Primanti Bros. started in 1933 during the Great Depression. Joe Primanti had a sandwich cart that was successful enough to turn into a storefront feeding shift workers and truck drivers. Their signature is potato fries on the sandwich. The story is that someone came to the restaurant during the winter with a load of potatoes. He was concerned if they were frozen but when cooked on the grill they were fine. As other customers came in they wanted some so Joe put them on the sandwich and it was a hit. It allowed the drivers to eat with one hand while they drove. They now have 40 restaurants in over 6 states. We tried to hit the original location of this Pittsburgh icon. It is definitely worth trying and they are open daily 8 am – 10 pm and even later on Fri and Sat. The interesting thing was their menu had no prices and the drink menu on the table didn’t either. You can order extra meat or cheese on your sandwich but then I heard another patron asking how much and the server had to go to the register to check. On the website, most of the sandwiches are around $9 with $2 for extra meat/cheese. Service was super friendly and the place has murals you could study while you wait a short time for your order. They also had a full bar and several options for draft beer, which is what I tried. Continue reading →
Wario’s Beef and Pork was created by Chef Stephan Madias, who wanted to bring a chef-driven sandwich shop to Columbus. He wanted customers to feel like family and to serve them quality food that is responsibly sourced and made from scratch. Their signature semolina roll is baked and delivered to the shop daily from Matija Breads and he makes, cures and smokes the other ingredients in-house. They opened in late fall of 2020 as a little sandwich window that quickly became a new city food spot. Named for a character in Nintendo’s Mario Brothers video game series, they are open Wed. through Sun. and have a few tables inside and a large patio outside. A really friendly spot, we immediately struck up a conversation with one of their regulars and their counter person was also friendly and helpful. The sandwiches are huge and excellent. I would eat there often if I lived nearby. Continue reading →
entrance – 653 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Bluebeard is an amazing farm to table restaurant open for lunch and dinner. They have a full bar as well as lots of wine. It started as a European-style bakery, as one was not in Indianapolis in 2010. Tom Battista found a 1924 factory building in an historic Italian neighborhood in downtown and started Amelia’s Bakery which now supplies all the bread for Bluebeard. The space was large enough to house more so Tom brought in Chef Abbi Merriss and his son Edward to open a restaurant that would have the same artisanal approach to food, and they did just that in 2012. They named it Bluebeard after a book by Indianapolis native Kurt Vonnegut. Many of the decorations in the place reflect Vonnegut’s books. The winding space moves through numerous cozy rooms packed with fun decorations and happy people. They take no reservations so get there early if you don’t want to wait in line. The food is fantastic as is the service. It will be a memory you won’t forget. We didn’t get dessert but I snapped a photo of the menu for reference. Continue reading →
building – 234 N Belmont Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46222
The Workingman’s Friend is said to be the “best blue-collar burger place in town.” Founded around 1918 by Louis Stamatkin, an immigrant from Macedonia, who was helped by his fellow Macedonian immigrants to open the place. He served lunch to local railroad workers and other factory workers and called his place Belmont Lunch. Beer and liquor were a big draw for customers. When the workers were on strike he let them run a tab for which the place was given the nickname “The Workingman’s Friend.” When he died at the young age of 46 his sons (Carl and Earl) took over and renamed the place in his honor, but they also added some more expensive items to the menu and live entertainment. Carl’s daughter Becky started working there in 1978 and by 1980 the live music and steaks were gone. The place again focused on burgers and beer, of which the burgers are thin with a crispy edge. The expansion the sons planned never happened but it is still a large place filled with small closely spaced formica-topped tables. There are a number of lots around to park in and they were all pretty much full at 1:30 as was the interior. At one point a line formed waiting for the tables. It took close to an hour to get our food but the wait was worth it. It is a fantastic burger. The service was friendly but the noise level is loud from conversations. Televisions over the long bar were turned off, but a full bar of liquors is available. Continue reading →
exterior – 2503 N Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46205
Goose the Market offers a daily selection of sandwiches, soups and small plates as well as a deli counter with meats, cheeses, breads, gelato, specialty foods and beer/wine. The market and butcher shop are all about the love of good food and the people who produce it. Housed in a corner building, there are a few stools by a counter at the window to the street and some outside seating. Inside is a long counter where the meats, cheese, and gelato are displayed and you can place your order. Across from that are shelves of specialty items and downstairs is the wine cellar. You could see them slicing and assembling your sandwich while you waited. Different sandwiches are specials daily. It’s a wonderful shop and the sandwiches are quite good. Continue reading →
Garnett’s Cafe is a small neighborhood sandwich/salad shop on the lower floor of a 1908 corner building. Parking is on the street and seating is limited. There are several small tables in addition to seats at the L-shaped counter. Art and other objects decorate the walls. Wine and beer are available and there was a special sandwich of the day on the chalkboard outside. They are open daily for lunch and dinner and also have a selection of desserts from Laura Lee’s. Opening in 2009 they received a local dining award, an Elby, as the city’s Favorite Neighborhood Restaurant in 2014. The place was named for the owner, Kendra Feather’s, grandmother Garnett Beckham, who lived to 103. The staff was friendly and the food was good, with large portions. We were there to catch up with a friend so apologies in advance as my note-taking and photo taking were distracted. Continue reading →
Stella’s serves rustic and modern Greek cuisine. Stella was born in 1942 and emigrated to the U.S. as part of an arranged marriage. Her husband opened an American classic cafe in 1956 and she joined him working there in the 1960s bringing in Greek dishes. In 1983 she opened a restaurant bearing her name a few doors down. Expanding on its success she opened a second place in 1998 offering eclectic cuisine. The current location opened in 2011 and Stella still comes by and the kitchen prepares her old family recipes. The medium-sized place is on a corner and parking is on the street. Windows make up two walls and the large L-shaped bar is opposite, set with stools with backs. A large table is midway to the back and that and the bar are for walk-in seating. Otherwise, it is a bunch of small bare wood tables with some bench seating or larger tables for 4 with chairs. The ceiling is tin, Greek music is in the background and it’s very busy. However, the service didn’t rush you and was glad to bring things out individually so we could split them. The server warned us we ordered too much as the portions were large but agreed to give the kitchen our apologies that we were going to waste some food in order to be able to try lots. If you like Greek food try and get a reservation and otherwise get there early and snag an open seat. Continue reading →
Perly’s is a Jewish Restaurant and Delicatessen serving “traditional Jewish cuisine with a twist.” In the heart of downtown, they are open Wed. to Sun. from 9:00 am till 3:00 pm. The place originally opened in 1961 and has had 3 owners with the current ones taking over in 2014 and adding the twist. It’s a long place with one side taken up by the long bar that ends in the kitchen space. The area that’s left is divided in two with booths and tables. The marble bar had stools opened and we took that as there was a wait for tables even later in the afternoon. Music was in the background, windows to the street provided additional light to the many fixtures, a black and white movie played silently on the screen above the bar, the ceiling looked like an old tin one and a pair of larger semi-circular booths flanked the doorway. Continue reading →
Frank’s Deli also sells meat and produce. They offer a selection of made-from-scratch food choices, with sandwiches made while you wait. Frank has been in business over 40 years. His background was in butchering so he started the store with meat and produce in the late 70s. The corner building offers an array of produce, meats, sauces, chips and snacks – as much locally sourced as possible. Most of the folks in there were in the line to order food to go. There is no seating inside or out but we were fine to eat in the car. The line moved quickly and the person taking my order was nice enough to suggest the spicy mustard instead of regular with the corned beef. The sandwiches were well stuffed and I bet if I lived in town I’d be there all the time getting something to bring home or eat in the car. They do have a good-sized parking lot. Continue reading →
entrance to restaurant – The Brown Hotel, 335 West Broadway, Louisville, KY, 40202
J. Graham’s Cafe is in the Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville. One of several restaurants in the hotel they are the ‘light and airy’ one. They are famous for the “Hot Brown” which was invented there in 1926 and has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NBC’s Today Show and many other media outlets. In the 1920s The Brown Hotel regularly had over 1,200 guests every evening for its dinner dance. As the guests grew tired and hungry they wanted something glamorous to eat and Chef Fred Schmidt created the open-face turkey sandwich he called the Hot Brown. The Cafe is on the first floor of the hotel and if you dine there you are given 2 hours free valet parking, which is nice in the busy downtown. The room had windows looking out to the street which provided much natural light, bare wood tables, carpet, walls decorated with poster art and nicely padded seats and benches. A full bar is available. Service was a tad pushy, trying to upsell a bit and not particularly attentive but there were enough service people you didn’t get forgotten. The sandwich is an icon so I had to try it. Continue reading →
exterior – 38820 S, CA-1 Unit 104, Gualala, CA 95445
Gualala Seafood Shack is a small place with shared picnic-style tables inside and tables on the outside patio. Located in a one-story shopping center, you order at the counter from the menu hanging above but there are also signs about specials hanging on the window as you walk in. After you order and pay, you get a beeper to buzz you when your order is ready. Afterward, there is a place to stack trays and baskets and throw out the trash. Music is in the background and bathrooms are available inside but this is a no-frills place. They advertise that their seafood is sourced locally and are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Continue reading →
Ranelli’s Deli has been on the southside of Birmingham serving sandwiches, salads and pastas since 1971. It is family owned and operated and has live music some nights. The place was a former gas station so there is parking on 2 sides. Inside you approach the counter and make your order from the sign above and pay. They will call out your name when it’s ready. In the meantime, you can look around at the jam-packed room filled with music memorabilia and other things. In the back of the room is a small stage where live bands can play. There is an assortment of small tables crowded into the room with soft music in the background. Their Italian dinners looked like quite a deal and they were served all day. I’d go back and try those but we just wanted a sandwich midway through the day. We should have split one – they are large and packed with ingredients. Nothing outlandish here, just good solid plain food. Continue reading →
exterior – 2902 18th Street South, Homewood. AL, 35209
Johnny’s Restaurant is a blend of Greek and Southern styles of cooking. Chef Timothy Hontzas has Greek heritage, naming the restaurant after his grandfather Johnny who also cooked. Opening in 2012 this place offers a “meat and three” style with Greek specialties as well as traditional dishes like meatloaf. It is located on the second level of a busy shopping center where parking could be an issue. You place your order at the counter with the large chalkboard menu behind the counter but some additional specials were posted on the wall as you walked up. You get a number and the servers find and bring your food out to you. All lunch plates come with a choice of cornbread or yeast roll. Music is in the background, the drink station is in the back and portions are generous. The food is quite good, especially the vegetables. I would love to go back and sample more dishes – hope you’ll get a chance to try it. Continue reading →
The Essential is a medium-sized bar and cafe in an historic part of downtown Birmingham that serves contemporary American food. They serve dinner, brunch on weekends and lunch, which is what we had there. They have seating inside at tables and at a long bar or tables on a patio, which did have heaters. Along with a full bar, they offered a nice wine selection. Large windows in the dining area overlook the outside patio and street and music plays in the background. A fun tile floor was opposite a decorative ceiling and one wall had a bench seat that accompanied the small round marble tables. The back end of the room was a large opening into the kitchen. At lunch, they have fewer items to pick from than at dinner but whenever you go you’ll find fine food and service here. This place should be on your list if you visit Birmingham. Continue reading →
back entrance – 550 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601
Hall’s Chophouse was started by the Hall family in 2009 in Charleston. They now have 5 locations in this area of the country with Nashville set as the next to open. They bill themselves as serving the finest steaks money can buy, offering an extensive wine list and serving hearty family-style sides all with great service. The Greenville location is located in the refurbished part of downtown overlooking the water feature. Parking is on the street as well as in several city-owned parking garages. It was a fairly large place with huge windows taking in the view with an equally huge bar available for drinking and dining. At lunch, they had some different menu options but the entire dinner menu is available too. Be advised that portions are large. The nice sized tables were cloth covered but I found the service to be a bit overdone bordering on intrusive and pushy. We were there for a relaxed visit with a longtime friend and the constant picking up of plates we were using to replace them with larger ones, changing out flatware after plates were served and the pushing of extra orders did not endear their service to me. Continue reading →
Comal 864 is the creation of Brownsville, Texas native Dayna Lee Márquez, who wanted to bring South Texas food to this region. It started in July 2019 as a pop-up operation and in Nov. 2022 opened a storefront operation that also offers catering. Chef Márquez was nominated in 2023 for a James Beard Best Chef Southeast Award. The little house has parking on either side and picnic tables out front. Inside a long counter with stools runs in front of the kitchen and order area and the rest is filled with tables and chairs. You order at the counter and they’ll bring it to your table. Chef Márquez was in the kitchen and you could see her preparing plates along with her helpers. For 2:00 in the afternoon, it was surprisingly busy but they are open all day. The counter person was helpful in choosing what to order and the portions are very generous. While the dishes may be novel to this area I found them very lacking in spice, but I admit I am surrounded by and love spicy Tex-Mex. If I were closer I’d try the place again because the ‘bones’ of it were great but for me, the end result missed the mark. Continue reading →
