Have you ever been to a Michelin star restaurant?

kandr10 · 23-04-2014 08:02AM

Bootsy. wrote: »

I'd like to but those places seem to really hate vegetarians. So no.

Not so. They all do wonderful vegetarian menus.

force eleven · 23-04-2014 08:12AM

Personally, I dislike munchkin sized portions on my plate if I'm going to eat out and I care not for the artistry of dishes either. A Slab of medium rare sirloin steak, a mountain of fried onions and a wheelbarrow full of thick cut chips please. And a bucket of pepper sauce on the side. That'll do.

brinty · 23-04-2014 08:26AM

Yes I have been to the Cliff House Hotel in Waterford. An absolutely fantastic experience.

Would I go back? Absolutely 100%

Would I go to another one? Without doubt

I'm a foodie so appreciate the skill and artistry, change in menu and ingredients based on the season, cooking techiniques used, ambience, tailored wine listings etc that a michelin star chef must use and demonstrate in his menu before s/he would even be conisdered good enough to get nominated for one.

This is a debate where people will fall one one of two sides.

1) Foodies (who want quality) who'll appreciate what's on offer and know they'll be eating several courses of small but wonderfully produced and presented food as every Restaurant generally advises on a sampling menu of 5-8 courses (so they'll be well feed)

2) Non foodies (who want quantity) who just want a big lump of steak/meat and some spuds and a few onions on the side and a "bucket of Pepper sauce" to completely destroy the flavour of the meat!!! :eek:

Sorry if that sounds like i'm a pretentious arse, I'm not, but if i comes across that way well feck it..i'd prefer to pay for quality and be slightly hungry than quantity

sunflower27 · 23-04-2014 08:40AM

Yep, Campagne in Kilkenny. Michelin Star and does a fabulous early bird.

It is something like €24 for two courses if you go early. The quality is incredible. I go for special treats like birthdays and celebrations. I enjoy food but I do have an issue with paying over the odds for it - it is only food after all.

I used to go out for food a lot - I didn't appreciate it at all the way I do now that I am back in college and money is tight.

sunflower27 · 23-04-2014 08:43AM

You should never leave a restaurant hungry - especially if it cost you an arm and a leg. Being OK with that because you expect 'quality over quantity' is ridiculous. If you pay for a meal, you should leave pleasantly full - not stuffed - but not in need of a sandwich either.

jimgoose · 23-04-2014 08:50AM

Oh crikey yes. Back in the late '90s/early 2000s, when the IT bubble was in full swing and everyone was Dot-Commed out the wazoo, (desparate venture capitalists wandered the streets in filthy rags in packs, flinging wads of money at anyone who looked "Dot-Commy") the Black Amex was the weapon of choice and programmers went around in Elvis suits with a Komodo Dragon on a lead, I was fed and watered with the very best all over the world. I was usually slightly too merry to count Michelin stars, or indeed any other stars, but I'm pretty sure there were a few involved. Great days. I'm glad it all sort of fizzled out eventually though, before my pancreas went critical mass and blew up! :pac::pac::pac:

czechlin · 23-04-2014 09:01AM

I've been to one in Spain, think it had one star and it was a fabulous experience. The food was so delicious and well complimented by the selected wines. It was a taster menu but for a wedding so we had bit of everything. The taste buds had a party.
I have been to few other very nice restaurants and while I'm not into the whole posh thing I would not regret spending a bit of an extra cash on a nice experience. I tend to eat my way through whenever I travel as well.

EazyD · 23-04-2014 10:15AM

Yes, PG for a joint birthday. Been to one or two of Ramsay's places and the food was truly exquisite. People who moan over portion size's should skip along to the carvery queue of their local, because they evidently just don't get it.

23-04-2014 10:24AM

Lou.m wrote: »

Dietrich Fischer Deskau.

RoboRat · 23-04-2014 10:33AM

The same can be said about a lot of things in life. Why buy a Bugatti when a Micra would suffice, why buy a Boss suit when you can get a suit in Tesco for a snip of the price... why buy grey goose vodka when you can get a bottle in Aldi for €5.

If you want functional food, go to a nice restaurant. There are plenty of very good, reasonably priced restaurants that deliver lovely food in decent portions. If you want something that will be a completely new experience and blow your socks off, then a Michelin star restaurant is worth going to. Granted, some are overhyped and IMO, not deserving of the stars but some like the Fat Duck will leave you Gobsmacked... its not just the meal, its the theatre of the meal too.

I went to a top restaurant in Argentina, it had 3 tables and cost a bomb but 4 years later I still think it was one of the highlights of my life. Sitting at the foot of the Andes in amazing weather with a beautiful bottle of Malbec and eating the most divine food I have ever tasted.

bogmanfan · 23-04-2014 10:36AM

I've been lucky enough to visit a few. The ones in Dublin - Chapter One, Lock's, Thornton's - have all been very good. Thornton's would be my favourite here.
Abroad, I have been to Antico Martini in Venice, Restaurant 44 in Berlin and the River Cafe in Brooklyn.
But the best of all was Le Cirque in Las Vegas. We had our wedding dinner there (not for 200 people!) and it was amazing.

ted1 · 23-04-2014 10:39AM

Yes,

I've been to several.

