We'll see, their bullpen was the weak link last year. Billy Beane is probably THE BEST GM in all of baseball, so I'm sure he knows what he's doing.I Are Baboon said:
Just scored almost impossible dinner reservations for Julie's 40th B-day!!!!!
- Thread starter Brian HCM#1
- Start date
I bet each course takes an hour to make.
J
JRB
Guest
Well, we will have a thread then. I am doing a road ride on the 2nd for the Salado VFD, where a friend lives, so I will be able to remember.Brian HCM#1 said:Her B-Day is April 3rd, scored the dinner on the 2nd
![=[Stinky]=](/data/avatars/m/0/414.jpg?1000521489){kind=avatar}
Brian HCM#1 said:
Whats chicken fingers in French.
Order some Spanish wine while your there. (its better anyway)
sweet, have fun brian, and let us know what wine you end up going w/ .
after looking at the menus, i'd go w/ the 1st one, but the veggie one sounds damn good too.
after looking at the menus, i'd go w/ the 1st one, but the veggie one sounds damn good too.
Heh, cool. Im April 4thBrian HCM#1 said:Her B-Day is April 3rd, scored the dinner on the 2nd
I'll give the full details on the 3rd or 4th.narlus said:
We both love fine dining, so it's worth ithooples3 said:
Wow, that is AMAZING! a 6 month waiting list for a $175 per person meal?!
Do they have people under the table "pleasuring" you the whole time?
I mean, good food is good food, but....... the most i've ever spent on dinner for two was $79, and I thought THAT was a lot!
Do they have people under the table "pleasuring" you the whole time?
I mean, good food is good food, but....... the most i've ever spent on dinner for two was $79, and I thought THAT was a lot!
i can't seem to get below that figure on average dinners out w/ my wife (after tip), esp if we get a bottle of vino. last night's bill was just over $100 (but totally delicious...confit of rabbit w/ herbed gnocchis, she had butternut squash risotto w/ great hill bleu cheese, and we got a side of sauteed spinach. the bottle of la crema pinot noir was ok but not great).BigMike said:
narlus said:
Well, that was with no drinks.
But still..... I usually spend like.... 30-50 when we go out. Guess I'm just a cheap bastard, but I love me some TGI Fridays
Next month I be Taking my girlfriend here......but dont tell her!
http://www.acaciarestaurant.com/
last time i was there, TGI Friday's was out of rabbit. 
Why don't you just go to Burger King?BigMike said:<snip>I love me some TGI Fridays
You'd save a *bunch* of money and get food just as good.-S.S.-
tgi fridays (and all franchises) here is kinda expensive when compared to other restaurants.. most of the bill covers the franchise cost... i actually rather eat in locally owned restaurant, where i can get a fine meal for the price of a franchised meal....
for the price of 3 mcdonald meals here, i can eat chateaubriand in a locally owned restaurant...
when i feel "fancy" and want to eat surrounded by old farts i go here
http://www.larosanautica.com/rn_homeing.html
usually gf and i bill runs for around 50 bucks..... and on weekends, a seafood grill for 2 for less than 30 bucks... yummy yummy.
and to think a meal not nearly 1/10th good in the states run me the same 20 bucks....
for the price of 3 mcdonald meals here, i can eat chateaubriand in a locally owned restaurant...
when i feel "fancy" and want to eat surrounded by old farts i go here
http://www.larosanautica.com/rn_homeing.html
usually gf and i bill runs for around 50 bucks..... and on weekends, a seafood grill for 2 for less than 30 bucks... yummy yummy.
and to think a meal not nearly 1/10th good in the states run me the same 20 bucks....
really? are you saying that peru is *cheaper* than the US? when did this happen?ALEXIS_DH said:
Oh man, Brian is taking his wife out for fine dining and you are bringing up Friday's. That's like someone here posting about their new fully loaded Intense Spyder, then you saying you're fine with your Huffy.BigMike said:But still..... I usually spend like.... 30-50 when we go out. Guess I'm just a cheap bastard, but I love me some TGI Fridays
yup, but ten-fold is a crapload too much....narlus said:
One of the menu items is macaroni and cheese - that better be the most amazing mac and cheese ever made anywhere in the entire world! 
Hold on........ my wife makes that.MMcG said:One of the menu items is macaroni and cheese - that better be the most amazing mac and cheese ever made anywhere in the entire world!
It has nutmeg in it along with other crazy stuff and is a *pain* to make. But holy $hit is it good mac & cheese. -S.S.-
We have a cool new place in downtown Santa Rosa called Flavor, and they have the best pork chops in I have ever had - $13.
Medallions of beef w/ creamed garlic potatoes and braised greens: $14
The wine list rocks, the food rocks, and the coffee is amazing.
We get out of there for $50 or less, easy. Why so cheap? For one, they don't use linens. (no tablecloth, paper napkins) My girl says that basic linens cost a restaurant over $250,000 a year, minimum.