Riverstreet Family Restaurant is a fairly large place divided into 2 rooms by a partial wall. The good-sized tables are mostly in one room with the other having the bar facing the service area and opening to the kitchen, Plenty of parking surrounds the building and music from the kitchen radio bleeds into the dining areas. The interior is a combination of wood, brick, shingles, metal and windows to the outside covered with blinds. A couple of deer head mounts and various signs complete the eclectic interior. The large menu features breakfast all day, a lot of burger variations and is supplemented by daily specials. The portions are large and the staff quite efficient and helpful as well as knowledgable of the names and situations of many of the regular customers. Coffee comes as a pot on the table and overall the food was good but regular. In other words, I would go again but not go out of my way to get there. Continue reading →
We were excited to return to Chez Nous but slightly dismayed to not see Chef Jill Mathias in the kitchen. This visit we got to sit downstairs and enjoy the jazz music that plays in the background. There is a second fireplace at the base of the stairs to the upper level and the tables are just as small down here. There are also a few stools at the bar counter in front of some of the wines. The decorations in the place are from a local antique store that one of the owners is also involved in. Also found out that the doors to the bathrooms are original to the house. The setup was the same as before, with 2 choices for each of the 3 courses and that really befuddled the neighboring table that wanted French onion soup or any soup (they eventually left). We however were happy with the choices but this trip wanted the same things and split the dessert as we knew a heavy dinner was on the schedule. The food didn’t dazzle me as much as the first visit but I would still plan to visit this place every chance I get because the food is that good and the concept is very refreshing to me. Continue reading →
Chez Nous is a small place in an 1835 2-story home. Around 9 years ago Chef Jill Mathias started serving the cuisine of southern France, northern Italy and northern Spain for lunch and dinner 6 days a week. She serves the same menu of 2 appetizers, 2 entreés and 2 desserts both times of day but changes the menu daily. Chef writes the new menu by hand every day in a very stylized script, with the first line in the language of the area and the second in English. The place just holds 36 guests inside and 20 on the outside patio. Music is in the background, light streams through the many windows, upstairs a bench runs along the long wall with no pillows and tiny tables. Upstairs wide plank old floors are opposite exposed ceiling rafters and the end of the room has a crumbling brick fireplace. It all works to feel like you’ve jumped back in time to enjoy a meal in a friend’s home. Don’t let anything stop you from getting to this place and eating some of her great food. We were so impressed we made a reservation for the next day’s lunch while we sipped coffee. Continue reading →
exterior- 2063 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
The Obstinate Daughter is named for the American victory in the Battle of Sullivan’s Island in 1776, where a British cartoonist illustrated the defenders of Charleston as “Miss Carolina Sulivan, one of the obstinate daughters of America”. Their website describes the place as a ‘Lowcountry Food Fort.” They have a wood-fired pizza oven as well as a raw bar and relationships with local fishermen and farms. It’s a large place on the second floor of frame house with a patio facing the street and a very small parking lot downstairs. The eclectic menu has influences from Italian and Spanish cuisines and the interior is decorated with a nautical theme. There were 2 main rooms, one with a bar and counter and the other with an open kitchen and an assortment of table types. Music was in the background, lots of windows look to the outside and the staff was all super friendly and helpful. The food was excellent. Continue reading →
entrance – 11 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL., 33139
Joe’s Stone Crab was opened as a lunch counter in 1913, before Miami Beach was a city, by Joe Weiss. He moved south from New York due to his asthma and found he could breathe easier in Miami Beach. It started as a lunch stand and by 1918 he and his wife bought a small house and set up tables on the porch, calling it Joe’s Restaurant. For a number of years, they were the only restaurant on the beach and Al Capone was a regular customer (using a different name). Around 1921 a researcher discovered stone crabs, but they were not known to be eaten. Joe gave them a try and they were an instant hit. His son Jesse evolved into running the place and had the personality to attract many celebrities and the well-to-do crowd. The place served food to Will Rogers, Amelia Earhart, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Joe Kennedy and J. Edgar Hoover to name a few. The third and fourth-generation family members now run the place with some employees having worked there up to 50 years. It is an institution, to say the least. A huge place, there are several dining rooms, a large bar and a patio all appointed with formally dressed staff and double white clothed tables. Service is fabulous as is the food. An experience not to be missed. Continue reading →
La Rey de las Fritas has been serving Cuban food in Miami for 40 years. They originated and are known for “La original Frita Cubana” – a Cuban-style burger they invented. It is a ground beef patty with sautéed onions that is topped with a mound of shoestring fried potatoes on a fluffy Cuban roll. There are several locations but we visited what we think was the original. Located in a strip shopping center, it was a large place with 2 U-shaped counters with stools facing toward the kitchen and the opposite wall had booth seating. It was bright and a bit sterile, but managed to get a fair number of people both eating in and taking out. Their famous burgers are offered with a number of variations and otherwise they had a large menu of Cuban dishes. They also had shakes and drinks made from lots of different fruits and so we also tried a mango shake or Batidos. The sandwich was interesting but not killer however the shake was lovely. Continue reading →
exterior – 229 14th Street, Miami Beach, FL., 33139
La Sandwicherie was started in 1988 to bring simple sandwiches at a good price point to Miami Beach. Since then they have expanded to include several Florida cities. The sandwiches are on crisp white or wheat baguettes or soft croissants and all have the signature dressing vinaigrette on the side. All include veggie toppings of lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, hot peppers, black olives, red onions, cucumbers, and Cornichons (French pickle). They also offer salads and a variety of fruit drinks, but no alcoholic beverages. There is no interior; it’s simply a counter with a few stools and a space designated for ordering. You can customize your French inspired sandwich in any way you’d like. The counter workers take your order and make your sandwich and music is in the background. They are super friendly and helpful. The sandwiches are wonderful and on great bread. Continue reading →
exterior – 1403 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA, 70130
Commander’s Palace has been on this blog several times, but this time we were back for lunch. The menu is smaller and cheaper and they still off 25¢ martinis which come in several variations. No wonder they had a good crowd but it also turned out to be KingsDay, which is the start of Carnival Season and so there were tables of people dressed and ready to start the celebrations. It seemed like private parties were being seated upstairs. There is a limit of 3 on the drinks “cause that’s enough” and it truly is. They also have $5 deals on a couple other cocktails. One caveat is that you do have to purchase an entrée. The food was fine but mostly the ambiance won me over this time. Continue reading →
exterior – 1117 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA, 70116
Saint John is a large long space from Chef/Owner Eric Cook, who has worked at many fine restaurants in New Orleans. His first restaurant was Gris-Gris and this one opened in Oct. 2021. There are several rooms as well as a long bar for seating. Upstairs has balcony seating as well as rooms for rent for private parties. As you walk to the back room, the long open kitchen is on your right but first you pass a huge mural by Deurty Boys that features tributes to deceased local chefs and hospitality leaders. The same artist did pieces of stained glass art for each of the elevated booths across from the kitchen. The space is quite bright, music is in the background and the tables are topped with marble. Service was helpful but there were very few people there. This surprised me as it’s right across from the way popular beignet restaurant. It could be the coldness of the place, the high prices, the average food or the time of year. Take your pick but I don’t recommend this one – it’s not bad but not worth the money. Continue reading →
Galatoire’s has been written up on this blog numerous times but on our most recent visit we tried a few different items so I thought I’d post pictures and some commentary. I had read that the food had gone downhill following Covid so I also wanted to re-visit. While everything was not spectacular, and some even a little off, overall it was a fine meal. The service there is so adaptable and the crowd too lively, it’s hard not to have a good time. The menu seemed smaller but I learned a new thing – that you can order half sizes of many of the entrees. This allows you to try more things. I still recommend this place for a dose of wonderful seafood cooked nicely with lots of butter. Continue reading →
exterior – Campiello de la Pescaria, 3968, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy
Al Covo has been written up on this blog numerous times but it’s been several years and on this trip we went for lunch instead of dinner and sat in a different room. It’s been in business since 1987 and is always a favorite stop when we are in town. Chef-owner Cesare Benelli and his wife Diane (who makes all the desserts) are now happy to have their son helping in the kitchen. Diane is from Texas and always welcomes a bit of her old home visiting her current home. A fairly small place, we’ve always been seated in the bigger dining room but this time we were ‘walk-ins’ and got to try out the smaller room to the left as you enter. The small wood tables were fairly close and well-lit by the adjacent windows. There was music in the background, as well as lively conversation and all the family was in the house. In addition to the printed menu, there were a couple of daily specials. We had a thoroughly delightful meal with great service in a very welcoming place. Continue reading →
exterior — Piscina S. Zulian, 544, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Al Conte Pescaor serves classic Venetian food with a global wine cellar of more than 1800 bottles. They specialize in seafood from the lagoon, especially what is seasonal and have been in business 93 years, 32 of which have been at their current location. On a corner, their 2 rooms are in an ‘L’ shape and there is a patio. The walls are covered with memorabilia and wine bottles, the small tables have white cloths, their logo of “Al Conte Pescaor” is on everything, music is in the background, the room is well lit, some bench seating lines the walls, the second room has booth seating and the ceiling is wood. It was not busy when we stopped in for lunch, but this is off-season. The service was friendly, helpful, and knew what was in season for ordering purposes. It’s a nice place with good but not great food. One thing for me though, was that they had some of the small seasonal offerings like razor clams and Moeche or soft shell crabs. Don’t go here looking for new and interesting combinations, go here for good preparations of typical Venetian food and you’ll leave happy. Continue reading →
exterior – Dorsoduro 3778 Crosera, Calle S. Pantalon, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
Estro – Vino e Cucina was opened in 2014 by brothers Alberto and Dario Spezzamonte with the former leading the kitchen and Dario in the front of the house and wine program. It is a wine bar serving modern-style Venetian cuisine and Cicchetti. Of the 2 rooms in the place, the first is the bar and snack area and the second room has a dozen small tables for seated dining. The walls surround you with wine, the floor is stone, a wood ceiling is above that dangles candles, faint music is in the background, and spotlights illuminate the individual tables. They have an a la carte menu, daily specials and 3 or 4 course tasting menus. We created our own tasting of sorts by splitting a number of dishes. The food is inventive and fun. Continue reading →
exterior – Calle Larga Giacinto Gallina, 5401, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
Osteria da Alberto has been around since the 1920s and serves homestyle Italian food. The small place has 2 rooms with some windows overlooking the canal beside it. The low ceiling is wood beamed with lots of pots hanging from it and also decorating the walls along with photos. The dark wood tables have dampened lighting and paper cloths and napkins. It has a cozy feel with efficient and friendly service. They are known for their seafood and pastas and we took the wise recommendation to order the special of the day. Looking around that is what many of the guests did too. The food here was well made with a good amount of flavor and an inexpensive price point. The kitchen split our pasta dish for us but for the fish we were on our own. Continue reading →
building –21021 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, CA.
Diavola Pizzeria and Salumeria is in an historic building on the main street of Geyserville. They bill themselves as serving Califorian cuisine with an “Italian state of mine.” Their regularly changing menu features locally sourced meats, fish and produce. Chef/Owner Dino Bugica spent 10 years in Italy learning local methods. They are open daily for lunch and dinner, with a bigger menu at dinner. It’s a good sized places with 2 interior rooms, the larger one also housing a long bar with seats and the kitchen. The second room is a good bit smaller but there is also patio seating. There is a full bar, music in the background, lowered lighting, tin ceiling, wood floors, brick walls and parking is on the street as you can find it. In addition to the house cured salumi they make Neopolitan style pizza in the wood burning oven. The bread for their sandwiches comes from a bakery in Healdsburg. We were there to try the Prime Rib Sandwich which is only available on the lunch menu but got seduced by the oven to order a pizza too. It’s worth a visit. The food is great.
Set up
sign outsideentranceinteriorto another roomsecond interior roomkitchenbar areaFrankie found some artmenudrinkswinewine
Food
The Prime Rib Sandwich comes with thinly sliced prime rib, tonnato aioli, onions, giardiniera, salsa verde, Pt. Reyes Toma and horseradish. It also came with a good portion of chopped salad on the side. The well-stuffed sandwich was wonderful and plenty for 2, although it did not come cut. It was so stuffed that some of the meat and cheese dripped out into the salad which made it even tastier. The marinated cauliflower was almost meatlike and was part of one of the sauces on the beef. There were a lot of seasonings and some oil on the ingredients that made it pretty drippy, but also full of flavor. As I mentioned earlier, they did not make the bread it came on but it was great and nicely toasted. It was really good.
prime rib sandwichturnedturnedinsidesalad
The Boscaiolo Pizza was topped with sausage, mushrooms, house-smoked pork belly, peppers, local greens, and creamed onions. The onions were basically the sauce for the pizza. There was a generous amount of cheese on the pie and a lovely rise to the edge of the crust. The fresh mushrooms were thickly cut and added a wonderful amount of flavor as did the sausage. The pork belly melted into the cheese and onions but added even more fun flavor. Each table has a bottle of Calabrian Chili oil if you want to add it to the pizza. It is not too spicy, it just added even more flavor. This was a great one too.
