Do you guys ever do "fine dining" or really fancy restaurants?

lyndausvi · May 2014

I think most self-proclaimed "foodies" would be sad and maybe horrified at the places fine dining chefs actually eat. Including celebrities chefs. Sure they love fine dining food, but they are just as happy the hole in the wall places too.

People ask my DH all the time with excitement "where do you eat?" Waiting for him to proclaim some high end exclusive place. Then they get a sad face when he mentions how much he loves the food at the local dive bar or food truck. He tells stories about going to eat hot dogs at some street cart with Eric Ripert (celebrity french chef) late night after work. Or how him and bunch of chefs hit up 5 burgers places around NYC one afternoon trying to find the best burger in the city. People seemed almost disappointed. Some places he mentions some people think they are too good to enter the front door.

MrsMack10612 · May 2014

JCbride2015 said:

MagicInk said:

I'll go eat just about anywhere. You know the scene in Bridesmaids at the questionable resturant? I totally eat at places that look just like that (have never gotten food posining from one of them). At the same time, we do go out for fine dining every so often. Sometimes just because being fancy is fun.

And I like chain places too. Sundays are half price apps at Chillis and I'm always down for that.

Seriously, I can't cook, I'll eat anywhere.

I have a bizarre love for Chili's. Most of the time I hate chain restaurants, but there's just something about the queso dip that is sooooo good. I went there for lunch the other day, when I just was by myself and had some time to kill-- I got yummy food and it was seven dollars. Can't beat that.

I'm with you here. We have one or two that we like, but otherwise we're either cooking ourselves or finding some place local to eat that has way better food.

thelastdreamer · May 2014

Honestly food is one of the biggest dividers between FI and I. Not in a way that it causes tension or anything because we've always known how the other way, but there is no "we" when it comes to food. FI loves pizza, burgers and wings. I don't really care for much meat. (I just had the most amazing veggie burrito stuffed with grilled veggies, pico de gallo and cabbage. Nom nom.) I also love to eat ethnic food and FI's not into that. If we go out, we like to go somewhere nice but not crazy fancy where we'll both be able to find something we like.

sofakingmad · May 2014

My exH was really big into making sure we went to every freaking find dining establishment in Chicago and in other big cities.

I do like fine dining and I go out to really nice places, but I really enjoy finding the hidden gems around town.

jdluvr06 · May 2014

We don't do "fine dining". We don't go out to eat for the sake of going out to eat. Usually if we stop someplace to grab food it is because we were out running around and didn't feel like going home to cook. So no dressing up involved for usl

mschristie123 · May 2014

lolo883 said:

Childfree, financially comfortable 30 year old here who LOVES that kind of stuff. Well maybe not duck liver, but schmancy meals. They're not QUITE that expensive in Detroit usually, but I've eaten some damn good food. Michael Symon has a restaurant here that's amazeballs.

If you want more standard fare, Planet Dailies inside Planet Hollywood has some pretty damn incredible nachos (or, at least they did a few years ago) and they're open 24 hours.

GAHHH STIB

Now wait a gosh darn minute!! Are you serious @lolo883 ??? I grew up in the Detroit suburbs and have a not so tiny crush on Michael Symon! No clue he has a restaurant there!

I am a little bit of a foodie and love fine dining, but I tend to read more about it (Eater, Yelp, etc) than actually go. I have a list of Chicago Michelin starred restaurants I would really love to check out this summer. I didn't grow up eating anything other than generic italian food and the occasional steak while out to dinner, but I have grown to really love food and restaurants.

As for a vegas recommendation, it might still be a little on the fancier side for you guys, but FI and went to CarneVino (Mario Batali's restuarant) at the Palazzo a couple years ago. One of the best meals of my life. And since it's fancy Italian, the menu is slightly more familiar than other fine dining restaurants.

edited to add words

sofakingmad · May 2014

mschristie123 said:

lolo883 said:

Childfree, financially comfortable 30 year old here who LOVES that kind of stuff. Well maybe not duck liver, but schmancy meals. They're not QUITE that expensive in Detroit usually, but I've eaten some damn good food. Michael Symon has a restaurant here that's amazeballs.

