Keithambrose

Yes, I have eaten all over the USA, though not much in the Mid West, and while I have had some good meals, nothing really stands out. My friends in Oakland had a cousin who ran a restaurant called the Bay Wolf. That was good and reliable. Inevitably, he retired. I have been taken out to some fancy restaurants in NY, but nothing stucks in the memory. Funnily enough I remember a bar/restaurant on the waterfront in San Francisco, pier 3 or so, called Sinbad. Clients would go there at 6pm, and their drink would be on the bar before they got there. Those were the days when you had 3 or 4 drinks before dinner! One of the clients died of a heart attack! Still great atmosphere, until it was closed down, health and rental issues! Food was terrible! Once I was in Beaumont Texas, not recommended for a holiday, and I was taken out by a surveyor, a witness in a legal case. We went to the Beaumont Country Club, which had a view of 3 oil refineries! For an aperitif, the surveyor took us to a wet tee-shirt bar! Girls, unfortunately!

Gilbey's in Windsor is quite good. Not too far from the Fat Duck, best meal I ever had!

Very long platforms!

Rickmansworth/Amersham.

Indeed. The firm I mentioned, Tilleke & Gibbi s has many foreign lawyers, some of whom are Partners, but would not be members of the Thai bar. They do mostly corporate work.

I would agree, but things have now changed dramatically. Very good restaurants of all types. However, there is still an issue. The average Brit doesn't really care what they eat. Hence, I live outside London in a fairly affluent area, green belt, country nearby, etc. There are hardly any 'good' restaurants nearby, and none in my town. Plenty of second or third class Italian, Thai, Chinese etc. There is one Michelin star restaurant 5 miles away, very good, but pricey, and one or two good, but not outstanding gastropubs. One gastropub, which I patronised for years, changed management, and went downhill. I complained, no interest shown. However I remember my first visit to New York, 1976, being taken out by a friend. He said 'you can have any cuisine you like here, but not American'! That turned out to be my first Japanese meal! The first of many. One more story. In Florida we asked a jeweller where there was a good restaurant. He said that we had a disadvantage, being English, in that we had a palate!

OK!

Same in UK. VAT, ie tax, has to be included in the stated price. Service charge has to be clearly set out on menu, normally 12.5%, usually said to be optional, though I mostly pay it!

Have been there for ages. But basically very disappointing. Not like 25 years ago with Blue Boy bar etc. Gay scene really diminished, gone online.

More than i could manage!

Yes indeed!

I went to Exhibition Road, in London, here all the museums are, to have lunch, oddly, at the Polish Club, seemed out of place, but good food! The Underground Station is South Kensington. I couldn't get into the station for people, almost all tourists. When I got to the platform it was 3 deep! I took the view that this was foreign exchange. Good for the economy! We could do with it...

True indeed. It is impossible to get contracts in many areas, Middle East Africa, etc, without 'additional commissions, brokerage, etc. In UK we have a Bribery Act. But any big company has to find a way round it!

Glad to see it will be 180 days before they are cleared!

Vinapu, I know you live in Toronto, but when we had supper together, I dont remember aggressive tipping? When I had dinner later with a relative, again I was not aware of an issue?

Hadn't found that yet in Walgreens! Next visit. Its also annoying, to say the least that they print suggested tips on the bill starting at 18%. It's always said that waiters don't get paid, but NY has a minimum wage, which, although complex provides a basic level for waiters. Where I have breakfast in NY, recommended, the Red Flame Diner, W44th near 6th, I worked out that with an average tip of $3.00 per customer, the harassed looking Hispanic waitresses make up to $50 per hour. Mind you, they earn it, though they don't clear the tables!

You could try selling your soul?

Do you speak from experience? Do you put more than one in? To make sure you reach the the prostate!

Me too! Though there were reports of on twink there!

And if you are worried about tipping, you should try the USA!

Well, he has started work as a lawyer in Bangkok. . His mother tongue was Mandarin, and his Thai was far from fluent. He was very good looking, but, alas, not available! I may have got it wrong, but the law firm I deal with in Bangkok has many non Thai members.

Er, Irony. But if they say they own it, that's that! They don't care about the International Court.

But surely, they own the South China Sea, even 2,000 miles away from their coast!

Me also, early January.

Er Liberal Democrats.