Boscaiolo Pizzaanother angleclosercloser Calabrian Chili oilFrankie enjoyed the bathroom arrangement
Southern Porch is a family-run operation not too far from Asheville. The current couple that owns it started it with the wife’s mother and stepfather, who had chef experience. The senior couple retired in March of 2019. The building was constructed as a house in 1876, before Canton was even a town. As the town boomed due to a paper mill the building was purchased in 1910 and made into a hotel. A 4-story tower was added and it became The Imperial Hotel. Much has since transpired but the ownership started restoration of the building’s appearance to the 1920’s look and then welcomed Southern Porch Kitchen and Drink onto the premises. The inside dining rooms now are large and fairly unadorned. The bar was off to the side when we entered the large room with well-spaced tables, a high tin ceiling, a wood floor and rock music in the background. The menus were large and so worn that much of the print was wiped off. There were a number of people working there but our server was not particularly experienced. Continue reading →
exterior – 22 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, NC., 28801
Chai Pani translates to “tea and water” and is slang for going out for a quick bite. The restaurant features the street food of India as well as some comfort food you might be served in a home. Opening 13 years ago Chef/Owner Meherwan Irani and his wife wanted to offer an under-represented type of Indian cuisine in an affordable place. In 2022 they were named an Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation and in 2021 The New York Times included Chai Pani in their ‘America’s Favorite Restaurants’ list. Chef Irani now has restaurants in numerous cities. In Asheville, it’s a long one-room place with a half dozen seats at the bar and the rest at the booths that line the walls and tables in the center. One end of the room opens to the kitchen. The windows to the street let in additional light, Indian music is in the background and the staff was friendly but not the most directive. The food varied but for the most part, was full of flavor and texture. Continue reading →
Baby Bull has 3 interior rooms, one with the order counter and a large outdoor patio. Once you order, you get a number to place on your table till they bring your food out. They are open Wed to Mon and have very friendly people working there along with really quick, cooked-to-order food. Baby Bull opened as a result of the success of Bull and Beggar’s burger. Management wanted a place to satisfy the burger’s followers on a regular basis. Baby Bull is a fast food option to get that particular sandwich. They serve all the sandwiches “all or nothing” so you get their condiments on the sandwich or on the side. There is no customization, except the doneness amount. They also have shakes and other well-regarded sandwiches but we were there for the burger. Sides are extra and we chose French fries but they do offer options of pork rinds or hushpuppies. However, the guy at the counter said their fries continue to be voted best in town, and I can see why. An excellent spot if you want quick tasty food. Continue reading →
exterior – 80 Hamilton Street, New London, CT., 06320
Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock started in 1996 between the AMTRAK line and Crocker’s Boatyard. The location is a little hidden and your car map will not take you exactly there but drive around the harbor and you’ll see all the parked cars. It’s worth the hunt. You order at the window and pick up when called. Eating is at outdoor picnic tables, some with cover and others not. They are open daily until Dec. 24. You can bring your own beer or wine and try and get there early as reputation draws a crowd. It was a fun place to sit while we waited a short bit for our food. Several trains passed by in the meantime. Continue reading →
Claudia’s Grinder Shop is a small house with five indoor tables and outdoor seating selling well-stuffed sandwiches, salads, and soups. Opening in 1997 it’s on a reasonably busy road near other businesses. Inside is the order counter with the menu on a chalkboard above the prep area. They call your name when yours is ready, with everything made to order. They had several popular sandwich combos as well as a build-your-own section. The breads are fresh and the sandwiches are large and come cut in half. Music was in the background and all the staff was friendly and happy to advise. I would go often if I lived nearby and recommend you stop if you are passing through that part of Connecticut Continue reading →
Fords Lobster at Haring’s Marine is in Noank, CT, next to Mystic. The Haring family started with a gas dock/bait and tackle store in the 1950s. Orion Ford took over the business in 1970 and added a retail lobster shack, which still runs today. He retired in 2005 when Kris and Kerrie took over but after 5 years they realized the business couldn’t sustain itself as it was and they purchased a hot dog cart to sell lobster rolls out of. It was so successful that they were able to re-do the interior of the dining room in 2012. They serve locally sourced ingredients right next to the fishing docks where the catch is brought in. There is a small interior and a number of tables on the patio outside. Their hours vary, so check the website and they are BYOB. Inside they had table service and you can fill your short wait for food by looking at the old photos and articles that decorate the walls. Windows to the outside let in plenty of light and music was in the background. Most of the lobster items were labeled MK, so that varies but the server was glad to quote prices for us. The lobster was excellent and I would heartily recommend this place. Continue reading →
Hero’s Welcome General Store serves sandwiches on wonderful housemade rolls along with having a huge country store of Vermont products. Other buildings house the bakery and marina – where you can gas up or rent a canoe/kayak. The main building is over 100 years old and packed with items from wine, cooking supplies, toys, clothing to interesting gift items. There really was a wide array of items which were fun to browse while you waited for your sandwich to be made. There were about 3 tables at the front of the place where you could sit and eat with the register and order counter directly to your right as you enter. We read about it also in the Washington Post article about the Champlain Islands of Vermont. The sandwich was wonderful and the browsing was good. Continue reading →
Wally’s Place was named for owner Matt Bartle’s grandfather Wally Nieblin, who was a great supporter of the local food shelf/pantry. It was established to provide a healthy and delicious alternative to current breakfast and lunch restaurant trends. They bake their own breads and pastries and use locally sourced ingredients. They are located in a shopping center just off the main highway between Burlington and Montpelier, VT in the small town of South Hero. When you enter there are a number of counters that hold pastries, breads and refrigerated items. The menus for breakfast and lunch are hanging above and the coffee bar is at one end of the counters. Behind the cases is the kitchen that bakes all the bread. The staff was super friendly and willing to customize. There are tables inside to eat at but many got items to go. Everything we tried there was first rate and I’d go back often if I could. Continue reading →
from the street – 1251 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT., 05403
Al’s French Frys was started in 1946 by Al and Genevieve Rusterholz and then purchased by brothers Bill and Lee Bissonette in 1983. They have made some additions but still serve the same great fries that made the place famous. Lee has now retired but Bill and his son continue with the business today. It started as a french fry stand at various fairs around Vermont. Now they serve burgers, hotdogs, seafood, sandwiches and fried chicken. In addition outside they had a soft-serve window. It was a large place with lots of stainless steel, tile, and ordering lines. We were only there to try the frys. They were as good as advertised. Good potato flavor fried to a good crisp exterior available in various quantities. Sorry, I can’t speak to the other options but the frys are worth stopping for – and take note of how they spell it. Continue reading →
Earl and Flora Handy opened Handy’s Lunch in 1945, serving breakfast and lunch and selling groceries. While on vacation in 1958 their son Robert replaced grocery sales with a horseshoe counter which is still there today. The senior Handy’s were not pleased and Robert became the proprietor until his passing in 1996 when grandson Earl took over. That third generation still runs the place today, which was featured in the 2017 Cooking Channel’s Cheap Eats program. It is truly a family operation with Earl’s mom working there until she passed away. Whether his twins will take over when Earl is done is in question but until then it’s a wonderful place to go, eat and visit with newly made friends. They are open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch and Earl Handy was working in the place when we stopped by. Parking is on the street wherever you can find a legal place. Put this place on your list. Continue reading →
Crooked Lake Ice Cream Company is a restaurant that pays tribute to Glenn Curtiss, a bicycle racer and aircraft developer. A number of their dishes are named for him, striving to evoke the same creativity as his inventions, and the walls are filled with mementos of his fame and success. The restaurant has been in Hammondsport over 30 years and is open every day except Tuesday. They have a long counter with stools as well as tables in two rooms, separated by a low wall and a few stools facing the windows to the street. They had a makeover about 5 years ago but at least they kept lots of their older decorations however, the place feels new and fresh. Service was very friendly and helpful and once your order is placed it came out quickly. They do get a crowd and you pay at the front where people are also getting coffee/muffins to go, so there can be some wait there. The food was fresh, with quality ingredients and good flavors. Next trip, though, I’ll have to try their ice cream. Continue reading →
exterior – 58 East Market Street, Corning, NY, 14830
Donna’s Restaurant is a small place in the old downtown of Corning. Inside you’ll find a fabulous display of Corning Pyrex through the ages and colors mixed in with cat objects, which is owner Donna Robbins’ other passion. They are open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch with daily specials posted on their Facebook page. The restaurant opened in its current location in Nov. 2018 after being evicted from their home of 34 years on a corner down the street. When the building owner decided to re-purpose the building they gave Robbins about a month to vacate and Robbins promised her loyal patrons she would find a new spot. Robbins had started working at the spot 15 years prior when it was Bacalles Soda Bar and then the Kozy Korner until 1985 when she was able to buy the place and name it after herself. We grabbed a couple of the stools at the counter but they also have tables. Everyone was super friendly and the food was good. Continue reading →
building – 169 Cherry St., Burlington, Vermont, 05401
Penny Cluse has been owned and run by husband and wife team Charles Reeves and Holly Cluse for about 25 years. At the beginning of Oct. they told their staff that they would close by the end of the year – thus I am pushing this article ahead of others in case you have a chance to get there. It’s a really popular place; our first visit we had to wait about an hour for a table. It’s in a corner building with the main dining room slightly above street level with a smaller dining area up one more level. The kitchen is below and you can look in the windows as you walk by on the street. The couple opened the restaurant in a former Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop in 1998. He was a culinary arts graduate who always wanted a breakfast and lunch place and thus created this fine place named for his wife’s first dog, Penny. It has since become a Burlington ‘go-to’ spot and has hosted many famous people including Joe Biden, Janet Yellen, Suzanne Vega, and Jake Gyllenhaal to name a few. The couple does not plan to sell the restaurant or the concept cause it wouldn’t be the same without their presence. They also owned Lucky Next Door which hasn’t reopened since the pandemic. The menu offers interesting options and a few daily specials are also available. Not much time left, so get there if you can. Continue reading →
exterior – 730 Peachtree St NE #100, Atlanta, GA 30308
El Viñedo Local translates to ‘the local vineyard’ and that’s what this place is – a place to enjoy South American plates, wines, and coffees. This is not Central American or Mexican food and so is not so spicy. Empanadas and ceviche are a big part of what Chef Bruno Vergara brings to the menu. Owner Robert Kaster was on site and came by to visit with every table and make sure that all was good – a nice touch. We were there for a snack with friends and ordered some of their small plates to share. It is one large room with most being inside the building with one wall open to the outside. The roof over the outside tables is not solid, but the umbrellas would be better for sun than rain. It did have one long table in the inside room and seats at the bar counter. It’s right down the street from a theater so parking is as you can find it. Good wine choices and tasty food make this a nice spot to visit. Continue reading →
exterior –3005 Peachtree Rd. NE Suite 300, Atlanta, GA., 30305
Lucian Books and Wine is a book shop that also serves lunch and dinner Tues. through Saturday. Named for artist Lucian Freud it is a small gem of a place. It has a large, thoughtful wine list along with amazing food from Chef Brian Hendrickson, with a backdrop of books to browse and/or buy. The single room has an aisle that passes by the tall bookshelves and on the other side of a low wall are small tables and a bar. The bar is set with chairs also. The menu changes with the seasons and is fairly small at lunch. Since we were there with another couple we were able to try a great many of their offerings and they were all wonderful, some crossing over to the spectacular level. The service was outstanding and I strongly urge you to try this place if you get a chance. Continue reading →
Casita Tex-Mex has been in business for 40 years but in Dec. 2020 they closed for a year and a half after a fire. The kitchen fire caused owners Norma and Alfonso Valles, who bought the place in 2007, to completely rebuild the interior, and this was on top of dealing with shutdowns due to the Covid pandemic. The building was also a restaurant even further back, in the 1960s as Casita Dominguez, and thus has a lot of long-time and loyal customers. They were back in force when it re-opened on August 30. The interior is clean, bright, and new but the food is tried and true. There are a number of square tile-topped tables that can be positioned to suit party size and several high-top tables in the bar area, which also has seats facing the bar. A patio with tables runs along the front of the place and by the time we left, it was pretty much full. Service was friendly but challenged by the crowd. TVs are on the walls but the sound was muted. It was well worth a visit and I went back a week later to try another plate. Continue reading →
The Cranberry Over Superior is so named as it overlooks Lake Superior and is on the Cranberry River. One block from the Herbster beach, they have drinks from a full bar as well as non-alcoholic choices, lunch and dinner. The regular menu has lots of fun-sounding options but they also have daily specials. Seating is at the bar, on the patio or in 2 inside rooms. We sat on some bar stools looking out at Lake Superior and listening to the radio music from the kitchen. Lots of memorabilia is on the walls for other visual entertainment. The owner, Lacey Lynn Lueth, was tending the bar and taking orders but later moved into cooking in the kitchen. She opened the place in Feb. 2022 and you can visit Thursday – Sunday. All the people working there were super friendly and welcoming and the food is good – give it a try. Continue reading →
The Local Bar and Grille is on the Chequamegon Bay Golf Course and the dining room and bar have views of it and the surrounding trees. It’s a large space and open every day for lunch and dinner. They opened in Dec. 2021 in a building that was and is available for rental – it’s a large space. A husband and wife team, Mike and Natalie Skinnes, joined up with friend Brad Moulett to try and make some dreams come true for the three that grew up in Wisconsin. They call their menu ‘pub fare’ with a twist. There’s plenty of parking out front. When you enter the bar is to your right with a few tables also. The rest of the room is a large space set with 4 tops covered with brown cloths and a large fireplace is at one end of the room. Windows look out on the golf course and lovely hanging baskets of plants. A separate door is on the golf course side for those sports people to pop in for a short respite. Between the windows and lights, the room is well lit. Service was friendly and attentive and the food was good and generous. With a smaller lunch crowd I might have closed off part of the large room, but everyone wanted a window table to watch the outdoors. Continue reading →
Milkweed is a small bed and breakfast in the Hiawatha National Forest in the UP of Michigan. Totally remote, they will pick you up at the nearest convenience store or you can bravely follow them on a 45-minute trek on unpaved roads through the woods. Chef Iliana Regan, a Michelin-starred chef in Chicago, grew up on a farm and wanted to re-create that environment for small groups, in an off-the-grid culinary experience. She is joined in this effort by her wife Anna Regan, who provides the sommelier portion of the fine dining experience. Numerous friends and neighbors support the duo in providing a dreamy vacation during the summer months in a hunting lodge they purchased. Reservations are in advance through the website (www.milkweedinn.com), where you also reserve lodging that is either glamping tents, a small AirStream or 3 bedrooms in the main house. Your reservation starts Friday evening with dinner, then continues Sat. with snacks, breakfast, lunch and a huge tasting menu in the evening. It concludes with breakfast Sunday morning before you start the trek back through the woods. Continue reading →
