StationRipper "Must... Try... More.. Food!!!"

A really great restaurant located at the Grand Floridian (right across from the magic kingdom). It’s know as one of the best (if not the best) restaurant at Disney.

We had a great experience all around. My GF gets cold, so was going to bring in a coat just in case – but they gave her a cashmere shall. Each person gets their own custom, bound menu, with their name printed on it. After dinner, the women get a flower.

The menu is a fixed price, with 6 courses (priced @ $125 per person as of 12/20/07). You can also get add-ons, like a GREAT wine pairings for $60, Kobe Beef ($80), Caviar, etc). NOTE: I added up what one person could get – you could go over $500 for ONE PERSON. Saying that, the “base” dinner is great and well worth trying.

I had the Seared Duck with hearts of Palm for the first course. Pretty good. The second was Foie Gras, with a wine pairing of Royal Tokaji Azsu 5 Puttonyos (Which was a AMAZING COMBO!). Probably the best Foie Gras I’ve ever had.

This was followed by Scallops, and then Wagyu strip loin with Oxtail Jus. Followed that up with a cheese plate, and a really amazing dessert (Had 4 things in the course).

Each course was small, but we were both stuffed by the time we were done. I would highly recommend the wine pairings – they really nailed each course. I found the Foie Gras to be a whole new experience with the great glass they served with it.

While this isn’t something I would go to often (as the price is insane), it’s worth doing once, for the experience and great food.

The staff was EXCELLENT – three people worked the table. They were very good at recommending dishes, answering questions, etc.

One thing I’d like to try but wasn’t available was the Chefs Kitchen. You basically hang out with the Chef and he cooks a custom dinner for you and your guest. You can chat with him, watch him cook, and wander the kitchen. Now if only they’d let me help cook…. :)

Probably one of the best places in town – never have had bad meal here.

I only make it to Chicago once every few years – and I ALWAYS go to Rons! It is the standard by which I judge all other Japanese restaurants. The food is just amazing, the ambiance is great, and I just all-around love going. If you’re going to go, you at least have to get the Shrimp – the put a very unusually egg sauce on it that can’t be beat (and that I’ve never found anyplace else). I highly recommend the Shogun dinner.

This is a somewhat divey restaurant in a strip mall – and the times I’m there in the late evening, during the week, it’s almost always empty. Yet it’s one of the best Mexican dinners I’ve had in Columbia! I’ve tried several things now (a platter, and the Soft Taco’s) and they were GREAT! I highly recommend checking El Toril out!

Hampton Street Vineyard has been a local Columbia favorite for years now.

Interesting place (1/2 underground), great area to sit outside, always good service, and a ever changing menu make this a must-try.

The food is general excellent – but they change the menu a LOT, so you’re not always sure what you’re going to get. They’ve got a great terrace you can sit out on. The best meals I’ve had there are Sunday Brunch (try the grits)

This place is really unusually for Columbia – It’s has a very old-school, elegant feel to it. Reminds me a lot of some of the nicer, older places to Chicago. The food is always great – and they always go the extra mile on the dessert

Very straight-forward Sushi restaurant. Lunch service can be a bit slow, if they are busy.
VERY good sushi – and I think they have the best teriyaki in town.