Congratulations to Park Café, MYA, Doris Metropolitan, Bella Italia, L’Ile de France, Kianti, Tin Jo, Sushi Kai, Aya Sophia and La Esquina de Buenos Aires. I sent surveys or asked friends and acquaintances in the Central Valley to share the names their favorite restaurants. There were a few surprises.
Favorite restaurant of any kind: These were the top vote-getters in descending order with nine down to three votes each.
1) Park Café
2) Doris Metropolitan
3) MYA
4) El Grano de Oro
5) La Esquina de Buenos Aires
6) L’Ile de France
Others receiving a vote or two were Jurgens, Le Chandelier, Novillo Alegre, Saga, La Luz, Cerutti, Tin Jo, Bacchus, El Dorado, Kianti, Medalla de Oro, El Balcón de Mariscos, La Bastille, Time Out Tavern, Samurai and Fusion.
In the category of best new restaurants, MYA first, Doris Metropolitan and Bella Italia (tied for second) were the run-away winners with Fusion, Food Inc., Mushrooms & Nuts, and Product C the only other multiple vote-getters. Bambai Mongolian Grill and Eclectico received a vote each.
Bella Italia also topped the list of favorite Italian restaurants by a wide margin, followed by Da Marco, Cerutti, Bacchus, L’Olivo and Sale e Pepe. The last two were favored by people who craved consistency rather than flair. Single votes went to De Bartolo. Il Padrino, Pomadoro, L’Ancora, Family Pizza, Pizza Gino, Andiamo’la and El Balcón de Europa
L’Ile de France lapped the field of French restaurants. Only Colbert and Christophe received more than one vote.
The Costa Rican cuisine favorites varied but Kianti was the outright winner. Los Anonos and La Casona de Laly were tied for second. Others with one or two votes were Chalitos, Higueron Soda, La Cascada, Café Mundo, La Tiquisia, El Grano de Oro, Kai Café, El Tropezón, El Balcón de Mariscos, Soda Isabel and Soda Montealegre.
The new champion of steakhouses is Doris Metropolitan by a remarkably wide margin for a new restaurant. El Novillo Alegre, La Cascada and Donde Carlos clustered at three to four votes each. La Esquina de Buenos Aires and Lone Star received two votes each.
Among Pan-Asian entries, Tin Jo had a dozen votes, Taj Mahal a handful and Saisaki two.
Among Chinese restaurants, the balloting favored Chef Oriental, Tin Jo, Villa Bonita, Flor de Loto, Lotus, King’s Garden, Villa Rey and Medalla de Oro in that order.
None of the Japanese restaurants ran away from the pack. Only Sushi-Kai got four votes. Samurai, Sensu, Fuji, Sakura, Bambu and Saisaki got a vote or two each.
Aya Sophia emerged as the favorite Middle Eastern restaurant by a wide margin. Lubnan and Sash were the only other multiple vote getters. Nikklas, the Greek gyro restaurant and Beirut each got a single vote.
La Esquina de Buenos Aires is the most popular Argentinean restaurant and it even received a few votes for best restaurant of any kind and best steakhouse. El Novillo Alegre and Donde Carlos were tied for second, with Teruño and Patagonia fourth, but Patagonia is now closed.
The response was so animated that I think we can do the same for the following categories in the future:
1. Best restaurant outside the Central Valley
2. Best American, Peruvian, Mexican, Salvadoran, German, Spanish, vegetarian and others
3. Best Dim Sum, pizza, seafood, buffet, Sunday brunch, bocas, breakfasts, burgers, pastries.
Revolving doors: Tzu Jan Vegetarian House plans to move to Sabana Sur next to Bambu around the end of the month. The Waffle Place which used to be downstairs, is now next to La Divina Comedia.
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