Arnie’s Cafe is really popular and they don’t even have a webpage. They have been a part of the Warrenton community for decades and recently owners Crystal and Michael Green (took over in Sept 2014) decided they needed more space and moved to their current location. It started out as The Sea Breeze and in the late 50s became the Donut Hole and subsequently the Ponderosa. At the front of the current location is a coffee grinder, that belonged to Mike’s grandmother, whose wheel has become the logo with Arnie’s written across it. In the move, they brought over lots of kitschy signs that line the walls. At the hostess station, they have a list for seating. A coffee bar is at the front end but didn’t seem to get much use yet. Their plans include a liquor license and expanding their baked goods selection. There were about 7 stools in front of the kitchen window that was in the back of the place. They have a good-sized parking lot out front and windows looking out to it and the lovely hanging plant baskets, all along one side. They serve lunch and breakfast with large portions and friendly service. Continue reading →
line to order – 35915 N Hwy 101, Nehalem, OR 97131
Riverside Fish and Chips is small trailer serving up hot fresh fried fish baskets and a couple of alternative items. There are picnic tables in front, some with umbrellas and an additional patio with cover up a small set of stairs. Across from this trailer was one selling seasoned mini-donuts, but they are not related. It is really popular and by that I mean when we got there after standing in line 20 minutes to place your order we were told it would be about 45 minutes before the food was ready. It’s a long wait but well worth it. They do sell wine and soft drinks but they are right on the water and many just enjoyed sitting back and watching while they waited. Lots of dogs and kids were there too, so I enjoyed the people-watching. There’s a small sign on the street directing you down a fish-marked path to the site and if you like fish and chips, it’s worth finding. Continue reading →
Yolk is a small place serving breakfast (all day) and lunch (beginning at 11:00) in the little town of Manzanita. They have been in business since 2018 and strive to have your dining experience provide a level of flavor and service that reflects their zest for life. It was a very popular place but takes no reservations so show up early if you don’t want to wait. Inside there was seating at small tables or a few seats were at the kitchen counter. There were also stools on two sides of the large bar but they were only for those over 21. On the patio, there were several additional tables. The hostess at the entry had a list. Music was in the background and the vibe was casual and fun with a concrete floor, metal siding on the bar, windows to the outdoors, tile front on the kitchen counter and lots of wood and mirrors. The service was super friendly and would offer advice as well as joke around. In addition to the menu, there were daily specials. It was a good place. Continue reading →
exterior – 1413 NE Alberta St., Portland, OR., 97211
Pasture PDX bills itself as “a whole animal butcher shop and restaurant that offers a wide variety of meat cuts, cured products and sausages”. Owner Kei Ohdera and John Schaible met while working in New York in 2014. In early 2019 they started doing pop-ups in Portland featuring meat of retired dairy cows and European-style butchery – in an effort to recreate the experience they had with high-quality meats offered in New York restaurants. They opened the permanent location near the end of 2021, with the aid of a “Kickstarter” campaign, and now offer lunch and dinner on Thurs. and Fri and a butcher case as well as locally sourced products, beer and wine. It’s a small yet very tasteful space with tables out front, meal supplies (including cloth napkins) on a cart, and the order counter behind all that. Next to the area is the butcher counter and shelves of local products for sale. The menu is via smartphone link but can be found on their website <pasturepdx.com>. They ask you to bus your own tables and orders can be over the phone. There is music in the background and both owners were working in the shop and very friendly. The sandwiches were great. I totally recommend the place. Continue reading →
building – 120 S. Suffolk St., Ironwood, MI, 49938
The Pines Café had been running successfully for about 20 years and underwent a complete renovation in August 2019. Then the wife of the upstairs tenant poured lighter fluid on her husband’s bed and set the place on fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt and she was sentenced to 11-50 years in prison. The owners Susan Craumann and Janice Miskovich chose to not shutter the place and instead to rebuild. A year later, in August 2020 it re-opened. That’s why you feel the disconnect when the cute front of the place doesn’t match the clean, almost sterile interior. On the main street of the old town, it is a good-sized place with booths along one wall opposite a long counter and tables in the middle. They serve breakfast and lunch till 3 every day and have tried to decorate the place with woodsy bric-a-brac. There are windows to the street and the lighting is turned up. The only music is what bleeds into the room from the kitchen radio. Service is friendly and efficient, portions are generous and the food is good. They take no credit cards, have only a Facebook page, and no website. It’s worth stopping by. Continue reading →
Léa Parisian Sandwiches was inspired by simple peasant foods the owners, Nicolas and Colleen Caulliez, enjoyed in France. They wanted to bring the artisan breads and pastries of Paris to Chicago. They make traditional French baguette bread and pastries, without preservatives, in-house daily. They now have 2 locations and you can find their full menu on <Leafrenchcafe.com>. We went to the location near the Chicago Cultural Center and it was on a corner. Windows line two sides of the place. When you walk in a wall of rolling pins greets you and below are several computers where you can place you order and pay your tab. An abbreviated menu is overhead. They call your name out when yours is ready. A number of small tables are along the windows and a bench lines the other wall. The tile floor is the main decoration. To use the bathroom you need to get a key from the counter people. I give 2 thumbs up to this place. Continue reading →
Au Cheval is a diner-style bar and medium-sized restaurant serving traditional diner fare. The full bar has strong cocktails and a variety of draught and canned beers. They take no reservations and are quite popular so be prepared to wait or come early. They did have a few outdoor tables as well as seats along the long bar. Loud vintage music is in the background, walls are dark wood and the lights are lowered with the row of windows to the outside being heavily tinted to keep lighting low. There are a few tables but mostly it’s large leather booths that line the length of the place. Behind the zinc-wrapped bar is the open kitchen. Service was friendly, helpful and quick. We were there many years ago and couldn’t quite get why it was so popular, but we went for their signature burger. While I saw the majority of lunch tables have one or more I found the other menu items much more creative and tasty. They stood out much more than the burger to me. Continue reading →
Franny’s Cup and Saucer is a tiny shop on the main street of Point Arena. There is no seating inside or out but don’t drive by because it’s filled with wonderful bakery treats. It was opened in April 2006 by Franny and her mom who is an experienced, professional baker. Franny bakes too but she also has picked out some trinkets to sell and fill out their small space. They have sweet and savory baked goods as well as coffee and tea, but all items are to go. They are open Wed – Sun and accept only cash or check. If you are in the area, definitely go by. We sampled a salted caramel pecan brownie and an oatmeal anzac cookie. The cookie was huge, crisp, thick and filled with oatmeal, raisins and lots of other flavors. The brownie was very fudgy and moist with nicely roasted pecans on top and inside. The texture was great as was the flavor. Can’t wait to go back and try more items. Continue reading →
Café Aquatica is a small place with a counter where one might eat but mostly it’s deck and garden seating outside, all overlooking the water and folks launching canoes. They serve breakfast and lunch foods in a “coastal American cuisine.” Featuring lots of local seafood and organic ingredients. The menu evolves with the owner’s interests. Currently, the most popular items on the menu are crab rolls, clam chowder and crab and eggs. They have some seasonal specials and coffee. You order at the inside counter and they give you a buzzer which tells you your food is ready to pick up at another window. We had a cup of their Pour Over coffee and a crab roll. It is on a toasted brioche roll filled with Dungeness crab, aioli, celery and arugula which comes with a side of pickles. The crab was freshly picked on a soft tasty bun with just the right amount of sauce. A winner. The pickles were well seasoned and tasty. It made a fun lunch in a pretty setting. Continue reading →
from the parking lot – 32390 N Harbor Drive, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437
Sea Pal Cove is on a local fishing pier in Noyo Harbor with all outdoor seating. The assortment of tables overlooks boats going by. The small walk-up window has beer and wine to go with your choices as well as non-alcoholic options. Dogs are welcome and the service was very efficient. They are known for their really fresh seafood but also have other options. We tried the fish and chips but what was extra fun were their prawns and chips. The fish was very moist with a really crisp coating that wasn’t so thick that it smothered the delicate fish. Not too greasy either. It was perfect with the tasty tartar sauce they supplied. The prawns were dynamite. Sweet and juicy with that fantastic coating, they needed no dipping or seasoning. The tray also provided lemon and malt vinegar. The fries were uninspired but adequate. Some crisp ones and all with nice potato flavor, but they were a frozen slab variety. Ketchup packets were also on the tray. All in all a fantastic find that I’ll certainly go back to. Continue reading →
exterior – 1014 Coast Village Road, Santa Barbara, CA
Bettina is in a neighborhood shopping center which is too popular for the parking available. It’s a good-sized place with a large outdoor patio for additional seating. Windows inside look out onto it as well as the parking lot. They specialize in naturally leavened breads, fine dining and simple dishes based on the owner’s visits to Italy. Open daily for lunch and dinner, reservations are helpful if you want a table, but a bar is inside with first come-first served seating. Inside the bare wood tables are small and nicely spaced and music is in the background. The service was helpful and efficient and the pizza was good. Continue reading →
entrance – 900 San Ysidro Lane, Santa Barbara, CA, 93108
The Stonehouse Restaurant is inside a 19th century citrus packing house on the grounds of the San Ysidro Ranch. Dining is on a green walled patio, an upper story ocean-view terrace or indoors by the wood-burning fireplace. The contemporary American cuisine stresses fresh, local ingredients of Central Coast California and Santa Barbara in particular. The San Ysidro Ranch property covers 550 acres and has hosted many celebrities including John and Jackie Kennedy who honeymooned there. We were seated on their upstairs patio with beautiful views on 3 sides, white cloth-covered tables, and live guitar music downstairs for their Sunday brunch. They offer lunch and dinner every day except Sunday when lunch turns to brunch which is a 3-course meal of your choice accompanied by an endless glass of champagne. Continue reading →
main building – 5995 Stagecoach Road, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
Cold Spring Tavern offers lunch and dinner at a stagecoach stop that dates from 1868, on the San Marcos Pass near Santa Barbara. The place is filled with history and an amazing amount of detail is on their webpage <coldspringtavern.com> about the various buildings on the property and the furnishings within. You can’t miss it as the cars are parked on both sides of the winding road for some time before you hit the place. On weekends they have live music, a stand where you can buy their barbecue Tri-tip sandwich as well as an outside bar. If you prefer table service there are a number of outdoor and indoor tables. Lunch has a smaller menu than dinner, so I’ve included photos of both lunch and dinner menus. Service was enthusiastic and efficient which really enhanced the dining experience. The A/C is ‘open windows’ so we left smelling of barbecue smoke, which was no problem. The onion rings are worth a trip alone but I would love to be able to try some of their dinner options too. Continue reading →
Sky Rocket Burger now has 4 locations in the Dallas area. I visited the Deep Ellum spot and you can’t miss the bright red and yellow building at Hall and Main. It started in Frisco and moved here about 3 years ago. It’s a simple concept selling fresh, made to order smash burgers, fries, tots and milkshakes. They offer a grilled cheese for the non-burger eating person in the group. They come with an option of 1, 2 or 3 patties and all-the-way includes lettuce, tomato, mayo, pickle and secret sauce. Options include cheese, bacon, onions or even a fried egg. I tried the double cheese all the way with large fries and with tater tots. The burgers seem pricey but they are Angus beef, never frozen and ground at the place. They are smashed on the grill to give them a nice crispy edge but not enough to dry them out. The bun is soft and the lettuce cut in pieces. The secret sauce has a bit of spice in it that is tasty but most importantly the meat is really good. I preferred the tots to the fries. I’ll go again. Continue reading →
Flo’s Clam Shack was recommended by one of the servers at the previous night’s dinner. It has been serving clams since 1936 in Newport, RI. They are known for their fried clams. It’s a 2 story place and filled with brick-a-brack. The building has been hit by at least 5 hurricanes and continues to rebuild. They are open seasonally and closed at the threat of a hurricane. The place is a little hard to find but they do have a parking lot in back. They tout their fresh seafood but mostly all I tasted was filler and fried coating. We tried a number of clam preparations but none of them would ever call me to come back and eat here again. Continue reading →
The Modern Diner was chosen to be the first diner in the nation to be accepted on the National Register for Historic Places. It is a Sterling Streamliner, manufactured in the late 1930’s and early 40’s and one of 2 still in operation. They serve breakfast and lunch daily with a ton of specials posted on the walls. There is a counter with stools and a number of booths for 1 – 4 people. A back room was added but sitting in the front gives you the real feel of the place. The curved ceiling and shiny surfaces have the diner feel you’d miss in the addition. The once silver roof is now red and marked with a “Modern Diner” sign that really makes you want to go in the place. They do have a parking lot next to it. Service was friendly and efficient. I would go again if I’m in the area, not as much for the food as for the ambiance. Continue reading →
Olneyville New York System was opened in the 1946 by Anthony Stevens and his son Nicholas after emigrating to Brooklyn from Greece in 1920. They ran a candy shop in NY then opened a restaurant serving hot wieners and a small lunch menu when the family moved to Rhode Island. The original restaurant at Olneyville Square moved in 1953 to its present location on Plainfield Street and then was open 24 hours a day. In 1981 they opened a second location in Cranston and to this day the Stevens family operates both restaurants. The compact place has 2 rows of small booth seats in bright yellow and orange next to a row of counter stools that run the length of the place. You ordered as you entered where you can see the wieners roasting on the griddle. They have some other options but this place is about hot wieners ‘all the way’. Staff were very friendly and super efficient. It’s worth a visit. Continue reading →
Block 16 is in downtown Omaha and owned by Paul and Jessica Urban who met in a culinary program. They have a family farm that supplies a lot of their produce and otherwise shop for local and sustainable food sources. They like to feature a daily special and have offered a different one 1,400 times in the last four years; they call it fun, street-style food. It’s a fairly small place of 2 rooms. The first one is where you order and there are some stools around the edge and counters, also the hall to the bathroom. The second room is where you wait for you food to be brought out and has small 2-tops along the edges with 3 larger tables in the center. There were a couple tables outside also. The dining room had large windows to the street and tables on one end, music in the background and bright interior lighting. The person at the order counter was very helpful. They do sell beer as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Continue reading →
The Drover invented the whisky marinated steak idea over 40 years ago. It opened in 1969 as the “Cork ‘N Cleaver” and changed to the current name 10 years later. It is a large place divided into several smaller rooms of 4-5 tables each, all with no windows. A large bar is in one room, the lights are lowered and no music is in the background. Bare wood tables, brick walls, lower ceilings and carpet keep the conversation noise very manageable. There is a different menu for lunch but most of the steaks on the dinner menu are available if you want. The steaks are marinated in a combination of secret ingredients for just 15 minutes before grilling so the marinade does not overwhelm the flavor of the beef but does enhances tenderness. Steaks can be ordered without the marinade soak but you would lose out, even if you are not a whisky fan. All dinners are served with bread, soup or salad and choice of potato or vegetable. At lunch they skip the bread and the salad is via salad bar. It’s old school and good. Continue reading →
Petit Louis offers classic French bistro dishes with emphasis on seasonal and regional ingredients. It opened in June 2000 and was the second restaurant of Tony Foreman and Chef Cindy Wolf. They chose the location of a former neighborhood hot spot in a 1897 era Tudor style building that was the country’s first strip mall. There were not many French bistros in Baltimore then and it was popular as soon as the doors opened. They re-did the interior and hired Chef Chris Scanga to run the kitchen. It has 2 indoor rooms and a large covered patio area. Inside the small marble topped tables are closely set and lots of windows to the street add natural light. A large bar is part of one room, no music is in the background and there is a parking lot our front as well as street parking. It had a fun ambiance with attentive service as well as good food. I’d go back. Continue reading →
