Quickthink

This page collects links that might offer ideas for further enjoying places that we visit. There are two parts. The first part gives links to Guides and Resources. The second is an alphabetical listing for restaurants by city.

Featured - the NYT top 45 for 2012

Guides and Resources

Where the locals go - a web guide for a bunch of cities

Bidding for hotels - 9.2010 NYT gives an overview of some services. Here is the link.

Extravigator - Well with a name like that, what would you expect? Here is the link.

Fodor’s - Here is a link to Fodor’s world guide for restaurants.

Food & Wine Guide - Here is a link to their “Best Places to Eat”

FourSquare - Here is a link to this interactive guide (featuring good stuff in Helsinki)

France - Saveur offers a bunch of stuff to help you figure out your next trip

Hotelish bars and restaurants? Sam Sifton profiles those in New York, comments refer to others in the US.  Here is the link.

Lux rewards - 2.2012 - NYT reports on how to get into benefit programs

Mobile - As of January 2010, it is getting easier and easier to make free international phone connections. NYT offers a nice list of the options.

Paris - BI has a fun photo montage of things to do. The Paris blog - A grab bag of current tidbits about life in Paris. Here is the lnik.

Restaurant Row - Here is a link to their site for guides to US restaurants.

Saveur’s Room service - Cherry picking great inns that offer great food

Time Out Guide - Here is a link to the Time Out world guide.

Travel Guides - This NYT piece gives an overview of web based programs that can help you organize the information on the web about your destination. And here is a sampling of web resources to connect with local experts for off beat niche tours (canaryhop, Gidsy. sidetour, and vayble)

Travel & Leisure - The classic mag for travel story junkies. Here is the link.

Yelp - Here is a link to this US interactive guide source.

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Vacation Spots and Ideas

Apartment Rentals - Europe - 4.2010 - the Guardian offers a list of the 10 nicest apartments for rent in Europe. Here is the link.

Bike Tours -  Without a doubt, VBT is the coolest company to use. Here is the link.

Combo Yoga  - I like the idea of a package of things (like ski, yoga and life coaching). Here is a link to a NYT article on this from 2.2010 

Croatia Eating -  6.2012 - Tony Bourdain did a nice travelogue

Exotic -  For something exotic and with good food and dreink, how about the Ceylon Tea Trails.

Gastronomic tourism - How about a rustic Spanish hotel? 3.2010 NYT review.

Islands - Thinking about St. Croix? Perhaps you should stop by and say hi to Walt Fraxier. Here is an article about his cozy resort. How about US Virgin Islands . St. Johns? NYT gives a preview with some logistical info.

Italy - Tuscany in winter. 3.2010 - NYT offers a few recommendations and some gorgeous pictures.

Mountains - How about renting a chalet in Austria? Can’t beat the peace and quiet. A 2.2010 article in NYT gives a profile of a few places.

New Hotels? - Check out this list from NYT 1.2010

Rural rambling -  1.2012. SAVEUR deputy editor Beth Kracklauer offers 12 reasons to visit Lincolnshire, England.

Spas - 9.2010 -  Hot springs in Spreewald, Brandenberg. Here is the link.

Swedish trips - 6.2012 To west Sweden for oysters? Saveur has a few tips. 6.2012 Saveur goes deeper into the countryside south of Gothenburg and finds potato culture. 6.2012 - and what about malmo?

United Kingdom - 6-2012  - Saveur has a series on various local food traditions that might get your attention.

Walking tours - 6.2012 Country Walks found in NYT post about uganda

Wine tours? 7.2010 try tokaj

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Restaurants by City

Amsterdam -  1.2013 - A new variety in the mid range. 6.2012 - looking for rejstaffel? Saveur has a few recommendations

Bali - 12.2009 NYT gives some tips for dining at a warung. 

Barcelona - 11.2009 - Extravigator has some tips for hotels and restaurants for a quick trip.  Food & Wine recommendations include dos Palillos - some tips We loved: Sake-marinated monkfish liver with yuzu gelée. Insider tip: Try an Inedit, a rich Spanish beer bottled for Adrià and his acolytes.

Beirut - 12.2009 NYT offers a selection of the best places to try, starting with Abd El Wahab

Berlin - 1.2012 - NYT reviews some great restaurants. 12-2009  Peter Klann may be one of the greatest bread bakers in the world. His bakery is located in Berlin. Here is a link to a NYT review.

Boston - 6-2010 - Salts  recommended by the Wine Spectator with locavore qualities.

Brno - 6.2012 - lost among functionalist architecture? There is a nice cafe in this town. Check it out

Buenos Ares - 12.2009 Fred Wilson liked the fish at Ovieda and the steak at La Cabrera.

Copenhagen - 6.2012 - Frugal traveler offers a few local suggestions. 12.2009 - QT loves local food traditions, and in Copenhagen you can sample “New Nordic Cuisine” from Claus Meyer et al at retaurant noma.