If you want more standard fare, Planet Dailies inside Planet Hollywood has some pretty damn incredible nachos (or, at least they did a few years ago) and they're open 24 hours.

GAHHH STIB

Now wait a gosh darn minute!! Are you serious @lolo883 ??? I grew up in the Detroit suburbs and have a not so tiny crush on Michael Symon! No clue he has a restaurant there!

I am a little bit of a foodie and love fine dining, but I tend to read more about it (Eater, Yelp, etc) than actually go. I have a list of Chicago Michelin starred restaurants I would really love to check out this summer. I didn't grow up eating anything other than generic italian food and the occasional steak while out to dinner, but I have grown to really love food and restaurants.

As for a vegas recommendation, it might still be a little on the fancier side for you guys, but FI and went to CarneVino (Mario Batali's restuarant) at the Palazzo a couple years ago. One of the best meals of my life. And since it's fancy Italian, the menu is slightly more familiar than other fine dining restaurants.

edited to add words

Which ones?? I'd love to give you my recommendations from your list!

sofakingmad · May 2014

Foie Gras was actually banned in Chicago about 6 years ago, due to animal cruelty.

Restaurants couldn't sell it, but it could be part of a dish...so they ended up overturning it based on the fact that basically the law did nothing to stop it and actually made people go out and look for it on menus.

theartistformerlyknownas · May 2014

mschristie123 said:

lolo883 said:

Childfree, financially comfortable 30 year old here who LOVES that kind of stuff. Well maybe not duck liver, but schmancy meals. They're not QUITE that expensive in Detroit usually, but I've eaten some damn good food. Michael Symon has a restaurant here that's amazeballs.

If you want more standard fare, Planet Dailies inside Planet Hollywood has some pretty damn incredible nachos (or, at least they did a few years ago) and they're open 24 hours.

GAHHH STIB

Now wait a gosh darn minute!! Are you serious @lolo883 ??? I grew up in the Detroit suburbs and have a not so tiny crush on Michael Symon! No clue he has a restaurant there!

I am a little bit of a foodie and love fine dining, but I tend to read more about it (Eater, Yelp, etc) than actually go. I have a list of Chicago Michelin starred restaurants I would really love to check out this summer. I didn't grow up eating anything other than generic italian food and the occasional steak while out to dinner, but I have grown to really love food and restaurants.

As for a vegas recommendation, it might still be a little on the fancier side for you guys, but FI and went to CarneVino (Mario Batali's restuarant) at the Palazzo a couple years ago. One of the best meals of my life. And since it's fancy Italian, the menu is slightly more familiar than other fine dining restaurants.

edited to add words

YES @mschristie123! Come back to visit. Eat at Roast. Get the beast of the day, and the bacon-fried brussels sprouts. Mmm and the beef cheeks. www.roastdetroit.com

He's supposed to be opening a B Spot Burgers soon too, I think.

lyndausvi · May 2014

DragonBlood13 said:

Foie Gras was actually banned in Chicago about 6 years ago, due to animal cruelty.

Restaurants couldn't sell it, but it could be part of a dish...so they ended up overturning it based on the fact that basically the law did nothing to stop it and actually made people go out and look for it on menus.

I think it's banned in CA now.

mschristie123 · May 2014

OMG swoooon. I wish I knew how to post GIFs on here to properly capture my excitement about this.

Cookie Pusher · May 2014

lyndausvi said:

I think most self-proclaimed "foodies" would be sad and maybe horrified at the places fine dining chefs actually eat. Including celebrities chefs. Sure they love fine dining food, but they are just as happy the hole in the wall places too.

People ask my DH all the time with excitement "where do you eat?" Waiting for him to proclaim some high end exclusive place. Then they get a sad face when he mentions how much he loves the food at the local dive bar or food truck. He tells stories about going to eat hot dogs at some street cart with Eric Ripert (celebrity french chef) late night after work. Or how him and bunch of chefs hit up 5 burgers places around NYC one afternoon trying to find the best burger in the city. People seemed almost disappointed. Some places he mentions some people think they are too good to enter the front door.