Attman’s Deli was established in 1915 by Harry Attman and is now run by the third generation of the same family. It is the oldest continuously family-owned deli in the country. They have 2 locations – the one we went to in Baltimore and another in Park Potomac. The location on Lombard Street opened in 1933, on what was then known as “Corned Beef Row” because there were 7 delis on the street. (Now just 2 delis remain operational.) They are known for their corned beef and on a busy day can sell 2,000 pounds of it at the Baltimore location only. Hot dogs are another signature and are topped with a slice of bologna or pastrami – a consistent favorite. They also sell lots of sides and other meats. When Harry’s son Seymour took over in 1968 he bought the building next door to open a place for customers to eat and talk, named the Kibbitz Corner, and established names for a number of sandwich combinations. When we went the line was long, but people were friendly and it gave you a chance to walk by the counters and decide what to order. The corned beef was worth the wait. Continue reading →
exterior – 2836 Observatory Ave # A, Cincinnati, OH 45208
Carl’s Deli dates back to 1938. The owner Anne McManus was practically raised there as her parents owned the deli in 1968 but sold it in 1990. When that owner decided to sell he contacted McManus first and she was then ready to take over. Now a local hangout, there are tables inside and outside but they also do catering, ready to eat take out and gift baskets. They also sell wine. It’s a small place with most of the interior taken up by sales counters. The menu on the wall lists lots of sandwich combinations or you craft your own combo. We ordered at the counter and they pretty quickly had our delicious sandwiches ready to eat. This is a good place. I can see why it’s so popular. Continue reading →
Carmen’s Deli is in downtown Dayton, opening in 2009. Chef Haitham Imam was encouraged by his wife Carmen to leave corporate dining and open his own place. When the downtown tower where they were located went into bankruptcy the owners of the Kettering Tower across the street, saw their popularity and offered them a spot in their building. The deli is open 8:30 – 2:30 weekdays and the bar runs 4-9 on Thurs. and Fri. As we entered we were greeted and directed to the counter where you place your order. There you can watch you sandwich being made and direct the toppings. After it’s ready you proceed to the register and pick a table. There were also tables outside. The pair cooking that day were personable and gave a good show. The food was fine, not outstading but very edible and satisfying. Continue reading →
Herb and Thelmas Tavern is just across the river from Cincinnati in Covington, Kentucky. They are known for their burgers and cold beer – serving the area for 83 years. They buy local ingredients and make the hamburger patties fresh daily. In 1939 Henry “Heine” Boehmker opened Heine’s Cafe. In 1965 his son and daughter-in-law renamed it Herb and Thelma’s Tavern, after themselves. In 1969 another Boehmker began working at the tavern and then buys them out in 1982. In 2015 the Fessler family became the owners, but a photo of the original Herb is still on the front door. It is a small place with 2 rooms, one of which houses the cooking/bar area and the other just tables and the bathrooms. The main room has seats at the bar area as well as tables. The lights are lowered, there is either TV or music in the background and lots of memorabilia cover the walls. They have a few draft beers as well as a full bar. The owner and patrons were all super friendly. In fact one of the gentlemen stopped by on his way out to say hello and wish a good day. Continue reading →
Camp Washington Chili has been in business since 1940. They are in the Camp Washinton area of Cincinnati and are open 24 hours a day on weekdays and until 4:00pm on Saturday. They have recieved a James Beard Award as an “American Regional Classic” and have been featured on television programs and magazines. The original building was razed for street widening but the original vertical sign stands over the newer, bigger location. Now it is a fairly large place with a drive-through window. There is a counter or you can be waited on at any number of tables. Lots of windows look outside and music is in the background. A large open kitchen is faced by the counter seating. The dining room is striking with a large black/white/gray tile floor accented by red chairs. A couple booths are available. The walls are lined with photos and copies of press articles. Service was friendly and efficient. If you haven’t had Cincinnati chili, this is a good place to try it. Continue reading →
Love That BBQ is a family run, small casual place serving housemade barbecue and sides. It looks to be in an abandoned gas station with the restaurant inside and a number of huge smokers under the awnings where pumps would have been. You order at the counter and then pick up when ready. They had seating inside but most seemed to pick up bags to go. It was heavily patronized by the workers in the area, as seen by the number of labeled trucks in the parking lot. Inside the large tables were covered with oilcloth and the walls and shelves held lots of photos and memoriabilia. Christian music played fairly loudly in the background. The counter person turned out to be the one who does the smoking and he wasn’t particularly friendly or helpful at first. He got more chatty after there was a break in the stream of customers. However, he didn’t bother to tell us that ribs come with hushpuppies and let us order a side of them. He said he’d been cooking barbecue for 40 years and in this location for 12 years. It is not worth driving out of your way for. Continue reading →
The Front Porch is in a 1910 house that was where the development of Powell, TN started – with a lumber company. The Elkins family bought it 2013 and restored it in honor of its historical significance to Powell. It now serves lunch and early dinner with southern comfort food and sells handcrafted decor on the second floor, as well as many of the decorations in the dining area. Tables are scattered around the downstairs rooms and there are several more on the wrap-around porch. No item on the menu is more than $20 and there is a parking lot out back. Good smells greet you when you enter and there is a counter that sells some items to-go. Staff were efficient and very friendly. The food was generous and tasty. It’s worth a visit. Continue reading →
Pete’s Restaurant has been around since 1986 in downtown Knoxville. Owners Pete and Rita Natour serve quality home-cooked food and customer service at breakfast and lunch. It’s a long place with lots of windows to the street. The wall is filled with booth seating and a row of small tables is opposite. The tables are covered with an oilcloth and set with silver wrapped in a paper napkin. There are also some counter seats in front of the kitchen. Service was totally efficient and friendly. Pete was in front helping with everything, including cooking, but not too busy to have a friendly word. It was pleasant place to sit and while the food was fresh and prepared to order it was very ordinary. Continue reading →
Brewery Bhavana is an interesting combination of flowers, books, beer and dim sum in one shop. The Laotian siblings, Vanvisa and Vansana(since left) Nolintha, that owns the spot next door made friends with Patrick Woodson who brewed beer. They decided to combine forces and also make room for friend Deana Nguyen that sells flower arrangments right across the street from historic Moore Square. It’s a large striking space divided by sheer curtains. A long bar is one wall and it has about that many taps for available draft beers. Books are on one wall just to look at while you’re there and another cabinet of them is for sale. The flower shop is in the middle space just behind the greeter station. It is filled with lots of natural light from the windows along the street and from a massive skylight that is above the center room. Music was in the background and staff were welcoming and super friendly. While the food was good it was not great even though the prices were on the high side for dim sum. Continue reading →
Beasley’s Chicken + Honey is one of the Ashley Christensen restaurants (Death & Taxes, Pooles, etc.). It’s a corner building with a long counter along one wall, above which the menu is written. Across from that are lots of small tables set with adjustable stools, that looks out onto street views. Parking is on the street at meters or there is a pay parking lot next to the building. Music was in the background and a greeter asigns you to a table. They are mostly about fried chicken and southern style sides but also offer meatloaf, catfish, pot pie and various sandwiches. There is a separate menu for brunch. Here the fried chicken is brined, then dipped in buttermilk, dedged in flour and finally cooked in a pressure fryer. The honey is drizzled on last. Service was efficient. Continue reading →
King’s Sandwich Shop is a family-run business that is an icon in Durham, symbolizing the simplicity of days gone by. The original shop opened shortly after WWII, but closed in 2007 needing major rehabilitation. It was bought by the McDermott family in 2009 and re-opened in 2010. The corner building has limited parking out front but street parking is available. They serve burgers, hot dogs, lots of other sandwiches, breakfast, vegetarian hot dogs and fries along with milkshakes at at walk up counter with another window to pick up your food. They have picnic tables and bathrooms around the side to eat at if you want to stay on site. Many seemed to take the food to-go. It is only open for lunch. The place was a real throw-back and this time the food was good too. The shake was amazing. A fun stop on your tour of the area. Continue reading →
Watkins Grill dates back to 1947 and is in the spot formerly known at the Black Hawk Tavern which started in 1928. Just outside of downtown, it serves Southern homestyle breakfast and lunch. A fairly small place, it has parking adjacent to the free standing building. Inside the sticky wood tables are closely spaced and there is also seating at the bar counter. There is a sizable menu that is supplemtented by daily specials and a list of sides offered that day. It accepts only cash or check. The prices are on the cheaper side and most plates come with 2 side dishes, that included lots of vegetable options. Windows to the outside add lots of light and no music was in the background. It appeared to attract a large regular crowd that the servers knew. The food was generous but had little flavor or seasoning. Maybe we ordered wrong but both were daily specials. We left much to go somewhere else. Continue reading →
The Roast Grill Hot Weiners has been serving hot dogs since 1940. The tiny family-run spot serves only weiners and some Greek desserts along with a number of beer and soft drink options. It is cash only. Owner George Poniros and his wife Kathy are glad to be back in business after being shut down for over a year due to the Covid pandemic. George’s grandparents started the place and there are pictures on the wall of them above the vintage register. His 90 year old mother worked there until Covid hit and now she stays home. The wall opposite the 10 seat counter has pictures of contest winners and regular patrons. The weiners are grilled on the original grill and then topped with a chile made from a 100-year old recipe. Wife Kathy makes the desserts. Customers are family here and George knows how they want their weiners served. It was a stop back in time to feel so welcome in a place and also be served some terrific food. You can tell the pride the Poniros family has in the place and I urge you to visit if you get the chance. Continue reading →
Pascal’s Manale Restaurant was started as just Manale’s in 1913 by Frank Manale. Pascal Radosta, Frank’s nephew, was part of the original crew and took the place over in 1937 when Frank died. Many years later he wanted to add his name to the restaurant but still wanted to honor his uncle and thus it became Pascal’s Manale. Pas died in 1958 and his youngest brother Jake took over. They are famous for their BBQ shrimp and raw oyster bar. It is a large place with 2 main dining rooms and the good sized bar area that houses the oyster shucking bar. The dining rooms have white cloth covered tables and windows to the street. Some art is in the dining rooms but the bar is covered with lots of framed photos. They offer a separate lunch menu, a parking lot and great service. Continue reading →
exterior – 5240 Annunciation St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Domilise’s Po-boys and Bar was founded in 1930s by Peter and Sophie Domilise who lived in the house above. Sam and “Miss Dot” ran the place for over 75 years until her death in 2013. The family evacuated in 2005, due to the impact of Hurricane Katrina but otherwise it has been continuously operated by future generations. The single room place has been featured in numerous cooking shows and guide books like Food Wars and Chowdown Countdown – the day we visited there was a bit of chaos remaining from the filming there the day prior. You entered on the side of the corner building and placed your order and paid at the bar. You could wait there or claim one of the 5 indoor tables or one of the several outside. The kitchen counter was at one end of the room and they called your name when your order was ready. The interior walls were covered with photos and memorabilia. Staff were friendly and efficient. The food was average. Continue reading →
street exterior – 3800 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119
Mandina’s Restaurant was first opened as a grocery store at 3800 Canal Street by Sebastian Mandina in 1898. With the addition of his sons in the 1900s it became a pool hall that sold sandwiches to the many Italian immigrants and others living in the mid-city area. By 1932 the sons turned it into Mandina’s Restaurant, with the family living upstairs. It is now in the hands of fourth generation family members and has benefitted from its proximity to the Canal St. streetcar. Hurricane Katrina’s floodwaters caused damage to the place and they had to close for 18 months to make repairs and now are trying to bring it back to the way it was in 1930. Today the large pink house on a corner, has 2 huge dining room and a long bar with a footrail but no stools. Windows to the street bring in even more light to the high ceiling room. No music was in the background, posters are on the walls and some TVs run but are muted. Continue reading →
Liuzza’s by the Track is a couple blocks from the New Orleans Fairgrounds, where the annual horse races and Jazz & Heritage Festival are held. It has been family owned and operated since 1996, but the 1930’s corner building is an historical landmark. Liuzza’s is known for its signature BBQ Shrimp Po-Boy and other genuine New Orleans staples. Only closed on Sunday, except if the Saints’ are playing, it is quite popular. Entering at the corner the room is filled with photos and memoriabilia. A long bar runs the length of the room and you can eat and/or drink here as well as at the tables inside and out. Windows to the street add extra light, music is in the background and parking is on the street. Specials are on a board to supplement the menu. Staff were super friendly, helpful and efficient. We had to go back for a second visit and another of their shrimp Po-Boys. Good place. Continue reading →
Mosswood Market is a Cafe and Bakery selling bakery treats, coffee drinks and lunch fare in downtown Boonville. It is small with some outdoor tables and lots of to-go business. The sandwiches and wraps are made to order, as are the coffee drinks but the bakery items come straight from the counter to you. You order at the counter and there is a separate place to pick up flatware and napkins, then they bring the hot food to you. Music was in the background and many windows to the street provide lots of light for this daytime place. The market is next door and you can walk through to it – it has the bathroom. The Cafe’s interior was decorated with photos of cats in Morocco so Frankie and I loved that. Continue reading →
Clary’s Cafe is a good sized place on a street corner with outdoor tables as well as 2 rooms for dining inside. They even have a parking lot. They serve breakfast and lunch all day. It started as a drug store in the 1930’s and later added a soda shop and now is a traditional diner. It moved to its present location in the 1940s. Featured in the book and film version of the novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”, it was transformed back into Clary’s drugstore. Today inside you’ll find brick walls, an old wood floor, faux marble tables, music in the background and a stained glass window of Savannah’s Bird Girl. A hostess greets you outside and directs you to the old pharmacy room that only has tables or the room with a counter that used to be the soda shop. It is pet-friendly. Service was efficient and really friendly and the food was good. Continue reading →
The Crystal Beer Parlor building was the “Gerken Family Grocery Store” in the early 1900’s, with the owners living above it. It sold in the early 1930’s and was one of the first American eating establishments to serve alcohol after the repeal of Prohibition. Rumor was that they had been selling illegal liquor as a speakeasy during Prohibition. The walls were covered with scenes from Savannah’s past and portraits of people. In one room were blown up copies of the original menus. It’s a fairly large place in a wedge building on a ‘corner’ with a huge tented area in the back, where parking used to be. Inside is a counter room with stools and some booth seating and other rooms are a mix of tables and booths. Service was prompt, efficient and friendly. They are known for their burgers and housemade onion rings.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is at 107 West Jones Street and based on a boardinghouse concept of 2 hearty meals a day. In 1943 Sema Wilkes decided to make her living offering lodging and homestyle Southern cooking served family-style downstairs. A line begins forming before the 11:00 opening to get seats at one of the tables for 10 inside the dining room. The menu changes but there are staples that seem to regularly appear. It is $30 per person, cash only and that includes tax, drink and dessert. You pay as you leave and there is a jar if you want to add a tip. When you enter the table is set with about 20 different dishes of food and they suggest a direction for passing around. If one dish goes empty they will quickly bring more. Beverages included tea, sweet and unsweet, and water. It was a delightful meal filled with wonderful, fresh flavors and fun conversations. You should go if you can. Continue reading →
Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen is a huge place with a cafeteria style serving line. It is a traditional Jewish deli that has been open for more than 75 years. Going through the line you could tell that many of the customers are regulars that know the servers. In fact during the pandemic, July 2020, when people were not dining-in, Manny’s alerted people on social media that they were struggling and needed support. Supporters lined up around the block to order to go and keep the place in business. They offer the usual meats but also salads and various hot dishes, with a couple specials every day. They also have a bread and pastry shop which you walk through as you exit. It seems to have survived and is worth a visit if you are in the area. Continue reading →
