[Rail Paul]

Nation's Restaurant News picked up the survey of restaurants than Opinionated About has developed and refined over the past several years. The NRN article, by Elissa Elan, notes that the full survey will be released March 1, and I doubt many people here would find fault with the contents. It's a broad list, with New York represented among many of the winners, followed by Los Angeles. Guy Savoy was the sole Las Vegas showing.

The definition of "important" isn't offered in the article, but the list would suggest that these are expensive places characterized by highly crafted and individualized presentations. EMP is in the top 20, Komi, Aubergine, and Schwa are in the group. This is an impressive accomplishment.

The 30 Most Important Restaurants in the United States and their ratings, according to Opinionated About Dining

* 1. The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif., 100
* 2. Per Se, New York, 99.73
* 3. Masa, New York, 99.00
* 4. Manresa, Los Gatos, Calif., 98.53
* 5. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, N.Y., 98.50
* 6. Mini-Bar, Washington, D.C., 98.48
* 7. Urasawa, Beverly Hills, Calif., 98.43
* 8. Jean Georges, New York, 98.30
* 9. Alinea, Chicago, 97.78
* 10. Corton, New York, 97.53
* 11. McCrady's, Charleston, S.C., 97.50
* 12. Le Bernardin, New York, 97.17


Read more: http://www.nrn.com/breakingNews.aspx?id=37...8#ixzz0f9BSf9Fl

Survey

[Wilfrid]

A refined way of producing predictable results. I don't have a copy of Zagat's 2009 America' Top Restaurants, but I wonder how different this is?

[Orik]

I appreciate the accuracy - I've always felt that The French Laundry is 0.27% more important than Per Se.

[Rail Paul]

I appreciate the accuracy - I've always felt that The French Laundry is 0.27% more important than Per Se.

If you have 1,900 people voting on hundreds of restaurants, you have two choices. Either go out a few decimal places, or have lots and lots of ties. Four at 98, two at 99, etc.

[Nathan]

A refined way of producing predictable results. I don't have a copy of Zagat's 2009 America' Top Restaurants, but I wonder how different this is?

I think you're right. And some things make no sense...I've been to McCrady's...

[Ron Johnson]

This would come in handy for a robot.

[Orik]

I appreciate the accuracy - I've always felt that The French Laundry is 0.27% more important than Per Se.

If you have 1,900 people voting on hundreds of restaurants, you have two choices. Either go out a few decimal places, or have lots and lots of ties. Four at 98, two at 99, etc.

I'd have to assume the standard deviation on many of these is significantly higher than 0.01, which would make displaying two digits a bit presumptuous. If you know that one restaurant has 98.34 +/- 0.2 and the other has 98.25 +/- 0.2 then yes, the two are tied.

[Wilfrid]

An unranked list would be even more boring though.

[mongo_jones]

the lawyers will be in touch shortly.

[hollywood]

This is a very high end list. Odd that there is nothing from most states, particularly Louisiana. Only one choice from SF? Yet two from Carmel?

[Ron Johnson]

This is a very high end list. Odd that there is nothing from most states, particularly Louisiana. Only one choice from SF? Yet two from Carmel?

Nothing is wrong with that list. It is perfect. If you say anything is wrong with it you will be sued and banned from OA.

[g.johnson]

Only one choice from SF? Yet two from Carmel?

Cf. London and Bray.

[hollywood]

This is a very high end list. Odd that there is nothing from most states, particularly Louisiana. Only one choice from SF? Yet two from Carmel?

Nothing is wrong with that list. It is perfect. If you say anything is wrong with it you will be sued and banned from OA.

I was persona non grata from the git go.

[TaliesinNYC]

This is a very high end list. Odd that there is nothing from most states, particularly Louisiana. Only one choice from SF? Yet two from Carmel?

Nothing is wrong with that list. It is perfect. If you say anything is wrong with it you will be sued and banned from OA.

I was persona non grata from the git go.

I lasted 3 days. Betcha can't beat that.

[hollywood]

This is a very high end list. Odd that there is nothing from most states, particularly Louisiana. Only one choice from SF? Yet two from Carmel?

Nothing is wrong with that list. It is perfect. If you say anything is wrong with it you will be sued and banned from OA.

I was persona non grata from the git go.

I lasted 3 days. Betcha can't beat that.

Steve would not let me on.