"zagat" news and stories

• There's a hot salsa competition in Trolley Square -- and they don't mean dancing.
• Wilmington's annual St. Hedwig's Polish Festival is all about the pierogi.
• Which restaurant got the highest Zagat rating this year?
• Iron Chef Jose Garces's fame has spread far beyond Philadelphia.

Photo: Zagat

On the heels of the release of the Michelin Guide's roundup of New York's best eateries, Zagat has unveiled its diner-chosen picks for the best of Gotham eats.

Zagat compiles its listings through surveys submitted by diners in New York. This year, the guide found New Yorkers dining out less because of the current economic climate (about 3.0 times per week now versus 3.3 to 3.4 times a week last year).

See the newcomers after the jump.

The nation's best burger is at In-N-Out Burger, according to a new survey of fast-food restaurants by Zagat.

The California-based chain won top nods for its burger in the survey of 6,107 consumers. Wendy's, Burger King, McDonald's and Whataburger rounded out the top five. The second annual survey of fast food looked at both full service and traditional fast food chains. In the full service category, Red Robin won for its burgers, followed by Ruby Tuesday, the Cheesecake Factory, Steak 'n Shake and Chili's Grill and Bar.

McDonald's won for best fries, Panera Bread for salads and KFC for fried chicken.

See which coffees won after the jump.

In a press conference this morning, Tim Zagat announced The Vintage Dinner Series, a gathering New York City's finest Chefs that will create menus inspired by 19th century banquets. Many of the dishes the chef's will be serving have mostly disappeared from the restaurant and even the home scene over the past hundred years. Recreating period-appropriate ambiance and meals will create an unforgettable dining experience.

Chefs from restaurants such as Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Chanterelle, Del Posto, Gramercy Tavern, Le Bernardin, Per Se and many more are very excited to be taking part in such a historic dining event. Tim Zagat says: "This is the greatest group of chefs since Escoffier ate home alone!" These prix fixe dinners will be priced on par with each restaurant's standard menu, but will include drinks, tax and tip. Each restaurant will also donate a portion of the evening's proceeds to a charity of their choice.

Interested? Don't hesitate to make reservations immediately! Seating is extremely limited and expected to sell out possibly by the end of the day. For a complete list of restaurants, menus and charities, please go to ZagatPresents.com.

I'm reading through this list and one thing immediately occurs to me: I'm probably never going to visit any of these places.

The Zagat 2008 America's Top Restaurants Dining Journal has chosen the top 11 restaurants in the country, based on food, cost, service, and decor. Out of a possible score of 30, all of these restaurants scored a 29 (the only place to score a perfect 30 was the McDonald's in Fresno, CA, but it wins every year and is no longer eligible).

Among the restaurants chosen: Bacchanalia in Atlanta, GA, Jean-Robert at Pigall's in Cincinnati, OH, and Restaurant Nicholas in Red Bank, NJ.