As we rejuvenate our own little blog here I’m eager to link to and highlight the work of other restaurant bloggers who are doing a great job. When Tasting Menu started in August of 2002 it was one of maybe five or ten food blogs in existence. Now it seems like there are millions. And yet, despite all that explosive growth I am having a really hard time finding a set of good restaurant review blogs that post consistently and have good taste. No doubt, limiting myself to blogs in English isn’t helping, but there’s no reason to assume the pattern doesn’t repeat in other countries. And of course, the few that I’ve found are mostly centered on New York city. Duh. The restaurant bloggers go where the restaurants are.
I know there are lots of food blogs that review a restaurant experience here or there. That’s not what I’m looking for. I really want focus. Like a laser. On restaurants. As much as I appreciate and respect the home cook, most high quality chefs are always going to make something better than I ever could. I don’t fill my own cavities or sew my own clothes, and I don’t see anything wrong with trying to have a professional cook for me as often as possible.
Know of a kick ass restaurant blog? Let us know in the comments.
Check out DallasFood.org. It’s mostly Dallas-centric, but Scott is a bona-fide food superhero, in my opinion. He covers everything from hole-in-the-wall Mexican joints to vegetarian fine dining. The series on Noka Chocolate as well as the Chicken Fried Steak countdown had me riveted.
Oh, and for Paris, Alexander Lobrano’s Diner’s Journal (found at hungryforparis.com) is full of gems.
Have you checked out – http://oad.typepad.com/ – they also have a large survey project going on trying to find the best food around the world – pretty extensive reviews
@Joe: I did check out OAD but it looks like they’ve stopped blogging. (No posts since July… I’ll keep an eye on it though.)
@Camille: great suggestions. thanks!
Is it shameless to plug your own?
My husband and I have a humble little food blog – about half&half restaurant reviews around the Puget Sound and at-home cooking adventures. We like fun food, whole ingredients, a little ethnic flavor, that sort of thing. http://www.chakulablog.com
@Rosemary: thanks for the pointer. I will definitely keep an eye on your blog. I’m even more interested in finding blogs that are really focused 100% on restaurants.
The blogs I read most often are Chuckeats, Ulterior Picture and a Life Worth Eating. Julot has the best coverage of Paris.
BTW, I thought the books you guys produced on Nishino and Lampreia were absolutely stunning. I had a (mostly) excellent meal at Nishino last time I was in Seattle. Sadly I had to pass on Lampreia after I caught wind of their bizarre policy banning cameras in the dining room.
I’ll have the photos from Nishino up on my blog soon.
i like Chuckeats for fine dinign restaurants. Ideas in food is great for food science. i have been reading refined palate and onekinegridz lately and they both have some good stuff.
chuckeats is great also kevineats also refined palate
Keep poasting and Dana love your stuff
I’m enjoying http://msg150.com/ – a blog about dining in Seattle’s International District
How about http://www.vintnersgroup.com ?
Restaurant review from around the world.
Richard
Thanks for the complement Jesse (Mallgren of Madrona Manor?). Chuckeats is what I strive to be!
kevin,
I found your page on chowhound.
Jesse (yes from Madrona Manor)
http://www.infinitefress.blogspot.com for LA restaurants and beyond
Have you checked out “Restaurantpulse.blogspot.com”?
It’s new but the article is very interesting for restaurant owners and also good for customers to understand the tribulations of owners and servers. Great article.
I found your blog because I’m looking to do something similar but with a European focus…I want to put together a list of European restaurant blogs. (Local language or otherwise.) I’m having trouble finding any outside of London. In London, there are lots…mine being one of them: http://www.londonelicious.com (look at the links on the right for more London restaurant bloggers).
If you find any European restaurant bloggers, please let me know!
Krista
May be, just a look on a french food and lifestyle blog run by the french food critic Francois Simon, http://www.simonsays.fr
He is a frequent contributor to the newspaper Le Figaro and numerous magazines (GQ, Cassa Brutus-Japan, le Figaroscope, etc.) He also has his own television show on the French station Paris Première.
Simon’s hallmark is never showing his face on television or in other media, so as to avoid being recognized in restaurants and to be able to maintain his independence. Welove him in France.
i totally hear you about the explosion of food blogs/food-related blogs. we’ve only been doing it a few years and even in that amount of time i feel like the number has almost doubled! I think blogs are just accessible to everyone and it’s too easy to set up. Quality food-related blogs? Well, that’s another story! I live in NYC so I can’t point you in any direction except the ones your prob. already know. But good luck.
http://patmybutter.wordpress.com/
Hi, ok i will also be shameless to mention my own blog……well it actually is a food blog but my wife and I have started to include restaraunt reviews as well in it..
http://www.whitejacket.net/blog/
We started out with having food shots and now are slowly moving in towards restaraunts….please let me know your views… thanks a mill
Lockwood restaurant chef Phillip Foss in Chicago has a nice new blog worth reading if you are interested in preparation of foods and great pictures.
http://www.phillipfoss.net
http://www.ieatblog.com/
Blog for Where the Locals Eat…highlights restaurant news from all ofver the US.
Blog for Where the Locals Eat…highlights restaurant news from all over the US.
I hope that you will think my “Travel Treasures” blog fits exactly what you are looking for
Mostly I review zagat rated restaurants in California (and London) of 26 or above – and/or having at least one michelin star.
Please come vsit when you have time – I would love to be added here as a contributor.
Thank you and Happy Holidays !
Loving Annie
oops. forgot to add the link (blushes)
http://www.truetraveltreasures.blogspot.com
Loving Annie
Hi,
as regards London blogs, you are right, there are many and they cover the full spectrum of dining.
For Europe-wide bloggers, the number is fewer obviously, but I have always liked reading:
http://www.andyhayler.com/
http://gastrosontour.wordpress.com/
http://highendfood.wordpress.com/
http://www.verygoodfood.dk/
I love Jubilee Restaurant located at 347 East 54th Street
New York City. They have delicious French Bistro Cuisine
and their Mussels are sensational Very Very Fresh.
They will be having Jazz every First Tuesday of the month.
You must try this wonderful resaurant.