Totally not shocked. My family has been in the restaurant business since the 70's, and we're the same way. I'm a foodie, but not a snobby foodie. I just love food that tastes great, no matter where it's from. Especially with ethnic food, we've found the best stuff to be from hole in the wall type places. When I take my friends to Chinatown, I always drag them to the tiniest, grimiest-looking dim sum places because they always have the best food!

ElcaB · May 2014

We've only done fine dining together once on a special occasion. I'm so glad we experienced it as it was really enjoyable and once in awhile, it's necessary to treat yo'self...but for the most part, I'm perfectly content in jeans and a sweater with a burger in my hands

SmileDamnit · May 2014

Cookie Pusher said:

lyndausvi said:

I think most self-proclaimed "foodies" would be sad and maybe horrified at the places fine dining chefs actually eat. Including celebrities chefs. Sure they love fine dining food, but they are just as happy the hole in the wall places too.

People ask my DH all the time with excitement "where do you eat?" Waiting for him to proclaim some high end exclusive place. Then they get a sad face when he mentions how much he loves the food at the local dive bar or food truck. He tells stories about going to eat hot dogs at some street cart with Eric Ripert (celebrity french chef) late night after work. Or how him and bunch of chefs hit up 5 burgers places around NYC one afternoon trying to find the best burger in the city. People seemed almost disappointed. Some places he mentions some people think they are too good to enter the front door.

Totally not shocked. My family has been in the restaurant business since the 70's, and we're the same way. I'm a foodie, but not a snobby foodie. I just love food that tastes great, no matter where it's from. Especially with ethnic food, we've found the best stuff to be from hole in the wall type places. When I take my friends to Chinatown, I always drag them to the tiniest, grimiest-looking dim sum places because they always have the best food!

Yes, yes, and even more yes!! Eating is, hands down, one of my most favorite past times. Sadly, my metabolism isn't as friendly as she used to be, though.

beethery · May 2014

Hit the Joe English P.U.B. downstairs at Aria. Casual dress code, really good food, and reasonably priced. We stayed at Aria and ended up eating there a few times because it was good and close to the hotel after being worn out from walking around all day.

We didn't really do any buffets. I tried to look nice, FI wore cargo shorts, golf shirts, and his hat (the only place we ate where they asked him to remove it was at the revolving restaurant at the Stratosphere. It was pretty fancy). Nobody ever said anything to us about how we were dressed anywhere else we went.

Stack (steakhouse) at the Mirage was amaaaazing.

Get breakfast at Bouchon at the Venetian. I got a fancy french toast and mimosa that was out of this world.

Definitely get drinks and the cheese plate at the bar on the top floor of the Stratosphere one night. That part doesn't rotate, but the view is incredible, and the drinks are great. Also if you get dinner at the fancy restaurant, it is very expensive but really good.

We got drinks ALL OVER THE PLACE. Don't get a drink at The Forum at Caesars. They are good, but outrageously expensive.

I saved up big coin before we hit Vegas, not to gamble, but to eat good. I researched a lot of restaurants, and we didn't have one bad meal. Have fun!

HobokensFury · May 2014

We do fine dining maybe once a year. Honestly in the NYC area $60 for a plate is barely considered "fine dining".

d2va · May 2014

Love love fine dining! My FI is not in to it, and I wouldnt take him to a wonderful steak house so he can order a $60 steak well done.

I do most of my fine dining with friends about 1 - 2 times a month.

MairePoppy · May 2014

lyndausvi said:

DragonBlood13 said:

Foie Gras was actually banned in Chicago about 6 years ago, due to animal cruelty.

Restaurants couldn't sell it, but it could be part of a dish...so they ended up overturning it based on the fact that basically the law did nothing to stop it and actually made people go out and look for it on menus.

I think it's banned in CA now.

This is how foie gras is made. It should be banned everywhere.

lovesclimbing · May 2014

We usually eat at burger places or a middle-of-the-road place. There's not very many nice places here. Once in awhile, I'd love to go a fancier place, but I usually can't justify spending so much.

