hotel restaurants, and great food

1. hotel, Restaurants in Washington, DC
2. Best Restaurants in Philadelphia
3. Best Restaurants in Boston
4. Los Angelas Restaurants
5. Four-Star Dining in Dallas
6. Best breakfast spots in The Big Apple
7. Best Restaurants in Greenwich Village, Soho, and Tribeca
8. Best New York Bars
9. Best Restaurants in Canada

HOME | CRUISE SHIP TIPS | TRAVEL TIPS

• Cantina, 3251 Prospect St. NW, 20007, (202) 337-5130. Informal, with first-rate Italian food.
• Dominique's, 1900 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, (202) 452-1126. A smallish restaurant with unusual nouvelle food.
• Germaine's, 2400 Wisconsin Ave. NW, (202) 965-1185. Interesting specialties from both the Orient and the Occident.
• Jean-Louis, 2650 Virginia Ave. NW, (202) 298-4488. Elegant, with distinctive Continental food and superb service.
• Jockey Club, 2100 Massachusetts Ave. NW, (202) 659-8000. A favorite of the current administration. Dark-paneled and masculine, with a hearty menu.
• Le Lion d'Or, 1150 Connecticut Ave. NW, (202) 296-7972. Classic French food served with style.
• Tiberio, 1915 K St. NW, (202) 452-1915. Chic and fun, good northern Italian food.
• Washington Palm, 1225 19 St. NW, (202) 293-9091. A sturdy steak-house.

• Le Beau Lieu, Barclay Hotel, Rittenhouse Square, (215) 545-0300. Elegant eatery in one of the city's most chic hotels. The Continental cuisine is served to perfection.
• Le Bec-Fin, 1523 Walnut St., (215) 567-1000. The best dining in Philadelphia. Owner George Perrier features the freshest foie gras and truffles anywhere, and quenelles as light as a feather. Try the Bec-Fin cake.
• Fountain Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, 1 Logan Square, (215) 963-1500. Glorious restaurant in a lavish new hotel just recently opened. Here you will find old favorites cooked to perfection.
• The Garden, 1617 Spruce St., (215) 546-4455. Charming restaurant with outdoor dining in fine weather. The pub like Oyster Bar is favored for its clubby atmosphere. Try the pasta primavera.
• La Truffe, 10 S. Front St., (215) 925-5062. The food combines classic French with a touch of the nouvelle. The sauces are light and the presentations perfect. The sweetbreads and assorted salads are unusual. The terrine of two fish succeeds where others have failed.

• Bookbinders-Old Original, 125 Walnut St., (215) 925-7027.
• Bookbinders Classic Seafood Center City, 215 S. 15 St., (215) 545-1137.

• Tuscan Grill, 361 Moody St., Waltham, (617) 891-5486. Sophisticated northern Italian food, with fresh pasta, fine veal dishes and perfect espresso.
• Cricket's, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, South Market Building, (617) 720-5570. A relaxed spot to enjoy unusual food, from lunch to after-theater. Specialties: Scallops Rockefeller and chicken William III.

Best Vacation Homes

Learn how to plan, prepare for, and enjoy your next family vacation

• The Empress, Hyatt Regency Hotel, 575 Memorial DR., Cambridge, (617) 492-1234. The view is stunning. Specialties: Continental, Mandarin and Szechuan cuisines, including Peking duck, Hong Kong steak and veal with mushrooms.
• The Julien, Meridien Hotel, 250 Franklin St., (617) 451-1900. A wide selection of nouvelle cuisine.
• Locke-Ober Cafe, 3 & 4 Winter Place, (617) 542-1340. A revered tradition in Boston. Authentic Victorian atmosphere, with hearty but elegant fare. Try the clams Winter Place, lobster Savannah, filet mignon and lusty desserts.
• Maison Robert, Old City Hall, 45 School St., (617) 227-3370. Old World elegance and ambience grace the two Maison Robert restaurants--BonHomme Richard and Ben's Cafe, both in the same building and both serving fine French food. Best: Mignon de veau Orloff, lobster in champagne, tarte de pomme.
• Ritz-Carlton Main Dining Room, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 15 Arlington St., (617) 536-5700. Overlooks Boston's Public Garden. This elegant restaurant is the place to see all Boston's first families dining splendidly on simple, classic fare. Examples: A clear broth without a hint of fat, fine grilled sole, a simple lamb chop. Fine wines. Great desserts, too.

