Best U.S. City for Restaurants, overall:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

These cities reflect my personal bias on the best restaurants overall. Of course they include the greater metropolitan area and surrounding suburbs.

[flamingyouth]

1. Have to cast a vote for Chicago

I think Trio in Evanston is one of the greatest restaurants anywhere.

[democracyindanger]

2. New York's great

...if you're into rat hair :evilgrin:

[Taverner]

3. I'm surprised I gotta say this

San Francisco is THE only city for restaraunts!

We have North Beach Italian, Chinese in Chinatown AND the Richmond, great sushi in J-Town, Russian in the Richmond, classy in the Presidio, Meat for Meatlovers at the House of Prime Rib (meatlovers, trust me if youre in town YOU GOTTA GET A SLAB THERE!!!) and just about everything else.

New York? Where's that?

ON EDIT: Chicago? Awww that cute little place the Uno chain is from... :evilgrin:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

4. I gotta give the thumbs up on House of Prime Rib too. DUer's check this

place out, Van Ness and something or other. They got like 5 things on the menu and it's all prime rib. Carve it from the metal zeppelins. I never thought prime rib was a big deal until I ate at this place.

Just like I never thought breakfast, or eggs benedict was a big deal until Brennan's in NOLA. Ahhhh....

[TahitiNut]

22. I agree with SF overall.

I've been to outstanding restaurants in Chicago, NYC, N'awleans, LA, Seattle, Cincinatti, Indianapolis, Boston, Honolulu, and other places, but SF is the best overall, imho.

[tritsofme]

5. No doubt, Chicago.

Hands down, no questions asked.

Understand?

[truhavoc]

6. Chi-Town! My two all time favs in one city

Most goto Chicago for the cliche deep dish pizza or chicago style hotdog, went I make it to Chicago I only eat breakfast and thai food. "Orange" is a great breakfast spot, their frushi is quite possibly the best thing on the planet (of course I have only traveled to seven other nations). After leaving the city I dream of the frushi and the chai tea french toast for months. "Amarind" has the second best thai food in the US, the best is Neisha in DC. All of this combined with all the great indian food on devon, Chicago has to be the best!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. Okay, I'll bite. What's in frushi? DC has some awesome Thai food,

that's for sure. Check out Duangrat's in Northern VA sometime, or Busara. (16th? Connecticut?)

I'm making myself hungry as hell posting all these food threads. What the hell is wrong with me?

I do feel that NYC rules over all though, (but I like all these cities' restaurants) just the sheer number of excellent restaurants both fancy and otherwise.

I think that the Chinese food in NYC kicks the ass of SF and the East Bay even though I think SF is awesome in just about every respect (and I love SF Chinatown too). Believe it or not, DC is a real comer with restaurants, even though it is getting no love in my little poll.

[AgadorSparticus]

11. you think that the chinese food in NYC kicks SF's butt???

really??? that's saying something. I've never eaten in chinatown in NYC. Just chinatown in SF and thought it was amazing. Can't imagine it getting much better than that.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

13. Not just in Chinatown in NYC. All kinds of neighborhoods, like Flushing,

Queens, uptown... All kinds of immigrants from mainland China changing the restaurant profile from the traditional Cantonese fare. I'm sure this is true to varying degrees in SF and LA too, but I've just had more and better in NYC.

[markses]

28. Chinatown in NYC is better

and, as the poster states, it ain't just Chinatown anymore.

The only thing I found SF better than NY for was Vietnamese, all down Larkin Street from Post to the SF Public Library (I lived on Post between Hyde and Larkin). While there was a lot of good Chinese food in SF, I always liked the House of Nanking gambit, cuz you got to watch the first-timers go through the grift.

[truhavoc]

14. What frushi is..

Frushi is fruit prepared in a manner that makes it look like a sushi dish. Such as banana and strawberry rolls (with the sticky rice and all). Its an absolute must try! The best part is there are three parts to each plate, $2.50 for the first place and $1.00 for each additional. Bring a group of friend and enjoy!

I will have to try your thai spots in DC, it's where my fiance's family is. Neisha btw is at Tyson's Corner (next to rainforest cafe of all things)...try it!

[AgadorSparticus]

8. oh please, ya'll don't have anything on TUCSON! lol j/k

i'm pretty impressed with SF.

[Taverner]

9. I know I'm a horn blower for SF, but how come no one has lauded LA?

LA has some amazing restaraunts too (granted no SF)

as does Vegas of all places (amazed me too...)

