For my birthday one year, I made reservations at Valentino, which was at one point voted to be the number one resteraunt in America by Forbes. Needless to say, my friends and I were totally excited to eat there.
I don't know what I can say about Valentino that will do it justice. The food was FABULOUS. Two of my friends ordered the seven course meal with the wine tasting, which included a rack of lamb that they still rave about to anybody who will -- two entire years later.
Personally, I took advantage of the little side note on the menu that said that the chef would accomodate diners in any possible way -- so, I made up a special four-course vegetarian friendly meal on the spot for the other vegetarian and and myself, which included potato leek soup, penne pasta with arrabiata sauce and capers, gnochi in a sweet tomato sauce, and then pumpkin-filled ravioli with white truffles. I am without a doubt an Italian food connoisseur, and everything I had was among the best I've ever tasted.
The service was impeccable. The entire meal was to die for. In particular, I loved one of the dessert wines that was served with the (amazingly perfect) chocolate souffle.
I can't even begin to describe the experience. Valentino was world-class.