Nick’s Family Restaurant is a large place, with seats for 120, and famous for its ‘pizzaburger.’ It has been in business for over 50 years and with it being locally owned and family run by the Tyler family since 1979. Windows to the street are on many sides with booths next to them. In the middle of the rooms are tables of various sizes. The first thing you see when you enter is the display case filled with pies and the check-out counter where you pay. They have a large menu that is supplemented with daily specials for lunch and dinner and serve breakfast all-day. Closed on Tuesday, they are open 6 am to 8 pm daily and are even open earlier during the week. They serve wine and beer but no full bar. Service was amazing considering how few were working there and how many people continued to arrive. The food was mixed but edible. It looks like a no-frills place and that’s the food it serves too. Nothing wrong just not calling you back to eat there again. Continue reading →
Nook is a tiny 12-seat tasting menu experience. It’s what I continually search for – a relaxed, fun-filled evening filled with wonderful flavors and textures. The restaurant is family owned by Noah and Julie Przybylski and they cook and present the evenings’s meal. Aided by some extra servers in the service, you can’t help but be consumed by their joyous and adventurous spirits. The couple met in Chicago in 2005, where the dream of opening their own restaurant hatched. They married in 2007 and welcomed a son in 2014 (whose artwork you can see downstairs). Now they have brought the dream to life with a restaurant that celebrates all that Wisconsin has to offer. A bargain at $125 per person for a 12-14 course meal. Wine pairings are available, but we ordered our own bottle. The tables each seat 2 and they’re lined up about 3 inches apart from each other. As the evening moves on conversations begin to cross over the small separation. Noah presented and explained each course as it came out with good pacing and portion control. I strongly recommend this fabulous place, if you can get a reservation – they go quickly. Continue reading →
Alimentari is basically Italian for food/groceries. This deli is in an 1,800 square foot former laundromat space and sells fresh pasta, sauces, freshly cut meats and cheeses as well as sandwiches and other dry goods. The sandwiches are made to order and there is no place to eat in the store. They also had a gelato counter but we didn’t try it. It looked like a great place to shop for Italian ingredients but for us we wanted a sandwich for the car. Similar to last week, we wanted a snack before we went on a tour of a Frank Lloyd Wright site, but this time is was Taliesin. I must say this sandwich was way better than the last both because of the filling but also the bread. The buns for their sandwiches are made daily by Madison Sourdough. They have a great chew with a crisp crust and a soft interior but it’s not too big that it dwarfs the fillings or hard to get your mouth around. I actually found myself wanting to eat parts of the bread without any filling, it was that good. If you need ingredients or just a snack, I’d head to this place right away. Continue reading →
building – US Bank Plaza, 1 S Pinckney St, Suite 107, Madison, WI 53703
L’Etoile Restaurant was opened by Odessa Piper in 1976. She was an early supporter of the sustainable food or farm-to-table movement. In 2005 she sold the restaurant to her Chef de cuisine, Tory Miller and his sister Traci. They continued the tradition of supporting local farmers and expanded to open a bakery and a casual lunch spot also. Dianne Christensen became a co-owner in 2007 and envisioned a new space for ‘L’Etoile and the addition of a gastropub. Chef Miller was the recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Midwest in 2012. The new space is in the US Bank Plaza building with 3 walls of glass looking out at the dome of the Wisconsin capital building. The widely spaced tables are covered with white cloths, sitting on carpet with a high ceiling overhead and music in the background. Parking is on your own, so allow extra time to make your reservation. They offer a “5” course tasting with 2 levels of optional wine pairings as well as an a la carte menu. The full bar and wine list has a fairly hefty mark-up but it is a good selection. We chose the tasting menu which included multiple extras and chose a half bottle of white and full bottle of red to accompany the meal. The food is excellent as was the service and if you have the chance this is a place I would recommend, but it’s not cheap. Continue reading →
The Plaza Tavern and Grill is the home of the “world-famous Plazaburger.” The burger is dressed with a Plaza sauce which is a secret recipe from 1964. The Plazaburger is ordered separately from a regular burger but they also offer a number of other food choices. Inside is a long bar that runs the length of the long room and booths run along the opposite wall. The middle of the room is open but you’ll find various game machines around the room. A number of televisions were around the room and midday they were playing an old animated show. It’s conveniently located by the capital and UW and open Wed to Sat from noon to 2 am. Goggle wrongly said they weren’t open till 3 pm on Wed but that is not the case. They were super friendly and cooked our burgers on the grill right behind the bar. It is a cash only place. Continue reading →
Paul’s Pel’meni is a small place near the UW campus serving Russian style dumplings. The owner, Paul Schwoerer, once lived in Alaska and found that Russian cuisine was good for colder climates. While there he learned to make these dumplings from a man who wanted to move back to Russia. Now he and his wife are in their 3rd location having been in business for 18 years. Everyday in the kitchen downstairs he rolls the dough and stuffs it with mashed potatoes or a savory ground beef mixture. Sour cream is the standard accompaniment but they still seemed plain to him. Now he adds a topping of yellow curry, butter, sweet chili sauce with vinegar and cilantro. They are sold in full and half orders of the beef, potato or mix. You order at the counter and they are out quickly. In the next room are tables and a water jug and a room with a bar. Later in the evening they’ll be serving lots of cocktails and draft beer to go with the dumplings. It was a quick and very satisfying lunch for us and I highly recommend you check the place out. Continue reading →
exterior (daytime) – 644 W Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703
The Harvey House is a modern take on a supper club and train travel, located in an historic train depot. The old Baggage Claim House and a train car next door make up the interior spaces. Opened by Shaina and Joe Papach, he runs the kitchen and she provides the design and business development portion. Lots of Wisconsin classic cocktails are served as well as newer craft cocktails, but the wine list is limited. The private car, which we could see out the window in our dining room, is used mostly for private parties according to our server. Even so, it is a large place winding around different floors and rooms with music in the background. A parking lot outside can handle some of the cars but parking can become an issue. There were some area rugs on the hard floor but with all the brick walls and marble-top tables, noise quickly became an issue. The lighting is very lowered which also became difficult as the sun went down. The food was mixed but service was fine. I do love supper clubs, but as much as I admire what the owners bring to the dining scene I probably wouldn’t go back. Continue reading →