WinstonsGirl · May 2014

We do nicer places about 3-4 times a year, often on vacation. Normally we eat out at local places. We're not foodies, but do enjoy a well cooked meal. We're old with no kids, so dropping $200 for dinner a few time a year doesn't really faze us. Definitely not a monthly thing though

As for Vegas, ditto Bouchon in the Venetian for breakfast. We go every time and it is amazing. We also did Gordon Ramsey Steak in Paris, and it was amazing too. We've done Strip Steak in Mandelay Bay, and while the meat was crazy tender, the flavour wasn't there for me. We also did dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Vegas, which was delicious, but super fast. I think we were in and out in about an hour so they could open the table up to another couple. The 2 person tables are half circles that face the Bellagio fountains though, so the view is amazing cos you get to watch the show.

PrettyGirlLost · May 2014

lolo883 said:
Childfree, financially comfortable 30 year old here who LOVES that kind of stuff. Well maybe not duck liver, but schmancy meals. They're not QUITE that expensive in Detroit usually, but I've eaten some damn good food. Michael Symon has a restaurant here that's amazeballs.

If you want more standard fare, Planet Dailies inside Planet Hollywood has some pretty damn incredible nachos (or, at least they did a few years ago) and they're open 24 hours.

Me too! Not froi gras, I am morally opposed.

FI and I go out to higher end places several times a year. . . This year has been less due to the wedding ;-)

JennyColada · May 2014

Yes, often! It is what brought me and Fi together in the first place.

Fridays is date night, and probably 1-2 times a month we hit one of the nicer Los Angeles restaurants (we're regulars at Bouchon!). We are having our wedding ceremony at The French Laundry.

And to add on to the foie convo: Fi special orders from Hudson Valley in NY (illegal to sell in CA) and prepares his own foie for special occasions. I love it and would happily eat it monthly!

We are both hugely adventurous eaters (I LOVE offal!). I have a soft spot for fast food and greasy spoons too (I like to tell people that I'm an equal opportunity foodie). I love my McDonalds and am considered a "moderate to heavy user".

ETA: AND I've totally eaten at the restaurant you're talking about and loved it! They also do a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar!

chibiyui · May 2014

My first fine dining experience was with an ex, we did a valentines day special. And then resturant week in DC with another friend. FI and I ate at fine dining places every night we where in Disney two years ago. (Seriously, the main thing keeping me from wanting to start making babies right after we get married is we're planning another Disney vacay in January once my loans are paid off and I want to enjoy that. and by enjoy that I mean drink. Copiously.) We might go once every few months or so to a nicer, mid range place (like , 30 bucks a meal) But honestly, most of our food comes from fast food chains or chain restaurants. FI's been super stressed with work the past year and I've been stressed with wedding stuff and projects, so we haven't cooked at home much this year.

One of my favorite places is a hole in the wall vietnemase place. I haven't taken FI there yet, but one of my girlfriends took me there a few months ago after pole class, and OMG I haven't had pho since my undergrad days and now I fucking love it. I WILL EAT ALL THE PHO.

WinstonsGirl · May 2014

@JennyColada - Iooked at trying to book into The French Laundry while we were down there, but I don't think we'd enjoy it. DH can't eat a lot of seafood, and I'm not a fan of it either. $600 when we wouldn't/couldn't eat a lot of the food seemed over the top. You'll have to let me know how it goes cos I'm curious!!

Simky906 · May 2014

@JennyColada You're getting married at the French Laundry! I love that place! FI's parents took us there when we visited them last year and it was just amazing. We only go 'fine dining' a couple times a year and never to a place of that caliber before. My taste buds were very happy.

PrettyGirlLost · May 2014

JennyColada said:

Yes, often! It is what brought me and Fi together in the first place. Fridays is date night, and probably 1-2 times a month we hit one of the nicer Los Angeles restaurants (we're regulars at Bouchon!). We are having our wedding ceremony at The French Laundry. And to add on to the foie convo: Fi special orders from Hudson Valley in NY (illegal to sell in CA) and prepares his own foie for special occasions. I love it and would happily eat it monthly! We are both hugely adventurous eaters (I LOVE offal!). I have a soft spot for fast food and greasy spoons too (I like to tell people that I'm an equal opportunity foodie). I love my McDonalds and am considered a "moderate to heavy user". ETA: AND I've totally eaten at the restaurant you're talking about and loved it! They also do a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar!

