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re: Birmingham's Highland's Bar and Grill is James Beard Award's Best Restaurant in America
Posted on 5/8/18 at 2:32 pm to Globetrotter747
Posted on 5/8/18 at 2:32 pm to Globetrotter747
quote:
I have been to quite a few upscale restaurants around the world that are both beautiful and serve very high grade beef
Well there's more to fine dining than beef. You can get beef at any grocery store in America, a lot of the entrees at Highlands aren't things you can just go pick up at Piggy Wiggly.
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Posted on 5/8/18 at 2:46 pm to BowlJackson
quote:
Well there's more to fine dining than beef. You can get beef at any grocery store in America, a lot of the entrees at Highlands aren't things you can just go pick up at Piggy Wiggly.
No doubt. Most true upscale fine dining restaurants, you walk in and get the choice of a chef's menu or vegetarian menu. While I will grant GT that some sort of high grade beef does find its way on most chef's menus, it is one of like 10+ courses that you're getting.
Posted on 5/8/18 at 3:41 pm to GameCocky88
quote:
dependent on the fact that their menu centers around beef
No.
The last upscale restaurant I ate at was Al Mahara at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. Its focus is seafood.
Al Mahara
quote:
Well there's more to fine dining than beef.
A lot of high end steakhouses serve more than just beef.
Here are the menus to Prime, SW and Highlands.
Prime
SW
Highlands
Explain to me why I should be impressed with Highlands as potentially the best restaurant in America. Honest question.
This post was edited on 5/8/18 at 3:44 pm
Posted on 5/8/18 at 10:25 pm to Globetrotter747
quote:
Explain to me why I should be impressed with Highlands as potentially the best restaurant in America. Honest question.
Because people a lot more qualified to judge than you said so.
This post was edited on 5/8/18 at 10:25 pm
Posted on 5/9/18 at 8:34 am to BowlJackson
quote:
Because people a lot more qualified to judge than you said so.
If Highlands is their top choice, then I think they need to try more restaurants. I can post menus and pictures of a lot of restaurants that I think people would find more appealing than Highlands.
I’m sure it’s a great restaurant and all, but I don’t get the “best restaurant in America” designation.
Posted on 5/9/18 at 8:34 am to Globetrotter747
quote:
Okay. Well, I will take an A5 Kobe over a NY Strip.
Youll pay a boatload more for it too. Why are you so butthurt about this?
Posted on 5/9/18 at 9:22 am to Globetrotter747
quote:
I’m sure it’s a great restaurant and all, but I don’t get the “best restaurant in America” designation
To be fair, a lot of the restaurants you've mentioned aren't even considered to be the best restaurants in their respective Las Vegas hotels so to say you don't get it is probably accurate. No offense intended.
Posted on 5/9/18 at 9:35 am to bamafan1001
quote:
Why are you so butthurt about this?
Because beef damnit!!!
Posted on 5/9/18 at 10:04 am to GameCocky88
quote:
To be fair, a lot of the restaurants you've mentioned aren't even considered to be the best restaurants in their respective Las Vegas hotels
I pointed that out in another post, and even noted that one of them is part of a large corporate chain of restaurants, but globetrotter really seems to like the very upscale steakhouse model.
There's nothing wrong with that. Different preferences are why restaurants exist at all levels of food style, chef creativity, and ingredient quality, from Burger King all the way up to French Laundry.
This post was edited on 5/9/18 at 10:06 am
Posted on 5/9/18 at 10:07 am to Evolved Simian
quote:
I pointed that out in another post, and even noted that one of them is part of a large corporate chain of restaurants, but globetrotter really seems to like the very upscale steakhouse model.
Oh for sure. there are literally 3-4 Michelin starred restaurants at the Bellagio... but dat steakhouse doe
Posted on 5/9/18 at 11:33 am to bamafan1001
quote:
You’ll pay a boatload more for it too.
Yes, I have and it was worth it.
quote:
To be fair, a lot of the restaurants you’ve mentioned aren’t even considered to be the best restaurants in their respective Las Vegas hotels so to say you don’t get it is probably accurate. No offense intended.
At what point did I say any restaurant I have been to should be considered the best in America, the Bellagio, Las Vegas, or wherever? I simply pointed out a couple of favorites that appear to be much better than the Highlands and there are certainly others.
