YAYAYAY, going to echo folx' sentiments of gratitude for starting this thread!
I LIVE to eat! Unfortunately, now the threshold for getting me excited by a restaurant is terribly high and unrealistic to achieve during every dining experience; for me, at least one of the menu items needs to make me change my perception of a specific ingredient/dish
forever. I optimize for novel, exciting and bold flavors and an unconventional ambiance. And apologies in advance for the super text-heavy post.
San Francisco/Bay Area
+ Atelier Crenn***: Artistic and creative presentation, playful and poetic food.
Would recommend.
+ Quince***: Food was good, presentation was fine, but I don't recall much from the dining experience so would not recommend.
+ Benu***: Was not a fan of the flavors in the dishes. I think there was too much hype/anticipation on my end.
Would not recommend.
+ Saison**: Been here twice. First time, flavor was underwhelming but presentation was beautiful. Second time (during pandemic), friendly and fun service, great flavors.
Would recommend.
+ Lazybear**: Fun, communal dining and just felt like a party. Food presentation was playful, and dishes were prepared well. Super whimsical and creative. Open kitchen so you can see what's going on and ask questions. Other than Thomas Keller's Per Se, one of my top Michelin experiences.
Would highly recommend.
+ Manresa***: Went when it had 2-stars. Nice ambiance, good service, food was fine but not memorable.
Would not recommend.
+ Californios**: Went when it had 1-star and was at old location. Cool ambiance, food was fine but not amazing.
Would not recommend.
+ Coi** (shuttered closed this year?): Gave this place two tries (second time, a friend invited me) but was never really excited by any of the dishes. Not super relevant since they closed but
would not recommend.
+ Commis**: Good but not memorable.
Would not recommend.
+ Acquerello**: Not sure if was just the service that night (8+ years ago), but the server came off very...uhm..stuffy? This was years ago, but my partner and I felt like the food was underwhelming and the atmosphere was meh.
Would not recommend.
+ Sons and Daughters*: Have been here twice (years ago), and both times, the food was interesting, the flavors were creative, and the price point was always a pleasant surprise given the quality and quantity of food provided.
Would recommend.
+ State Bird Provisions*: Have been here thrice (my friends and relatives really like this restaurant). I appreciate the dim sum-style format, but the dishes have been just okay. Given how much most folx enjoy this place, I
would recommend.
+ The Progress*: sister restaurant to State Bird Provisions. Same experience as at State Bird but this spot has a higher price point if I recall correctly.
Would not recommend.
+ Gary Danko*: Never understood the hype around this place. Food was fine, presentation was lackluster.
Would not recommend.
+ Spruce*: Traditional formal dining ambiance, prices seemed very high for the amount of food you get. Have been here 4x (various friends have invited me), but not a place I'd generally make reservations for myself.
Would not recommend.
+ SPQR*: Another spot friends invited me to, so got to try it twice. Lots of pasta, good, but not great.
Would not recommend.
+ Barndiva*: Trendy ambiance, presentation was nice, some dishes were hit or miss.
Would not recommend.
+ Niku Steakhouse*: Trendy ambiance, great flavors and service. Sat at the bar so we got to see the chefs in action (best seats in the house!).
Would recommend.
+Wako Japanese Restaurant*: Intimate, good presentation, but not an amazing, blow-my-mind experience.
Would not recommend.
+ AL's Place*: Visited here three times (various friends wanted to check it out). Food was fine, appreciated the casual ambiance. Service was great, but given the food wasn't knock-your-socks amazing, I
would not recommend.
+ Ju-Ni*: Tasty flavors, great presentation. Had to order supplemental wagyu because I wasn't full after the set omakase (which was unfortunate). Regardless, I
would recommend.
+ Omakase*: Fresh fish but small portions, friends and I left hungry.
Would not recommend.
+ Wakuriya*: Food was good but nothing terrible memorable.
Would not recommend.
+ Kin Khao*: Low-key vibe, spicy and fragrant Thai flavors. Price point was agreeable for the quality and amount of food.
Would recommend.
NYC
+ Per Se***: Traditional formal restaurant setting, tasty food (90% of dishes were YUM), great service. I celebrated my birthday at Per Se each year that I lived in NYC. One of my top Michelin-restaurant experiences.
Would highly recommend.
+ Eleven Madison Park***: I really tried to give this place a chance, and even tried it twice. I was intrigued by the food presentation, but the flavors didn't really sing to me. I think if you're in NYC and able to, it's worth checking out Eleven Madison Park.
Would recommend.
+ Le Bernardin***: Food was fine but not super memorable.
Would not recommend.
+ Jungsik**: Tasty food, well-cooked proteins and lovely presentation. Trendy ambiance.
Would recommend.
+ Atera**: Intimately-sized restaurant (when I went), fun, playful and surprising dishes. One of my top food experiences.
Would highly recommend.
+ Daniel**: Not sure if it was an off night, but I recall the dishes being very salty.
Would not recommend.
+ Jean-Georges**: Stuffy environment, food was fine but nothing to write home about.
Would not recommend.
+ Blue Hill at Stone Barns**: Fresh flavors, food presentation, overall fine but would probably not return to this spot.
Would not recommend.
+ Momofuku Ko**: Good but not super memorable. Not a huge fan of David Chang's restaurants in general.
Would not recommend.
+ Marea*: Food was fine but overall unmemorable.
Would not recommend.
+ Gramercy Tavern*: Proteins cooked well but overall unmemorable.
Would not recommend.
LA
Providence**: Solid presentation, good flavor profile, trendy romantic atmosphere, worth a visit but I would not revisit given the price point and my overall enjoyment of the meal.
Would recommend.
Paris
Guy Savoy***: Traditional formal restaurant vibe, presentation was fine, went during truffle season and the whole menu was truffle so I was initially very excited to try the restaurant. Ultimately, food was a bit underwhelming and uninteresting in flavor profile. Partner did propose to me at the restaurant though,
---> ring was served in a dish, cloaked by dry ice smoke. I was very surprised!
Would not recommend.
Hope this was helpful! And thanks for providing me and my tummy with the opportunity to go down memory lane! It was a bit bittersweet because upon checking the current Michelin-guide, I realized that ten or so Michelin-starred restaurants I had visited over the past 14 years were no longer in the guide because they had shuttered closed.