Last week on Dining@Large, I published a list of the Top 10 Best Restaurants I Reviewed in 2009. In the parentheses I put the stars that each got for food. Great food isn't the only reason to choose one restaurant over another, so I also ordered them according to which I liked best. Please remember that some of these were reviewed almost a year ago, and things might have changed since then - for the better or worse.

1

Prime Rib downtown (****). A classic that just gets better with age.

2

Volt in Frederick (*** 1/2 ). Go for the total experience as much as the food.

3

Sam's Kid in Fells Point (*** 1/2 ). Inexpensive pan-Asian tapas in a high-style atmosphere.

4

Tapas Adela (***). Authentic Spanish small plates in a handsome dining room with good service.

5

Bistro Blanc in Glenelg (*** 1/2 ). A wine bar with elegant food.

6

Restaurant Sabor in Lutherville (*** 1/2 ). Good, eclectic menu ranging from French to Puerto Rican and BYOB.

7

Alizee near Johns Hopkins University (****). The food was great; the service was inconsistent. But that was three months ago.

8

Talara in Harbor East (*** 1/2 ). The menu has changed since I ate there and now isn't just ceviche and tapas.

9

Peter's Inn (***). Gourmet comfort food in a classic Baltimore bar.

10

Brasserie 10 South downtown (*** 1/2 ). French-inspired American food. Closed and then reopened with a different chef and menu. This is not the same restaurant I reviewed.

Readers talk back

My husband and I have both been to Alizee with other guests. I found the food at lunch to be just so-so, but the service was fine. He went at night and the service was extremely inept. Has anyone else had a better experience?

Posted by: Dahlink

I would never go back to Volt. We had a long wait even though we had a reservation. Service was just OK. The portions were minute though "artfully" presented. I left hungry. I think the first duty of a restaurant is to feed you, the rest is important, but if you leave hungry, nothing else matters.

Posted by: stuart

Went to Alizee last weekend to celebrate my father's birthday. The food was superb and the restaurant worked with me to create a special prix fixe menu to accommodate our larger group. It was the first time any of us had been to Alizee and we are looking forward to returning. Beautiful restaurant and memorable food!

Posted by: CantonK

We were regulars at Talara and just loved it. ... We do not like the new Talara, not sure if we will go back. Like the edgy funkiness of the old.

Posted by: sas