Di Anoia’s is an Italian restaurant run by Chef/Owner Dave Anoia from Lebanon, PA. that opened in 2016 in the Strip District with his wife, Aimee DiAndrea (get how they came up with the name?). They accept reservations 6 weeks in advance but do have a waiting list that actually works. The bar and patio are for walk-ins. It’s a large bustling place serving all ages on closely spaced faux marble tables with red-checked napkins. Windows to the outside are on 2 walls and one looks like it used to be a garage door. They are open for all three meals except for no breakfast on Sunday and closed all day Monday. It’s a deli/cafe by day and a full-service restaurant at night. You enter into the bar/cafe area where there is a pastry case and a full bar. The dining room is to you right. Service was helpful and friendly and the noise level is loud. Continue reading →
Groceria Merante is an Italian grocery store selling supplies and sandwiches. It started in the late 1950s and moved to its present location in 1979. The family had seven children and some of them still take part in this family run business. We were on our way to visit Falling Water, the Frank Lloyd Wright designed home about an hour and a half from Pittsburgh. We wanted something we could keep in the car and eat before going in and this was perfect. The little corner store had wonderful products and a deli counter in back. Some sandwiches were ready made and in the cooler. At check out she gave me napkins and mayo for our meal. The sandwiches were well stuffed but did want the mayo for extra moistness. If you need Italian supplies I highly recommend this place and if you want a sandwich to go it’s a fine choice. There is no place to eat at the store.Continue reading →
exterior/day – 1230 Grandview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15211
Altius was a combination of fine dining and spectacular views. Located next to the top spot for the Mt. Washington Incline, the 2-story restaurant makes the most of its views with windows on three sides and 2 levels on each floor, so everybody can look around. The comfy seats have adequate-sized tables on carpet with only faint music in the background. Most of the lighting was from the windows and that would have been an issue if we hadn’t been lucky to be located under one of the ceiling spots. Some tables got quite dark as we watched the sun go down and the city’s lights go on. Bridges, stadiums and buildings are all within view as was the Duquesne Indian station and its car. A more casual crowd seemed to be celebrating special occasions among us regular diners. Service was good as was the food but the view was exceptional. Continue reading →
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 →
Eleven was in a renovated warehouse beside the rail lines and served a seasonal menu with an accompanying large wine list. Opening in 2004 it was named because it was the 11th restaurant opened by the big Burrito Restaurant Group and it has been a launching spot for many of the best Pittsburgh chefs. It’s a striking interior, with a two-story dining area where the second floor is glass-enclosed private rooms (and a patio) and downstairs is filled with curved booths opposite straight booths that are next to the wall separating the open kitchen. The wine cellar is the glassed-in area on the second level above the middle of the space. On the opposite end of the dining area/kitchen was the large bar area that had a separate menu. Music was in the background with lighting lowered and curtains on the windows to the street. The food was quite good but there were a few service glitches that showed a lack of communication among the staff. It was a dressier crowd, many looked like expense account eaters. I would recommend the place based on the food and the lovely setting but with some reservations. Continue reading →
Lindey’s is owned by Sue Doody who opened it in 1981 in the German Village neighborhood. Now two of her sons are involved and both have found careers in the restaurant industry. It’s a huge place serving American cuisine in a white tablecloth setting. There are several dining rooms as well as private dining rooms in the 2-story corner building. The 1884 building housed another restaurant prior to but earlier served as a grocery, a saloon, flower shop and hardware store. Doody named the restaurant after the linden trees that used to grow on the property. The small tables are on carpet with the walls covered with drawings and music somewhere in the background. The entrance room had a long bar and tables but we were in the next room with windows to the street adding a bit more light into the room. Service was friendly but jumbled and the food was mixed. Perhaps we should have ordered the daily special. Continue reading →
Katalina’s is “The Little Cafe with Lots of Local Goodness.” Housed in a 100-year old gas station it is covered in grafitti art and serves breakfast, lunch and brunch. The small corner building has a couple inside tables and some stools at a counter but most of the seating is outside on the pet-friendly patio. (Someone actually had their leash-trained cat sitting on the planter box next to their table). There are a couple of parking spaces right next to the building and a lot behind it. Music was piped out onto the patio which is where we sat after ordering at the counter inside. The menu hangs on a chalkboard above but they also have printed ones. The food was brought to the table when ready. I was intrigued by a number of things on their menu but the counter person said they are famous for their Pancake Balls which are trademarked and their breakfast tacos, so we got those two things. Super friendly staff and a funky feel make this a place I suggest you try. Who could resist a pancake ball? Continue reading →
exterior at night – 1092 Bethel Rd, Columbus, OH 43220
The Refectory has a long storied past with buildings from the 1840s and 1850s which were combined to make it. The current dining area is in the 1853 church that was sided with walnut and served as the main building for a church, which unfortunately was only 75 yards away from some noisy railroad tracks. When the church bought 2 school buildings 200 yards away the physical church was moved to be adjoined with them around 1918. In 1954 a brick school was added to the structure but by 1969 the congregation was larger than the buildings could accommodate so they moved. In 1971 the original church was turned into The Olde Church-House Restaurant and in 1981 the building became The Refectory Restaurant, which is the name of the dining hall in a convent/monastery. The original schoolhouse became the Lounge and Bistro dining area and the church housed the Dining Room with its original hand-hewn beams and exposed wooden roof structure. Kamal Boulos, the present owner, has worked in the building for almost 50 years. He brought in Chef Richard Blondin from Lyon, France to run the kitchen, which he still does. Over the years they have greatly expanded the wine cellar to over 700 selections. Music was in the background, lights were lowered and the white cloth-covered tables are surrounded by lots of stained glass. They offer a 5-course Chef’s Tasting that also has a vegetarian option in addition to an a la carte menu. We tried the tasting with our own wines and the pacing was fairly quick with good portion control. The food was mixed with too many additions of microgreens, dots and smears of sauces. It is definitely an elegant setting but the flavor profile and repetition made me wonder if the chef really was in the kitchen. 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 →