It’s like this: If some magazine said that Tom Brady or Joe Montana or Peyton Manning or John Elway is the best QB of all time, those are all understandable answers that make sense depending on how you want to look at it. But if it said Trent Dilfer, well, he’s pretty much behind all those guys in every way you can think of and his selection wouldn’t make any sense.
Similarly, I’m curious about the Highlands. All I see is just a nice restaurant without anything special to it. No one seems to be able to give me a good answer as to why a restaurant like that is worthy of being considered the best in America.
I didn’t mean to start a big argument over it. I just want to know the reasoning behind it because I may try it one day. With Prime, I pointed out its elegant interior, proximity to the Bellagio fountain, and that (among other things) it serves authentic Kobe beef. I’m not saying Prime, SW, or any other restaurant is the best, just that they (and others) seem to be on another level than the Highlands.
So once again... can anyone tell me what’s so great about the Highlands?
Posted on 5/9/18 at 11:38 am to Globetrotter747
This is such an odd thing to decide to troll about, but I admire your dedication
Posted on 5/9/18 at 12:19 pm to BowlJackson
I mean, Stitt is regarded as one of the best chef's in the South if not the country. He blazed the trail as far as Southern influence on French culinary dining. The staff is always on point with service and knowledge.
The award this year was probably more of a career achievement award than anything else but it doesn't mean HBG isn't worthy of taking the award home. There's a reason why it's only one of two restaurants to win the award that isn't located in NYC, LA, SF, New Orleans, or Chicago. The food & service are outstanding.
Sure, its not a steakhouse where you walk out stuffed after eating a high quality Chateaubriand but it's not trying to be that.
All that said, I still prefer Gianmarco's.
The award this year was probably more of a career achievement award than anything else but it doesn't mean HBG isn't worthy of taking the award home. There's a reason why it's only one of two restaurants to win the award that isn't located in NYC, LA, SF, New Orleans, or Chicago. The food & service are outstanding.
Sure, its not a steakhouse where you walk out stuffed after eating a high quality Chateaubriand but it's not trying to be that.
All that said, I still prefer Gianmarco's.
Posted on 5/9/18 at 1:45 pm to FairhopeTider
Thank you, FT.
Posted on 5/9/18 at 7:29 pm to Globetrotter747
quote:
I apologize for how I worded my original response, but no, I don’t see how this place ranks as the best restaurant in the country. But it’s close enough that I will give it a shot one day soon. Hell, I hope it is as good as they say.
So you've never eaten there yet you want to say it's not the best. I believe I trust the people handing out the award before I even entertain the opinions of ignorant people who just talk out of their arse
Posted on 5/9/18 at 10:37 pm to Cobrasize
quote:
So you've never eaten there yet you want to say it's not the best. I believe I trust the people handing out the award before I even entertain the opinions of ignorant people who just talk out of their arse
101 Best Restaurants
The recent list above has the Highlands at #68 and Peter Luger, where I have dined, at #49. So I guess opinions vary.
But I do plan to give the Highlands a fair crack. It is only three hours away from where I live and I will give it a try one day soon. I will say it has popped up on more great restaurant lists than I expected.
I hope to be impressed when I go, but on the surface I don't see what all the fuss is about.
Posted on 5/9/18 at 10:51 pm to Globetrotter747
Why are you so skeptical? Just that it's in Birmingham?
Posted on 5/10/18 at 7:11 am to BowlJackson
quote:
Why are you so skeptical? Just that it's in Birmingham?
I will admit that I have become more open to the Highlands after initially saying, "What the hell is a Birmingham restaurant doing with an award for the best restaurant in America?"
Now do I think I think it will end up being my favorite restaurant and do I think it's on the same level as some of the most high end places around the country? No, probably not. And almost certainly not according to my tastes. But I have been impressed with the reviews and do expect to like it.
I personally seek two things in a great dining experience: A unique, elegant (even gaudy) atmosphere and extraordinary steaks. The Highlands seems nice but plain and only has one steak on the menu. Nothing wrong with that. There are many different types of restaurants. But even outside of my own tastes I feel there are restaurants that probably still have a greater offering.
The title of this thread is an award for "best restaurant in America," mind you, which is a pretty big claim and invites some skepticism.
Posted on 5/10/18 at 4:49 pm to FairhopeTider
quote:
All that said, I still prefer Gianmarco's.
That mac and cheese!
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