the most unique—perhaps even incongruous—restaurants that I have ever visited. Third-generation chef/owner Richard Wing had been personal cook to General George C. Marshall, WWII Army Chief of Staff and later Secretary of State. Back home, he brought his now-international cooking skills to a little place founded by Chinese immigrants in the late 19th century. Who would ever expect to find world-class escargots (and much more) out here? By all accounts, anyone who had ever heard of the place—including many who were rich and famous enough to fly in by private jet! As disappointed as I am to be unable to visit again, I'm just glad to have been there "back in the day."
[ NPR article about restaurant closing] (posted 10/1/09) [top of index]

The Hitching Post, Casmalia CA

I was introduced to the Hitching Post in the early 1970s on trips to Vandenberg AFB; stationed there later for four years, this was a frequent dinner spot. Since then, I make sure that any trip to the Central Coast includes a re-visit.

It's all about the steaks. They advertise "world's best," and for once I tend to believe the ad. What's the secret—locally-raised beef, perfect seasoning, red-oak-fired grill, all of the above? I don't know, but they keep turning them out right every time, and customers keep coming back.

Actually, it's about the place, too. It's a ramshackle barn-like historical landmark, divided into a reception and bar area with a large main dining room and four side rooms for the frequently-overflowing crowds. The center of attention is of course the grill, open for all to watch. Although Casmalia is an easy drive from nearby Santa Maria, it's a tiny place seemingly in the middle of nowhere. You'll need directions from their Web site.

Central Coast locals can get very partisan about their steak houses—sibling Hitching Post II in Buellton (featured in the movie Sideways), the Far Western in Guadalupe, Jocko's in Nipomo, and others—but I'm firmly in the original Hitching Post camp.
www.hitchingpost1.com (posted 7/13/09) [top of index]

Flagstaff House, Boulder CO

After promising ourselves to visit the Flagstaff House for many years, it's ironic that my friends from Boulder and I finally got there in 2007 after they had moved to Tucson! (It was worth the wait.)

Like The Fort 50 miles south in Denver, Flagstaff is located on a hill overlooking the city of Boulder, with a wonderful view at sunset. And like The Fort, it's a special experience. The draw here, though, is the food and service—almost everything in the European-inspired sequence was included. A small pre-appetizer (amuse-bouche) is served on their signature "rabbit butler" tray (which you can buy); a larger appetizer is followed by an irresistable selection of fresh breads and a sorbet refresher. The main course dishes (we each ordered a different one) were tasty and superbly prepared, if a bit more complex than was really needed; a selection of light desserts followed. We also shared one (optional) larger, truly decadent dessert, and almost didn't finish it with three people! The final surprise was a take-home gift for each of us—a beautifully-wrapped miniature poppyseed/blueberry loaf cake. For this class of dining, it's at the top of my list.

Author's note: the following paragraph contributed by Mark Gonske on 10/13/09, after a birthday dinner for his friend Linz the evening before:

"Wow! I have never had a dining experience even close to this! Absolutely spectacular service from the handoff of the birthday card to the maître d' to put on the table along the the flowers I'd already ordered in her favorite color, to the custom printed menus with 'Happy Birthday Linz' printed in the headers, to the 'chef's compliments' between course dishes, to the stained glass looking sugar sculpture with 'Happy Birthday' on it, to bringing my car keys to the table with the car parked running at the front door. Linz was happy!"
www.flagstaffhouse.com (posted 7/9/09) [top of index]

The Proud Bird, El Segundo, CA

During the four years I worked at Los Angeles AFB, the Proud Bird was invariably our celebration-lunch spot. Since then, I've always tried to time any drive up to the LAX area so that I can visit again.

Under corporate ownership, the menu is mainstream American, well prepared and reasonably priced. Yes, it can get crowded and slow at times, but there's a reason besides proximity to so many corporate offices—the aviation theme simply tops anything similar I've seen. Located right next to the final approach to LAX's southern-most runway (25L), the dining room offers a full-window view of incoming planes. In between landings, you can peruse their substantial collection of actual aircraft, mostly of WWII vintage but also including a Korean War-era F86 Sabre and Russian MIG-15. Walls are filled with historical photos, and even as you approach the beautiful garden-like entrance you'll see a P-40, P-51, and Navy F4U gull-winged Corsair. Sadly, many of these proud birds are now in dire need of fresh paint. Check it out on full zoom with the satellite view of Google maps. Into the wild blue yonder...without ever leaving the ground.
www.theproudbird.com (posted 7/8/09) [top of index]

Domaine des Hauts de Loire, Onzain FR

This was a once-in-maybe-a-lifetime splurge on the last night of a 2005 trip to Paris and the Loire valley. (Onzain is near Blois, in the heart of chateau country.)