I'm a regular in Chapter 1, which is Michelin star.

I had my wedding in a Michelin Star restaurant in San Sebastain with over 100 guests.

I've also been in Arzak three times which has 3 michelin Stars and is ranked in the top few restaurants in the world.

compared to what Mint in ranelagh were charging its quite reasonable.

Legs.Eleven · 23-04-2014 10:42AM

brinty wrote: »

Yes I have been to the Cliff House Hotel in Waterford. An absolutely fantastic experience.

Would I go back? Absolutely 100%

Would I go to another one? Without doubt

I'm a foodie so appreciate the skill and artistry, change in menu and ingredients based on the season, cooking techiniques used, ambience, tailored wine listings etc that a michelin star chef must use and demonstrate in his menu before s/he would even be conisdered good enough to get nominated for one.

This is a debate where people will fall one one of two sides.

1) Foodies (who want quality) who'll appreciate what's on offer and know they'll be eating several courses of small but wonderfully produced and presented food as every Restaurant generally advises on a sampling menu of 5-8 courses (so they'll be well feed)

2) Non foodies (who want quantity) who just want a big lump of steak/meat and some spuds and a few onions on the side and a "bucket of Pepper sauce" to completely destroy the flavour of the meat!!! :eek:

No. There's a middle ground. I'm not a foodie but I like good quality, tasty food, which I'd have every day. I like fancy food, I like simple food and I even like crap junk occasionally. I just bought some lovely, fresh trout which I'll have later with a simple sauce (not from a packet!). I'll make a salad from scratch using good quality ingredients (and not just lettuce, tomato and sweet corn either). I just don't ****e on about it and presume people who don't fall in line with my tastes are eating ready meals and Supermacs.

I'm not sure why that's so difficult for people to get their heads around the idea that there's a middle ground?

And I don't get the problem with liking a good quality steak with some potatoes and onions anyway? That sounds like a very decent meal. Tenner bets even the best chefs in the world have that regularly enough.

Edit: Again, I'd like to eat in a Michelin Star restaurant, I don't believe they're all pretentious but I do think there's a lot of pretension around a lot of the modern food industry.

jimgoose · 23-04-2014 10:45AM

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

...And I don't get the problem with liking a good quality steak with some potatoes and onions anyway? That sounds like a very decent meal. Tenner bets even the best chefs in the world have that regularly enough.

Like that, I have quite an eclectic palate. Fish'n'chips and steak Texan-style ("Cut off his horns an' wipe his ass!"

) is as good as five-star seven-course stuff depending on the humour. Interestingly, according to none other than Heston Blumenthal the Best Steak In The Universe is to be found in a boobie bar in Las Vegas, Nevada! :cool:

MagicMarker · 23-04-2014 10:51AM

RoboRat wrote: »

I went to a top restaurant in Argentina, it had 3 tables and cost a bomb but 4 years later I still think it was one of the highlights of my life. Sitting at the foot of the Andes in amazing weather with a beautiful bottle of Malbec and eating the most divine food I have ever tasted.

Do you think the same restaurant serving the same food at same cost would still have been a highlight of your life had you been sitting staring out of a window on O'Connell St watching a junkie puke into a bin?

I probably would have been just as happy as you in that setting had I been eating some barbecued chicken and drinking a cheap bottle of beer.

Legs.Eleven · 23-04-2014 10:51AM

jimgoose wrote: »

Like that, I have quite an eclectic palate. Fish'n'chips and steak Texan-style ("Cut of his horns an' wipe his ass!" ) is as good as five-star seven-course stuff depending on the humour. Interestingly, according to none other than Heston Blumenthal the Best Steak In The Universe is to be found in a boobie bar in Las Vegas, Nevada! :cool:

The best steak I had was in a restaurant in Argentina that had no stars.

snaphook · 23-04-2014 10:51AM

Nicest meal i've had in ages was a black pudding and goats cheese salad starter followed by a Hake stew with fresh potatos.

Pat Shortts in Castlemartyr.

Michelin Stars. None.

RoboRat · 23-04-2014 10:52AM

I'm not sure why that's so difficult for people to get their heads around the idea that there's a middle ground?

I agree, there is a middle ground. There are plenty of people who like good quality food in decent portions. As I said in my previous post, there are plenty of really nice, reasonable restaurants that offer very high quality food in good portion size.

Personally, if I was minted, I wouldn't go to Michelin restaurants every weekend. They are not for everybody and this is not a slight on peoples tastes - I am not a food snob and I understand that everybody has different tastes and different expectations.