exterior – 127 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
St. Elmo Steak House has been a landmark in Indianapolis since 1902 when it opened. It is the oldest steakhouse in the city that’s in its original location. The place is huge, covering several floors with lots of different rooms and private dining options. It was founded by Joe Stahr and named for the patron saint of sailors, St. Elmo. Having had several owners over the years it is now run by Stephen Huse and his son Craig. They’ve won awards, have a huge wine cellar, valet parking and professional tuxedoed waitstaff. The large white cloth-covered tables are surrounded by brick walls and lots of photos with lowered lighting. The evening we were there, there were a number of large parties in the private rooms as well as on the floor. It had a very typical steakhouse ambiance that you have to be in the mood for. It was mixed on food but service was outstanding. 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 →
exterior – 601 E New York St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Vida offers innovative cuisine using locally sourced ingredients, when possible. It’s a large building with a bar on one side and the dining room on the other. The bar offers more casual dining and is in the original part of the building. They offer a 6-course Chef’s tasting menu (optional wine pairings available) or a 4-course fixed price menu with several choices for each course. Opening in 2016, it is an elegant space with a super high ceiling that has windows much of the way up. One wall of the dining room had a cushy bench that was mated with medium-sized dark bare wood tables. Carpet was on the floor and lots of wood in the room help keep the noise at a good level even with music in the background. The service was very nice with the team working together. The pacing was good as was portion control. We chose the Chef’s tasting with a dessert substitution for me and our own bottle of wine. 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 →
building – 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Coat Check Coffee is open daily in the historic Athenaeum building. They offer pastries and bialy sandwiches in addition to coffee beverages. There are tables in the lobby next to the counter as well as by the first-floor entrance. They are located in what was the coat check area of the old theater. It is a small counter but they are fairly quick. We tried one of their sandwiches and some of their pastries. It was mostly a younger crowd but with a variety of seating options. I also saw groups with their computers possibly having a meeting at the one large table. It is run by the Small Victories hospitality group that operates several other coffee shops in the area. If you are nearby, stop by for a coffee and an almond croissant. Continue reading →
Oakley’s Bistro was started in 2002 and continues to be run by Chef Steven Oakley today. His dream was to create “an affordable, everyday destination where every meal is a special occasion.” He started cooking at 16 years of age and has gathered experience from many restaurants and other chefs. Now he and his restaurant have been recognized with many awards and he also donates a portion of the bistro’s sales to an Indianapolis food rescue program as well as opening his kitchen for training and hiring of those who want to go into the restaurant industry. The place is medium-sized with some outdoor tables also available and located in a strip shopping center. They offer an a la carte menu but also have 2 tasting menu time slots on Wed- Sat nights. We opted for that which must be reserved 24 hours in advance. As you enter the dining room you’ll see the curved booth slightly above and next to the kitchen and that is where the tasting is served by the chef himself. The 5 – 6 course tasting can accommodate up to 4 people but if you are a couple it will be just you. At $85 per person it is a good value with wine pairings available. We had a lovely evening there and would recommend the place if you are in the area. 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 →
In 1998 the award-winning Chef Chris Ward joined the M Crowd Restaurant Group as Executive Chef of The Mercury. Ward had garnered many honors including “Rising Star Chef” by the James Beard House Foundation. Today he is still in the kitchen at this neighborhood staple and packing a crowd even in the middle of the week. Located in a modest strip shopping center, inside you’ll find the lights lowered, dark wood tables, padded seating, stone and wood walls, shaded windows to the outside, and music in the background. You enter into the large bar area and now next door houses a sushi bar that shares food with this place. Along one wall is the opening to the kitchen where some terrific food is being offered to diners. There was only one special that evening but the menu covers a good range of American classics. The service was outstanding and we truly enjoyed an evening there with some friends. Continue reading →
Longoven offers a seasonal 10-13 course tasting menu highlighting local products. Owned by a trio of chefs – Andrew Manning, Patrick Phelan and Megan Fitzroy Phelan – it opened about 5 years ago. The trio united after varying careers to do a series of pop-up dinners for 4 years starting in 2014. They didn’t start out intending to offer fine dining but evolution found them receiving tons of awards as they refined their concept of flavors. Open for dinner Wed through Sat, there are few tables so get your reservation early. Wine pairings are offered and cocktails can be acquired at the Lost Letter which is the bar in the front of the building. The Lost Letter and the patio on the side also serve food made in the same kitchen, just a more casual and a la carte version. Fittingly the name refers to the community ovens of the Civil War period. They do give you copy of the menu at the end of the meal. The space is fairly dark with dark wood tables and carpet and excellent service. It is star for the Richmond dining scene and a bargain at $155/person. Go if you get the opportunity. 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 →
L’Opossum offers a quirky take on traditional French cuisine in a very eclectic interior, masterminded by Chef/Owner David Shannon. Opening in 2015 it immediately won the Elby (Richmond-region award) Dining award for Best New Restaurant and in 2017 won the Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year. You can see why it also has claimed fame as the most romantic restaurant with a number of sexual references in the food and art. Inside you’ll find a small darkly lit place with booths on one side of the long room, cut-outs holding statues between tables on the opposite wall and small tables in the middle. The tables are embossed with gold patterns underneath heavy plastic coating that brought Rorschach to mind and the lighting is from dozens of colored balls hanging from the ceiling. The walls are covered with plates, paintings and statues. Service was great – helpful and friendly, offering advice when needed. It may not be the best food I’ve ever had but the place itself is worth a visit and a chance to soak up the vibe. 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 →