Elegant. Peaceful. Warm and friendly. Everything that I'd imagined, and more. The main building is a country mansion dating probably from the 19th century but designed in a very classic turreted French style, with extensive, immaculately-maintained grounds surrounding it. Upper floors and outbuildings have been converted into deluxe accommodations; the first floor houses reception, restaurant, and a traditional salon for pre-dinner appetizers and after-dinner cognac. (I recommend accompanying the cognac with Beethoven string quartets on the iPod.)

With a room in one of the outbuildings, I could sit on a small private front patio, sipping complementary champagne and watching one of the sous-chefs picking fresh ingredients for dinner from the large potager (literally, "soup garden"). Yes, dinner lived up to expectations—an eight-course tasting extravaganza! They must have known that guests would be as wide-eyed as I was—there was even a beautifully-printed souvenir menu so that diners could follow along with each course. I won't even attempt to translate it all here; suffice it to say that it finished with "Carré de chocolat «Oricao» au praline a l'ancienne, lait réduit au rhum roux." You could spend a lot more money in Paris (or London, or New York), but I can't imagine how you'd top the experience here.
www.domainehautsloire.com (posted 6/30/09) [top of index]

The Ahwahnee, Yosemite NP CA

I first visited Yosemite in 1975 and have returned many times since, mostly tent-camping in prepared sites in the Valley. The historic Ahwahnee Hotel was always a place to walk by and gawk (perhaps drool) at the Great Lounge and the massive restaurant with its view of Glacier Point. In the early '90s, I finally had the chance to experience dining there.

The Ahwahnee's most exclusive dining event is called the "Bracebridge Dinner," an elaborate Olde-English Christmas entertainment tradition started in the 1920s by famous photographer and Valley resident Ansel Adams. Since tickets to the Bracebridge could only be obtained through a year-in-advance lottery, we opted for an earlier date still within the holiday season.

This was the only time that I've seen Yosemite in winter, and the weather cooperated with picture-perfect snow. With regular campgrounds closed, my friends and I rented a tent-cabin which mercifully had a heater. Yes, we remembered to take the mandatory jacket and tie for dinner. Serving times were scheduled, and the seating was banquet-style at 8-place round tables. I honestly don't remember what dishes were served, but I do remember that the quality was superb and the gemütlichkeit was incomparable.
www.yosemitepark.com/... (posted 6/28/09) [top of index]

Longfellow's Wayside Inn, Sudbury MA

Like Gadsby's Tavern, the Wayside Inn was a side benefit of my East Coast business travels in the 1980s. My Boston destination was always the Route 128 high-tech area to the northwest of town, which provided good opportunities for historical sightseeing and dining in the vicinity.

"Listen, my children, and you shall hear / Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere." Yes, it's that Wayside Inn, immortalized in Longfellow's Tales. Established in 1716, it still offers both lodging and dining; an Air Force friend of mine and his wife honeymooned here and encouraged me to visit. The setting is still authentic, but menus of course change over time; my only current guide is their Web site listing, which appears to offer appropriate and reasonably-priced fare as I remember. Of all the historic venues in this area (Concord, Lexington, and more), this is my favorite.
www.wayside.org (posted 6/24/09) [top of index]

The Fort, Denver CO

One visit with friends, last year. This is the sort of place that you can drive by many times and think, "That really looks interesting; I've got to try it," but then wait until a suitable occasion. Happily, I provided the occasion.

Yes, it looks like a fort. No, it isn't, really—but it's a very carefully researched and authentically constructed mid-20th century re-creation of a mid-19th century frontier outpost. Strangely, the adobe design seems as if it's located about 200 miles too far north, which fortunately doesn't spoil the effect. It's been featured in many travel and food magazines and shows, and it even has a helicopter pad (not exactly authentic!) for VIP guests to fly in from downtown Denver (we drove).

Sitting on a bluff overlooking the whole city, the main dining areas are located to take advantage of the view (best at sunset). More private rooms and shops surround the courtyard (with bonfire). The menu combines historical research with modern preparation, featuring buffalo, elk, and quail as well as local beef, lamb and much more. Appetizers and desserts are as unique as the setting; service is top quality. For me now, just about any visit near Denver would be occasion enough to return.
www.thefort.com (posted 6/22/09) [top of index]

The Prado, San Diego CA

For many years, a day-trip or weekend for me in San Diego has always included a visit to Balboa Park and lunch at the Prado.

Normally, I would not have much faith in a corporate-run restaurant in the middle of a major tourist attraction, but this one is different. Located in the ornate Spanish Colonial-styled House of Hospitality, it overlooks a beautifully-landscaped ravine and offers both indoor and outdoor seating with large separate garden areas that are frequently used by wedding parties. The menu is very much in character with the setting, leaning toward the Southwest. I particularly remember the opening pesto-cheese flatbread with chipotle hummus dip, along with tasty appetizers like empanadas and crabcakes. There is also a bar menu for quick snacks or times when the restaurant is overflowing. Great interlude or finale for a pleasant day of museum-hopping.
www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants/theprado/ (posted 6/21/09) [top of index]

Fauchon, Paris FR

Fauchon is world-famous; for me it was a must-see that quickly turned into a favorite, frequent lunch stop.

Primarily an ultra-high-end pastry shop and deli, Fauchon also offers an upstairs seating area for enjoying your selections on-the-spot. Sample offerings: salmon terrine; chicken breast with lemon vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes stuffed with guacamole, tabouleh with herbs, and molded ratatouille; mango and shrimp salad with basil and Thai spices. (And of course an incredible selection of pastries!) Weather permitting, order to-go and dine on a park bench across the street, surrounded by flower stalls next to the Madeleine church. Perfect compensation for all those hours on the airplane!
www.fauchon.com/... (posted 6/17/09) [top of index]

The Ramos House Café, San Juan Capistrano CA

I've always enjoyed San Juan Capistrano, so I probably found the Ramos House soon after it opened in 1995. I've been going back ever since—it's my first pick for a celebratory weekend brunch when visitors are in town. (They close at 3:00 PM and all day Monday.)

The food is American with a Southern accent, but the concept is wonderfully European—top-notch chef designs a unique setting and inventive menu, then stays home to cook it personally for crowds of appreciative repeat customers.

Start with the setting: an 1881 pioneer house which is also the chef's home. Seating is outdoors only, under the shade of a huge tree and a patio cover. Hidden only by a partial screen of vegitation, Amtrack trains roll by to stop at the depot across the tracks. Jeans & tees or even Farmer John overalls are the uniform for young, friendly servers. And the herbs and produce on your plate were growing nearby until this morning!

Then there's the menu: a sample of what I've enjoyed includes basil cured salmon with herb sauce and toast points, cinnamon apple beignets, banana maple pain perdu with toasted almonds and brandied cherries, and spicy crab cake salad. Even the long titles don't do justice to how the many components of each dish work so beautifully together. If I had to pick my overall #1 favorite, this would be it.
www.ramoshouse.com (posted 6/14/09) [top of index]

Gadsby's Tavern, Alexandria VA

On business trips to Washington (mostly 1980s) I always tried to add time for sightseeing and visiting friends. Gadsby's became a place for special dinners; it would be my first destination if I visit the area again.

Yes, George Washington did dine here, as did many other founders of our country. The menu (trusting the Web site more than my memory) is now designed for modern tastes, with an occasional nod to history. But the decor, furnishings, and ambience—including period-dressed staff—are authentically Colonial. On one occasion, a strolling singer honored without hesitation my colleague's request for a popular tune of the time: "Anachreon in Heaven." (With Francis Scott Key's later words, we now know it as "The Star-Spangled Banner"!)
www.gadsbystavernrestaurant.com (posted 6/13/09) [top of index]

Radio Maria, Champaign IL

Last year, I visited Champaign for the first time in many years. (I was raised there and graduated from the U.of I.) Somehow, I didn't find anyplace to eat but the chains. This year I was back again and discovered the revitalized downtown. Of several good-looking restaurants, Radio Maria appeared to be a winner—and it was!