Is it banned in CA for animal cruelty reasons or public health reasons?

I admit, I love marrow, but I draw the line at animal organs for the most part. . . especially "filters" like the liver and kidneys.

JennyColada · May 2014

PrettyGirlLost said:

JennyColada said:

Yes, often! It is what brought me and Fi together in the first place. Fridays is date night, and probably 1-2 times a month we hit one of the nicer Los Angeles restaurants (we're regulars at Bouchon!). We are having our wedding ceremony at The French Laundry. And to add on to the foie convo: Fi special orders from Hudson Valley in NY (illegal to sell in CA) and prepares his own foie for special occasions. I love it and would happily eat it monthly! We are both hugely adventurous eaters (I LOVE offal!). I have a soft spot for fast food and greasy spoons too (I like to tell people that I'm an equal opportunity foodie). I love my McDonalds and am considered a "moderate to heavy user". ETA: AND I've totally eaten at the restaurant you're talking about and loved it! They also do a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar!

Is it banned in CA for animal cruelty reasons or public health reasons?

I admit, I love marrow, but I draw the line at animal organs for the most part. . . especially "filters" like the liver and kidneys.

I'm honestly not sure, I haven't read much about it since I don't really care honestly. I mean, I care enough to be disappointed that I can't get it at restaurants, but other than that I really don't care.

I'd imagine that it's more for "animal cruelty" (read: people getting uppity about it without really knowing much about it, and putting pressure on the government) rather than public health.

Other forms of offal aren't outlawed, nor is veal.

JennyColada · May 2014

Simky906 said:

@JennyColada You're getting married at the French Laundry! I love that place! FI's parents took us there when we visited them last year and it was just amazing. We only go 'fine dining' a couple times a year and never to a place of that caliber before. My taste buds were very happy.

I've never been! Fi's been a few times and we were going to go for his birthday but other things got in the way. But when we go up to get our marriage license and finalize plans in August then I think he wants to eat there. !!!

PrettyGirlLost · May 2014

JennyColada said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

JennyColada said:

Yes, often! It is what brought me and Fi together in the first place. Fridays is date night, and probably 1-2 times a month we hit one of the nicer Los Angeles restaurants (we're regulars at Bouchon!). We are having our wedding ceremony at The French Laundry. And to add on to the foie convo: Fi special orders from Hudson Valley in NY (illegal to sell in CA) and prepares his own foie for special occasions. I love it and would happily eat it monthly! We are both hugely adventurous eaters (I LOVE offal!). I have a soft spot for fast food and greasy spoons too (I like to tell people that I'm an equal opportunity foodie). I love my McDonalds and am considered a "moderate to heavy user". ETA: AND I've totally eaten at the restaurant you're talking about and loved it! They also do a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar!

Is it banned in CA for animal cruelty reasons or public health reasons?

I admit, I love marrow, but I draw the line at animal organs for the most part. . . especially "filters" like the liver and kidneys.

I'm honestly not sure, I haven't read much about it since I don't really care honestly. I mean, I care enough to be disappointed that I can't get it at restaurants, but other than that I really don't care.

I'd imagine that it's more for "animal cruelty" (read: people getting uppity about it without really knowing much about it, and putting pressure on the government) rather than public health.

Other forms of offal aren't outlawed, nor is veal.

I don't think people are just "uppity" about it. I think people know how it's produced and what it really is, and they just don't agree with it. There was a French restaurant out here that had to take it off of the menu because ppl started protesting outside and the negative publicity was getting to be too much.

Yeah I'm not sure if veal is banned anywhere, and I think most organs are fine too- the Haggis ban was lifted in 2010 I think. Some restaurants stopped serving sweetbreads right as the BSE outbreak occurred in the UK, but I believe that concern has passed in the US.

vollebell · May 2014

Grand Lux Cafe at the Venetian is fantastic. It's like The Cheesecake Factory or Maggiano's but better.

Do you guys ever do "fine dining" or really fancy restaurants?

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