Jiko - Top 100 Best Wine/Restaurants in USA

[com_op_2000]

Jiko — The Cooking Place at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge has been named to Wine Enthusiast magazine's Top 100 best in wine and fine dining in the country. The entire list, coast to coast, of this year's best wine restaurants is in the August 2011 issue, which is now available on newsstands. Jiko – The Cooking Place fuses the bold flavors of traditional African, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine.

The Jiko wine list features one of the largest selections of South African vintages in North America. The list has won multiple awards, including the Orlando Sentinel's Foodie Best Wine List Award and the Wine Spectator Excellence Award for Most Outstanding Wine List.

Other Florida restaurants on the Wine Enthusiast list include Prime One Twelve in South Beach, Hakkasan at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Bern's Steak House in Tampa, Baires Grill in South Beach and Angle Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton in Palm Beach.

 

[nytimez]

I'm guessing the honor is based more on the wine -- but Jiko is a damn fine restaurant either way.

As is Bern's in Tampa -- quite possibly the best steakhouse I've ever eaten in.

 

[KYMickey]

You do realize that the restaurants nominate themselves and pay to be on that list don't you?

 

[nytimez]

You do realize that the restaurants nominate themselves and pay to be on that list don't you?

Didn't realize it -- and that's deceptive if it's true. But that doesn't change the fact that both Jiko and Bern's are fantastic restaurants, and I wouldn't dispute their inclusion on any list.

Jiko might be the only restaurant at WDW that I'd put on a list (I say that having never eaten at Victoria & Albert's). I've never had a meal at Jiko that was less than excellent, and I don't really drink wine (more of a beer person).