hotel exterior – The Jefferson Hotel, 101 W Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23220
Lemaire is the fine dining restaurant in the historic Jefferson Hotel. It is named for President Thomas Jefferson’s maitre d’ Etienne Lemaire who is credited with introducing cooking with wine to America. The menu changes seasonally and is under Chef Patrick Willis, a Virginia native, since 2009 when the place underwent a major renovation. The hotel was lovely and had a nice bar just outside where you could wait for your table. Inside the elegant dining room was one room with elaborate plaster moldings, Italian chandeliers, mirrors, custom draperies and double-clothed large tables. Some windows were on two sides of the room and provided additional light to the small votive on the table. The padded leather chairs, carpet and well-spaced tables make a conversation easy yet private. Service was professional yet friendly and guests varied from those celebrating a special occasion to casual hotel guests. We wanted to split a number of things and they were happy to course it out for us. This place is worth a visit. 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 →
Buck’s Restaurant is in the heart of Old Louisville in the historic Mayflower building. Established in 1992 they wanted to create a “moon garden” and filled the restaurant and bar with white flowers against the dark green walls. The continental menu is served on artfully mismatched china and nightly live piano music adds to the ambiance. The medium-sized place felt very retro with a large bar dividing the 2 rooms. The tables were covered with white clothes and set with black napkins. The lighting was lowered, the bar is decorated with liquor bottles, the crowd was a bit more casual and there is a dedicated parking lot. Service was super friendly but in all honesty we were thrilled to have the young chef from our B & B be our server for the evening. 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 →
exterior –610 W Magnolia Ave, Louisville, KY 40208
610 Magnolia was in a 125-year-old carriage house in Old Louisville – the creation of Chef Edward Lee. In 2003 he wanted a modern take on the Southern Table and so offers a 5-course tasting menu with 2 options on 4 of the courses. Wine pairings are available as well as a full bar. Since there were 2 of us we decided to each order one of the options so we could try the whole menu. The menu focuses on seasonality and locally sourced produce including their own greenhouse and farm. It’s a medium-sized place with rock music in the background. A large bar filled one area but it did not have seats. The nice-sized tables were bare wood set with white cloth napkins and windows to the outside helped with the otherwise dim lighting. They do 2 seatings a night and reservations must be made by calling. We were in the early seating and as such the noise level was good at first but then became difficult as the later crowd arrived and more drink was consumed. The food was mixed but Chef Lee was in the house and did come around to visit with guests. We tried their pairings which were okay and small pours. 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 →
Jack Fry’s is celebrating 90 years in business. Jack and Flossie Fry opened in 1933 and the restaurant was mostly a sportsman hangout due to his love of horse racing and boxing. He closed the business in 1972 and then the space served Mexican food until it was re-established as Jack Fry’s in 1982. Susan Seiller bought the restaurant in 1987, the year Jack died. She transformed the restaurant into fine dining and then sold it to Stephanie Meeks in 1996, who started working there in 1996. She further upgraded the dining area and bar as well as adding climate-controlled wine storage. The place has won many awards and is filled with photos of its history, including the photo of Jack with the winning Derby ticket that made it possible to purchase the restaurant. It’s a cozy medium-sized darkly lit place with a small parking lot adjacent to one side. The white tablecloths, tin ceiling and full bar are complimented by the lovely live piano music. Service was friendly and helpful and I would heartily recommend this place if you find yourself in Louisville. Continue reading →
One of the aspects of Harbor House Restaurant that I haven’t written much about is its status as a sustainable site. In 2020 they received a Michelin Green Star for their efforts in recycling and local sourcing. Nothing is wasted. For example, they make their candles from recycled fryer oil and beeswax, they repurpose wine corks for mulch and re-use vegetable rinsing water to water growing plants – and that’s a small accounting of their efforts. It’s wonderful to think you can come here and have the elegant and sophisticated experience of a 2 Michelin star restaurant and still not leave a huge carbon footprint as a result. It’s excellent food and the staff is first rate. Frankie enjoyed visiting with a number of the team during our visit. Make your reservation for this tasting menu today! 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 →
Harbor House Inn and Restaurant – 5600 CA-1, Elk, CA, 95432
Harbor House Restaurant has been written up on this site numerous times and they continue to excel even with the weather challenges California has faced. The most recent rains and wind did real damage to their ranch and all the growing produce but, other than less vegetables on the menu the food there just gets better and better. The wine list also grows and a new beverage director will be in place very soon but in the meantime sommelier Jason is doing a fine job with new additions. The setting is beautiful and I encourage you to stay either in one of the rooms of the Inn or the cottages on the property. Breakfast is another fun treat. We were thrilled to spend 2 nights and enjoy 2 dinners with Chef Matthew Kammerer and the dynamic team working at the place and I’m sure you’ll see more posts about dinners there in the future. Put this one on your list! Continue reading →
Frankie took the night off and we slipped into Cry Wolf for a delicious dinner. We were lucky to snag reservations for the Chef’s Counter seats where you are able to see all the dishes get prepared and chat with the talented chefs. What a treat to find owner Ross Demers at the grill. The menu had changed quite a bit in the month since we were there and many exciting choices were available. Also, Sommelier Tim Case had added some fun new wines and Sous Chef Mike Stites was doing the finishing touches before the plates were served. I’ve described this place before but my rule of thumb is to go as often as you can while a place is hot – you never know what the future holds. So, get there now cause this place is on the top of its game. Continue reading →
