**** (4 stars)
A place to see ducks, and a place to be scene in the evening.
Classic cocktails, and a LOT of Jack Daniel's.
Energetic noise level.
Lobby Bar At The Peabody
149 Union Ave
Memphis, TN 38103
Lobby Bar At The Peabody
Category Archives: Lounges
Chaz on the Plaza
***** (5 stars)
Wonderful live jazz every night in an intimate, romantic setting. Prices are very reasonable for such a nice place. Friendliest service imaginable. On our second night we felt like old friends.
Highlights included the shrimp cocktail, which is deconstructed so you can adjust the spicy sauce and horseradish to your taste. Duke Wellington is a short ribs take on the classic Beef Wellington.
Excellent wine list with reasonable prices.
Chaz on the Plaza
325 Ward Pkwy
Kansas City, MO 64112
The Hammered Lamb
*** (3 stars)
I wanted to like this place more, but it just seems pretty average. It's mostly outside, with a large bar that serves a decent variety of beer, and some interesting cocktails.
The menu is mostly sandwiches. We started with some bacon queso, which didn't really have any detectable bacon, but was saved by an excellent bottle of hot sauce on the table.
The grilled cheese and the lamb gyro were both fine, but unremarkable. Even though it was well past 1 pm and the place wasn't that busy, our waiter seemed way overworked.
Not bad, just not memorable. Your mileage may vary.
The Hammered Lamb
1235 N Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32804
Gabriel Kreuther
***** (5 stars)
Gabriel Kreuther is wonderful in all respects, from ambiance to food to service. For me, it is the successor to Eleven Madison for the crown of Best Restaurant in New York, and one of the best in the US.
The dining room, with its dramatic arc of salvaged wood beams, is both open and intimate, with the tables spaced far apart to make each one cozy, and the ceiling high enough to afford a pleasant sound level. A glass wall affords a view of the kitchen, which is a busy hive of about twenty chefs and cooks under the supervision of Chef Kreuther. The atmosphere seemed more convivial than in many of the Michelin kitchens I've encountered.
The restaurant's recommendation for first-time guests is the Six Course Tasting menu. This is not only a great recommendation but a great bargain. At $215 (as of this writing) it is, in short, a steal. I don't know how they came up with the number six, but including amuse bouche and ending sweets, there were at least 15 different dishes over a three-hour period.
Speaking of dishes, these were some of the most beautiful serving pieces I've ever encountered, and the glassware is stellar as well.
As for the food, it is almost pointless to describe it, as everything was wonderful, and it was impossible to pick favorites. It changes regularly, but I will mention a few that rank among the best dishes I've ever had: pate de foie gras (best flavor/texture I've encountered), smoked heirloom tomato consume (more of a gelatin, and endlessly intriguing), sturgeon tart (delicate flavorful and complex), and all the breads (there were at least four, accompanying various dishes).
As mentioned earlier, service was near perfect, with two dozen wait staff performing an intricate (and high speed) choreography to synchronize each course at each table.
Compared to the food prices, the wine bottle prices seem like less of a deal, but are certainly not unreasonable for Manhattan. The wines by the glass are an interesting assortment of styles and places of origin.
This is my new favorite restaurant in New York.
Gabriel Kreuther
41 W 42nd St
New York, NY 10036
Sisi Kay Thai Eatery & Bar
***** (5 stars)
Great spot for Thai food! We loved everything we had, and the decor is great, with the interior imported from an old school house in Thailand.
The Panang Curry is the best I have had anywhere, with incredibly complex flavors and just the right spiciness (at level 3 of 5). We had it with shrimp, but it would be great vegetarian or with chicken, too.
Black Pepper Fried Rice was also excellent. It came with its own protein on the side (chicken in our case) but it also made a great base for the panang curry.
The Yum Neau grilled flat iron steak was a great Thai salad, with all the vegetables served in a tasting style so you could make your own combination. Perfect char on the tender steak.
Excellent service and great authentic ambiance. Highly recommended.
Sisi Kay Thai Eatery & Bar
1612 N 45th St
Seattle, WA 98103
https://www.yelp.com/biz/sisi-kay-thai-eatery-and-bar-seattle-5
The Loupe Lounge
***** (5 stars)
Wow! What an experience! Not inexpensive, but worth every cent. Two hours of astonishing cocktail mixology, and an amazing view as you sit on a glass floor and revolve your way around Seattle for two hours. Includes VIP access to the Space Needle and valet parking right in front.
Three of us visited, so we were able to try all three experiences, from a beautiful Rose Champagne (poured endlessly), a sublime whiskey tasting, and the best cocktail mixology we've ever experienced (and with us coming from Chicago, a real cocktail town, that's saying something).
Often the use of liquid nitrogen is more for show than purpose, but here it was put to wonderful use, creating ice cold cocktails, rich slushies, and, yes, a spectacular show.
The food was also very good, with top notch ingredients including Wagu beef, truffles, caviar, and raw oysters.
Despite all of that wow factor, it was the service that made it particularly special. Our servers were incredibly friendly, talented, gracious, and informative, and we truly felt welcome to this special experience. I could happily go here very day of our stay in Seattle. Truly memorable for even this jaded foodie!
The Loupe Lounge
400 Broad St
Seattle, WA 98109
The Nook on Robinson
***** (5 stars)
Definitely well named, The Nook is a cozy little spot that specializes in mostly locally sourced beers. You can find the menu here: thenookonrobinson.square… but there are many, many more selections in the cooler. Knowledgeable, friendly staff make it a great place to hangout at one of the few bar seats, a table for two, or a sitting area.
The Nook on Robinson
2432 E Robinson St
Orlando, FL 32803
Acacia House by Chris Cosentino
**** (4 stars)
Nice modern space inside a venerable old house. Friendly and accommodating staff. We went for Saturday brunch. The smoked salmon was served with all the possible accompaniments, including a nice dill cream cheese. Chilaquiles were also very good. The highlight was the best margarita I’ve ever had, served chilled, with a salty foam.Acacia House by Chris Cosentino
1915 Main St
Saint Helena, CA
94574
(707) 963-9004
https://www.yelp.com/biz/acacia-house-by-chris-cosentino-saint-helena
Petrossian Bar
Caviar sampler
Interior
**** (4 stars)
This is a delightful piano bar just off the Bellagio lobby, and next to the casino. Despite its location, it is neither noisy nor smoky.
Many creative cocktails are one offer. One of the most interesting items is the caviar sampler, which includes a taste of three grades of caviar, and a glass of Champagne. I suggest ordering it with the creme fraiche on the side, though, as the way it’s served it’s almost impossible to keep it from getting mixed into the caviar, which makes them all taste the same.
Petrossian Bar
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV
89109
(702) 693-7111
https://www.yelp.com/biz/petrossian-bar-las-vegas
Taix French Restaurant
Interior
Ceasar salad
Escolar
***** (5 stars)
It’s sad that so few of the old school restaurants are left in Los Angeles. Taix is one of those great holdouts that harken back to the days of traditional French recipes in comfortably posh surroundings.
The restaurant is divided into a number of rooms, from a dark, clubby bar to an elegant high-ceilinged dining room.
Recipes are traditional and represent excellent examples of classic French cuisine: country style pate, escargot, tarragon cream sauce on your fish.
The highlight for me is the wine list, which offers a nice selection of domestic and international wines at the lowest prices in town. Most are at or near retail. What other restaurant offers a half bottle for $14? That’s less than the price of a glass at most places. If for nothing else this is a great reason to visit Taix!
Taix French Restaurant
1911 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 484-1265
https://www.yelp.com/biz/taix-french-country-cuisine-los-angeles