Sometimes you can't beat a nice aged 30 day aged steak with thickcut homemade chips, red onion jam and seasonal vegetables. If its done to perfection, it is a very enjoyable meal but sometimes I like to just treat myself, much like I like to buy a really nice bottle of wine. There are plenty of under €10 wines that are amazing and there are some that cost €200 plus that are rank but there are some around the €50 mark that are absolutely superb.

jimgoose · 23-04-2014 10:52AM

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

The best steak I had was in a restaurant in Argentina that had no stars.

I believe the place in Vegas has stars alright, only not the Michelin kind.

Legs.Eleven · 23-04-2014 10:53AM

jimgoose wrote: »

I believe the place in Vegas has stars alright, only not the Michelin kind.

Oh ho! Wink winky!

;)

OldNotWIse · 23-04-2014 10:53AM

I bought a deli roll from a garage once that had a michelin man outside. Does that count?

Legs.Eleven · 23-04-2014 10:55AM

RoboRat wrote: »

I agree, there is a middle ground. There are plenty of people who like good quality food in decent portions. As I said in my previous post, there are plenty of really nice, reasonable restaurants that offer very high quality food in good portion size.

Personally, if I was minted, I wouldn't go to Michelin restaurants every weekend. They are not for everybody and this is not a slight on peoples tastes - I am not a food snob and I understand that everybody has different tastes and different expectations.

Sometimes you can't beat a nice aged 30 day aged steak with thickcut homemade chips, red onion jam and seasonal vegetables. If its done to perfection, it is a very enjoyable meal but sometimes I like to just treat myself, much like I like to buy a really nice bottle of wine. There are plenty of under €10 wines that are amazing and there are some that cost €200 plus that are rank but there are some around the €50 mark that are absolutely superb.

Thank you!

My favourite bottle of wine here (Spain) is 4.50. I've tasted a **** load of wine from various places and it's me fave. Tbh, I wouldn't spend less than 3 Euro here on a bottle of wine because it will be **** but as you said, you don't need to spend a lot of money for quality.

RoboRat · 23-04-2014 10:56AM

Do you think the same restaurant serving the same food at same cost would still have been a highlight of your life had you been sitting staring out of a window on O'Connell St watching a junkie puke into a bin?

You don't understand the Michelin star rating. Its not just about the food, its about the entire experience.

I probably would have been just as happy as you in that setting had I been eating some barbecued chicken and drinking a cheap bottle of beer.

Each to their own and I am not criticising you. I have had many a beautiful BBQ with an ice cold bottle of cider and feeling like I was in heaven but it was nowhere near this experience.

phantom_lord · 23-04-2014 11:09AM

GenieOz wrote: »

Someone is angry that they pay too much for their food.

You can get the same quality of food and service at 80% of other restaurants.

You really, really don't.

KungPao · 23-04-2014 11:10AM

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

The best steak I had was in a restaurant in Argentina that had no stars.

Argentinian (and Brazilian beef to a very slightly lesser extent) is amazing. Get a decent cut, cover in rock salt, leave for a while then toss it on a barbeque. Wait till nicely browned but still bloody in the middle...

Unreal!

jimgoose · 23-04-2014 11:10AM

OldNotWIse wrote: »

I bought a deli roll from a garage once that had a michelin man outside. Does that count?

As long as you use a napkin and knife-and-fork while sitting in your Transit, absolutely. :cool:

czechlin · 23-04-2014 11:14AM

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

...a good quality steak with some potatoes and onions anyway? That sounds like a very decent meal.

jimgoose wrote: »

Like that, I have quite an eclectic palate. Fish'n'chips and steak Texan-style ("Cut off his horns an' wipe his ass!" ) is as good as five-star seven-course stuff depending on the humour.

RoboRat wrote: »

Sometimes you can't beat a nice aged 30 day aged steak with thickcut homemade chips, red onion jam and seasonal vegetables.

Well damn you all, now I just want steak!! Really really badly

Legs.Eleven · 23-04-2014 11:16AM

KungPao wrote: »

Argentinian (and Brazilian beef to a very slightly lesser extent) is amazing. Get a decent cut, cover in rock salt, leave for a while then toss it on a barbeque. Wait till nicely browned but still bloody in the middle...

Unreal!

Someone told me it's pumped full of hormones though, which turned me off a bit. Don't know how true that is.

Seaneh · 23-04-2014 11:50AM

KungPao wrote: »

Argentinian (and Brazilian beef to a very slightly lesser extent) is amazing. Get a decent cut, cover in rock salt, leave for a while then toss it on a barbeque. Wait till nicely browned but still bloody in the middle...

Unreal!

Irish beef is the best beef in the world. What makes Argentine steakhouses special isn't the beef itself, it's the style of cooking them, they use a type of open charcoal grill called an Asado which is just perfect for cooking meats like beef, lamb and game because it gets insanely hot so you can sear things very quickly.

yellow hen · 23-04-2014 11:51AM

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

The best steak I had was in a restaurant in Argentina that had no stars.

snap...little place in el calafate.... all that came on the plate was two chunks of fillet steak and they were like bits of heaven!

Have you ever been to a Michelin star restaurant?

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