The menu is the standout here—eclectic, inventive, and beautifully prepared. Being a tapas fan, I went with that list, although there were plenty of regular lunch and dinner selections. My choices: fire roated pear with shaved fennel, orange zest dressing, and manchego shavings; coriander crusted duck breast with five-spice apples and mango vinaigrette; peach apricot pistachio tres-leches cake with caramel sauce and cinnamon cream. Wow! Sounds complicated, but everything worked; service was top-notch, too. The separate dining room and bar area are housed in a former commercial space, stripped to the rafters and simply (again eclectically) decorated and furnished. My mid-week early evening visit was quiet, but I'm sure that with entertainment on the weekends, this place rocks!
www.radiomariarestaurant.com (posted 6/12/09) [top of index]

Santa Maria BBQ, Santa Maria CA

This isn't actually a restaurant, it's a tradition—and traditionalists maintain that the "authentic" version is prepared on-location by members of civic groups in the Santa Maria area. I was lucky enough to enjoy this several times at Vandenberg AFB in the mid-'70s.

If you don't run across an authentic banquet, don't despair—Santa Maria style BBQ is served at restaurants and weekend parking-lot fund-raisers up and down the Central Coast and beyond. The centerpiece is beef tri-tip, seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic salt, grilled over a red oak fire and served with fresh salsa (not BBQ sauce!). Barbequed pinquito beans (grown only in the Santa Maria Valley) are the must-have side dish; garlic bread, salad (I remember it being cole slaw) mac'n'cheese, and (in season) strawberry shortcake frequently round out the menu. It's easy enough to prepare this at home, as I've done many times—the following link will give you all the needed information.
santamariavisitor.com/... (posted 6/10/09) [top of index]

L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Paris FR

My sole foray to a truly Famous Chef restaurant; I visited the Paris original in 2005 and its Las Vegas twin the following year. Note that the Ateliers (workshops) are Robuchon's "casual" offering (pricy but not outrageous); his flagship venues are out of reach for anyone I know.

Everything is about perfection here—ingredients, preparation, and presentation. The small plates are ideal for sampling (they also have larger plates and a full tasting menu), and the featured counter seating is great for solo diners and twosomes who enjoy watching the open-kitchen show. (There are also tables.) Dishes I tried include langoustine fried in a thin wrapper with basil and olive oil, a perfectly-cooked lamb chop with thyme, and an over-the-top "chocolate sensation" dessert. The room is ultra-modern, all black (including the counter and the cooks' uniforms) with red accents. The servers seemed to genuinely enjoy discussing the menu with diners, which really enhanced an already-unique experience.
www.joel-robuchon.com (posted 6/9/09) [top of index]

Little Rhein Steak House, San Antonio TX

The Little Rhein opened in 1967, the year I arrived in San Antonio. Over the four years that I lived there, it became the place where I'd take visitors or go occasionally myself for a special meal. I've returned on two recent visits; it's as good as ever.

Steaks are almost the entire menu—they are very good, as you'd expect. Side dishes are fine, but all are priced separately. The added draw here is the building—dating from 1847, it was built by German settlers in Texas Hill-Country style, with locally-quarried stone. The amount of kitch on the main dining room walls may be a bit over-the-top, but the service is strictly white-tablecloth. There's also an intimate lower level room (minus the kitch), and terraced outdoor seating leading down to the famous River Walk, between the Arneson River Theater and the Hilton Palacio Del Rio. All in all, a pleasant escape from the surrounding Tex-Mex/BBQ tourist scene.
www.littlerheinsteakhouse.com (posted 6/7/09) [top of index]

Bella Saratoga, Saratoga CA

From the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s, I was travelling frequently to San José, both on business and to visit several friends in the area. Bella Saratoga was often our "nice dinner out" spot, and a recent re-visit confirms my memories.

Fresh warm focaccia and a tasty house-made cheese spread set the stage for the excellent Italian specialities to come. My personal favorite has always been the salmon ravioli, but I don't remember anyone ever ordering a dish they didn't rave about. Saratoga is one of those small towns, like Los Gatos, which has maintained and capitalized on its original charm while being swallowed up by the Silicon Valley megalopolis—the restaurant is housed in a restored Victorian, with period furnishings and cozy rooms. If you can avoid rush hour, it's well worth the drive from anywhere in the South Bay.

Update from a business trip, 7/15/09. My colleague's one-word reaction: "Wow!" Nice to have confirmation.
www.bellasaratoga.com (posted 6/7/09) [top of index]

Quick tips

Here are some more places that I've enjoyed (and think you will, too), but which won't get a "top n" writeup for one reason or another. Arranged in alphabetical order; I'll add listings as I find new places or remember old ones.

