the best (not that expensive) meal i have ever had

[mopinko]

ok, i have had a couple of really expensive meals that were as good, but the hubby and i went to this japanese place, and had the most fantastic $60 meal ever, in the history of the planet.
i have just always wanted to go to a restaurant and say "i'm really hungry, feed me." that is what we had tonight.
beautiful little sushi(?) (not really, a little rice pot, filled with fish, veggies, spicy sauce) great maki, then a nice spring roll, then another maki, a couple of perfect sushi, fish that was as tender as a marshmallow, then a DESSERT MAKI- sarimi (sp?), kiwi, mango, cucumber!, and a sweet cinnamon tea.
wow. i just belched. it is still good.
what was the best meal you ever had?

[Ellen Forradalom]

1. Damn, where is this place?

My husband and I need to get out more often.

My best meal was dinner at Charlie Trotter's on my husband's 35th birthday. That place is in a class by itself.

[mopinko]

4. hama matsu

on clark in andersonville. i don't recommend going on the weekend when they are real busy, tho.

[sir_captain]

2. Hmm...

In this country, the two best easily were at Bouley and Lupa in NY. Bouley is a fantastic (and fantastically expensive, so it was good I wasn't paying) French restaurant, and Lupa is one of the restaurants run by chef Mario Batali (he's got a few shows on the TV Food Network.) The pasta at Lupa is so incredible--the Gnocchi is literally like eating a little slice of heaven. Probably the best meal I ever had was in a tiny little restaurant under a footbridge in Florence, though. Pity I don't remember the name.

[tridim]

3. Some might disagree, but I think P.F. Changs

is really good, semi-cheap food. It's not the best Chinese food I've ever had but I always leave there fully satisfied. Lettuce wraps and Honey shrimp are my usual order.

99.9% of the restaurants described as "fine cuisine" or "gourmet" are overrated IMO. The best food is very often the most inexpensive.

[sir_captain]

5. Heh

which region of the country are you in? I avoid "American" Chinese food like the plague, I have to admit. I'll stick with Chinatown, I think. Though I have heard good things about the Big Bowl chain in the south.

I agree with you about expensive restaurants generally. My favorite restaurant in NY is a dirt cheap Cuban/Chinese place--greatest roast chicken I've ever had. A few expensive places are semi-worth it, though. Bouley and Lupa are really pretty transcendent experiences.

[grannylib]

8. Some really great Chinese here in Minnesota of all places...many SE Asian

immigrants here who have gone into biz...good stuff. Thai, Vietnamese, Laotian, Chinese...
Some good Middle Eastern restaurants in the Twin Cities area too

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. My favorite discovery is

Red Lobster's "Salmon In A Bag". It's salmon placed inside a paper bag along with assorted veggies and a white wine sauce, sealed, and left to slowly cook. They open it at the table. Fan freakin tastic!

[grannylib]

7. Fourth anniversary, camping, fresh trout, morel mushrooms, cheap

champagne...best ever.