[flamingyouth]

10. I can laud LA just fine

Matsuhisa and R23 for Japanese, a zillion great Mexican places, Valentino in Santa Monica for Italian, Michael's while we're in SM, the Ivy. Lots of yummy places. Ocean Avenue Seafood has a great champagne Sunday brunch too. MMM

This is all just off the top of my head, I'm sure I can come up with a zillion other places. I've spent a lot of time down there.

[PartyPooper]

12. The San Francisco Bay Area including the Wine Country!

:D

[HuckleB]

23. Ack!

California wine country slogan: Does it get anymore overrated than this?

[Whitacre D_WI]

15. For a city its size? Milwaukee.

Overall, if you include Berkeley (Chez Panisse), San Fran is the correct answer.

[HuckleB]

19. It's not bad. But I'd definitely give the nod to Portland and Seattle...

for cities of that size.

Overall, NYC has it hands down, if one isn't considering price.

[nosmokes]

16. new orleans is the overall winner

NYC is too overpriced, though quality-wise it can't be beat. SF and chi-town are both great, as is seattle. LA doesn't even rate an honorable mention...

[PittPoliSci]

17. pittsburgh has some really good stops.

mostly cause a friend of mine owns a japanese restaurant, and they make fantastic food.

[smirkymonkey]

18. Overall, NYC

I have lived in SF, Boston, and NYC, and have been to many of the other cities listed and I put NY at the top of the list for variety, quality, ambience, lots of great cheap eats. I had been to many of the best places in SF but I really thought most of the restaurants were totally overrated.

You have to be in the know in NYC, however. The touristy places are usually terrible and a lot of the "in" places are really overrated as well.

[markses]

24. I've also lived in SF and Chicago...NY hands down

Here's the key: Outer boros count as NYC. That means Peter Luger's is in, and all those great Indian restaurants in Jackson Heights, and that divine schwarma joint on 86th Street in Bay Ridge. Deal, folks. NYC.

[smirkymonkey]

26. Don't forget the Greek food in Astoria!

Going to Elias'Corner this Friday - fresh greek seafood, huge portions, unbeatable prices! There is more of a variety of ethnic cuisine in NY than anywhere else I've lived. :)

[markses]

27. Pizza Palace

Gyro...extra sauce.

[HFishbine]

20. Other: Greensboro, NC

We have Applebees, TK Tripps, Hooters, Outback, Golden Coral and Chili's galore! And no matter which one you go to, you always get consistencey! Ya'll come vist now.

[XNASA]

21. Regional Cuisine - New Orleans , Best Restaurants - Chicago

I love the food that comes from the Gulf Coast. Southern Louisiana especially.

But for variety, style, service and overall excellence......Chicago is the best restaurant city in the country.

[nuxvomica]

25. For price and quality, Chicago

I spent a week there back in '91 and had the best food in some really fine restautants at prices comparable to our local Friendly's. My favorite was The Eclectic, where you could gorge yourself on fine food at the happy hour buffet.

[Enraged_Ape]

29. Chicago, Chicago

I always gain at least five pounds when I travel there.

The stuffed pizza at Giordano's is better than sex. And I like sex.

[AwakeAtLast]

32. I voted for Chicago, too!

I am soooo happy that my sister lives there! I can periodically sample the great food without having to actually live in the city.

[St. Jarvitude]

35. Ohhhhhh, Giordano's

Dammit... now my pants are all soaked :evilgrin:

Have you tried their thin crust? It's - and this may sound like sacrilege - almost better than the stuffed.

[Beaker]

30. shouldn't Las Vegas have a spot on that poll?

they do have lots of good restaurants.

[MrSlayer]

31. Philly. We have a 5 star and New York doesn't. So nyah.

[St. Jarvitude]

33. Chicago; Restaurant Row, baby

I'm very fortunate to live about 25 minutes from restaurant row in Wheeling. Best food in the country: period.

Portillo's is quite possibly the greatest fast food place in the world, and (as far as I know) you can only find it in Chicago!

If you ever visit, you just have to try it ... Italian Beef with a side of cheese fries and a chocolate shake ... or maybe a half slab of ribs with the same ... or just a nice burger ... hell, their salads are great too.

[Mobius]

34. "other" Gary Indiana

ROTFLMAO

[sasquatch]

36. On a Per Capita scale: San Francisco hands down

After that all the rustbelt towns here in Ohio are the best overall because of their diversity:D

[LagaLover]

37. Las Vegas

More GREAT restaurants in a small area than any other city.