• Durgin Park, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, North Market Building, (617) 227-2038. A Boston landmark, with hearty food and lots of hungry diners.
• Legal Sea Foods, 43 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, (617) 277-7300. This simple, informal restaurant is known for its excellent fresh seafood.
• Ye Old Union Oyster House, 41 Union St., (617) 227-2750. Boston's oldest restaurant, specializing in freshly shucked oysters, Yankee-style seafood, shore dinners and char-broiled steaks.

• Ambria, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, (312) 472-5959. Expect to find excellent, original recipes with a French bias.
• Berghoff, 17 W. Adams, (312) 427-3170. A big, friendly German restaurant with huge portions of excellent, hearty food.
• Biggs, 1150 N. Dearborn, (312) 787-0900. A handsome, Continental dining spot with international cuisine. The seven-course prixfixe menu is one of the city's best values.
• Cricket's, 100 E. Chestnut, (312) 751-1900. A cozy, clubby restaurant with Continental cuisine.
• Le Francais, 269 S. Milwaukee, (708) 541- 7470. Superb--as good as you would find in France. And while it does require some driving to get there, it's worth the effort. Reservations must be made weeks in advance.
• The Ninety-Fifth, John Hancock Center, (312) 787-9596. For the best views in Chicago, try this 95th-floor restaurant. The food is international cuisine.
• Le Perroquet, 70 E. Monroe St. (the Palmer House), (312) 726-7500. Just like all the others, but very reliable when you feel like good Polynesian food.
• Truffles, 151 E. Wacker Dr., (312) 565-1000. A lovely French eatery.

• Harper's, 2040 Ave. of the Stars, Century City. Casual lunches, dinners and after-theater suppers.
• Bernard's, Biltmore Hotel, 405 S. Grand Ave. Nouvelle cuisine in a glorious setting.
• Bistro Garden, 176 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills. Anyone who is anyone lunches here.
• Chasen's 9039 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood. More like a club than a restaurant, Chasen's has a faithful clientele of many years' standing.
• Harry' Bar and American Grill, 2020 Ave. of the Stars, Century City, A replica of the Venice original, with simple, straightforward food.
• Jimmy's, 201 Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills. Classy Italian, with fresh pastas and delectable veal.
• L'Escoffier Room, Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. Very French.
• L'Orangerie, 903 N. La Ciienega Blvd., Los Angeles. First-rate French food.
• Madame Wu's Garden, 2201 W. Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. Worth the trip for remarkable Chinese food.
• Ma Maison, 8555 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. Fine French food and lots of movie stars.
• Mandarin, 430 N. Camden Dr., Beverly Hills. Chinese specialties combined with a Continental menue. The service hasn't improved, however.
• Morton's 8764 Melrose Ave., Beverly Hills. A trendy spot for star-gazing, with good nouveau cuisine.
• Spago, 8795 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. New American cuisine. American goat cheese, fresh pasta, and a variety of pizzas are among the specialties.

• Arthur's 8350 N. Central Expressway. Steaks that are the pride of Texas, and a remarkable wine list.
• Les Saisons, 165 Turtle Creek Village. Elegant atmosphere and a Continental menu.
• 650 North, Plaza of the Americas Hotel, 650 N. Pearl Street. A sophisticated menu of both classic French and nouvelle cuisines. Rack of lamb is a specialty.
• Cafe Pacific, 24 Highland Park Shopping Village. Stylish setting for an eclectic bill of fare. Try Sunday brunch.
• Enjolie, Omni Mandalay Hotel, 221 E. Las Colinas Blvd. Very European in feeling and food.
• French Room, Adolphus Hotel, 1321 Commerce. Turn-of-the-century rococo decor and a menu supervised by Jean Banchet, chef-owner of Le Francais in Wheeling, IL.
• The Mansion on Turtle Creek, 2821 Turtle Creek Blvd. The restaurant of an elegant hotel that attracts businessmen. The cuisine is haute Texas.
• Old Warsaw, 2610 Maple Street. Old-fashioned flavor and Continental dishes.
• Pyramid Room, Fairmont Hotel, 1717 N. Akard St. International cuisine in a festive setting.
• Ruth's Chris Steak House, 5922 Cedar Springs Rd. Great steaks.