D’Amato’s Bakery and Subs has been a family owned business since 1970, specializing in Italian breads, pizza, sandwiches and pastries. They use a coal burning oven that has stood since 1912 in a building across the street. There is no eating inside the place but just around the corner is a heated tent attached to one of their walls with tables and chairs. You order inside and they bring the food out to you in the patio. There were counters with lots of food in the cases but most was uninspiring. We were just there to split an Italian sub sandwich that the ride share driver raved about. The subs come in 10″ or 12″ for a $1 difference. Inside of it was a good balance of meat and cheese but the bread was way too dry and thus tough. It was adorned with a pale tomato and we paid to add extra peppers. They added a kick but not enought. The lettuce was shredded and the meats were ham, salami and mortadella with provolone cheese. It needed herbs or something to spark the flavor. The staff was super friendly but I’m afraid most of the sub went in the trash. Continue reading →
Kasama is a bakery and modern Filipino restaurant located in the East Ukrainian Village neighborhood of Chicago. They serve breakfast and lunch but started an evening tasting menu last fall. It is a small place and you place your order at the front, where they also have the pastry counter. Small tables line the wall on either side with bench seating along the wall and bar stools are on the opposite side in one room. The other room has the open kitchen. After you place your order you are assigned a table and they bring the food out to you. Music is in the background, the tables are small and the wall behind the bench is windows to the street. They seemed to also do a healthy to-go business. Everyone was really friendly and the food was great. I’d love to go back for the evening tasting. Continue reading →
The Dearborn opened in 2016 in a large corner space on the Loop in downtown Chicago. Two sisters with lots of experience in the hospitality industry joined together to open the restaurant inspired by Chicago’s past, with scratch made approach to the food. Windows to the streets make up a couple walls of this multi room place. A combination of booths and wood topped tables as well as stools in the bar fill the space that has music in the background. Service is friendly and efficient. They offered umbrella bags as well as a coat hanger stand before we were seated in the comfy large booth. We had a wonderful relaxed meal while watching the place fill up at noon. I would go again. Continue reading →
Blue Heaven is a well known destination in Key West serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – all al fresco. The very casual spot does not take reservations but has a good sized bar across the street with chairs, tables, music stage and ping-pong table. Roosters roam through the tables and lots of funky decorations give the place lots of character. We got there pretty early and still had to wait 45 minutes – a fairly accurate estimate by the greeter – but it was pleasant across the street and the drinks were actually a $1 cheaper. They had a stage like the main dining area does but it was not active. There is a window into the bakery that you could look into going to the bathrooms and also one to the gift shop. An assortment of umbrellas and canopies help to provide shade in the dining area. Some canned music was in the background before the band got started. Continue reading →
El Siboney, named for an indigenous tribe and now a town in Cuba, opened in 1984, changing owners in 2004 but is still family owned and operated. There are 2 locations in the Key West area. We were at the one at 900 Catherine Street and it was good sized with a nice amount of parking around the building. They are well known for their reasonable prices, family-friendly ambiance, large portions and tasty food. The exterior looks like a brick house and inside seating is throughout numerous rooms with lots of decorations on the wood walls in each room as well as a bar in the front room. Tables are well spaced and the oil cloth is covered with a hard sheet of plastic (must be lots of sharing across the table) and music is in the background. The staff are friendly and efficient. Continue reading →
The Seaside Cafe is on the grounds of the Southernmost House just a few steps from the Atlantic Ocean. The Queen Anne style mansion looks over the large outdoor area with the walk-up cafe. There are several seating areas and a large bar. Some umbrellas and other cover are available. Once you are seated the server will come take your order. Meanwhile you can watch the ocean and be entertained by the roosters, chickens and other birds that visit the area. They have a number of options but are primarily known for their lobster pizza or lobster salad on honey butter biscuits. We chose the latter but did not sample the menu further. Service was efficient and the view was nice. The food was interesting but once was enough for me. Continue reading →
Town Topic Hamburgers opened in 1937 at the same location it is today. Claude Sparks began selling burgers for 5¢ each and 75 years later Town Topic is now part of Kansas City’s history. They are open 24 hours a day(hours may now vary during Covid), 7 days a week and still cook the burgers the same way – with grilled onions and a steamed bun. They now have added 2 more locations but with more limited hours than the original at 2021 Broadway in downtown. There are just 12 stools (3 look out to the street and the others face the counter) in the small space, so lots of food is to-go. Music is in the background and there is a parking lot next door. The griddle is on one end of the counter and a cooler filled with pies sits in front of you. They have hand dipped shakes and lots of breakfast items but they out source their pies. The people were all super friendly and service was quick and efficient. The breakfast was good and I’d love to be able to try their burger. Continue reading →
In 1989 Michael Garozzo opened Garozzo’s Ristorante in the historic Columbus Park Italian neighborhood near downtown Kansas City. He now has 2 locations and a catering business which is known for Chicken Spiedini, a signature dish that he created. In 1991 he created his private label Chianti Classico after getting inspired during a visit to Italy. (You can order this by the glass or bottle for $10/$40). Garozzo was named Restauranteur of the Year in 2001 by the KC Restaurant Association and several local magazines named Garozzo’s the Best Italian Restaurant in 2021. Numerous celebrities have dined there and many are pictured in the photos that cover the walls. We visited the original location in the corner of a 3 story building. The small dark wood tables are spread throughout 3 different rooms all enjoying Frank Sinatra and that genre of music in the background. Lights are lowered but at a good mid-range. Service was helpful and extremely friendly and welcoming. The food is old school with lots of flavor. Portions are generous. I would eat there regularly if I was local. Continue reading →
Kitty’s Café opened in 1952 by Paul Kawakami and his wife Kitty, who they named the place after. Since that time it has changed hands several times but stays in the same location. It’s ownership has always been Asian-American and you can see the influence in the fine tempura batter on the pork. They no longer have any indoor dining on the 6 stools that were inside prior to Covid. Now there is a large covered patio next to the place but most seemed to take their food elsewhere. You place your order at the walk-up and are given a number and told it’ll be about 15 minutes. Most left and came back and payment is by cash only. It is known for the pork tenderloin sandwich and tater tots. If I lived nearby, I’d go all the time – it’s that fun and tasty. Continue reading →
Vietnam Cafe is located in a corner building near downtown KC and is known for its Pho noodle soup, particularly the broth. Long simmered bones and aromatic spices and to its flavor. The interior was recently renovated and so with bare walls it appeared spartan but the crowds still arrived. Faint music is in the background and the windows to the street let in plenty of natural light to supplement the already bright lighting. Service was friendly and quick and portions were large. Continue reading →
Real Chili has 2 locations both on Wells St. One is near Marquette and the other at 419 E. Wells near Cathedral Square Park. It is warm, friendly and really old-fashioned with red walls and black and white floor. You order at the counter and then pick up when they call your number. There are individual tables along the wall as well as bar seating and long communal tables with red topped stools. The first location opened in 1931 by Francis Honesh who bought the recipe from Chili John’s in Green Bay. The chili comes in 3 levels of heat and is served with spaghetti and beans – a Cincinnati style variety. It also comes with a bowl of oyster crackers to mix in for crunch. Cheese, sour cream, jalapeños, onions are in separate bowls and each cost extra. It is nothing fancy but good, honest comfort food in a totally welcoming environment. Go if you’re in the area. Continue reading →
Kopp’s Frozen Custard started in the 1950’s and now has 3 locations in the Milwaukee area. It specializes in frozen custard and large burgers. You could watch the large stainless makers extruding 3 different custards as we waited for our order. It was a huge place with no chairs or tables. Outside was a concrete patio with benches but also no tables. It struck me as odd to have such a huge place and do only takeout and this didn’t seem to be a Covid reaction. They also do a good business in takeout bulk orders of custard. Elsa Kopp opened the place after her husband Karl developed Parkinson’s disease. Initially it was just vanilla and chocolate custard but gradually she began experimenting with other flavors. Her son Karl now runs the chain and has opened out of state locations. Continue reading →
Story Hill BKC (Bottle, Kitchen, Cocktail/Cup) is a medium sized wine and spirit shop that also serves upper-midwest inspired cuisine in brunch, lunch and dinner formats. Lunch is a smaller menu but gave us a good idea of what they are capable of producing – and it’s a good pronouncement for those who are around Milwaukee. There is a small parking lot behind and lots of street parking around this corner spot. Music is in the background and lots of windows let in much natural light. On one side of the room is the retail shop with wine, spirits and beers for sale. You can also purchase a wine to drink with your meal there for a small corkage fee. The bare blond wood table was nice sized and set with a cloth napkin. Two daily specials were listed on the menu. Service was friendly and very helpful. Continue reading →
Blues Egg is where the EGG stands for Everyone’s Good Graces. Opening in 2010 it serves breakfast and lunch with the same attention to dishes that go into fine dining. They offer standards and a few daily specials. Known for their fresh hashbrowns that are cooked in butter and offered stuffed with various ingredients. It’s a large place that can serve 4,000 eggs, 400 pounds of bacon and 700 pounds of hash browns in a busy week. Inside there is a long bar with stools and a mix of high top and regular height tables. Music is in the background and a good sized parking lot offers free parking out front. They have a full bar and friendly efficient service. Continue reading →
Le Diplomate is built in the image of a Parisian brasserie serving classic dishes in a well restored corner building. It is a large place (300 seats) with a huge ‘enclosed’ garden room seating area on the sidewalk and unsheltered tables on the other sidewalk. Inside you’ll find a combination of tables and bench seating and free standing small tables. There is not much distance between them. The red upholstery is dotted with brass as are the railings on the few stairs between levels, the columns are lit from within and the ceiling is high. Windows are on 2 sides of the room and there may have been music in the background but it was hard to tell over the hum of the crowd. Paper covers the wood table tops but it is set with a cloth napkin. It’s been here 9 years and really popular so reservations are in order. Service was reasonable but not overly friendly. Continue reading →
Blues City Deli opened in 2004 as a combination of the owners love of food and music in a New Orleans style sandwich shop. There is no live music inside now because of the pandemic but piped in music plays. There are lots of tables outside and seats inside the corner restaurant. Lots of blues memorabilia decorate the walls and there is a long counter without seats, along the window wall to the street. People often seemed to lean there while waiting for their number to be called. The line to order stretches outside but it moves quickly as does delivery of your food. They offer a large variety of sandwiches and muffulettas all made with top quality meats and cheeses. Bottled drinks and bags of chips are located along the line for you to pick up while you wait. They also offer beer and wine. It is a good place with a friendly vibe. Continue reading →
Pappy’s Smokehouse opened in 2008 serving Memphis style BBQ that is cooked daily. They slow smoke their meats for up to 24 hours over sweet apple or cherry wood and offer 4 sauce varieties to add to your meat. It is really popular with ribs being their main claim to fame as they were named the best ribs in America by the Food Network. It is a large place with a dedicated tent outside for take out pick up. You enter in the side of building as the front of the building is lined with smokers and that door shares an entrance with another restaurant. There is a small parking lot and otherwise it’s street availability. There was a line down the hall as we entered that mostly ignored the mask mandate posted on the door. Many in line were regulars and also there were other first timers, like us. When you finally get to the front of the line there is a small desk where you make your order and pay for it and then you are led to a table. They seemed to be slowing the entry because there were a number of empty tables. The number at your tables signals a service person to bring you your food. A drink area is available for non-alcoholic beverages. Lots of photos are on the walls and the small room beyond the drink area is a shop full of merchandise to take with you. Continue reading →
Little’s Food Store is in the Cabbagetown section of Atlanta and has a grill as well as a small shop for basics. Right now they are not offering inside dining but there is an open lot next to it that is set with 8 picnic tables. Located on a really narrow steet, it is a neighborhood staple and when they thought about shutting down due to the costs to fix their kitchen the neighborhood fundraised the money needed. They also have a 15 year old cat that sits outside and when it needed vet care the community once again rallied. It opened in 2010 and been serving burgers and selling grocery essentials since that time. Development in the neighborhood and surrounding areas have brought in more restaurant customers than shoppers and so their shelves have less fresh produce and their hours have them open later and longer. Their menu has burgers, dogs and sandwiches as well as sides but they do offer breakfast sandwiches. The place is funky and food was well made using quality ingredients. Parking is as you can find it. Continue reading →
Milagro Taco Cantina opened July 6 and is the new restaurant of Jesus Carmona in the Trinity Groves area. Carmona had owned Tacos Mariachi which gained fame after being featured on Diners, Drive-In and Dives and spawned the opening of a second Mariachi. During spring of 2020 Covid shuttered both. Milagro means “miracle” in Spanish which is what re-opening a Tijuana street taco spot meant to Carmona. The place has a large patio area out front and is adjacent to a free parking garage. Inside is a long counter where you place your order and then get a number to take to the table and they bring out your order. The paper menus describe the options but you have to use the signs on the wall to get the prices. Non-alcoholic drinks are self serve opposite the counter and margaritas and beers are at the counter. Service was friendly and welcoming – it’s a fun place for a casual meal. Continue reading →
MoMo Italian Kitchen originated over 35 years ago and in 2017 Wende Stevenson and Aaron Gross bought it from a member of the Gattini family to carry on the tradition of Fernanda Gosetti’s (the Julia Child of Northern Italy) recipes. Actually Wende worked at the original MoMo in 1988, but both have much experience working/managing wonderful restaurants in Dallas. Now they have their own piece of history and continue to serve tasty Italian food in a comfortable, welcoming setting. I have to admit, I’ve known Aaron through a number of restaurants where he’s worked and enjoy his humor and commitment to quality. I ate a number of times at the previous MoMo and was glad to enjoy a lunch at the present day incarnation. Service was excellent and there is a large patio out front. Continue reading →
Beckley 1115, a wine bar and casual restaurant, opened in early October this year by longtime chef Sharon Van Meter. Van Meter currently also works with an event space at Trinity Groves and previously served as chef at Neiman Marcus downtown and later as executive chef. Her inspiration here was to create something welcoming, casual and affordable and I think she has done just that. There are lots of tables outside, an adjacent parking lot and a nice bar inside as well as tables. Frankie and I caught up with a friend there and they were happy to have us sit and visit for several hours and kept the coffee coming during a Saturday brunch. They also offer dinner and lunch and I took pictures of the menus for you. I look forward to going back and trying more of her dishes and visiting with all the friendly service people. Continue reading →
Al’s Breakfast started in 1950 and has 14 seats at a counter. They are in the Dinkytown neighborhood and don’t except credit cards. They don’t have a freezer, microwave or deep fryer because they think meals taste best prepared without them and they don’t have room. We found the line outside when we arrived and it moved fairly well. As customers leave someone comes out and invites the number inside that they can now serve. If your whole party is not there when you reach the door you will be move to the back of the line. It’s all done in a very pleasant way. Open everyday, they close at 1:00pm. It is reported to be the most narrow restaurant in Minneapolis with a width of 10 feet. It is built in a former alleyway. Prior to Covid they let waiters line up inside behind stools when it was cold, now only vaccinated are allowed inside. The food is worth the wait and hassle. Behind the counter are boxes of yellow cards which are meals already paid for. Continue reading →
