CHICAGO —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame.
The 2008 inductees will be honored Sunday, May 18, during NRN’s Fine Dining Hall of Fame Luncheon at Chicago’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The event is sponsored by American Express, Fishbowl, Jennie-O and Mazzetta Co. LLC. As previously announced, Pano Karatassos, founder and chief executive of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group in Atlanta, will be recognized at the luncheon as the 2008 Fine Dining Legend. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame.
The new inductees into the Fine Dining Hall of Fame are as follows: —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame.
Café Ponte, Clearwater, Fla. This trendy, New York-style cafe features contemporary American cuisine with French, Asian and Italian influences in a modern and elegant setting. Chef-owner Chris Ponte draws influences from all corners of the globe to create his American-fusion fare. The open kitchen allows guests to watch chefs design each dish, which include favorites like potato-crusted sea bass and filet mignon. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame. Harrah’s Steak House, Reno, Nev. One of Reno’s premier dining destinations, this low-lit, romantic restaurant is located on the lower level of Harrah’s Hotel & Casino and features Prime beef, fresh seafood, chops and chicken. A favorite of locals, Harrah’s offers up-scale candlelight dining in cozy booths with superb food under the supervision of longtime maître d’ Michael Kerivan. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame. Janos, Tucson, Ariz. Originally opened in 1983, Janos relocated in 1998 to the grounds of the sumptuous Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa. Under the direction of executive chef-owner Janos Wilder, this restaurant features local ingredients refined with French cooking techniques to create extraordinary cuisine. Interior spaces feature soft yellow walls, a welcoming fireplace, contemporary art, a gold-leafed ceiling and window after window overlooking the scenic Tucson Valley. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame. JiRaffe, Santa Monica, Calif. Located in a charming two-story space in downtown Santa Monica, JiRaffe opened in 1996 to immediate praise from food critics, local diners, and food and wine lovers. With two walls of windows, dark-wood furnishings and a full bar, JiRaffe has the feel of a neighborhood bistro. Chef-owner Raphael Lunetta changes menus frequently to offer seasonal bests in produce, seafood and other meats. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame. Manresa, Los Gatos, Calif. This restaurant offers contemporary French cuisine with a modern Spanish flair under the direction of chef-proprietor David Kinch. Featuring an open-beam ceiling, Manresa’s inviting interior is at once contemporary and luxurious. Located on a romantic side street, Manresa includes a California-style garden that surrounds the outdoor dining patio and a cozy Fireplace Room that provides warmth and beauty on chilly evenings. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame. No. 9 Park, Boston. Located in a townhouse on Boston’s historic Beacon Hill, No.9 Park provides an intimate, European-scale setting in which to enjoy chef-owner Barbara Lynch’s refined cuisine. The menu showcases a blend of regionally inspired Italian and French dishes with an emphasis on simplicity and flavor. The dining room radiates a quiet and timeless elegance with dark polished wood floors and Italian marble tables in the cafe. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame. North Pond, Chicago. Set in Lincoln Park, North Pond may provide the city’s loveliest restaurant setting. Built in 1912 as a warming shelter for ice skaters, the structure housing this restaurant sits at the edge of a pond overlooking Chicago’s dramatic skyline. Executive chef Bruce Sherman’s American cuisine draws inspiration from local markets and features products raised in their native environments and offered at seasonal peak. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame. Slightly North of Broad, Charleston, S.C. Situated in a 19th century brick warehouse on Broad Street in historic, downtown Charleston, Slightly North of Broad delivers a maverick brand of Southern cooking from executive chef Frank Lee. Seafood, game, vegetarian dishes and other regional favorites top the menu, while an open kitchen makes the sights, sounds and scents of cooking a tantalizing part of the dining experience. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame. Splendido at the Chateau, Beaver Creek, Colo. Within this elegant mountain chateau, contemporary American cuisine is served in a romantic dining room setting. It is here that executive chef David Walford, known for his succulent game and international finesse, offers dishes like roasted Maine sea scallops and fried sweetbreads as well as exotic treats such as grilled elk. Popular for special occasions, many regulars also come for the piano music and cozy surroundings. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame. Tribeca Grill, New York. Co-owned by restaurateur Drew Nieporent and actor Robert De Niro, Tribeca Grill opened in 1990 and helped put the Tribeca neighborhood on the map. With its high ceilings, original exposed brick, large mahogany bar and oversized windows, the restaurant reflects the industrial character of the Tribeca area. Robust dishes include Berkshire T-bone pork chop with homemade potato pierogis and braised short ribs with porcini mushrooms. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame. Vidalia, Washington, D.C. Executive chef-owner Jeffrey Buben describes Vidalia’s cuisine as original American with a subtle Southern influence. On a menu that changes frequently to include local seasonal ingredients, favorites include the delicate crab cakes, famed shrimp and grits, and the restaurant’s popular rendition of veal sweetbreads. Vidalia is located in Washington’s central business district. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame.
“Congratulations to these 11 outstanding restaurants for enhancing the dining pleasure of thousands of customers over the years and for remaining true to the highest standards of exceptional food and outstanding service,” said NRN publisher Tom Larranaga. “It will be our privilege to add their names to NRN’s Fine Dining Hall of Fame.” —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame.
Founded in 1980, the NRN Fine Dining Hall of Fame now includes more than 200 restaurants. The criteria for nomination include excellence in food quality, service, ambience, and leadership in training and motivating staff. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame.
Prospective members are nominated by current Hall of Fame members and NRN editors, with final selections made by NRN’s editors and publisher. —Continuing a long tradition of celebrating the best in white-tablecloth dining, Nation’s Restaurant News has selected 11 outstanding restaurants as the newest members of its Fine Dining Hall of Fame.