  • Beachwood BBQ, Seal Beach CA. First visit 6/30/09, more will follow; South Carolina meets Southern California, and they live happily together... www.beachwoodbbq.com
  • Bombay Brasserie, London UK. Very high-end atmosphere and cuisine in a city known for excellent Indian food; remodeled even more elegantly since I was there. www.bombaybrasserielondon.com
  • Cafe Buenos Aires, Santa Barbara CA. Excellent Latin food in an attractive patio setting. www.cafebuenosaires.com
  • Cedar Creek, San Juan Capistrano CA. Nice selection of Californian fare; generous portions at reasonable prices, with a lovely outoor patio. www.cedarcreekinn.com/sanjuan.html
  • Columbia Restaurant, Tampa FL. Elegant century-old Spanish tradition in now-revitalized Ybor City historic district; frequently featured in travel publications, with offspring locations elsewhere in Florida. www.columbiarestaurant.com
  • El Tovar, Grand Canyon NP AZ. Location, location, location; a Park Service classic. www.grandcanyonlodges.com/...
  • Five Crowns, Corona del Mar CA. Olde English-themed outpost of the Lawry's prime rib empire; go during the holiday season for the decorations and the Dickensonian-garbed staff and carolers. www.lawrysonline.com/...
  • La Fontaine de Mars, Paris FR. Classic family-run neighborhood bistro, near the Eiffel Tower; superb duck confit and "mystery" chocolate dessert. www.fontainedemars.com
  • Marble Room, San Diego CA. California-style tapas in the Gaslamp District; Thursday live flamenco music is a bonus. www.themarbleroom.com/Home.html
  • Mattei's Tavern, Los Olivos CA. Historic stagecoach stop; restaurant management has changed a number of times over the years. Los Olivos is worth a side-trip off the 101 freeway for art galleries and wine tasting, even if you don't eat here. matteistavern.com
  • New Braunfels Smokehouse, New Braunfels TX. Arguably the best chopped brisket sandwich I've had anywhere; they also have an online store. www.nbsmokehouse.com/...
  • Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone NP WY. See El Tovar above. www.travelyellowstone.com/...
  • Olde Port Inn, Avila Beach CA. A favorite when I lived on the Central Coast; fresh seafood and a great location at the end of the pier. www.oldeportinn.com
  • Restaurant LuLu, San Francisco CA. Highly ranked everywhere; great Provençal menu and online gourmet store. www.restaurantlulu.com/...
  • Walnut Brewery, Boulder CO. Good beer and way-above-average pub grub; my favorites are the asiago cheese dip and the smoked salmon fish'n'chips. A sibling, Rock Bottom Brewery, is in Long Beach CA. www.walnutbrewery.com
  • Zóv's Bistro, Tustin CA. Wonderful eastern Mediterranean, a local favorite and great "let's do lunch" spot. www.zovs.com/...

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Markets

Short list: just some places that I've found to be especially useful in some way.

  • La Grande Épicerie, Paris FR. Across the street and part of the Bon Marché department store, this is my world favorite for breadth of departments, depth in each department, and top quality everywhere—all under a single roof. (Web site in French.) www.lagrandeepicerie.fr
  • Whole Foods Market, multiple US locations. Largest stores (like Tustin CA and Boulder CO) rival La Grande Épicerie in scope and quality; small ones (like Long Beach CA) aren't as special. www.wholefoodsmarket.com
  • La Española, Harbor City CA. Specializes in locally-made authentic Spanish style sausages, but also carries a large range of imported Spanish meats, cheeses, condiments, canned goods, wines, and other products including paella pans and serving ware. All are available for online ordering. www.laespanolameats.com
  • Monsieur Marcel, Los Angeles CA. Located in the historic LA Farmers' Market, Marcel has a strong selection of French wines, cheeses, and specialty items—some of which I haven't found elsewhere (like piment d'espelette). Online shopping is supposed to be "coming soon." www.mrmarcel.com
  • Alpine Village Market, Torrance CA. Completing my LA-area European trio, this one offers a wide range of German meats, breads, beers, and much more. The web site claims that "most items [are] available for shipping world wide," but it's not clear how you'd order them. www.alpinevillage.net/...
  • Other places that will jump-start your taste buds if you happen to be nearby: Dean & DeLucca, New York; Harrods, London; La Boqueria, Barcelona; Galeries Lafayette, Rue Cler, and Boulevard Raspail (on market days), Paris.

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