• Carlyle Hotel (Carlyle Restaurant). Fresh brioche and croissant served elegantly in a quite Continental atmosphere. Madison Ave. at 76th St., (212) 570-7192, opens at t.
• New York Helmsley. Fine selection of imported jams embellishes breakfast breads. 212 E. 42nd St., (212) 490-8900; opens at 7.
• New York Palace (Trianon Room). Good food in a sumptuous atmosphere. 455 Madison Ave., (212) 888-7000; opens at 6:30.
• Hotel Inter-Continental (Barclay Restaurant). A popular spot for diplomats. Good food. Good Service. 111 E. 48th St., (212) 755-5900; opens at 7.
• Mayfair Regent Hotel (Lobby Lounge). Very European, elegant, and homey. 610 Park Ave., (212) 288-0800; opeans at 7.
• Helmsley Park Lane Hotel (Park Room). A wonderful view of Central Park accompanies the meal. 36 Central Park South, (212) 371-4000; opeans at 7.
• Hotel Pierre (Cafe Pierre). Elegant decor, perfect service and fine food. Fifth Ave. at 61st St., (212) 838-8000; opens at 6:30.
• Plaza Hotel (Edwardian Room). English breakfasts in a handsome setting. Fifth Ave. at 59th St., (212) 759-3000; opens at 7.
• REgency Hotel (540 Park). First-rate food and service for a power-broker clientele. 540 Park Ave. (212) 759-4100; opens at 7.
• Ritz-Carlton Hotel (Fantino). A favorite of politicians. 112 Central Park South, (212) 757-1900; opens at 6:30.
• UN PLaza Hotel (Ambassador Grill). Modern, mirrored elegance with an international flavor. 1 United Nations Plaza at 44th St., (212) 702-5014; opens at 7.

• Da Silvano, 260 Ave. of the Americas. Florentine food served up by one of the most impressive Italian Kitchens in New York. Very expensive. (No credit cards)
• II Mulino, 86 W. Third St. Hearty food and pleasant service. One of the Village's most popular Italian restaurants. Expensive.
• The Jane Street Seafood Cafe, 31 Eighth Ave. Straightforward American-style seafood with good, fresh fish. Medium-priced.
• La Metairie, 189 W. 10th St. Hearty French cooking with a North African accent. Try the couscous. Expensive.

• Chanterelle, 2 Harrison St. French food prepared in a personal style by an owner-chef and served in a small, graceful setting. Very expensive.
• Omen, 113 Thompson St. Japanese food with a great variety of individually prepared vegetable dishes. Meat and fish are also available. Inexpensive.
• Raoul's, 180 Prince St. French country cooking served in a converted New York bar. Expensive.

• Odeon, 145 W. Broadway. Best food south of Canal St. in Manhattan. The cooking is modern, French, and expensive.

• Cafe des Artistes, 1 W. 67th St. Drink under the sylvan murals of Howard Chandler Christy. (Be sure to visit rest rooms)
• Le Cirque, 58 E. 65th St. View all the beautiful people who gather here.
• Elaine's, 1703 Second Ave. Stargaze a while at the fresh new crop of theatrical and literary geniuses.
• The Four Seasons, 99 E. 52nd St. Manhattan's most beautiful bar and probably the best place to capture the feeling of the city. Very convenient, too.
• Jim McMullen's, 1341 Third Ave. A long, cheerful bar, always crowded with happy people.
• Michael's Pub, 211 E. 55th St. Crowded and lively (especially on Monday night, when Woody Allen often plays along with the resident jazz orchestra).
• Mortimer's, 1057 Lexington Ave. One of the city's most fashionable spots. You may spot England's Princess Margaret.
• Tavern on the Green, 67th St. at Central Park. Extremely beautiful and right in Central Park.

