by Brady Bryan

Created on: February 13, 2007   Last Updated: May 04, 2007

"The Most Popular Restaurants in the World" What a hefty title. I love fine dining. I can be real snob when it comes to food preparation. However, after trying out some of the best around the world, I have come to realize that so many of my favorite meals where not in these "ranked" restaurants. They were merely cute, well-decorated places, that I stumbled into with friends and ended up having an unforgettable time.

Now, having said that, the food was also amazing. The drinks were well-served, the waitstaff amazing, and the cuisine competitive. But the best thing about finding a restaurant that is unranked is the unpretentious attitude throughout the place. The people love working there because the believe that this restaurant is special. This is something that a well known restaurant can not fake. Plus, the treatment you get doesnt just feel like they are well trained to make it special, but you know they geniunely do want it to be a wonderful experience for you.

The best place I have ever been to is a place in Florence, Italy tucked off the far side of the famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchio. It's farther away than most tourists like to walk but as we stumbled upon it we knew we had found a jewel. The inside was a beautiful contrast of fresh and clean and then a split in the restaurant made the other half rich with dark woods and floral arrangements, while the whole restaurant opens up to wall to wall windows overlooking the river. We were given champagne upon sitting down, and the food was like magic in my mouth. I can't explain it. But by the time the meal was over, the owner of the restaurant was sitting with us, the waiters were bringing wine out of every corner of the restaurant, and we had 3 courses of free dessert just because. It was one of the most special nights of my life, and everytime I return I go to see my friends at Golden View.

So the next time you are wondering where to take that special date or your in-town guests, don't think of all the places you should go. Think of that little place you drive by to on your way to work, or that italian restaurant with the cool exterior. My bet is, if they have the taste to look good and have been around for a while, the foods probably not too bad either!

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