Chez Fonfon was a casual French bistro that opened in 2000. It is under the helm of Chef Frank Stitt but the night we were there it was his wife Pardis Stitt who was on site. (She also is a co-owner of Highlands Bar and Grill). The large place was crowded and busy with a large bar taking up about a third of the room. Music was in the background, lights were lowered, windows looked out to the street and parking, and the good-sized tables were bare wood set with cloth napkins. The vibe was of younger people and lively conversations. We were lucky to get a table in a corner, otherwise, the noise might have made me like the place less. Service was good as was the food, which was first-rate. I’d go back, especially for the dessert. 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 →
Bottega is open for dinner Wed through Sat and now reservations can be made 4 weeks in advance, online and by phone. The formal dining room opened in 1988 in the historic Beaux-Art building. A Café opened next door 2 years later which offers more casual dining. The building originally was an upscale clothing store and later housed some medical care units until it became a restaurant, but it retains the original facade and front windows and tile floor. Chef and Owner Frank Stitt received the James Beard Foundation’s Award for Best Chef Southeast in 2001 as well as many other awards during his time in the industry. Now the good-sized tables are covered with two white cloths, large metal chandeliers provide soft lighting supplemented with votive candles on the tables and some tract lighting in the high ceiling. Currently, they are not using their upstairs seating due to staffing shortages. It has a feel of elegance, the noise level is good and the crowd seemed a bit older. Service was wonderful as was the food. I heartily recommend this place. 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 →
exterior – 2013 2nd Ave., N. Birmingham, AL, 35203
Helen is a contemporary Southern grill under the helm of Chef Rob McDaniel and his wife Emily. Helen was Rob’s grandmother who cooked on an indoor grill. The large restaurant is in downtown Birmingham in a 2-story 1920s shotgun-style building. Opening in the summer of 2020 they serve diners downstairs with upstairs having private party rooms or it can seat diners as needed. Small bare wood tables sit opposite a wood bench with movable pillow backs. Some larger tables accommodate bigger groups. Windows look out to the street, a small bar has chairs for waiting, pictures are on the walls, valet parking is available out front and a long open kitchen is in the back. The noise level was acceptable but the service could border on pushy. The food was good but once again we encounter “the small table and lots of plates at one time” issue. 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 →
house – 302 Pettigru Street, Greenville, SC., 29601
Pettigru Place Bed and Breakfast is in the historic district of downtown Greenville. The tree-lined street is mostly businesses and other B & Bs in the older large homes. The Federal-style home has 6 guest rooms that come with breakfast every day. They alternate between sweet and savory days but are 2 or 3 courses with very generous portions. They were so lovely I thought I’d include them in this blog. Here are 3 mornings’ indulgences. Sorry, Frankie didn’t make an appearance – she likes to sleep in. Continue reading →
Scoundrel was opened in October of 2022 by Greenville native Joe Cash. He wanted to create a French bistro like he’d find in NYC or LA. It’s a good-sized place that’s divided in half by curtains, with the bar and its seating on one side and a long bench seat facing small tables on the other side. Opposite those tables are semi-circle booths with larger tables and padded seating. Music was in the background and lights were lowered, supplemented by spots on some of the tables. Wood floors, exposed ductwork above, and art featuring the ‘scoundrel’ cover the walls. they have 2 unisex bathrooms and one is marked with a warning that it is not ‘family friendly’ due to the provocative photos on the wall. I’m betting the notice was posted after several comments were posted about it on the trip advisor reviews. The full bar offers lots of options but the wine list was mostly uninspired. Noise was not a problem here maybe due to spacing or design but that was nice as was the excellent and friendly service. 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 →
The Anchorage was a small place in the Village of West Greenville serving an eclectic menu. Partnered with Horseshoe Farms the restaurant brings the farm-to-table concept to life by having a variety of vegetable dishes on the menu. Executive Chef/Owner Gregory McPhee opened the restaurant in early 2017 and the place was a semi-finalist for the 2018 Best New Restaurant James Beard Award. Carlos Baez, Chef de Cuisine has cooked in many places but joined the team in August 2020 and was in charge of the kitchen the evening we dined. It’s a small 2-story place with a dining room and partially open kitchen on the first floor and dining and bar area on the second floor. Next door is a tiny wine shop where you actually enter the restaurant, but wines are available for purchase. We were a little confused about where to enter and some of the regular patrons found us wandering and showed us the way in. They were local people who said it was their favorite place and I can see why. Parking was on the street, music was in the background, wood and brick made up the walls, and lighting was lowered with a bench seat lining one wall. The guests were made up of a range of people but it never got too noisy to talk. The service was fabulous. The menu offers 9 plates a la carte but there is a tasting option where you get to try all of the dishes in 3 groupings, with scaled portioning. It is the way to go, which you should – as soon as you can. 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 →
exterior – 654 South Main Street, Greenville, SC., 29601
Coral was a large place in the West End district of downtown. It’s basically divided into 2 rooms, one bar and one dining. The kitchen is under the helm of Joshua Dill and Addison Stone, both South Carolina natives but it is owned by 3 friends who all were born elsewhere and ended up in the Greenville area. It’s a busy and loud place that stresses the bar and cocktails as well as local seafood. Painted brick walls are lined with booths and small bare wood tables. The lighting is quite low but spots set in the black ceiling shine intensely on the outer ring of tables. The floor was carpeted and there were sound panels on the walls, the only music was in the bar that blended slightly into the background but the crowds made noise an issue for me. Service was friendly and helpful but it’s hard for servers when plates are large and tables are small. The food was mixed but it’s definitely a happening place. 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 →
exterior – 5650 Village Glen Drive, Dallas, TX., 75206
