Rating: 
Summary: Where's the Chef?
Review: If chefs only get to eat out on Sunday and Monday nights and most chefs eat out on Sunday and Monday nights, then who's cooking @ the restaurants when the visitng chefs show up? Just one of the many gaps in this book. I have loved the other three books by this pair, but found this one to be quite thin on material. You can't ask one chef in the state of New Jersey about his favorites, and think that's at all representative of the universe. Even the New York section was repetitive. I think they should have spent a few more months on this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Great chefs show you where to find great eats!
Review: In this city-by-city guide, great chefs show you where to find great eats. While the fine dining recommendations won't surprise anyone (we all know Nobu works wonders with raw fish), the out-of-the-way joints and insider tips give this book a culinary advantage. --Lori Stacy
Rating:
Summary: Foodie Paradise Between Two Covers
Review: Once I got this book in my hands, I didn't want to put it down!I thought I knew a lot about where and how to eat out, but the star chefs in this book are teaching me plenty more--like the RIGHT way to order in a Chinese restauarant, the "must-have" specialties in each city (like sourdough bread in San Francisco and barbeque in Memphis) and where to find THE BEST. What I loved about it that it's got the places for those special occasion (or expense account) dinners, but it shows that eating well doesn't have to be snobby or expensive. The chefs recommend a whole treasure-trove of bargains--the little "hole in the wall" places in major cities that they frequent for great food. For example, it tells where Jean Georges eats authentic Vietnamese food in New York City and where Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin goes for his favorite pizza (I wouldn't have guessed the guy even ATE pizza!), where in Phillie to get the best cheesesteak (several chefs have differing opinions), where in Chicago Charlie Trotter goes for Italian Beef. There's even a "Chef's Secret Cravings" section--great burgers are high on the list (they name their favorite "joints"), as are Krispy Kreme Donuts! What was also wonderful was the absolute wealth of advice and information--the book is jam-packed, and there are gems on every page, like how to eat an oyster and what kind of expectations you should have for your dining experience. Flipping through the appendix, I found the resources there (recommended reading list, source for greenmarkets, where to go to look for a cooking apprenticeship, etc.) invaluable for ANYONE who has any interest in food--whether eating out or cooking (professionally or at home). All-in-all, the book was a joy for this foodie to read and I'm already using it as a reference--I've tried two places close to my neighborhood (Pearl Oyster Bar & Chibi's Sake Bar) that I'd never been to--both were GREAT!
Rating:
Summary: You must own this book!
Review: This book is a great resource for people looking for a great place to eat. Whether you are a business traveler or a casual "summer vacation with the family" traveler, this book will tell you all the best places in major cities across the country to enjoy a delicious meal. Who better to ask about good food than some of the best chefs in the nation. I've recommended this book to several people and they all have enjoyed it. Do yourself a favor and GET THIS BOOK! You won't regret it!
Rating: 
Summary: A mouth-watering gastronomic tome.
Review: This book is fun,fun, fun if you have any interest in eating around America. Whether you're traveling for biz or pleasure, it focuses your priorities. It's well-designed and perfectly laid out for browsing. It's great to own, but makes a perfect housegift for people who love to travel and love to eat.
Rating:
Summary: Buy it for you & all your friends!
Review: This book is fun,fun, fun if you have any interest in eating around America. Whether you're traveling for biz or pleasure, it focuses your priorities. It's well-designed and perfectly laid out for browsing. It's great to own, but makes a perfect housegift for people who love to travel and love to eat.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but . . .
Review: This is sort of a "busman's holiday" guide to interesting restaurants in major U.S. cities. Where does Stephan Pyles of Dallas's Star Canyon restaurant go when he wants to eat out? How about Jamie Shannon of Commander's Palace in New Orleans? As it happens, Pyles is a devotee both of The Mansion on Turtle Creek (a hyper-expensive yuppie haven) and Mia's Tex-Mex on Lemmon Avenue, where I used to go myself occasionally for the terrific pork tamales. Likewise, Shannon loves both Bayona and Brigtsen's, at the high end of the eco-culinary scale, and the classic muffulettas at Central Grocery at the lower end. Which tells you that good chefs like a nice cholesterol-wallow, just like the rest of us. My main problems with this book are that I'm not familiar enough with restaurants in Atlanta and Los Angeles and Boston for the too-brief blurbs to really mean anything to me, and -- the down-market comfort food spots notwithstanding -- most of these chefs tend to heavily recommend each other's establishments. Still, it's a great browse, worth picking up at the library to check the professionals' ratings against your own opinions.
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