The January issue of Conde Nast gives their reader's poll for the first time. As it comes from over 7,000 readers recommendations that included 1,600 restaurants, it's worth considering. So, here goes: Ratings were based on a possible 100 points weighted as follows: 50% food 25% decor 25% service The top 100 were rated using only their "excellent" and "very good" ratings while ignoring "good" "fair" and "poor" Items of interest: 7 of top 50 were in Philadelphia, 5 of top 50 were in NYC 2 best Italian were in St. Louis 22 of top 50 are in hotels (5 in Ritz-Carltons) TOP 50 1. Le Bec-Fin, Philadelphia 95.8 2. The Fountain, Philadelphia 93.5 3. The Grill Room, New Orleans 93.0 4. Le Francais, Wheeling, Illinois 92.8 5. The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, VA 92.1 6. The Dinning Room at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, Atlanta 92.0 7. L'Orangerie, LA 92.0 8. La Provence, Lacombe, LA 91.2 9. The Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix 91.1 10. Aureole, NYC 91.0 11. The Lark, West Bloomfield, MI 90.8 12. Ventana Room, Tuscon 90.7 13. The Ritz, Newport Beach, CA 90.6 14. Milton Inn, Sparks, MD 90.5 15. The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, SF 90.3 15. La Truffe, Philadelphia 90.3 15. La Vieille Maison, Boca Raton, FL 90.3 18. Bouley, NYC 90.2 18. Silks, SF 90.2 20. Lespinasse, NYC 90.0 21. Aujourd'hui, Boston 89.7 21. Van Dyke Place, Detroit 89.7 23. The Cafe at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, Atlanta 89.5 23. Commander's Palace, New Orleans 89.5 25. Tony's, St. Louis 89.4 26. Ambria, Chicago 88.8 27. The Whitney, Detroit 88.5 28. Deux Cheminees, Philadelphia 88.2 28. The French Room, Dallas 88.2 28. La Grenouille, NYC 88.2 31. The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas 88.1 32. La Cote Basque, NYC 88.0 33. Swann Lounge and Cafe, Philadelphia 87.8 34. Bali-by-the-Sea, Honolulu 87.7 34. The Formal Dining Room at the Lodge at Koele, Lanai, HI 87.7 34. Julien, Boston 87.7 37. Chanterelle, Eugene, OR 87.5 37. Hamptons, Baltimore 87.5 37. L'Auberge Chez Francois, Great Falls, VA 87.5 37. Pacific's Edge, Carmel, CA 87.5 37. Stonehouse Restaurant, Montecito, CA 87.5 42. Christopher's, Phoenix 87.2 43. Bernard's, LA 87.1 43. Stephens, Alburquerque 87.1 45. Cacharel, Arlington, TX 86.4 45. Founders, Philadelphia 86.4 45. Grill Room at the Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia 86.4 48. Dominic's, St. Louis 86.3 48. Seasons, Boston 86.3 50. The Everest Room, Chicago 86.2 50. The Grill at the Ritz-Carlton, Houston 86.2 The rest of the top 100 are included in regional listings. Well worth checking out if you're traveling.
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