Zagat Survey Discussions

I still miss Le Perroquet in Chicago. Closed years ago, but the food was fabulous and the room was quiet and romantic. They had a chocolate mousse that floated off the plate and would give you small portions of several desserts if you could not make up your mind. The entrance was on the ground floor where the doorman would take your name, put you in a tiny private elevator, and you would be greeted by name by one of the twin maitre d' when you arrived upstairs.

Couldn't agree more! L'Ermitage was a stand-out place that was a beautiful marriage of Russian and French cuisine. Even in NYC, with all of its variety, I have not found anything resembling a worthy replacement.

Ruppert's Restaurant >>

I agree, Ruppert's was I think my all time favorite DC restaurant. What happened to the husband and wife team who ran it?

Right now I'm still grieving over David Craig's closing in Bethesda. It was the ONLY restaurant in Bethesda worth going to. Now I live in Bethesda and basically end up going to Rio Grande for the margaritas -- or Le Pain Quotidienne. Nothing else in this town full of restaurants excites me.

RoyH1367819 wrote:
Ruppert's Restaurant on 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. in the old Ruppert's Real Estate building was amazing! It closed years ago, and I'm still raving to people about how good the food was, how the bread and cheese course was a meal in itself, and especially about the strawberry shortcake that came out on a made-to-order English muffin with house made butter ice cream! God! I wish I could go back in time and eat there again!
 
I agree! Nothing like it has opened in DC since.

We were never big fans of Ruppert's but we REALLY miss La Colline. La Colline was on Capitol Hill (get it?) and although it was clearly a power spot for Congress, the owners managed to keep prices reasonable and food authentically French. The space is now occupied by Johnny's Half Shell (Ann Cashion's seafood emporium) and it is simply not the same. 

the hot spot , in logan sq. this cute place had great breakfast and lunches but alas the weekend business was not enough.now it is tough to find good , semi healthy lunches in logan

I first moved to NYC as a teenager from Europe in 1963, and I have been returning for 46 years, so obviously I've seen too many places go over the years – Le Pavillon, the Spanish Pavilion, Lutèce, La Caravelle, Lüchows, The Colony... But I'm still trilled to bits that P.J. Clarke's, Peter Luger (even though steaks in the US have never been the same since the USDA changed its regulations for prime beef in the late 1970s...), La Grenouille, La Crémaillère upstate, the Old Homestead, Keens, the original Palm, Patsy's and so many others are still alive. New York, in that sense, is a privileged city!

I was in Paris when Cafe des Artistes filed for bankruptcy. I was shocked and saddened by its closing. But I am utterly desolate to lose the Parlor. The intimate 19th Century room -- capacity something like 17 -- was unique on the planet. With its zinc bar, food from the Cafe, single table in the plant-filled window, and the most ravishing clientele of glow babies, adventurers and raconteurs, it was a warm and welcoming step back in time, a gorgeous refuge. I walked by yesterday. The plants are still in the window. Someone loving, please revive it.

I agree completely. Danny and his son Jason did a fine job. Danny was a great host, Jason a great chef, togetehr a great team. Great food and great service.

Little Joe's in Los Angeles -- legendary hangout for law enforcement, the Dodgers, lawyers and judges -- the real power brokers. Many family memories made there. Also, best place in New York for the combo of ambience, food, service and atmosphere -- Café des Artistes. Sad, and I'll mourn their demises, as I know that no place will ever capture their essence.

Le Francais in Wheeling, IL Suburban Chicago 

In NYC:

Mme. Romaine de Lyon. What splendid nerve to offer a menu with 500 omelets! I think I got through about 10% of them over 20-odd years. Alas, cholesterol paranoia, high rents and, finally, the tax man got to her.

Cabana Carioca. Other places in Little Brazil serve Bacalhau Gomes de Sa, but it isn't the same - or as cheap. Their lease apparently got poached when the pub next door wanted to expand.

In Philadelphia:

The Commissary: Greatest. Cafeteria. Ever. (Eden, another long-done Steve Poses enterprise, was No. 2.)

¡Pasion!: The name said it all.

Grand Canal: This little place on Spruce St (now an Italian) had dishes, like Herbal Taste Chicken and Tofu Clouds in Shiitake Sauce, that I haven't been able to find anywhere else since.

Rolf's German restaurant on 21st and 3rd avenue was bought by an Indian owner. Very strange going to a traditional German restaurant around the holidays to find out it is now under Indian operation. Nothing against Indians but it is after all a German restaurant.

I will miss Cafe des Artistes in New York - and its murals!

Oh how I miss Mme. Romaine! At one point they had a nice, country French dinner menu as well as the lunchtime omelets. For me, that was the ultimate comfort food.

When I first started working in NYC, I was a few doors down from Lutece, and once a month I would treat myself to their price fixed lunch. Dining like a queen on a pauper's salary! 

Cabana Carioca was another one. :(

For the life of me I can't remember the name of a delightful French-Japanese restaurant on about 2nd & 20th. Excellent food, a thoroughly "art directed" interior and a killer sound system. The owner's music mixes could take you from Led Zeppelin to Mozart seamlessly!