Meridian brings modern Brazilian cuisine to Dallas as prepared by Chef Junior Borges. Opening in 2021, the restaurant celebrates chef’s Brazilian roots in a lively and beautiful setting surrounded by apartments, offices and small businesses. There is valet parking available but there are lots of places if you’re willing to walk. You enter through the large bar area that also has some small booth seating and proceed into the large main dining room with one wall having an opening to the open kitchen. Opposite walls are mostly glass with lights in the trees surrounding the place. Music is in the background and the tables vary in size with some couch-like comfortable seating. Maybe due to the wood floor or lots of plants but even in a very full room, it wasn’t too noisy to talk at the table. Lights are dimmed but it’s not overly dark. In the dining room, they offer a 4 course fixed price menu with several selections in each category or guests can go a la carte in the Bar Room or patio. The fixed price menu also has some additions available as well as supplements and wine pairings. We got the pairings and while it is a way to match the wine in food, the pours are very small and the matchings were not inspired. There is a happy hour also with drink specials and different food items. Open every day but Monday, it’s a fun place to try. Continue reading →
FIG opened in 2003 and this was our third visit, the last being in March 2017. More plants are growing on the sign over the front door but you still enter into the bar area and then proceed to the big dining room. The lights were lowered, white cloths covered the large tables, the ceiling dark, floors wood, and walls red with no music in the background. We were privileged to be seated in one of the two red booths in back with really comfy seats. The place was still very popular with tables being turned regularly even on a Thurs. night. We were very happy to get to chat with Chef Jason Stanhope who was recovering from ankle surgery, but stopped by the table at the end of the meal as I requested getting an updated photo of him. The place is named for “Food Is Good” rather than the fruit and it is well-named indeed. When you have the chance I suggest you dine at this fine restaurant. 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 →
exterior – at Cannon Green, 103 Spring St., Charleston, SC., 29403
Wild Common promises “bold and inventive cuisine” in several dining spaces. We chose the Chef’s Counter but there is also the indoor dining room or private courtyard. The space is large and also accommodates a couple of event spaces, neither of which were in use nor was Chef Orlando Pagán in the kitchen. You enter the plain building and go down a long hall, thinking you’ve entered the wrong space. When you find the dining area there is also a marble bar that looks into the kitchen and a large changing digital painting that dominates the dining room. Opening in the spring of 2019, you’ll find high ceilings and music in the background. They offer a tasting menu (with supplements) only and have optional wine pairings. The pricing of the menu and supplements was off in that each supplement was as much or more than the whole menu – seemed odd. We chose our own bottle and a cocktail from the bar to go with our tasting menu as printed. The menu had good portioning and very fast pacing. Staff were all friendly and helpful. 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 →
Chasing Sage is a medium-sized place that tries to focus on locally grown produce and locally sourced meat and seafood. They were scheduled to open in March 2020 but due to the pandemic instead sponsored a series of pop-up take-out meals. They officially opened for dinner in June 2021. The Chef, Walter Edward is a graduate of the CIA in Hyde Park, NY and then worked internationally before opening this place. His wife, Cindy Edward runs a farm, that has been in her family and will now supply produce for the restaurant. The space is long with a bar on one side, a long service table in the middle and small tables filling the rest of the space that ends with a window to the kitchen. Faint music is in the background, the lights are fairly low, candles are on the tables, and the walls have decorations of wine bottles, books and such. It’s a cozy feel but the food did not live up to my expectations. The menu is a la carte but they offer a ‘let us pick for you’ option which we tried. The pacing was varied as were the portions. Continue reading →
building – Wentworth Mansion, 149 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401
Circa 1886 is the restaurant in the carriage house of the historic Wentworth Mansion. Guests of the mansion are entitled to one entrée of their choosing for breakfast, however they also serve dinner. We were scheduled to have dinner there but let it go when an opening became available at another place we wanted to try – so many good places to eat in Charleston. We did stay at the Wentworth so we had breakfast there twice but skipped the other 2 days due to planned lunches. After passing through the lovely patio the door opens into the cozy bar room. The main dining room is a small but elegant space with double clothed large tables, well spaced and a few large booths along one wall. Service was great and friendly and the food was good. The pastries were a real surprise, being house-made, probably by Ashley Cardona the pastry chef. It would have been easy to fill up on them. I suspect dinner there would be very nice. 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 →
Vern’s is a small corner place that opened in July 2022 by Daniel “Dano” and Bethany Heinze. Dano previously worked as Chef de Cuisine at McGrady’s where Bethany managed the bar. They also worked in Los Angeles at Animal and Jon & Vinny’s. The restaurant is named for Daniel’s grandfather who is featured on a postcard that’s presented with the bill. Currently, they are open Thurs. to Monday for dinner and brunch on Sat and Sun. Windows to the street are on 2 sides and the kitchen is through an open window behind the limited bar seating, which is first come-first served and serves only wine and beer, no liquor. The bare wood tables are closely set and matched with a variety of chairs and wall benches and set with towel sized napkins. The menu has various-sized dishes that are all meant to be shared. In addition, there were a couple of specials on the chalkboard over the fireplace, one of which ran out and a line was drawn through while we were there. The food was creative and delicious and the vibe was casual and welcoming. Go if you can. Continue reading →
exterior – 3540 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove, FL., 33133
Ariete was created by Chef/Owner Michael Beltran to combine his Cuban heritage with French technique. It was awarded one Michelin Star in 2022. They offer 2 tasting menus with optional wine pairing or an a la carte menu. It’s a small place with very low lighting, small tables and a patio. A bar counter is in the main dining room. Music was in the background and the kitchen is open to both dining rooms. Staff was super friendly and helpful. We opted to try one of their signature a la carte dishes rather than the tasting. The duck dinner is for 2 and involves a press brought to the table where parts of the duck are made into a sauce tableside. It’s a fun show with a fabulous result. The order comes with a number of side dishes also. I give this place high recommendations but be prepared for the dim lights. 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 →