Denver - 2.2010 My sister recommends Fruition, Sushi Den, Bistro Vendome and Vesta Dipping Grill

Dublin -  6.2012  Rosie Schapp gives a brief tour of pubs and a nice restaurant.

Florence - 7.2010 - A few tips for a quick trip from NYT

Glasgow - 4.2010 - the Guardian has a list of the top budget eats.

Helsinki - 6.2012 - NYT offers a quick glimpse of things to do with some cafe recommendations. Back in 2007 Edible Adventures offered a nice list of food highlights from a visit to Helsinki. 

Hong Kong - 4.2010 - Looking for a hip cafe in the noodle district? This article from NYT might help. 3.2011 - 36 hours in Hong Kong gives us a nice update. Here is the link.

Houston - 2.2010 - NYT reviews some of the more unique restaurants that have opened recently.

Istanbul - 10.2010 - I just discovered Istanbul Eats, a blog on restaurants. Here is the link. And this link to a NYT article on it. 11-2009 - Nichole Sobecki writes for Global Post about the restaurant scene.

Kuala Lumpur- 12.2009 - Enak KL serves some of the finest Malay food. It is in a mall, but has an elegant space. NYT short review with other locations.

Las Vegas - 6.2012 NYT covers the restaurant wars and reviewers that cover them

Lisbon - 5.2012 - four restaurants not to miss from NYT

London -  6-2012 - NYT reviews a few brew pubs 6.2012 - Daily Meal has a few trendy pics 2.2012 - NYT reviews great Indian restaurants that have less fuss. 2.2012 - Daily Meal profiles the best new restaurants of 2011. 10.10.2010 The Savoy has reopened. 9.2010. And what about East London? Here are some suggestions from NYT. 2.2010.  I just checked out Gweneth Paltrow’s blog Goop, where she has some cool recs for hotels and restaurants. Ok, pricey, but what would you expect? In November 2009, Edible Adventures took a brief jaunt with son in tow. For a Christmas meal, how about St. Johns Restaurant or Butlers Wharf Chop House? Here is the write up from NYT . Artisan offers a guide to eating. Here is the link.

Madrid -  7.2010 NYT offers a few ethnic restaurant suggestions. 1.2010 - NYT has a travel and food piece about Iberian pork. You can find that in Madrid at Sula. The link is to the NYT piece.

Marrakech - Esquire likes the refurbished La Mamounia.

Miami - January, 2012 - Frank Brumi recommends Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink. If you like celebrity chefs, this 12.2009  NYT review of the hippest places to go is for you

Milan -  10.2010 A few tips from the Missoni family

Milwaukee -  2.2010 My brother has these recommendations - Lake Park Bistro (an exceptional dining experience),  Croquette Cafe (a new affordable fine French bistro), Beans and Barley (fine food and hip ambiance for the budget minded) 

Moscow -  1.2012 - Epicurious offers is top five picks

Mumbai - 3.2010 - Try Prakash for some local and great fare.

Munich- 12.2009 - the Spatenhaus an der oper, Residenzstrasse 12 got a write up in NYT for offering a great Christmas dinner. looking for a cafe? how about the oscar maria mentioned in the Guardian in 7,2010

Nashville - 6.2012 -  It has an emerging food culture says NYT

New York - 11.2012 - yorktown for tart flambee - should try this. 8.2012 - summit bar in the east village 6.2012 - Thai in brooklyn 6-2012 in harlem check out red rooster - chef samueleson has a new book out 6-2012 - some serious sandwiches from Daily meal  6.2012 - looking for a nice sake bar on the lower east side? check out Yopparai 6.2012 - for hip fancy dining check out nomad. 4.2012 - from henry blodgett at BI Atera as a wild experience. 3.2012 - BI’s top ten new restaurants.  3.2012. lani kai for something Hawaiian 2.2012 For italian informal lunch Alimentari e Vineria For brisket, ribs, etc, Frank Bruni recommends Hill Country.. 1.2012 - Kajitsu, reviewed by Mark Bittman (East Village) 4-2011 - the scene at Nico - japanese with flare. 10,2010 high end food courts? Here they are.  9.2010 Thinking Japanese? Japanese Food Report lists its 10 favorite places. 6.2010 Sam Sifton discusses “grown up” restaurants and reviews Annisa in Greenwich Village . 4.2010 - wondering what hotelish places are fun to visit? Check out Sam Sifton’s review of Faustina, etc. 3.2010 - wondering where to get really great coffee? NYT has a list of 30 places and a map.  1.2010 - Danny Meyer has opened a new Roman trattoria at Gramercy Park Hotel - Maialino. Here is a review by Sam Sifton in NYT. 1-2010 - missing Rome? there are some Roman trattorias waiting for you. 1-2010. If you are very hungry, try Breslin Bar and Dining Room. NYT review. 1.2010 - Eric Asimov spoke well of Seasonal, a midtown Austrian restaurant. Here is the link . 12.2009 - if you are headed over to Chelsea, check out the Tipsy Parson for a frozen grape julep. NYT gives some insight. Sam Sifton gives his “best dishes” of 2009 from various restaurants in NY in this article.

