Zagat Survey Discussions

Mill River Inn on Long Island. Consistently rated as top restaurant on LI, mine and my wifes special occasion place, great food and fantastic service, we really miss it.

In New York, Brasserie LCB. Terrific French food, moderately priced. The best service, and elegant yet tasteful decor.

In Philadelphia, Aglio. A phenomenal Italian spot that was small and a bit noisy, but felt like family.

In Atlanta, Chow in Va Highlands - they had the most amazing fried chicken., and Tom Tom - A Bistro.

You are among the many who will miss this wonderful restaurant. But over thirty years of incredbily hard work, Camille and John deserve a lot of leisure time.

Would love to vote. How?

There are so many that have passed on. In DC, Lion d'Or, Piccidilly, Goldie Ahern, Le Bisto, Duke's, Paul Young, Nicholas at the Mayflower as well as the Rib Room there, Jaquelines, Dominiques, Maison Blanche, The old Watergate where the food was so/so but you were on the river, Jean Paul, Jean Louis, Le Bagetelle,Blackies, and all the other Black restaurants he owned, everything on 8th SE, and I guess my list could go on.
Ernies inSF, London Chop House and Joe's Garage in Detroit, Scandia and Chasens in LA, The Famous in Miami Beach and I guess I could remember at least 50 in NYC that I enjoyed.

I'm surprised that Le Francais in the Chicago suburb of Wheeling hasn't received more love here. At its best, it put Charlie Trotter's to shame. Far more consistent -- the best meals I had ever had in Chicago until Alinea came along and the best, most attentive service. Really one of the top 5 restaurants in America at its best.

I also miss Gordon in Chicago, though Naha, which now occupies the space, is a pretty good replacement.

I hadn't heard Townsend in San Francisco had closed. They had terrific breakfasts. Loved the fresh homemade breads and rolls. In fact, is this not the same place: http://www.townsendrb.com/? Looks like it is still open.

In New York City, Ferrier which was on 65th bwtn Park and Madison. Fantastic Southern French bistro and tiny bar with great food and bags of personality. Currently occupied by Paris Match, nice but devoid of atmosphere.

Also, Arizona 206 at 206 E60th St. which left to be replaced by a Patsy's Pizza. Arizona 206 was a perfect Southwestern combination of bar, restaurant and cafe which is sorely missed.

A lot of people have mentioned great 'tourist' restaurants like Luchow's (and perhaps the Horn and Hardart). I also remember vividly my one visit to Windows on the World. One hopes that whatever tower that does rise in NYC in the coming decade includes a similarly spectacular restaurant.

Thinking back to childhood, I also miss the Autobar, an over-the-top racing themed restaurant, right by the skating rink in Rockefeller Center.

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The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook. -- Julia Child

RIP restaurants -- how far back shall I go? Chicago favorites like Jacques and Chez Paul are missed but have been replaced by other good French restaurants. P F Chang's is not really a replacement for Shangri_la or Don the Beachcombers, and nothing is comparable today to Henrici's or Fritzel's. 

And the old-fashioned tea-room -- Indian Trail in Winnetka, Crosby's and Damon's in Cleveland -- where are they now? 

Seymour Burton, NYC East Village. I liked it so much that it helped me decide to buy a condo in the hood. It was closed before I moved in.

The once-popular Wycombe Inn, Bucks County in suburban Philly, has been around for something like a century; I once had a chat there with fellow cigar smoker Richard Widmark. But it finally gave up the ghost in 2009 after having been mismanaged by clueless new owners and is now up for sale. This is a few years after the nearby Anchor Inn, where George Washington and his troops used to dine, went up in flames at 3 AM. Fortunately, the nearby Summer Kitchen has picked up some of the slack.

FIAMMA NYC,   under the amazing Fabio Trabocchi  ...sorely missed.

Chanterelle! The food was always wonderful and the welcome and service outstanding

I am really not as old as this is going to sound, but:
Ernie's San Francisco
Anthony's St Louis
Le Perroquet Chicago
The Coach House NYC

Would love to get another meal at any of the above oldies but amazing goodies!!

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I live to eat

ZAGAT Administrator wrote:
Nowadays it seems as though we’re seeing restaurants go out of business and change ownership more than ever. What restaurants have closed their doors that you miss and wish would open again?
 
Aperitivo, ChristCella, Il Gattopardo, Gage & Tollner, Romeo Salta, Le Cygne. Every one a great dining experience and all mourned. I dearly miss the veal chop and red snapper at Aperitivo, and the ChristCella's potatoes perhaps the most. The clam bellies at G&T were perfect, and the arugula and endive salad at Il Gattopardo one of the best salads I ever had.