What a great thread! I love hearing first hand experiences from fellow foodies! My favourite regular M restaurant would have to be Morston Hall in Norfolk, UK. Food is always so damn tasty! Service is great and the setting is beautiful. Stay overnight and enjoy their breakfast the next day. Great wine selection too, they grow many of their own ingredients and distill their own gin. They’re house champagne is lovely too and my favourite (Ruinart BdB) is available by the glass (the wife hates champagne so I NEVER get to order a bottle)
One of the most standout meals for me was Bearnard Loiseau in Salieau (about an hours drive from Paris if I remember). They have two menus and their “classics” was incredible, the roasted Bresse chicken with truffled mash was one of the best tasting meals I’ve ever had.
I also really liked Dinner by Heston at the MO,
@880 so interesting to hear you weren’t a fan! The duck dish I had there was impeccably cooked!
I thought Marcus in London was also really good, standout for me was they’re cesaer salad (of all things!). The blue bar at that hotel (The Berkeley) also serves great drinks.
Le Gavroche in London for the BEST cheese soufflé ever and to dine at such a historic and important restaurant.
Good but not great: Yannick Alleno in Paris (however their milk fed lamb was a standout), le Cinq in Paris (winner for the best cheese trolley), GR at the Intercontinental in Bordeaux (their lobster press is one of only two working presses in the world and ordering the lobster is an event in itself)
Worst places for me: Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester - way too overpriced and style over substance. Food looked like art but didn’t taste great in my opinion. Another let down was Story in London - too theatrical and not enough flavour. Service was a bit patronising too. Guy Savoy in Paris, again I didn’t feel like the food or experience lived up to the expectation.
On a side note, the bar at The Langham in London, called the artisan, rivals the Connaught (my other fav bar in London). The artisan is more modern and less “old school” but the drinks are incredible, works of art!
we used to go in NYC
) and I’ve learned to use the Michelin app as an easy way to be sure we can choose a reasonably priced place that is sure to be good. My pet peeve is going on vacation and winging it to a point that all the best restaurants are booked & you’re left only with the touristy restaurants with overpriced mediocre food.