• The Bar, United Nations Plaza Hotel, First Ave. at 44th St. Right across from the UN, and filled with the diplomatic crowd.
• Bemelmans Bar, Hotel Carlyle, Madison Ave. at 76th St. Lovely bar with good background music.
• Cafe Pierre, Pierre Hotel, Fifth Ave. at 61st St. Loved by the international set.
• Harry's Bar, New York Palace Hotel, 455 Madison Ave. Always a pleasant spot from which to view the rest of the New York crowd.
• Fantino, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 112 Central Park South. Most elegant.
• The Rendezvous, Berkshire Place Hotel, Madison Ave. at 52 St. Excellent midtown location. A crowded, handsome bar with fine drinks.

• Cafe Danois, Chevron Plaza, (403) 263-1114. Comfortable, small and pretty, with an emphasis on Scandinavian specialties. The fried fish, liver, open-faced sandwiches and vegetables are wonderful.
• La Dolce Vita, 116 First Ave. NE, (404) 263-3445. Pleasant, with prompt service and wonderful pasta. The veal and chicken dishes are authentic Italian.
• Sushi Hiro, 727 Fifth Ave. SW, (403) 233-0605. The best place to eat in this all-around great restaurant is the sushi bar.

• The Beaver Club, 900 Rene Levesque West, (514) 861-3511. The atmosphere is clublike, and the cooking is nouvelle. You can be sure of the finest ingredients prepared with skill. Most fish is imported from France. Specialties include a wonderful ragout of turbot, trout with chives and flounder flamed with cider.
• Cafe de Paris, 1228 Sherbrooke West, (514) 842-4212. A traditional French restaurant in the Hotel Ritz-Carlton. It offers wonderful food cooked in the old manner. The hotel's garden restaurant is open for warm-weather dining, and its Maritime Bar is a delightful place for before or after-theater dining.
• Le St. Amable, 188 Rue St. Amable, (514) 866-3471. An old stone house in the heart of charming Old Montreal. The food is excellent, with such delicacies as quail with foie gras, spring lamb and delectable desserts.
• Savini, 1676 Lincoln, (514) 937-7572. If you tire of French food, try Savini, a touch of northern Italy in the heart of this French-speaking province. The small menu is crammed with authentic Italian delicacies.

• Le Biarritz, 136 Rue Ste. Anne, (418) 692-2433. Enjoy the relaxed ambience of this intimate restaurant in a lovely old house. The dishes are mostly from the Basque region of France, and the pear Helene is worth a special visit.
• Serge Bruyere, 1200 Rue St. Jean, (418) 694-0618. You must reserve well in advance. Once you arrive, plan to spend considerable time, since everything is cooked to order. The execellent food includes fresh cod, shrimp, sole, scallops, a fine fillet of pork and crisp salads.

• Bindi, 3241 Yonge St., (416) 487-2881. Thoroughly modern but rather small and simple. Authentic Italian food, with risotto, pasta, cannelloni and lots of delicious fresh vegetables.
• Truffles, 21 Avenue Rd., (416) 964-0411. A superb international restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel. It offers a French menu and top-notch service.
• Winston's, 104 Adelaide St. West, (416) 363-1627. Specialties: Game birds and imaginative desserts.

• Cafe de Paris, 751 Denman St., (604) 687-1418. A delightful restaurant, with a glorious wine cellar and a fine menu of fresh fish prepared by a first-class chef.
• Maxim's, 257 Keefer St., (604) 688-6281. The finest Chinese restaurant in a city of good ones. Try the sweet dough wrapped around barbecued pork.

• Chez Daniel, 2522 Estevan Ave., (604) 592-7424. A thoroughly Continental owner-chef restaurant in British Columbia's capital on Vancouver Island. Wonderful salmon, noisettes of lamb, rabbit and coquilles.