exterior – 101 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Stubborn Seed has Bravo’s Top Chef Season 13’s winner Chef Jeremy Ford in charge of the kitchen. It’s a medium-sized place that serves only a tasting menu in the main dining room and various snacks at the bar. It was very lowly lit, which made photos difficult, had music in the background, got fairly noisy when full, and the small tables were unclothed dark wood. Paintings and mirrors decorate the walls. The menu for the evening is on the table and wine pairings are available as are supplements of Perigord truffles, Ossetra caviar and a course of Chawan Mushi. The server informed the kitchen of our visit and we were gifted several supplements. A kind and generous gesture but that didn’t win me over, the food did. It was wonderful, as was the service. They were justly awarded a Michelin Star in the new Florida guide. Put this one on your list to visit, sorry my photos don’t do justice to this tasty and inventive cuisine. 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 →
Boia De is a small restaurant in a strip shopping center with closely set small tables and a long bar inside. There is a patio also. In the new Michelin Guide for Florida they were awarded one star. Lights are lowered, windows look out to the patio, the open high ceiling has exposed ductwork and there’s music in the background. The food is definitely American with a strong Italian influence – they make their own pastas. They stress natural wines and the place sells no liquor. The plates are small, meant to be shared and multiple ordered per person. The place is lively and fun with touches of that seen in the decorations and particularly their signature ‘!’, which is in neon outside and on the wallpaper inside. That ‘!’ well describes their food with an amazing amount of flavor and texture in each bite. Couple that with some outrageously friendly and helpful servers and you will have a great dining experience. Get a reservation and go! 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 →
It’s been several months since Frankie officially visited Cry Wolf but she always enjoys her time in this place. Chef Ross Demers was back to finishing out the plates before being served while others enjoyed some vacation time. Since we were sitting at the Chef’s Counter this was a plus. The place was really hopping with returning and new customers all enjoying some heavenly food and the lively atmosphere. The bar turns out some fun-sounding cocktails but I prefer to put us in the capable hands of Sommelier Tim Case. He always has something new and different to try that compliments the food turned out by the kitchen staff. In fact, all the staff seem to enjoy working here and translate that into the fine service delivered to the diners. The menu changes regularly but staff will help you make decisions if you want. Put this one on your list to visit soon. Continue reading →
exterior – 2023 Greenville Ave., Suite 110, Dallas, TX
Quarter Acre opened the last day of 2022 in the space that used to house Rapscallion on Greenville Ave. Their intent is to combine upscale dining with Chef Toby Archibald’s New Zealand roots. Chef likes to use seafood, flavors of, and other meats from New Zealand and their wine list has some wines from there. In New Zealand “quarter acre” symbolizes your dream – a quarter acre of land with a house and space for kids to run and grow. This is Archibald’s dream to showcase his cooking. Prior to this he served as Chef de Cuisine at Bullion and Executive Chef at Georgie, here in Dallas. He also has worked in NYC, London and Toronto kitchens. The place is one large room with a bar running the length of it. The middle section is crowned by some huge bamboo/rope fixtures with larger tables underneath and the other long wall is a long bench lined with tiny 2-top tables. The open kitchen is in the back. Lots of plants, fairly loud music, and windows to the street are part of the scene. Service was good but mixed – the same as the food. Portion sizes vary. Continue reading →
building – 3814 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA., 70115
Dakar is a Sengalese tasting menu highlighting seafood from local waters and produce form Southern Louisiana farmers. Chef Serigne Mbaye presents a menu inspired by his childhood in Senegal, where his mother taught him to cook. He has garnered additional experience in kitchens at Atelier Crenn, Joel Robuchon and Commander’s Palace, to name a few and was a finalist in the James Beard award for Emerging Chef. Many Africans came to Louisiana during slave trade times and his multi-course tasting menu pays homage their traditions while incorporating the flavors of New Orleans cuisine. He operated as a pop-up called Dakar NOLA for a couple of years before opening the permanent location in November 2022. It’s a one-room older home with a tasteful modern decor inside. There are 2 communal tables and several smaller individual ones. You designate a preference when you make your reservation. They have yet to obtain a liquor license so for now it is BYOB, but there are 2 stores close by where we had time to run and get a bottle of wine. The people there were familiar enough with the menu to make recommendations. Lighting is lowered, windows are open to the street scenes outside and before the meal they come around and wash everyone’s hands. It was not only very tasty food, it was a fun evening to visit with other adventurous eaters. Chef Mbaye spoke before the tasting started (a menu is on the table) and after it was over. He is young, charming and very talented. Go if you can! 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 – 3054 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, LA., 70117
Saint-Germain offers only a 10 course tasting menu that moves between the 2 rooms of the place. They wanted to recreate the feeling of eating at a chef’s home and they certainly did that with their tiny dining room. First to find the place, look for the sign that says “Sugar Park” that marks the spot and reservations are a must. The menu changes regularly and wine pairings are available. The award winning chefs go for a French bistro type of fare and partnered with Drew DeLaughter, their business partner who runs the front of the house, to open in 2018. It’s in an older house that used to house a pizzeria – you can see the marks in the dining room where the oven was pulled out. You start at the bar with the lovely and friendly bartender, Hillary. She like all the staff are lively and engaging and make the evening a delight. Pacing and portion control were spot on and I’d encourage anyone to go there that can, – the food’s terrific. They do give you a copy of the menu at the end of the meal. 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 →
exterior – 1245 Constance St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Lengua Madre offers a 5 course tasting menu of traditional Mexican cuisine as seen through the eyes of Chef Ana Castro’s grandmother’s kitchen. This is now combined with her experiences from living in Denmark and now New Orleans. Open about one year, the menu changes seasonally at the small dark place. Outside there is a pink glow in the windows and little signage.The neon glow coats the entrance hallway, but the dining room has more subdued orange hues. Music is in the background, the small bare wood tables sit on large linoleum-like tiles and overhead is a dark ceiling. They offer 5 oz. pours for wine pairings but also have some bottles. In one corner of the room is the open kitchen which is well-viewed by the 6 stools by the counter framing it. Service was friendly and efficient and the tasting was well paced with smallish portions. We chose to drink a sparkler with the meal and a copy of the menu is presented with the bill. 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 →
