Shawn Youngblood

Adventures in fine dining

This is a list of restaurants I consider worthy of mention from my culinary adventures, followed by the chef at the time and the year I was there. The food selection ranges from Tasting Menu (TM) to prix fixe (PF) to regular menu selection (RM). They are in reverse chronological order, to the best of my memory, and I’ve marked my favorites with a ~.

The stars noted are Michelin. Las Vegas no longer received Michelin evaluations as of 2010, but since Vegas restaurants didn’t technically lose their stars, I’ve kept them in brackets where applicable.

  • Vernick Food & Drink, Philadelphia, PA – Greg Vernick (2023)
  • ~Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Philadelphia, PA – Chad Williams (2023) [James Beard’s Outstanding Restaurant for 2023, and it lived up to the award so far as we could judge!]
  • Laurel, Philadelphia, PA – Nick Elmi (2023) TM
  • ~Lark, Bala Cynwyd, PA – Nick Elmi (2022) PF
  • Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Washington, D.C. – Zack Brown (2020) RM
  • Zaytinya, Washington, D.C. – José Andrés / Michael Costa (2020) PF
  • Fork, Philadelphia, PA – Jeremy Hansen (2019) RM
  • Ciao Italia Ristorante, Orlando, FL – Antonio Navarra (2019) RM
  • Parkshore Grill, St. Petersburg, FL – Tyson Grant (2019) RM
  • ~Res Culta Pop-up, Sea Isle City, NJ – Sam and Jenn Kindick (2019) TM [This was the 10th consecutive and final year (so far) of the Kindick-Statton-Youngblood New Year’s festivities.]
  • Zahav, Philadelphia, PA – Michael Solomonov (2018) TM [James Beard’s Outstanding Restaurant for 2019 (we were early to this award and repeatedly wowed dish after dish)]
  • ~Talula’s Garden, Philadelphia, PA – Aimee Olexy / Charles Parker (2018) TM
  • Hot and Hot Fish Club, Birmingham, AL – Chris Hastings (2018) RM
  • ~Res Culta Pop-up, Greyrock, NH – Sam and Jenn Kindick (2018, 2016, 2015) TM
  • Fond, Philadelphia, PA – Lee Styer and Jessie Prawlucki (2017) PF
  • ~Laurel, Philadelphia, PA – Nick Elmi (2017) TM [2013 Top Chef Winner]
  • ~Momofuku Shoto, Toronto, ON – David Chang (2017) TM
  • Peter Pan, Toronto, ON – Noah Goldberg (2017) RM
  • ~Res Culta Pop-up, North Wales, PA – Sam and Jenn Kindick (2017, 2014) TM
  • Amada, Philadelphia, PA – Jose Garces (2016) TM
  • Cotton Row, Huntsville, AL – James Boyce (2016, 2013) RM
  • ~Noble Fare, Savannah, GA – Patrick McNamara (2016) TM
  • Vic’s on the River, Savannah, GA – Kerry Stevens (2016) RM
  • ~Atelier Crenn, San Francisco, CA – Dominique Crenn ★★ (2016) TM
  • Aatxe, San Francisco, CA – Ryan Pollnow (2016) RM
  • ~Res Culta Pop-up, Greyrock, NH – Sam and Jenn Kindick (2018, 2016, 2015) TM
  • ~Volver, Philadelphia, PA – Jose Garces / Dave Conn (2015) TM
  • Morimoto, Philadelphia, PA – Masaharu Morimoto (2015) TM
  • ~Vetri, Philadelphia, PA – Marc Vetri (2015) TM
  • Joël Robuchon, Las Vegas, NV – Claude Le-Tohic [★★★] (2015) TM
  • ~Sage, Las Vegas, NV – Shawn McClain (2015, 2014, 2013) PF
  • Cochon, New Orleans – Donald Link / Stephen Stryjewski (2015) RM
  • ~Res Culta Pop-up, Greyrock, NH – Sam and Jenn Kindick (2018, 2016, 2015) TM
  • Paramour, Wayne, PA – Eric Goods (2014) TM
  • miX, Las Vegas, NV – Alain Ducasse / Bruno Davaillon [★] (2014) PF
  • Aureole, Las Vegas, NV – Charlie Palmer / John Church [★] (2014) PF
  • ~Sage, Las Vegas, NV – Shawn McClain (2015, 2014, 2013) PF
  • ~Frasca, Boulder, CO – Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson (2014) TM
  • ~Black Cat, Boulder, CO – Eric Skokan (2014) TM
  • ~Nobu, London, UK – Nobu Matsuhisa / Mark Edwards ★ (2014) TM
  • Alain Ducasse at the Dorcester, London, UK – Jocelyn Herland ★★★ (2014) TM
  • ~Olive Tree, Bath, UK – Chris Cleghorn (2014) TM
  • ~Res Culta Pop-up, North Wales, PA – Sam and Jenn Kindick (2017, 2014) TM
  • ~Jean-George Steakhouse, Las Vegas, NV – Robert Moore (2013) PF
  • American Fish, Las Vegas, NV – Michael Mina (2013) PF
  • Le Cirque, Las Vegas, NV – Gregory Putin [★] (2013) PF
  • ~Sage, Las Vegas, NV – Shawn McClain (2015, 2014, 2013) PF
  • ~The Crossing, St. Louis, MO – Jim Fiala and Brad Watts (2013) TM
  • Niche, St. Louis, MO – Gerard Craft (2013) TM
  • ~Farmhaus, St. Louis, MO – Kevin Willmann (2013) TM
  • Cobalt Grille, Virginia Beach, VA – Alvin Williams (2013, 2011) RM
  • ~Greyrock, Newbury, NH – Sam and Jenn Kindick (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010)
  • Taverna Angelica, Rome, Italy – ?? (2012) TM
  • ~Ristorante L’Antica Scuderia, Tavarnelle, FI, Italy – Maria Abbarchini (2012) RM
  • Cinque di Vino, San Casciano, FI, Italy – Silvia Papi, Marco Baldi (2012) RM
  • ~Loiseau des Vignes, Beaune, France – Mourad Haddouche ★ (2012) PF
  • Chez Guy, Gevrey-Chambertin, France – Yves Rebsamen (2012) RM
  • ~Tante Margarite, Paris, France – Bernard Loiseau† / Pedro Gomes (2012) PF
  • ~Greyrock, Newbury, NH – Sam and Jenn Kindick (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010)
  • *Tallahassee restaurants should have their own post (2005-2023)
    • Kool Beanz
    • Clusters & Hops
    • A La Provence
    • Mosaic
    • Sage
    • Savour
    • Il lusso
    • Food Glorious Food
    • Cypress
  • Uchi, Austin, TX – Tyson Cole (2005) PF
  • 801 Franklin, Huntsville, AL – Matt Martin (employed 2004-2005)
  • Jazz Factory, Huntsville, AL – Gevara Teebi (employed 2000-2004)

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