Buludo Nicollet is a small storefront off a street with only a to-go order/pick-up area. They offer Argentinian dishes that Chef Facundo DeFraia learned from his grandmother. The local newspaper food critic named him the “dough wisperer” and indeed he is. They now have 2 locations since opening in 2018, there were a couple of outdoor tables for eating here whereas the downtown location has indoor seating. They offer fresh made pizzas and empanadas as well as a couple salads and desserts. It took about 20 minutes to make our order and it all came out at once. It is well worth visiting for pizza and especially empanadas. Continue reading →
Matt’s Bar & Grill opened in 1954 as a regular burger bar until founder Matt Bristol created the “Jucy Lucy” from customer requests for 2 patties and 2 slices of cheese in the middle. Upon eating this option he said, “that’s one juicy Lucy” and the name and legend were born. Minneapolis now has many imitations but this was the original. When you enter the smell of frying beef and onions engulfs you. The burgers are made with fresh beef and filled with molten hot cheese. They even warn you about a spurt when you get the burger. They offer a regular burger but from the look of the grill the Jucy Lucy is the thing to get. Fries are by full or half order. It is cash or local check only and there are no reservations. Parking is on the street and expect a line. While you wait you can look around at the memorabilia and pictures on the walls. Besides a full bar they have a number of tap beers. Continue reading →
Sleder’s Family Tavern, in Slabtown, is Michigan’s oldest continuously-operated restaurant. It began when a Bohemian immigrant named Vencil Sleder wanted to build a tavern where men could relax after work. Louie Sleder (1909-1993) and his mother turned the place into a ‘good will’ business. Prior to 1930 women weren’t allowed in the barroom with its 21 foot solid mahogany sided and cherry wood bar and 12 foot ornate stamped tin ceiling, so they entered through a special back room door. After 1930 they opened up both rooms to all. It was sold in 1975 to the Classens who re-finished the woodwork and added a Victorian-styled side porch that is popular for private parties. It was sold again in 1992 to the Cairns who held their own wedding there and now their son and daugther- in-law own it. Numerous hunting trophies line the wall, in particular the moose named Randolph that you kiss for good luck. The history in the place is amazing but the food is good too. Continue reading →
Slabtown Cafe and Burgers offered indoor and outdoor seating with a variety of burgers and sides. Slabtown was a part of Traverse City where lumber mill workers built their houses from leftover slabs of lumber from the mills. This place is known for their grease factor, which the owners swear by, and the evidence can still be seen on your bag of food. They serve homemade, hand pattied burgers and fresh cut fries and were rated at number 5 on TripAdvisor’s Top Ten Burger restaurants in America. According to that report they serve 800 pounds of burger meat a day. There are several indoor tables but also a patio that runs around the house with tables. The inside is decorated with photos of Slabtown residents and their homes and other historical things. Music is in the background and the place is very popular. I was not sold on their burger nor the fries. Continue reading →
S 2 S or now Sugar 2 Salt started out as Sunrise to Sunset but when the owners came together they realized it was more sugar to salt as they wanted to serve breakfast. The menu changes with the seasons and availability. It is located in the complex that long ago housed a mental health hospital. They have indoor as well as a large outdoor dining area. Inside much of the room is taken up by a bar, the front of which is a case for pastries. A large window to the kitchen serves as a pass through also, where you can see the single chef making and assembling the plates. It is casual and laid back with lots of signs on the walls and herbs hanging overhead. The white walls reflect all the sun that comes in the front windows to make it quite well lit. With a concrete floor it looked like it could get noisy if it was full. The staff was friendly and helpful. Continue reading →
Farm Club is a collaboration of several people to offer a restaurant, bakery, brewery and general store in one place on the Leelanau Peninsula. The sales area and restaurant are in a modern barn with tons of windows that look out at the additional outside seating areas. The brewery is on one end of the building and we didn’t go there but you can order their beer with lunch. At the entrance are shelves of products and produce you can buy as well as breads, cookies, etc. Light wood is on the tables, cabinets and bench seats, concrete is on the floor and music is in the background. There is lots of outdoor seating and some tables have umbrellas. Inside there is table service but for outside you make you order and come get it when your buzzer goes off. Staff were efficient and helpful, but the food was souless – good but not great. Given its freshness things should have been more flavorful and some of the preparation was lacking. Continue reading →
Bubbie’s Bagels opened in Feb. 2020 by Sam Brickman who named it for his grandmother who got him interested in cooking even though she never made bagels. They use an old school technique making the bagels with a sourdough base and fermenting for 2 days before boiling them. This allows them to a wonderful texture and chew. They have several kinds of bagels and cream cheese to make your sandwich or there are optional fillings of egg, tuna or lox. You can buy one or quantities. Masks are required and the number of people in the shop is limited, but it is one of a kind. The bagels do have a marvelous texture and taste but there was too much cream cheese for me. If I ever go again I’d have it plain. Continue reading →
Gabriel’s Gate has been around for 50 years, located in one of the original Tift Row Homes built in 1864 in the Allentown District. Inside it’s a mix of antique and hunting lodge. Between the various objects, old wood booths, tin ceiling, lowered lighting, music in the background and stuffed heads it’s worth going to just to look around. The large bar in the back room is solidly covered with decorations. There is a patio when weather permits and fireplaces when it doesn’t. But they are also a local favorite for Buffalo wings. However, service is a huge issue and really slow. Continue reading →
The Swan Street Diner is an example of one of the early Sterling Company diner cars made by a Mass. company from 1936 to 1942. Swan Street is No. 397 from 1937, featuring mahogany trim, barrel vaulted ceiling and walls of porcelain enamel. This one was originally in Newark, NY as a diner and assembled onsite from pieces. Since then it has had 3 owners and in 2013 Larkin Development Group purchased it, took it to Akron, Ohio and then to Buffalo for full restoration. The interior enamel panels, bar stools and wood trim are original and the rest was fabricated onsite, trying to hold to the original design. The Larkin Soap Company made china among other things and Swan Street was able to purchase some of the last plates and mugs made in Buffalo for the Diner. They offer breakfast and lunch and have a couple specials. The food is high quality and it’s a beautifully restored diner with a few original parts. Great, friendly service. Continue reading →
Acadia House Provisions is on one floor of a house overlooking the bay in Stonington, Maine. Ryan McCaskey from Chicago opened it in 2019 as a spin off of a Michelin starred restaurant there. It opened in the site formerly occupied by Aragosta, which moved to Goose Cove. Outside there is a large deck overlooking the active fishing area. Lots of windows inside also take advantage of the view. Inside there is much painted light wood on the walls, floors and ceiling. Art is on the walls and music is in the background to make up a very pleasant room. They have an a la carte menu and a full bar. Food and service are both quite good. Continue reading →
exterior, 325 F Street, Anchorage, AK., 99501 / 907-272-5196
Frankie visited F Street Station almost 3 years ago and it hasn’t changed much. We saw the same chef in the kitchen and the place is very popular. They have a number of beers, cocktails and wines by the glass and bottle. The cheese hunk was back after having disappeared during the height of Covid, but it still wasn’t getting much action. They offer lots of seafood and had our favorite fried halibut during our last trip and I’m here to tell you it is still excellent. Continue reading →
Chugiak Cafe is about 20 miles outside of Anchorage and worth the drive. It started about 7 years ago (by my best information) in what was an old WWII barracks. After about 3 years owner Trig Bjorklund had to expand to 2 more rooms to accommodate guests. Then Covid 19 hit and they changed the system to drive-through only. Tables outdoors are now set up, each set with a box of napkins, utensils and other needs and the front door is open if you want to eat inside. However there is no staff to clean up after you or take orders, just put your trash in the convenient cans or take your food to another location. To expedite the process a person is out front to take your order and hand it in to the kitchen who will then give it to the pick-up window. The system works well and there are beautiful flowers and fun decorations for you to look at as you drive through the line. Inside is a treasure trove of a lifetime’s memorabilia that is not to be missed. Particularly the 1910 coffee roaster that roasts their coffee in small batches. But the best part is the honest, wonderful food. Continue reading →
Denali Brewpub is in the center of the small town of Talkeetna, nestled at the base of Denali. It is a large place with guests being those arriving by train, outdoor enthusiasts and families. Dogs are welcome on the large outdoor patio. Inside there is a log cabin feel with wood ceiling, walls and floor along with a large fireplace. A bar dominates one of the several rooms and the kitchen is in back. Lots of decorations adorn the walls, including some of the things for sale. There is free wi-fi and music is in the background. A large number of beers are from their brewery that is close by. Service was good and very friendly but lunch does start at 11:00 not at 10:00 which was on the website. Continue reading →
Spinach Bread has been available in Alaska for 20 years. We found it in the small town of Talkeetna where the Airstream trailer is parked and open for business every day but Tuesday. There are tables set up out front and a small menu to chose from. The spinach bread is made with a spent grain bread base and then covered with a mix of cheese, garlic and spinach. Hot sauce is optional and I advise adding it. They heat it while you wait at the window and you can see the server cut it into strips for easy eating. It had a wonderful bread base and just the right amount of toppings. Full of flavor and texture it was a perfect snack or meal, depending on how much you order. With it we had the Brazilian limeade which is made with fresh limes, organic sugar, a touch of sweetened condensed milk and water. It was slightly thick and cool with a perfect blend of sweet and tart. There’s some good food coming out of this food truck! Continue reading →
The White Spot is in downtown Anchorage and even though the street out front was closed for repair the place was still packed with customers eating in and picking up to go orders. There are several tables but the best seats are at the counter overlooking the small kitchen show. They are known for the halibut sandwich but you’ll find lots of house made, fresh options here. The current owners have had the place five and a half years but it obviously goes way back. An interim owner was an Italian lady that brought the place to notoriety according to the current owner. The cook, Frank, was an amazing show to watch as he freshly breaded mushrooms, onion and the famed halibut for the sandwich all while grilling whatever. The staff were all super friendly and it was such a fun tasty spot to have on our agenda, I recommend you try it when you’re in the area. They are only open for lunch and breakfast (for which I could find no menu). Continue reading →
The Colony Kitchen started in 1985 in downtown Palmer as the Frontier Café and moved to the present location in 1989 and became the Colony Kitchen but is more often referred to as the Noisy Goose Cafe. The name is representative of the casual and conversational nature of the guests and staff. Portions of the home-style cuisine are large and service is efficient. The food is well prepared but on the bland side for me but nevertheless, even with Covid the place was incredibly busy. Large groups, couples and families from all walks of life found it the place to go. The walls are covered with stuffed birds, antlers, photos of animals and signs. Several wooden bears are also placed around as well as a stuffed real bear and faint music is in the background. Many windows add to the light level inside. Outside there is a wrap around deck and a combination of booths and tables fill the inside. A scrambler option was offered as a daily special. Continue reading →
Ray’s Waterfront is a seafood restaurant that offers views of the Seward small boat harbor and mountains beyond. It is a large place on a couple levels, to afford everyone a view. The walls are decorated with lots of mounted fish in between the numerous windows that overlook the water. Seward is the sight for many day cruises to go see wildlife, icebergs, etc. They take no reservations and are fairly popular so you can expect a line to get a seat, especially now that they are short staffed due to Covid. Music is in the background and it seemed to be a place for gatherings. In addition to seafood they also offer chicken and beef items and there were a couple of daily specials. The food here is good but fairly ordinary however it is made up for with the fun view of the active harbor. Continue reading →
The Brickery is the pizza part of Café Beaujolais’, a complex of restaurants in the artsy town of Mendocino. On the street is Café Beaujolais, a fine dining option open for dinner and in front of the Brickery is The Waiting Room which is a coffee and pastry shop till dinner time when it becomes a lounge. It is a bit confusing at first but we followed the path between the buildings and found ourselves in a lovely garden area furnished with an assortment of tables and a window to place your order. The daily menu and specials are written on chalkboards that hang on either side of the order window. Inside you can see the fired brick oven where the pizza is cooked. They also sell beer and wine along with offering a free jug of iced water. After you order you get a buzzer that makes a noise when you can walk back to the other window and pick up your pie. It is a truly lovely spot with good pizza. You can visit the Waiting Room up near the street if you need a bathroom break. Continue reading →
Catelli’s has been around since the 1930s in Geyserville, CA. Opened by Italian immigrants, it is now run by third-generation siblings in the Catelli family. They feature local ingredients, hand-craft their ravioli and have many local wines. They currently offer patio and indoor seating as well as takeout on Wednesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Located in a two-story brick building on the main drag of Geyserville, it is a large place. The entry room contains a long bar and the other 2 rooms have bench seating around the walls with bare wood tables and some center tables and chairs. Tables are set with a cloth napkin that contains the flatware. Music is in the background, acoustic tiles are in the ceiling and windows are uncovered to the street. Some decorations and art are placed about as well as historic photos. Service was friendly and efficient, but be aware of numerous upcharges on innocently offered personalizations. Continue reading →
Nelscott Breakfast House alternately called Nelscott Café is a small coastal cafe offering breakfast and lunch items. Located in Lincoln City, their patio welcomes dogs too and there are special items available just for our canine companions. It’s in a strip of shops along the highway in what looks like a house and was started around 2009 by a couple with the names Nelson and Scott, but it has changed hands a number of times. Inside you find a number of tables and stairs to another level of seating as well as a door to the patio. Plenty were also getting food to-go. A pass through window to the kitchen lets you get a small peek at the action, windows are all around, music is in the background and happy people are everywhere. Service was outstanding – they promptly took our order and food was out quickly, which was great as we were on our way to the airport. The menu has a good selection of sweet or savory dishes but there are also specials, which were noted out front. I would go back if I am ever anywhere close. Continue reading →
The Schooner Restaurant and Lounge is located at the boat launch for Netarts Bay on the Tillamook Coast. The source of most of their oysters is from the bay next door and the rest of their seafood is mostly locally sourced. During lunch we watched a number of small boats launch into the bay and clam diggers hunt for clams. They are quite popular and there was a line when we arrived at the opening hour. Most wanted to sit on the large outdoor deck but we chose inside where you could watch the kitchen and wood fired oven. Indoor the bar is separate from the dining area that has a combination of copper topped tables and booths. Service was hurried and poor – for example we were told when the server arrived that the daily special was all gone (15 minutes after they opened) then later were told it was still available but she could not change the order we placed. Continue reading →
Side Door Café is in an old brick and tile factory building. It’s the restaurant part of the 7,000 sq. ft. warehouse also home to Eden Hall that all opened in 2000. Family owned and run it serves New American dishes in an eclectic space decorated with many re-claimed items from other Oregon buildings. They have some daily specials to add to the already large menu. Their hours are shorter now and tables well spaced due to Covid, so changes may be coming in those areas. Lots of windows in the building add to the lighting during daytime and instrumental music is in the background. The high ceiling is filled with fans and decorations are everywhere. There were 2 large rooms, the first one having some booth seating and the second strung with little lights. Continue reading →
