Dave/Rob – I think Vettel had just visited a day or two before our visit.
Conde Nast says “f*ck you LA, Chicago is the best restaurant city in the US”
Sorry, Los Angeles, but this is the best restaurant city in America right now. You may think it’s all steakhouses and encased meats here, but there’s a reason the James Beard Foundation moved its awards show to Chicago in 2015: The city’s chefs are some of the nation’s most creative and their restaurants are downright satisfying, whether you’re balling out on the riotous good time at Roister, having the best burger of your life alongside a chilled-to-perfection negroni at Au Cheval, or the greatest spicy tuna roll this side of Tsukiji at Katsu. And this being the Midwest, everyone working in hospitality is actually, you know, hospitable (it doesn’t matter if you’re spending a small fortune or just popping by for a bite, either). Which is the real charm of eating here now: You can build an entire weekend out of cheap eats, you can go full tilt, or you can do a little of each—like we did with our hit list of where to go right now.
That is just stupid. First of all LA is not even close. There isn’t a better restaurant city in America than NYC… nothing even remotely close. Then you have San Francisco. Then Chicago… LA is much beyond that.
George
Agreed. LA isn’t even top 5. I’d put Chicago just behind New York. I genuinely think we have a better restaurant scene than SF and it’s not just civic pride talking.
Corey - I was trying not to show too much local bias. You could be right… It is very close.
George
I’m genuinely not trying to debate this, but IMO, it’s not very close. SF has a nice food scene, but Chicago wins points for diversity. Of course, I haven’t been to SF in about 3 years, so maybe something has changed.
Obviously, YMMV.
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Random, but I’ve mentioned before that I know Chef Michael of Restaurant Michael and George Trois. In light of the latter restaurant garnering 4 stars from Phil Vettel, would anyone be up for a dinner there?
I would agree that NYC is the best restaurant city in the US. I think Chicago might very well be second. If you include the entire Bay area, Napa/Sonoma then that might be a different story. But I don’t think people necessarily should. SF is a great food city but it isn’t Chicago. I’ve been to all three cities many times but haven’t been to LA in decades so I can’t speak to where LA lies.
JD
Chicago has grown by leaps and bounds since I moved there in 2008 but its still leagues behind NYC.
Though a very nice guy, does anyone take Phil Vettel seriously in terms of real food knowledge? I mean he gave *** to Duck Duck Goat lol
I’ve been pretty meh about all of Stephanie Izard’s restaurants. The one I liked best was Scylla, which was pre-Top Chef.
Phil is a nice guy and overly avid cubs fan… Not so sure about his reviews. I think what his words are much more informative than his star ratings. Everyone knows him so I can’t imagine how he could eat at a restaurant and not get special treatment.
If you compare the SF “area” to Chicago I think it is much better. Not sure if that is fair due to the geography but using Michelin as a measuring stick there are 54 Michelin starred restaurants in the SF/Napa/Sonoma “area”. 26 in Chicago. They have as many 3 stars as NYC. Over a much larger area of course.
George
For me, Michelin is not a useful yardstick. They have a particular style of restaurant that they seem to recognize, but I do not think it’s emblematic of the larger food scene. While I like many Michelin starred restaurants, the all too precious food that they seem to adore is a style that increasingly disinterests me.
Most importantly, Chicago pizza >>> SF pizza.
Wilfred’s comment has me thinking; who is the most respected food critic in Chicago?
I think Vettel wins, for lack of competition.
How about 6/10-11?
As luck would have it, I will be in Chicago from 6/9-19 (actually Long Grove at Royal Melbourne Country Club catering for the week).
I’m flexible, but wouldn’t you be busy on weekend evenings?
Don’t have to actually cook until 12th starting at midnight.
I can be coaxed up to Winnetka either night, especially if Bill mules a brisket for dessert.
I am bringing Corey one cuz he’s a swell guy.
Probably…
Among the foodies I know, Mike Sula of the Reader is considered a lot more creditable than Vettel. Not true among the general public, of course.
A restaurant’s business can be really helped in Chicago by a couple of sources: Steve Dolinsky on TV (“The Hungry Hound”) and the Check Please show.
Not to get too far adrift, but I don’t know anyone who reads the Reader any longer.
Agree that Check Please seems to garner a lot of eyeballs. So glad that Alpana Singh is gone – she was terrible.