Listed in alpha-order. Tried many in each category, only the best are listed. Time to drool.
| Restaurant | Type | City (Calif. unless noted) | Relative Cost | Since | What to get/Comments | | Afghani House | Afghani | Sunnyvale | $$ | 2/2002 | Lamb kabob (a must), Chicken kabob. Comes with tasty rice and naan (bread) | | Arturo's | Mexican | Eagle Rock | $ | 1987 | [2005: Been closed for who-knows how long. So sad.] Regular beef tacos (hard shell) | | Babayaga | Italian | Bellagio, Italy | $$ | 2003 | Pizza Margherita | | Baja Fresh | Mexican | Many locations (chain) | $ | 2001-2007 | Grilled chicken burrito ('Mexicano' style) | | Berthillon | Ice cream | Paris | $ | 2002 | Best ice cream in Paris | | Bilacus | Italian | Bellagio, Italy | $$ | 2003 | Veal with portobello mushrooms, tagliatelle in red sauce, torta, everything | | Blue Nile | Ethiopian | Berkeley | $$ | 1991 | Combo, then pick at least one chicken dish. Spicy | | Cafe Jacqueline | French | San Francisco | $$$$ | 2001 | Amazing souffles and selection. Souffle-only restaurant. Small, quaint. | | The Cheesesteak Shop | Philly-style Fast food | Bay Area locations
| $ | 10/2005 | Mushroom Cheesesteak sandwich with sweet peppers
| | Crab Cooker | Seafood | Newport Beach | $$$ | 2000 | Alaskan king crab leg dinner. Resist any inclination to get the cheaper crab dinners. | | Domaine des hauts de Loire | French | Loire Valley, France | $$$$$ | 2002 | Everything here is amazing; Desserts | | Gallagher's | Steakhouse | Las Vegas, NV | $$$$ | 1999 | New York Strip steak. Prefer over the original restaurant in NYC | | Gelateria Di Piazza (Mr. Sergio Dondoli) | Ice cream | San Gimignano | $ | 2003 | Best gelato in Tuscany | | Genki | Sushi | Atlanta, GA | $$$ | 2002 | Their specialty roll, their noodle bowls | | Giolitti | Ice Cream | Rome, Italy | $ | 2003 | Gelato (rice, other flavors). Also very good: Il Gelato di San Crispino (near Trevi fountain) | | Graeter's Ice Cream | Ice Cream | Cincinnati, OH | $ | 1992 | Mint chip, Best ice cream in US | | In-n-Out Burger | Fast food | Western US (chain) | $ | 1986? | Hamburger or Double-double, Animal style, Fries, Shake | | Javier's | Mexican | Laguna Beach | $$$ | 2000 | Many good dishes, tamale | | Korea House | Korean | Santa Clara | $$ | 1999 | Kalbi (ribs), Bi bim bap served in sizzling stone bowl (crispy rice). | | Krungthai | Thai | San Jose | $$$ | 2001 | Silver noodle prawn, Fried banana w/ ice cream, Sticky rice w/ mango | | Lawry's, The Prime Rib | Steakhouse | Beverly Hills | $$$$ | 1988 | Prime rib, Yorkshire pudding | Le Hide
| French
| Paris
| $$$
| 2009
| Best pan-seared foie gras (good-sized starter!). Dined twice on one trip. First night: Scallops. 2nd night: Fish. Both amazing.
| | Les Sans Culottes | French | New York, NY | $$$ | 2000 | Lobster bisque, price-fixed menu | | LongHorn Steakhouse | American | Various (chain) | $$ | 1993-1995 | [2008: Menu changed. Seems to be different now] LongHorn burger (the works) | | Luini | Italian | Milan, Italy | $ | 2003 | Panzerotti (similar to a calzone) | | Millevoglie | Italian | Venice, Italy | $ | 2003 | Pizza Margherita slices, gelato (especially Pistachio) | | Mitchell's Ice Cream | Ice Cream | San Francisco | $ | 2000 | Cantaloupe ice cream, Best ice cream in Northern Calif. | | Montgomery Inn | American | Cincinnati, OH | $$$$ | 1992 | Baby back ribs with their homemade potato chips | | New East Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant | Chinese | Milpitas, CA | $$ | 2003 | Sturgeon porridge w/ yo-chao (their specialty; Fri-Sun only) | | Nyonya | Malaysian | New York, NY | $$ | 2000 | Sarong Burong (chicken, seafood, vegetables in a fried taro bowl), Indian bread w/ curry sauce | | Osaka Kappo | Japanese | Tustin | $$ | 1994 | [2004: Under new management. Sadly no good.] Saba shioyaki (broiled mackerel) dinner; comes with lots of good side dishes/courses. Tiny place, get there when the doors open or else wait a long time. | | Osteria | Italian | Palo Alto | $$$ | 1996 | Battered calamari steaks | | Pizza Rustica al Gracchi | Pizza | Rome, Italy | $ | 2003 | Mushroom slices (funghi) | | Pung Mie | Chinese/Korean | Doraville, GA (Atlanta) | $$ | 1993 | "Jahm-Bong" (soup, noodles, seafood), pot-stickers. 5145 Buford Hwy., Doraville, GA 30340. 455-0435 (area code 404?) | | Quaker Steak & Lube | American | Sharon, PA | $$ | 1989 | Buffalo wings | | Sakarizushi | Sashimi | Tokyo, Japan | $$$ | 2002 | Best sashimi quality at reasonable prices. Locals know. | Sasabune
| Sushi (Omakase)
| NYC (also: LA, Hawaii)
| $$$$
| 2007
| By far, the ultimate sushi experience. Hard to eat sushi anywhere else again. It's that good. My #1 sushi bar on this planet. Must go omakase all the way.
| | Silky Oaks Resort | Continental | Mossman, Queensland, Australia | $$$$ | 1998 | Tomato bread (when available), chef's entrees are excellent. Resort is killer too. | | Skyline Chili | Fast food | Cincinnati, OH | $ | 1992 | 3-Way (spaghetti noodles, chili, cheese) | Snackbar Bird (or Thai Bird, across the street)
| Thai
| Amsterdam
| $
| 2009
| Best thai food in Europe (possibly). Probably my favorite thai place anywhere. Thai Bird seems to be same owner/food.
| | So-Gong-Dong Soon-Dubu (aka 'Tofu House') | Korean | Santa Clara | $$ | 2001 | Soon-Dubu (Tofu served in a hot pot, stew-like), comes with traditional rice. El Camino Real east, pass Lawrence Expwy, on the right. | | "Suna Ba" | Japanese | Tokyo, Japan | $$ | 2002 | Tempura soba (hot); Not sure of Japanese spelling, but have map on file.
| | Sushi Sam's | Japanese | San Mateo | $$ | 7/2007 | Cheesy name, awesome sushi. They do spicy tuna roll right. | | Tanto | Japanese | Santa Clara | $$$ | 7/2002 | Wakame seaweed salad, Tempura udon | | Tommy's, aka 'The Original Tommy's' | Fast food | Los Angeles, other SoCal locations | $ | 1985 | Tommy burger | | Tsing Tao | Korean-Chinese | Campbell | $$ | 2003 | [2008: Under new management and no longer good! Sad.]Seafood noodle soup (Jahm-bong); Soybean sauce noodles (Ja-jiang mein); All homemade noodles here | | Versailles | Cuban | Culver City | $$ | 1989 | Roasted half-chicken, Fried bananas, Guanabana shake | | Vivoli | Ice cream | Florence, Italy | $ | 2003 | Best gelato in Florence | Yuki Sushi
| Sushi
| San Jose, CA
| $$
| 2007
| Solid sushi. Great albacore w/ ponza sauce. Spicy tuna roll (jalapeno-based) is small, but wonderful. Best age-dashi tofu I've had anywhere. Niku udon is good.
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Other favorite eats: - Sarah's Mediterranean Grill & Market (Austin, TX): Hummus on pita bread. It is incredible here. Yes, it is possible (and surprising) to get excited about hummus! 11/2009.
- Wynand Fockink (Amsterdam): "Walk-in-the-woods" liqueur shot, yummy. 8/2009.
- Cote d'Or (Belgium, France): "Noir" chocolate bars in grocery stores. Favorite chocolate bar anywhere, any price. 8/2009.
- Haagen Dazs, Green Tea ice cream. 1/2009. Now a regular flavor!
- Sweet Leaf Tea Original flavor. 12/2008. Now in Califonia!
- Bistro Vida (Menlo Park, CA): French Bistro. Finally found good French Onion Soup in the Bay Area. Mussels & Pomme Frites pretty good. Kinda expensive. 7/2006.
- Botan Rice Candy
- Cheesecake Factory: Spicy crispy chicken sandwich with chipotle pepper mayo on the side, 9/12/2004. Shrimp & Bacon club sandwich, 12/2004. Thai Lettuce Wraps (appetizer as a meal), 7/2005.
- Celadon (Napa, CA): Pan roasted duck breast in pomegranate sauce, 12/2004.
- Duarte's (Pescadero), Artichoke soup
- Famiglia Pizzeria (New York, NY; chain): "A slice"
- Fat Tire beer (Colorado)
- Kendall-Jackson, Buckeye Vineyard, Alexander Valley, Cabernet 1997 (a long name for a good wine)
- Mexican food in Santa Fe, NM
- Moretti beer, Favorite Italian beer
- Rafferty's (chain): House Salad with warm honey mustard dressing
- Roxy Deli (New York, NY), Pastries: Angel wings, Black & white cookie
- Seattle Chocolates (Seattle), Mint Truffles
- Thai & Thai, Mandarina Crown Hotel, Taipei
- Tom's Restaurant (New York, NY), Affordable meal in NYC, good breakfast food, the coffee house on the Seinfeld sitcom
- Zabar's (NYC): Apple strudel
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