James Hook and Co. started in 1925 with a father and his 3 sons trucking their catch to Boston. It is still a family run business with 4 of the third generation siblings. Somewhere along the line they developed retail outlets while still selling to restaurants and shipping across the U.S. We visited a retail site near the water that also had a food truck on premises selling options. Inside the little house were a couple tables to eat but mostly had tanks containing various sizes of lobsters and shelves with memorabilia and cooking supplies. The retail counter had a number of fish and shellfish but also the lobster rolls, which they are famous for. They come in 2 sizes and are cold with mayo or hot with butter. Outside at the truck you could get the mayo variety and whole cooked lobsters as well as soups and some sides. There is a large outdoor seating area to enjoy your selections. Continue reading →
Earl’s Steak Sandwiches is family owned and specializes in shaved beef sandwiches. Wife Mo (Maureen) Donovan works the floor, husband Jim cooks and their daughter Sophie, who is 10, makes rings and bracelets to sell in one of the booths. Opening in October, in a location that had previously been a diner, during the Covid pandemic they rose to the challenge by concentrating on take-out until indoor dining resumed. The decor features a ‘vintage car theme’ with old hot rod magazines at the table and the walls decorated with oil signs and car parts. The inside area is small, with a few counter stools, but there also is a good number of outdoor tables. Behind the counter is a window to the kitchen where you can see, hear and smell the owner’s cooking. One of the booths is “reserved for Earl” which is where the daughter assembles and sells her jewelry. Earl has a photo but it is actually not a family member, they just liked his name. They cure their own meats and make their own sauces. Continue reading →
Our last visit to E Bar Tex Mex was in 2018 and I wanted to update it as I was not wowed by the food on that visit but speculated that you had to find the items that spoke to you. They continue to get crowds and now I know why cause I’ve found my item – Jorge’s Tacos. The place is physically about the same except they’ve added a non-enclosed tent next to the enclosed one and their name is on a nearby parking lot to provide additional parking. Service is good, helpful and friendly. Continue reading →
DanDan (126 S. 16th St., Philadelphia) serves Sichuan and Taiwanese dishes along with having a full bar. It is a smaller place in Rittenhouse Square that also offers some outdoor seating. Inside the downstairs has counter seating around the bar and in the window. Upstairs are multiple tables in different combinations of sizes. The spheres that are the light fixtures hang from the ceiling and give it a fun view from upstairs. They appeared to do a lively takeout business but were not busy at any of the tables, but we were early. Music is in the background and some paintings are on the walls. It is a large menu but several favorites had been suggested by local magazines and we got most of them. This place got rave reviews but we seemed to hit it on an off day. Continue reading →
Parc is an all day restaurant designed to represent a French sidewalk café. It is a large, extremely popular place with inside dining in many rooms and more than 75 outdoor covered and uncovered spaces to dine. Restaurateur Stephan Starr brought this place to a corner lot in Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. Inside dark wood tables are well spaced and set with red napkins to match the red booth seating along the walls. Old wood floors are juxtaposed with elegant tile ones, especially around the large bar that was currently not in use. On the table are a special set of directions about Covid and their policies – notably that you have just 90 minutes for your table, that you are not to move any of it and must wear a mask when not seated. We also found that they would not seat you until your exact reservation time. It felt stiff but the lovely server soon relaxed the vibe. The menu has a good range of things but there are even more drink options. We got a bottle of sparkler to go with our meal. Continue reading →
HUDA is “fast casual concept by Philadelphia based Chef Yehuda Sichel” who loves sandwiches. The sandwiches come on homemade milk buns and sourdough and they also offer salads. It’s a small shop with one indoor table and 4 outside ones. They do a lot of takeout. The menu uses seasonal and local ingredients and the staff were all super friendly. You go inside to place and pay for your order and then they bring it to your table. We went there for a late afternoon snack to split and it was perfect and really tasty. I’d go often if I had the chance. Continue reading →
El Zarco is on US Highway 63 in Grand View, WI. It offers “homestyle fresh Mexican Cuisine and hand crafted margaritas. “ They have been open 4 months in a building with 2 rooms, one of which is dominated by a pool table and bar and the other having a combination of tables and booths. The website said they open at 11:00 but the sign out front said noon however, the owner was kind enough to let us come in and start early. On weekends they open earlier and have brunch options. Inside are tile floors, wood ceiling, AC, music in the background and walls decorated with photos and memorabilia. Two TVs were in the bar area but both just streamed scenery visuals and they have free Wi-Fi. Talking with the owner he asked if it was our first visit and when we said yes he pulled out 3 flavors of tequila and said we were due a complimentary shot to welcome us. He was so nice and friendly it felt like we had been coming for years. I know I’ll be back. Continue reading →
Arnold’s is an institution in Nashville. Opened in 1982 by Jack and Rose Arnold, now their children run the place. It has received acclaim from many publications like Southern Living, SAVEUR, and Bon Apetit and been featured on Diners, Drive in and Dives. They received the James Beard Award in 2009. It is a cafeteria style restaurant but don’t let that mislead you. Food is made in house and in real southern style with fresh ingredients. Their most popular order is meat and 3 sides. The roast beef is a signature offering but the vegetables are well regarded. We got there early to avoid the line but there is a parking lot adjacent to the building if you drive. Presently they are only at 50% capacity due to Covid and there are less tables available. Cutlery is plastic, napkins are in a dispenser and salt and pepper are in packets as are other condiments. They now have a bar where you can get cocktails or other alcoholic beverages but it didn’t appear to be open yet. Servers on the line were helpful and friendly and well masked. Continue reading →
Mama Chang opened early in 2019 in Fairfax, VA. It focuses on family dishes from the Hubei province, where Peter Chang is from, ones his mother and other females in the family cooked. There is less pepper than in the traditional Szechuan dishes. The large interior is filled with light from the many windows and white walls. Textured ropes hang from the ceiling, the well spaced light wood tables are bare and tons of green plants surround the room. It feels open and spacious but a bit sterile. Portions are generally large – we way over-ordered but wanted to try a number of the dishes. The server was masked and willing to give advice. One note is about their to-go containers which were nice plastic dishes with good locking lids not the usual leaky styrofoam containers. Continue reading →
Gris-Gris is in a two story corner building in the Garden district (where the restaurant Square Root had been). Downstairs is the open kitchen enclosed by a stainless steel bar. Many wanted to sit upstairs but I preferred to watch the kitchen action. Music is in the background and light from the many windows filled the room. Upstairs is a large bar and tables as well as a balcony for seating. The staff all wore masks but the kitchen was mostly too busy to engage in much conversation with those at the bar. The waitstaff was happy to help guide your choices and split items from the menu, which is similar at lunch and dinner. Continue reading →
Local is a steakhouse and bar in the historic town square of Jackson. It has many rooms, some of which are for dinner and some for lunch and others for both. We sat in the room with the bar counter and it had plexiglass between the seats and bar as did the booths have plexiglas between them. The black wood tables were set off by the brown wood floor and light wood walls with mirror insets. The booths had a padded seat whereas the bar was set with dark wood chairs with backs that were unpadded. Music was in the background and a TV was playing in the bar area but it was muted. We made a reservation for lunch which the website recommended but when we showed up the person at the entrance seated the 2 walk-up parties ahead of us in line to get in. Their lunch menu was mostly sandwiches, particularly burgers and they had one special of the day (a hot ham and cheese sandwich) as well as a soup that changes daily. Service was helpful, opinionated and efficient. Continue reading →
The Bird is a large place, located a bit out of town that opened in 2010. Inside are 2 large rooms, one containing the oval shaped bar and outside is a good sized deck with a spectacular view of the mountains. There are no umbrellas or heaters outside. The bar offers all mixed drinks as well as a ton of tap beers. The room with the bar is decorated with tap handles from those beers they no longer carry. They are mounted on metal bars all over. It’s mainly a burger bar but also is known for its wings. Country music plays prominently and service is friendly. They wore masks for the most part and limit the number of people that can be in at any time. You must wait at the door to be let in by the server. They don’t take reservations and are popular with locals. Continue reading →
Cristina’s was opened in 1993 by Cristina Cook, 5 years after she moved here from Italy. She has written 2 cookbooks. The place is open for breakfast, lunch and brunch and is using their large outdoor seating area rather than the interior. You enter into the small salmon colored house to find a counter filled with sweet and savory foods which are available for purchase. There were a couple room inside but outside they have a large tent complete with chandeliers over the wood deck and individual tables with umbrellas on the lawns around the house. The white cloth covered tables were well spaced and set with white cloth napkins. Lots of plants and flowers surround the diners. No music is in the background. The small menu has the daily specials written in. Chef Cook was in the kitchen but she never came out to greet guests. Seating was only by reservation or waiting a couple hours. Servers wore masks, were friendly and all seemed to work together to take care of the tables. Continue reading →
We liked Tidal Raves enough to come back again the next day for lunch. Once again the view was spectacular and we were seated on a different end of the place so it gave us another perspective, too. This day was sunnier and the waiter pointed out some gray whales that were making water spouts in the water in our view. I thought the service was good yesterday and today’s was even better. He was kind enough to let us order leisurely and enjoy the food and wine while we took advantage of the view. I should have taken his photo but in these times I’m not sure how much personal handling Frankie wants or people want to partake in. Since the virus looks to be with us for some time to come, I’ll have to figure out delicately how to proceed with things I took for granted before. Nevertheless we were equally delighted with our lunch and highly recommend this spot if you are ever anywhere near by. Continue reading →
Gracie’s Sea Hag opened in 1963 and promotes itself as having the finest and freshest sea fare on the Oregon coast. Gracie Strom and her husband Dic started the place but he died a few years after it opened. From the reviews I read, she sounded like quite a character – playing the bottles behind the bar to create tunes and greeting all guests like they were long time friends. Sadly in 2006 she sold the place and I’m not sure it has the same fun vibe, however that is hard to judge in this time of Corona virus. It is a large place with large tables, booths on one side of the room and tables on the other. The booths were all separated by panels of stained glass windows of sea life above the stuffed benches and got extra lighting via a hanging stained glass light fixture. The bare wood tables on the other side are set with unstuffed wood chairs. The floor is a mix of carpet and tile, the ceiling is of wood with exposed duct work running down the middle of the long room. A counter at the front of the room had menus, souvenirs and a person who greets you and takes you to a table. The other end of the room is a service area that leads into the kitchen. Continue reading →
Las Reses opened in 1964 and is set below street level. It is spread over a couple rooms and bright with lots of red walls covered with decorations. The floors are wood and no music is in the background. The tables have adequate spacing and are set with white clothes which cover the floor length beige ones and large white napkins. The staff were friendly but spoke limited English. It is mostly a restaurant dedicated to beef steaks for which they have carts to come around to the table and show you the cuts of meat. It is all a la carte and some of the cuts are sold by the kilo. There were several larger parties there and it looked like they took their remainder of the meat back to reheat it after the initial serving. Continue reading →
Café Santiago was a new looking and bright place, but has been in business since 1959 . Windows to the street were on one end of the long place that reached through to the next block where there was another entrance. A wood floor and tile walls are the room that housed the ‘lower level’ with closely spaced veneer topped tables. Photos are on the walls. Up a few stairs was the kitchen and a bar along with more tables. It had a large menu but they are known for their Francesinhas – sandwich original to Porto. It is commonly made with ham, fresh sausage and roast meat and then covered with melted cheese and maybe an egg and served with french fries. The sandwich comes in many variations and that seemed to be what most came for. There were a combination of obvious tourists as well as some regular locals, who were recognized by the staff. Continue reading →
Cafeína was a medium sized place in the corner of a building and has been in business for 24 years. Small, closely spaced tables were set with white clothes and napkins and padded chairs. Music played in the background, the floor was concrete with a rug in the center of the room, windows to the outside were on several walls, steel beams were structural yet decorative parts of the dining room and a bar counter is at the entry with dining rooms on both sides. Noise was not a problem even when the room was full. The place had a relaxed atmosphere with guests enjoying themselves and many appearing to be ‘regulars.’ The menu was a la carte but at lunch they did have a special offered that was 3 course with choices for each course. Specials on wine were also available for lunch. The lunch special menu was not translated but our server was happy to help with any terms we didn’t know. Service was efficient, friendly and helpful. The lunch menu really appealed and so we chose that option and some of their wines by the glass. The pours by the glass were fairly generous. Continue reading →
Kate’s Greek & American restaurant is a medium sized colorful place on a busy street near lots of shops. Booths are on two long sides of the space with tables in the middle. The chairs are mostly different as are the table cloths. Windows to the street are on one end and the kitchen and prep area are opposite that. Above there were 2 large boards with the specials on them. Lots of art is on the walls and much of it was for sale. They serve only breakfast and lunch, both all day. The server was really friendly and offered good advice when ordering. Continue reading →
La Choza is the sister restaurant of the ever popular The Shed, located in the old town square. La Choza is out of town but not a bad distance and way less crowded, but plenty of people still are there. They have their own parking lot behind the adobe building. The dining areas take up several rooms and there is also a large bar area. Beams of wood line the ceilings and colorful art adorns the walls. The tables are bare wood, there are lots of windows to the outside and a large variety of tequila, margaritas and mezcales to chose from as well as draft beers. Service is friendly, efficient and helpful. Portions are large and the food is wonderful, with a good amount of flavor and texture in every bite. Continue reading →
Hasenburg was in a small old building with lots of wood on the walls with art above and a newish brick floor. The bare wood tables were spaced closely and set with paper placemats and napkins. Windows to the busy street were on one wall and no music was in the background. Service was friendly and efficient. They offered a lunch menu, even on Saturday, or offer their regular menu items. We ordered off their regular menu and the food was simple but delicious. It was really busy and they do have a couple outdoor tables. Each entree came with a house salad and sliced bread. Continue reading →
Cafe 43 is the dining spot in George W. Bush Presidential library. It is a good sized place and you don’t need to pay admission to the library to gain entrance to the cafe, but you will have to pay for parking on the SMU campus. The nice sized tables are slightly spaced and bare dark wood set with mats. Art is on the walls, some by Bush, and large windows look out onto the campus and surrounding grounds. Service was attentive and very friendly and content for us to take a long visit with lunch. Continue reading →
Barbec’s has been around as long as I can remember. Located in an old Howard Johnson’s building it serves large, cheap portions of southern style food. The service is efficient but sometimes you’ll have to ask for something rather than a waitress noticing and asking. They seem to be best known for their beer biscuits which are better at breakfast than at lunch, when they’ve been out of the oven for awhile. They offer a large menu and well priced specials for breakfast and lunch, but it is a cash only business. With the lunch specials there is a huge choice of sides to go with your entree, of which you’ll see a preponderance of chicken fried steak. Continue reading →
Paris Coffee Shop is a large bright space that get lots of mention as a good lunch spot in Fort Worth and you could tell by the number of people coming and going. It offers quick service and inexpensive pricing which also attracted a fairly senior crowd. It has a large menu but most of it is covered with ads. The waitress directed us to the Daily Special menu, from which she suggested we order. Continue reading →
Tafelspitz or boiled beef is a a regular offering in Vienna and this is the place to get it. They offer more variations of the cut of beef than anybody else. It is a large place and there is definitely a system to it. They give you pictures and instructions on how it is all eaten and are quick to get to your table to refill your plate from the serving dishes.
