These restaurants are my all-time favorite dining experiences and have great memories attached to them. I highly recommend each place as they have great potential to be a meal to remember.
Komi - DC Dupont - The most creative meal I have ever eaten. MiniBar may be able to win slightly for most creative but I've yet to eat there. Komi is quaint, modest in appearance and bold in nothing except the exceptional quality of each course (13 in all for my meals there). Numerous courses of amuse-bouche, brilliant combinations of taste and texture leave your mouth feeling reborn by the end of the night. The full tasting menu will set you back 135 dollars before tip and wine is factored in. Service is the best in DC without being too attentive and disruptive. You barely know they are there except when you need them. There is a reason this place has been #1 for years now.
Maestro - Formerly in Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, VA - Maestro is no longer one of the top 5 restaurants in DC since chef Fabio Trabocchi packed up and moved to NY. In fact, it is officially transformed into Michel Richard's latest DC restaurant. However, I was lucky enough to eat at Maestro before they closed. It was the one and only time where the waiter simply asked me if there is anything I really don't like to eat or anything I really do like. I don't think I even saw a menu. My answer - "no eggs and I am really craving artichokes tonight". The result? A multi-course dinner involving flavored foams, a vial of clear, tomato-flavored broth, several dishes with artichokes, no eggs and a completely full belly. As Maestro is gone forever, that only amplifies my memory of the experience and it will forever live in my top 10 all time dining experiences.
Makoto - A true Japanese dining experience. Traditional cooking, exotic Japanese dining-ware, no cell phones and sandals to walk in make this experience one to remember. The upgraded sushi was to die for and the service was the best you can find in DC. They set a personal record for refilling of my drink. I'll be back, Makoto!
Citronelle- Consistently in the top 10 restaurants in DC and even held the #1 spot in DC for a time. I was finally able to try Citronelle out in 2011with a foodie friend visiting from out of town. It was my first time having braised short-ribs and it is to this day one of the most perfectly prepared meat dishes I've ever had. I highly recommend. Make sure to get the dessert that is a play on eggs. Creative, beautiful and really, really good.
Picasso - Bellagio Las Vegas- Millions of dollars of Picasso artwork on the walls and the Bellagio fountain spouting in the background sets the ambience of Picasso into a world of its own. It was also my first time having foie gras and life will never be the same.
Tommy Dinic's - Reading Terminal Station, Philadelphia PA - We've all hit the classic Philly Cheesesteak places (Gino's is the best, btw) but the greatest hot meat and cheese sandwich in all of Philadelphia is.... Tommy Dinic's! The line for this sandwich wraps around the station consistently all day. Ignore that deterring fact and get in line. I had the beef brisket sandwich with sharp provolone (wow) and peppers on top. To...Die...For.... I felt the ceiling open, the light pour into Reading Terminal Station and Angels sing when I took the first bite. Most of the reviews online are for the pork sandwich with brocolli rabe. I stumbled onto this place with a friend and if I had known they were famous for their pork sandwich, I would have tried it and missed out on the brisket. Oh, a little tip. If you are able to grab a seat, you can skip the line and order right away! So look out for someone who is just about done and nab their bar stool.
Cirque - Bellagio Las Vegas- One of the first great meals I've had outside of DC. Cirque was romantic, the food was excellent and I had a perfect view of the Bellagio fountain out of the window next to my table.
Mix - TheHotel Las Vegas- Vegas has its share of incredible views with every hotel trying to give a great shot of the Vegas skyline. Mix may have the best view of them all. The dining room is as ornate as almost any I've eaten in complete with a 24 foot chandelier. And if you are lucky enough to have a window view, hold your breath. Michelin rated one star 2009.
Chez Francois - Great Falls, Virginia- I've never been to the French countryside before but that's the feeling I have when I eat here. I really like the homey feel of the interior. I've not had anything to eat here that has blown me away but it is simply a very enjoyable meal. My first glass of Chateauneuf du Pape was also here and changed my love for red wine instantly. It is also a pretty good value for a premium French dining experience.
Firefly - Las Vegas - Had an extremely enjoyable meal at Firefly once. To be fair, it may have been the excellent company I was with that made it fun and the fact that I walked in and saw my favorite artist's paintings on the wall but it was still a meal to remember. One that my friend and I still talk about. It is almost impossible to not have a good time when pitchers of Sangria and Spanish Tapas are involved.
