Top
10 U.S. Hotel Restaurants 2006
Proof that the
hospitality industry is advancing in an enlightened direction,
fifteen of the top 40 dining rooms selected for our "2006
Restaurant Issue" are located in hotels. Today's
lodgings play host to some of the biggest names in the
food world, from Jean-Georges Vongerichten to Michel Richard.
Like an extraordinary wine and cheese pairing, the right
combination of hotel and restaurant is spiritually moving.
We love the idea of dining out and then wandering down
the hall to our suite for a sweet, sated night's sleep.
Because we assume you do, too, we're delighted to offer
our recommendations for the best hotel restaurants in
the country.
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ARIZONA
Scottsdale
Mary Elaine's (The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort)
Those
looking for a cool, refreshing oasis in the desert will
find it here, under the guiding culinary hand of chef
de cuisine Bradford Thompson. He developed his skills
with predecessor James Boyce and, prior to that, Daniel
Boulud in New York. His modern French style, fusion
of old and new techniques, and acclaimed seasonal tasting
menus—plus a $3 million wine collection—are
highlights at The
Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort, which has plenty to boast of in its own
right, including the 22,000-square-foot Centre for Well-Being.
With a spa this indulgent, working off a Thompson-inspired
dish is as much a guilty pleasure as eating it.
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CALIFORNIA
Healdsburg
Cyrus
(Les Mars Hotel)
Venture
to wine country for reasons other than the vino and take
a seat in this sophisticated restaurant that exhibits
a rare combination of world-class dining and impeccable
yet personable service. Maître d' Nick Peyton charms
guests with a swoon-worthy caviar and Champagne cart before
they are steered into a wine country frame of mind. Chef-owner
Douglas Keane prepares items from his prix-fixe menu that
allows diners to choose three to five courses of contemporary
cuisine with French, seasonal and global influences. We
mustn't forget to mention Cyrus' impressive and lengthy
wine list.
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CALIFORNIA
Laguna
Beach
Studio
(Montage Resort & Spa)
Perched
atop one of the prettiest cliffs in south Laguna Beach,
this ocean-view eatery was master-engineered by chef James
“Jimmy” Boyce, one of our top Regional Chefs
in 2004. His dedication to local, farm fresh and artisanal
ingredients is evident in the California-Mediterranean
cuisine, and Boyce has trained many of the Montage’s
culinary staff resort-wide. Whether you order à
la carte or prix-fixe, a meal here is guaranteed to be
expensive, but there couldn't be a better spot in Orange
County for that very special occasion. The restaurant
also boasts a personal sommelier for pairing your dishes
with selections from the 900-label wine list.
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CALIFORNIA
Los
Angeles
CUT
(Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel)
Legendary
chef Wolfgang Puck and prominent architect Richard Meier
paired up to transform the ultra-classic dining room in
the Beverly Wilshire hotel into a modern, elegant and
chic spot. The restaurant, styled with black-and-white
paintings and vines growing along the wall, features an
open kitchen that gives amplitude to the room. Puck prepares
innovative takes on traditional steakhouse fare such as
Kobe steak sashimi, foie gras sandwiched between spiced
tuiles and asparagus with a poached egg—and
that’s just to start.
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CALIFORNIA
San Francisco
The Dining Room (The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco)
Sure,
it's fun to talk about the fact that Ron Siegel was the
first American to defeat an Iron Chef on the eponymous
Japanese cult TV show. His fifteen minutes of fame, however,
are nothing compared to the real reason Siegel deserves
his laurels: his Eastern-influenced French cuisine on
the menu at The
Dining Room. Considering this restaurant's long-standing
reputation, developed under such chefs as Gary
Danko and Sylvain Portay, Siegel's accomplished helming
of this landmark property is particularly notable. As
a result, it remains a fitting ornament for one of San
Francisco's classic hotels.
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DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA
Washington,
D.C.
Michel Richard Citronelle (Latham Hotel)
Of all the movers and shakers that frequent
Michel Richard Citronelle, chef Richard himself arguably
is most deserving of the spotlight. This is saying a lot
in a city filled with influential politicos, but we stand
by our assessment, and we're sure you'll agree from the
moment you take your first bite. Like the hotel, the dining
room is subtle, all the better to complement Richard's
theatrics in the exhibition kitchen. Known for revolutionizing
French-California cuisine, he now wows with an extravagant
nine-course tasting menu. Like what you’ve nibbled?
Then we suggest you take one of his innovative cooking
classes.
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ILLINOIS
Chicago
Ambria (Belden-Stratford Hotel)
Many
Second City denizens believe this classic and stylish
restaurant to be second to none. Chef-owner Gabino Sotelino,
with the help of chef de cuisine Christian Eckmann, prepares
innovative French food from pâté to soufflé.
The elegant Art Nouveau dining room, with its dark woods
and soft edges, evokes memories of great rooms past, but
the cooking is rooted in the present. The offerings change
seasonally and dégustation menus abound, so there
is ample reason to keep coming back for more.
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NEVADA
Las
Vegas
Joël
Robuchon Restaurant (MGM Grand)
In
the evolution of Las Vegas as one of the capitals of the
world of gastronomy, the arrival of Robuchon was a milestone.
With namesake restaurants in Paris, Tokyo and, most recently,
New York, Robuchon is the Manet of the ovens and among
the culinary elite. Dine among Art Deco-inspired décor
and feast on French fare served via two dégustation
menus, composed of ten or sixteen courses and paired with
a selection of wines by the glass. Stated simply: there's
only one Robuchon in the world, and an evening here is
a unique and unforgettable experience.
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NEW
YORK
New
York
Jean Georges (Trump International Hotel & Tower)
Another
globetrotter with an international gourmet empire, Jean-Georges
Vongerichten has made a celebrated name for himself with
a foundation that is classic French and influences from
the time he spent in Asia mastering his craft. Still,
this flagship restaurant—the
centerpiece of his domain—at
the Trump
Tower continues to set the standards. Executive chef
Mark LaPico admirably tends to the day-to-day, which is
complemented by Adam Tihany's Trump-worthy interior design.
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WASHINGTON
Woodinville
The
Herbfarm (Willows Lodge)
Using
strictly seasonal and truly regional ingredients from
the restaurant's twelve-acre farm, Jerry Traunfeld practices
what most restaurants only preach. Nine-course menus are
finalized hours before the meal, ensuring freshness and
quality from both land and sea. Begin your dinner with
an apéritif or herbal tea and a tour of the garden,
where your hosts will discuss and sample the herbs starring
in the evening's menu. The Herbfarm is the Northwest's
quintessential dining experience.
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