Oakland - 1.2010 - The food is less the attraction than the feel of the Lake Chalet Seafood Bar and Grill. NYT reviews.

Oslo - 5.2o12 -  NYT offers some thoughts on dining and fun

Paris - 11.2012 - 7th - la table d’aki nyt revew 6.2012 looking for breakfast in the 10th? April 2011 - four off the beaten track places. March 2011 - Sampling east and west Paris - with lots to eat. April, 2010 - looking for cutting edge cuisine in off the beaten track locations? Here is a NYT article describing some gems. In November, 2009  NYT offered this wonderful survey of historical eating places. In May 2009, Jessica offered some ideas for “eating on the cheap”. 12.2009 Travel and Leisure’s favorite eating place is Cafe Carette in Place du Trocadéro. Esquire likes Radisson Blu Le Metropolitan Hotel. For a general overview, check out Paris Insider (highlighted herein a NYT article).  For a Christmas meal, how about the Jules Verne in th Eiffel Tower, or “the well-regarded Au Bon Accueil(14, rue de Monttessuy, 75007; 33-1-4705-4611; www.aubonaccueilparis.com), a modern bistro owned by the restaurateur Jacques Lacipiere”. (same article).

Philadelphia- 6-2012 Saveur offers a rather eclectic mix of recommendations. 6.2012 - a few recommendations from Epicurious. My brother gave Morimoto a good review for the food and ambiance in December 2009. Here is a link to their webs ite

Piedmont - Frank Bruni recommends Gruido Ristorante in Pollenzo

Parma- The food is not for those on a diet. And at La Filoma, it is “impeccable”. This article gives a nice glimpse of the cit.

Rome - January 2012, Frank Brumi recommends Trattoria Monti (an all time favorite). From May 2009, DonPablo writes about 10 day trips from Rome. From October 2009, Mattbites.com writes abouthow NOT to be a glutten in Rome. Context is a boutique firm that offers walking tours and recommends Casa Bleve a palatial wine bar ”within the former courtyard of the 16th-century Palazzo Medici Lante della Rovere”  for a Christmas meal. Here is the write up.

Saint Croix -  The Daily Meal has a list of not to be missed places. Here is the link.

San Fransisco - Want to go off the beaten track? How about spending a few day sin Glenn Park? NYT (nov. 2009) gives some suggestions. Or looking for a list of great Italian restaurants? Mark Bittman has a few ideas.

Savannah - 6.2012 - NYT takes a look at Cafe Florie

Shanghai -  1.2012 - Epicurious gives its top five picks.

Silicon Valley - 9.2010 - NYT gives a brief list of cafes etc.

Singapore - 6.2012 NYT checks out kopitiam culture and links to singapore food blog I Eat I shoot I post

Scotland/ Isle of Skye - Frank Brumi recommends The Three Chimneys (one of his all time favorites) NYT offers some suggestions for fresh and local dining at this rather isolated spot.

Stockholm - 6.2012 where the locals go? 2.2012 — Designer Susanna Wåhlin offers some thoughts on what to do and where to eat. 1.2012 Saveur offers a selection of top “new” restaurants. From the Food & Wine listof recommended spots - you might try Leijontornet at the Victory Hotel. For location try Operakallaren (The Royal Opera House, Karl XII:s torg; 46-8-676-5800; www.eng.operakallaren.se), situated near the banks of the Norrstrom and next to the Royal Palace. Here is the write up.

Sydney - You need to be thinking about Thai food. See WineX. Here is the link.

Tallinn - My current favorite place for a night out in Tallinn is Musi. As of December, 2009, Travel and Leisure lists 9 spots in Tallinn worth trying.

Tartu - Wilde is back, and it is my favorite. Here is a review. Dolce Vita is second for reliable Italian fare.

Turin -  6.2012 - NYT profiles some cafes and restaurants in the home of the slow food movement.

Tuscon -The mothe rof all destination spas may be Canyon Ranch. And in December 2009 Ritz Carlton is opening a competing facility.  Here is a link to the news item. And there are a few good restaurants and cafes in town, as per this 12.2009 NYT article.

Utrecht - 2.2010 - NYT  offers some thoughts about food, hotels and night life. Here is the link.

Vancouver- Breakfast outside the Granville Island Public Market is just one of the treats that await you.  NYT gives a pre-ollympics review of great places to go. The Oyama Sausage Company gets rave reviews from NYT.

Verona - You need to check out the Byblos Hotel for a wild combination of lux, art, relaxation. Here is a link to a photo montage and video

Vietnam - CEf gives us a mlti part series. Here is a link to her first post.