Medallions of beef w/ creamed garlic potatoes and braised greens: $14
The wine list rocks, the food rocks, and the coffee is amazing.
We get out of there for $50 or less, easy. Why so cheap? For one, they don't use linens. (no tablecloth, paper napkins) My girl says that basic linens cost a restaurant over $250,000 a year, minimum.
if any of you monkeys hit boston and want my top pick for great food for low $, definitely go to the franklin. it's small and they don't take reservations, but it's great.
Where is it located?narlus said:
And thanks again Narlus - you are a great Monkey.
Mark
it's on shawmut ave, in the south end (NB: "south end" is NOT the same as "south boston"). there's not really a sign, just look for the martini glass sculpture thing. one of the owners, mo mcglaughlin, used to bartend @ anchovies which was about 150' from our condo and was our fave local haunt. great calzones.
edit -
http://www.franklincafe.com/
edit -
http://www.franklincafe.com/
Great eats don't have to go hand in hand with a stuffed shirt kinda joint. Prob one of the best eating experiences I've had was at Batali's: Babbo NYC. Relaxed atm. Funky music. Everyone was happy and had a lot of fun.
Absolutely! From an all around "experience" aspect, the food/wine/service is probably 70% - the rest is the company and the conversation.... IMHO.ROCKLAND said:
-S.S.-
I agree with the above post. Some of my favorite meals have been at laid back, informal places. Anyone own the book Road Food? Living in a college town, I think have access to some good cheap eats, offset by some very overpriced (for what you get) "nice" restaraunts.
Dude, when I finally make it back to Boston, you'll be getting a PM asking for your personal recommendations. Nothing beats local knowledge for sniffing out good eats.narlus said:
Ain't that the truth? I'm thinking about going to Boston simply to visit Narlus.Enginerd A2 said:
-S.S.-
any monkeys are welcome if they make it to these neck of the woods. just be forewarned that i moved out of boston in '96, had my first kid in '00, and was out of the country for the better part of '03-'04, so the restaurants have evolved since i had freer reign of time and $. but a lot of the good ones are still there (and SS has a free coupon redeemable for one bottle from my wine fridge).
Tell me you have some '82 Margaux in there......?narlus said:
-S.S.-
would you prefer the Petrus or the Le Pin?
time to wake up.
i should note that the coupon doesn't extend to my barolos, or my '95 ch. leoville-barton.
time to wake up.
i should note that the coupon doesn't extend to my barolos, or my '95 ch. leoville-barton.
Hahahahahaha! But of course....... if I ever have the opportunity to cash in said coupon, I will allow *you* to select the bottle.narlus said:
-S.S.-
Looks like they are rated very good.MMcG said:One of the menu items is macaroni and cheese - that better be the most amazing mac and cheese ever made anywhere in the entire world!
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
2004-2003, "Best Restaurant in the World," Restaurant Magazine
2004-1999, Five-Star Award, Mobil Travel Guide
2003, "Outstanding Service Award," James Beard Foundation
2003-1998, Voted #1 - Top Food, Zagat Guide to the Bay Area
2002 Awarded the top honor of World Master of Culinary Arts 2001,
a 1st annual award given by Wedgewood
2001, "America's Best Chef," Time Magazine
2001, Outstanding Wine Service Award, James Beard Foundation
2000, "Favorite Restaurant in the U.S.," Food & Wine Restaurant Experts' Poll
2000, Inducted into "Who's Who in Food & Beverage," James Beard Foundation
2000, "Top Restaurant for Food," Wine Spectator
1999, Fine Dining Hall of Fame, Nation's Restaurant News
#8226; 1998, "Chef of the Year," Bon Appétit Magazine
1999-1997, Voted #1 - "America's Top Tables - Northern California Wine Country," Gourmet Magazine
1998 Awards, "Best Pastry Chef," "Best Graphics," James Beard Foundation
1998, "Best Restaurants in America," Playboy Magazine
1998-1996, "Best Meal," USA Today
1997 Award, "Outstanding Chef: America," James Beard Foundation
1997-1998 Spokesperson, California Milk Advisory Board
1997 "Best Chef," San Francisco Focus
1997 DiRoNa Award, Distinguished Restaurants of North America
1997 Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence
1996 "Best American Chef: California," James Beard Foundation
1996 Ivy Award, Restaurants & Institutions
1995 Nominee, "Best Newcomer," "Best Restaurant: California," James Beard Foundation
"Best New Restaurant of 1994," Esquire
"Best Newcomer," San Francisco Focus
"The Country's Best Restaurants," Wine Spectator
And to think my company was putting us up at the Venetian in LV last spring and we did *NOT* get to Bouchon.............. :mumble:Brian HCM#1 said:
-S.S.-
Thats just wrong