Restaurant recs

****
None so far.

***
Eleven Madison Park, NYC
The only reason it's not four stars is to leave room for unadulterated perfection. EMP was mindblowing only occasionally: service, setting, three or four perfect bites. Even aware of the reputation for lots of extras, the extent of such is enough to make you feel special.

**1/2
Fruition, Denver
1/2 star bump for value. This restaurant is based on the quality of its ingredients and seems to be solidly achieving the two stars for which it aims. I feel that the entrees could use a bit more ambition.

**
Blue Nile, H'burg
Ethiopian - best I have ever had, by quite a bit. Decent beer selection, expect to spend $25-30.

*
Saigon Cafe, H'burg
Vietnamese - also, MUCH better than the nearby Thai restaurant. Closed Sundays :(

*
Hamilton's, C'ville
Fancy American, but also simple. Probably C-ville's nicest place.

*
Bang, C'ville
Barely got a star. Drinks are very good and were key for the star (pear-ginger 4 lyfe), I'd say the dishes are about 50/50. (Mushrooms & chickpea rolls are good, green tea soba is bad.)


*Taste of China, C'ville
This recommendation is post-Peter Chang, although my recommendation is based only on the portion of the menu with his dishes. I doubt that his presence would markedly improve the quality, so you should still go here. However, Chang's dishes seem to be fairly one-note, and intensely so. You should come in a group of at least 3 and share, and groups of 4 or more may even experience 2-star level meals. PS Ma Po is stupid.

*Pies and Pints, F'ville, WV
The decor doesn't really make sense with the food, but the pizza is bomb.

Anti-recommendations:
-The Boat House, C'ville
Inconsistent, can't follow doneness instructions, ugly plating from the 1950s with no garnishes. Trout is okay, roasted vegetables as well.
-South Street Brewery, C'ville
Decent beer, though not great. Food is actually gross, especially nachos, shrimp appetizer.
-Mono Loco, C'ville
White people trying to make Mexican (if not white, they seem white!) and charging $3-5 too much per dish. Price is why it is anti-recommended.
-Jinx's Pit Stop BBQ, C'ville
Although the terrible location (ie very far away) contributes to its poor rating, I am also pretty unimpressed by its food. If you have the misfortune of finding yourself in Pantops, sure, try it. Otherwise, if you are willing to drive a long ways for BBQ, well, you have certainly had much better in your life.
-Benny's Mexican, Denver.
I wouldn't bother, but this was voted best Mexican by the readers of some Denver magazine. It is the same Tex-Mex as anywhere, and not even good (maybe borderline acceptable). Ordering fajitas offers a risk of actually bad food.

Yes, I am aware of; no, I cannot recommend but also don't anti-recommend:
-Diogi's, Fayetteville, WV (salsa is good, portions are hilariously large, but rest of food is sort of bland/over-reliant on chipotle, which is a flavor I don't like much. the carnitas are definitely worth ordering.)
-Timberwood, C'ville (aspires and succeeds in being a good version of a corporate restaurant, REALLY good beer, but menu is held back by its scatter-brainedness and is somewhat hit/miss.)
-Thai restaurants in C'ville. They're pretty much all good. None are quite star-worthy.
-Zocalo. Does not earn price point, but still good.

Tentative: