Steve Plotnicki Unveils Opinionated About U.S. Restaurants 2011

NEW YORK, May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, pioneering food blogger Steve Plotnicki is releasing his first guide on U.S. restaurants, Opinionated About U.S. Restaurants 2011: Informed Reviews of 1,800 of the Top Places to Eat in the Country. The culmination of years of research and compiling feedback from thousands of passionate gourmands, the book features 1,800 restaurants across the country— from acclaimed fine-dining establishments to neighborhood burger joints.

Plotnicki gathered thousands of reviews collected from survey participants, and personally visited more than 850 of the restaurants featured. Each review leads with an overall score based on the type of restaurant —with scores of 75-100 for fine-dining establishments and a "Cheap Eats" category with scores of 4-10. Underneath is a breakdown of type of cuisine, atmosphere, price range, and contact information. Each entry includes an overview of the dining experience and quotes submitted by panelists. The cumulative effect is a guidebook that takes a broad range of feedback from everyone involved and turns them into a single, informed opinion about each restaurant.

Plotnicki organized the book into geographic regions, including: "Atlanta & The South;" "Boston & New England;" "Chicago & The Midwest;" "Las Vegas & The Southwest;" "Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii;" "New York Metro, Long Island, & Upstate;" "San Francisco, Northern California, & Pacific Northwest;" and "Washington, D.C. & The Mid-Atlantic;" featuring eateries from New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Smithfield, MO, Peoria, IL, and Findlay, OH, among others.

In addition, a list of the top restaurants in the country, broken down by a variety of criteria such as region and category, is featured, as well as a guide to the top domestic oysters, cheese, and beers.

A native New Yorker, Plotnicki's passion for food has long been an intrinsic part of his life. In 2003, he launched his blog, "Opinionated About Dining," a project that established him as one of the most prolific early food bloggers. In 2007, Plotnicki developed a formal survey for readers, and in 2008 he published a 56-page booklet on the 100 best restaurants in North America and Europe.

Opinionated About U.S. Restaurants 2011, compiled, written, and published by Steve Plotnicki, is distributed by Ingram Publisher Services and will be available through all major online and retail booksellers.

SOURCE Opinionated About Dining