By Lorraine Sanders
For many travelers, great restaurants are destinations in and of themselves. We surveyed the crew at TravelPost.com about their favorite hotel restaurants, and came up with 10 top dining destinations around the country. Bon appetite!
1. Bouchon, The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Las Vegas, NV
The scene: By day, toast to your good luck here with brunch in the poolside garden dining area. Come evening, slip in for a romantic tete-a-tete and selections from the raw bar.
The chef: Thomas Keller
On your plate: The Grand Plateau, a fruits de mer selection that includes lobster, oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels and seasonal crab.
The hotel: The Venetian's 12-story Venezia Tower, which houses Bouchon, boasts larger guestrooms than the original hotel and concierge services in an upscale, "hotel within a hotel" setting.
2. Victoria & Albert's, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Lake Buena Vista, FL
The scene: Sup on elaborate culinary creations delivered by your very own table "butlers" in an opulent, Victorian-style dining room with just 20 tables.
The chef: Scott Hunnel
On your plate: A customized meal from the day's prix fix menu options.
The hotel: A Disney deluxe category resort, the hotel has a Victorian theme and is one of the closest lodging options to the Magic Kingdom.
3. Blue Fin, W Times Square, New York, NY
The scene: Escape the city for a meal in the Yabu Pushelberg-designed space complete with a floating staircase, mirrored walls and mod white seating. Nightly jazz softens the buzz from the Broadway lights just outside.
The chef: Eric Woods
On your plate: Chilean bass topped off with lemon hummus puree, roasted red peppers, baby artichokes and fava beans.
The hotel: This sexy lodging option in New York's Times Square is a hit with see-and-be-scenesters, as well as chic business travelers looking for a central location.
4. The Duck Club, Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa, Monterey, CA
The scene: Sample California cuisine as the sun sets over the Monterey Bay.
The chef: James Waller
On your plate: Wood-roasted Steinbeck's Duck with sweet yam and celery root puree and
sauce bigarade with blood orange.
The hotel: This waterfront Cannery Row hotel sits just three blocks from the famous Monterey Aquarium, one of the area's main attractions.
5. Eau Bistro, Chase Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis, MO
The scene: Anyone from 30-something locals, movie-goers and hotel guests in business suits will feel at home in this historic hotel's versatile restaurant.
The chef: Marie-Anne Perez
On your plate: Filet of beef, prawns and truffle panisse
The hotel: Guests won't have to go far for entertainment. The hotel houses its own five-screen movie theater.
6. The Dining Room, The Ritz Carlton San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
The scene: The buttoned-up atmosphere here hardly reflects the San Francisco's decidedly hang-loose attitude, but the menu is a testament to the region's varied and inventive cuisine, and the service is unparalleled.
The chef: Ron Siegel
On your plate: Big eye tuna sashimi with local Dungeness crab, golden osetra caviar, cucumber gelee and lemon terrine.
The hotel: Perched atop the Stockton Tunnel, this hotel offers easy (albeit steep) access to tourist-friendly hubs like Union Square and Chinatown without being right in the middle of the mayhem.
7. Wright's, Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, Phoenix, AZ
The scene: Pay homage to iconic designer Frank Lloyd Wright, whose influence is visible throughout the resort, with American fare emphasizing artisan, organic ingredients.
The chef: Michael Cairns
On your plate: The menu changes daily, but items like poached monkfish with lobster aioli and saffron foam characterize the possibilities.
The hotel: Opened in 1929, this 39-acre resort at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve is known for its high level of service and near-endless options for recreation. We're talking eight swimming pools, a spa, seven tennis courts, a golf course, a full European spa, multiple restaurants.you get the picture.
8. The Restaurant, Hotel Bel Air, Los Angeles, CA
The scene: See Hollywood glamour firsthand in a dining room designed by Leo A. Daly. Awash in soft cream hues and European details, this sophisticated destination tells quite a different tale than your average L.A. story.
The chef: Douglas Dodd
On your plate: Kobe kogoshima wagyu, a Japanese rib-eye steak for two, prepared with Bearnaise and shallot jus.
The hotel: Italian linens, wood-burning fireplaces and private garden patios make the rooms and suites here feel more like sweet little cottages in the South of France than hotel rooms in the middle of Los Angeles.
9. Sazerac, Hotel Monaco Seattle, Seattle , WA
The scene: Find a little Southern comfort in the Northwest with a visit to this warm, vibrant destination named after the classic New Orleans cocktail.
The chef: Jan Birbnaum
On your plate: Glazed cider pork ribs with sweet potato home fries.
The hotel: This Kimpton property combines an excellent downtown location with a boutique atmosphere and fun amenities like the Guppy Love program, which offers guests complimentary goldfish to keep them company during their visit.
10. Hoku's, The Kahala Hotel and Resort, Oahu, HI
The scene: Take your eyes off the Pacific Ocean long enough to look at the menu, and you'll find Asian, Continental and traditional Hawaiian flavors effortlessly fused into the chef's special brand of island cuisine.
The chef: Wayne Hirabayashi
On your plate: Baked oysters with bacon and creamed leaks, citrus herb crust, shaved fennel and sun-dried tomato vinaigrette.
The hotel: Guests can get to know the resort's very own family of dolphins, who live in a private lagoon on the property.