1998 Guide to Dirona Award Restaurants (Guide to Distinguished Restaurants of North America) (Paperback)

by Kostuch Publications (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Guide to Distinguished Restaurants of North America is a comprehensive listing of the best restaurants in all major North American business centers, as well as a few out of the way places. DiRoNA is a prestigious association whose mission is to promote and preserve fine dining throughout North America, and has a membership of 632 restaurants located in more than 250 cities in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. The guide lists members alphabetically, by country, state/province and city, and provides detailed information about each restaurant. Each half-page listing includes a photograph and description of the restaurant, hours of operation, dress code, price range and menu specialties. Thanks to influential members such as Charlie Trotter, Wolfgang Puck, and Jeremiah Tower, restaurateurs famous for their contributions to the development of regional North American cuisine, the DiRoNA designation is rapidly gaining a reputation as the most reliable upscale restaurant guide book on the market. The National Restaurant Association calls it the best fine dining guide on the market. To qualify for the award, restaurants must be in business under the same ownership for at least three years and pass a rigorous evaluation, conducted anonymously by independent inspectors. The inspection examines the total dining experience from reservation to departure, with emphasis on the quality and presentation of food and beverages.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
page 83 The Lark Creek Inn Larkspur, CA Ensconced in the redwoods with a creek-side dining patio, the Lark Creek Inn is ony 15 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Owned by restaurateurs Bradley Ogden and Michael Dellar. Renowned chef Ogden's daily changing menu offers farm-fresh American fare capitalizing on the bounty of locally produced raw materials. The updated, lightened conceptions are served with pride and skill. The carefully composed wine list includes more than 200 selections. Specialties: Ahi Tuna Carpachio with Avocado Salad and Osetra Caviar Braised Lamb Shank with Truffle Aioli

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Kostuch Publications (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966265009
• ISBN-13: 978-0966265002
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,674,243 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars "Common" Andre Mack, Connecticut Restaurant Authority, October 17, 1999

By A Customer

This book reads like any other "Guide" to restaurants. The world is waiting for a "Guide" to be written by people who are just genuinely interested in all aspects of the dining experience. We've grown weary of "Guides" that milk money from restaurants featured or have something to gain from the articles.

We are also weary of the lack of information about the "service" aspect of the dining experience. Service occurs in more areas than just the table and includes more than just being nice to guests.

The 2000 Guide to Dirona Award Restaurants should include a chapter about the service these restaurants provide with explanation of what service is.

Connecticut Restaurant Authority is willing to research and analyze the service each featured restaurant provides...for FREE!

Our business is to collect information from guests and tell restaurants exactly how guests feel about the service provided. Our method is scientific in that we quantitatively analyze this information.

Let's work together to give perspective patrons the sum total of what they want.