The Best Restaurants & Sports Bars thread

Blue Point in Cleveland's Warehouse District.

 

I hear you. I've done my share of slot-pulling, but even if you didn't gamble there's enough in the Ameristar casinos to keep you busy.

 

Great story about that last part. Was covering the NCAA Tournament one year and found a sports bar that was showing all the games on a first-round Friday. A whole group of us were there. So, right about the time the early games are finishing up, 9-9:30, the waitress comes along and tells us we've all got to get up because they're setting up the dance floor.
And just like that, our sports bar turned into a Techno club.

 

Sports bars -- I have a few simple rules. Good TVs. Put the sound on for a big game. Be pricey enough to keep out the college kids, but not clubby in the least. Have the newspapers on the bar. The bartenders must be cool and generous, the waitresses attractive and the manager surly. Good beer and quality food. Understand the good customers. My local on the Upper East Side fits the bill and is -- great for soccer or football games and good enough to bring the family for a casual dinner.

Restaurants. Pre-fatherhood, I hit just about every top place in NYC or whereever I traveled. My 8 favorites of all time:

1) Restaurant La Chèvre d'Or -- Eze, France. Quite possibly the greatest meal that I'll ever have. On the top of a mountain overlooking the Mediterranean -- a fantastic meal served by non-snobby staff. The meal lasted five hours topped off by after dinner drinks and a handmade cigar by the pool with a great view of the sea.

2) French Laundry -- Yountville, California. A bit pretentious, but well worth it. Amazing 9 course tasting menu. Great service, better wines.

3) March -- NY, NY. Not mentioned anymore as one of the great ones in the city, but I've had three amazing meals there.

4) Restaurant Louis XV -- Monte Carlo, Monaco. Loses a little for pretension, but the food and service were unreal. Probably the best food that I've ever had.

5) Union Square Cafe -- NY, NY. Not fancy, but everything is always perfect. The service is amazing, the wine list is excellent.

6) Babbo -- NY, NY. Best Italian food that I've ever had. Anywhere.

7) Tasting Room -- NY, NY. Recently moved to a bigger place which I haven't tried, but it was a hole in the wall in the East Village. Excellent food and crazy wine list.

8) Restaurant La Voile d'Or -- St. Jean Cap Ferrat, France. Stayed at the hotel on my honeymoon. Didn't have dinner reservations the first night when we arrived from NYC and they suggested that we tried their restarant. I thought it could be like a diner. Luckily, I thought to wear a jacket . You are on a terrace with the Mediterranean right beneath you. Amazing and special meal.

Other good places:
-- Bern's in Tampa
-- WD-50 in NYC
-- Cafe Concerto in Florence
-- Town in NYC

 

Webster. if you haven't already read it, I'd recommend Heat by Bill Buford, about his experiences working for Mario Batali as a kitchen slave.

And you're right about the Union Square Cafe. It started a major trend in NYC restaurants--fabulous food served in a professional but casual atmosphere.

 

JR -- I have the book, but didn't read it yet. After "Among the Thugs", I'm a little suspicious of the veracity of Buford's stories.

 

Webster, even if is spinning some tall tales, it's a terrific read. He conveys, if nothing else, the unrelenting pressure of working in a restaurant's kitchen.

 

Herman's Rib House, Fayetteville, Ark.

 

Cask 'n Flagon - Boston
The Fours - Boston and Quincy, MA
Varsity Club - Columbus, OH

 

For when y'all go to Vegas . . . ESPNZone... touchscreen TV's, TV's above the urinals so you never miss a thing (unless you've got bad aim).

 

Vegas? Watch the games in the LV Hilton sports book. FREE drinks (no proof of betting required, though you'd better be
tipping), lotsa screens, additional cool options (heh, heh) -- and a crowd that knows what the hell
it's looking at (rare, indeed).