Chat qui Rit opened in 2015 and is close to the Piazza San Marco. However, the logo is from the 1940s when it was a cocktail spot and after-dinner place with a luxury feel that was named Chat Qui Rit or “the laughing cat”. Owner Giovanni Mozzatto decided to maintain the 1948 logo as the logo for this new venture. That thought of merging the old and new is also seen in the kitchen here, with established Venetian Chef Davide Scarpa paired with young Leonardo Bozzato, who also brings in some Asian influences. It is a striking space with outstanding service and food. Spread over several rooms, there is music in the background, lots of windows to the outside, a large bar area, seats outside and good-sized tables set with a beautiful napkin embroidered with the cat logo. Besides a full bar they also have a huge, well-chosen wine list. In addition to the a la carte menu, they have a tasting menu that is well-composed, paced, and portioned. I of course loved the cat logo, but the place lived up to the name and I give it high recommendations to any who have the chance to visit. 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 – Calle lunga, Calle de le Chioverette, 745, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy
Vittoria 1938 is a small family-run business. Giuseppe Rampazzo started it and named it after an amateur football team he had started. After his death his wife, daughter, and now granddaughter took over the establishment. It’s located very near the train station and serves some nightly specials in addition to the regular menu. It was a fairly brightly lit place with small tables. We met up with a friend there and so my notes are poor as we had much to catch up on and the food seemed secondary, for once. The portions were large, the service was relaxed, and they allowed us to keep the table without pushing us out. They have outdoor tables but it was raining that night, so they were not an option. The food was fine but not memorable however it was a lovely evening with a very dear friend, Marisa Convento who is a Venetian artisan of glass beads. Apologies to my readers and the restaurant for the lack of commentary, but the photos will tell the story. Continue reading →
Dama opened in Feb. 2022 in a hotel that opened in 2019. Both are lovely and elegant additions to the city. The restaurant has 3 long tables, placed end to end, made from boards recovered from the “briccole” (mooring posts) in the Lagoon. The table ends at the glassed-in kitchen. The walls have black wood and curtains with brick archways lit by dampened overhead fixtures, that light the food well but not overly so. Plants in the middle provide a soft touch as do the plates and glasses made by Venice artisans. Hard to describe but it comes off as elegant yet comfortable. Chef Lorenzo Cogo uses many products from the area, especially those of the lagoon. They offer a la carte ordering as well as 5 or 8 course tasting menus with optional wine pairings. The food incorporates some more unusual ingredients but re-inventing uses for what had been discarded is one of the joys for this chef. This is sustainability in action. Service was professional, efficient, and also warm. We enjoyed the longer tasting and would highly recommend this place to anyone who has the opportunity to go. It is a voyage of discovery for the tastebuds and a delightful evening. 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 – Corte Coppo, 4346/a, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Ai Mercanti is a family-run business with a large patio in addition to several indoor rooms. It was opened in 1980 by Chef Nadia Locatello and her husband Diego and moved to its present location in 1996. In 2013 their son Simone joined Diego out front and upped the decor as well as adding a French influence to the food. The menu could be described as traditional Venetian dishes with a twist. The interior is softly modern with gold disc light fixtures, bench seating around the perimeter, the wall-mounted CD changer, and a striking black and white bathroom. Service was helpful and efficient, there is a huge wine list, the atmosphere was most pleasant and the food was very good. 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 →
Eugene’s Gulf Coast Cuisine is named for the owner’s (Kyle Teas) father, Eugene. Kyle Teas was born and raised in Houston and grew up eating Texas Gulf seafood and wanted to acquaint more people with the cuisine and thus he opened Danton’s Gulf Coast Seafood Kitchen in 2007. When the Mockingbird Bistro space became available about a year ago, the restaurant moved and expanded the menu as well as the seating. They stress serving fresh and seasonal fish, many cooked with Cajun influence. The old school large place is in the River Oaks area with plenty of parking. The staff is super friendly and helpful but also very professional and efficient. In addition to their menu, they had nightly specials and discounts for happy hour snacks and drinks. The food was delightful and I would easily recommend this place as one to visit when in Houston. Continue reading →
Brass Ram is Chef Nick Badovinus’ ninth and newest restaurant which opened in early November 2022 on the second floor above National Anthem on the edge of downtown. This place is all about prime rib and old-school steakhouse dining. There’s leather, dim lighting, brass, exposed brick walls, cozy spacious booths, a large bar, vintage music in the background, and a private dining room decorated with photos of Marilyn Monroe. Parking is mostly valet but be forewarned – they sent us to the end of the building to climb the open staircase and surprised the hell out of the staff leaning on the door. There is a proper door on the downtown side of the building where you enter and have an elevator or enclosed stairs to take you up to the place. Either way gets you in but the hostess stand is by the preferred door. Staffing has been an issue with the parkers so these people probably really didn’t know how to enter. The service is friendly, relaxed, and excellent in the restaurant but the food did not overwhelm me. I love the look of the place, but as with many of Bodovinus’ places, I wish it were less noisy, and even though he was in the house he did not make it around to many of the tables. Continue reading →
Don Chabe opened in August of 2022 in the location that formerly had Mac’s Bar-B-Que. It’s primarily a Mexican steakhouse but they also have breakfast items and salads. Fronted by Oscar Rodriguez, the owners also have street taco and sandwich spots and thus some of that is also available. There are plenty of tables and a dedicated parking lot and the bones of the place still scream Mac’s but they’ve painted the ceiling with fun designs and installed bright tiles around the baseboard. The lights are bright and music is in the background as well as a large TV screen on one wall that was muted when we were there. They were not crowded but our server said they have not put out much advertising as they are still working out the menu. English was not the first language of our server but we were able to get by. They do now have beer($4) and take credit cards. Continue reading →
Harbor House Restaurant has been on this site a number of times but this was our first winter visit. We were lucky to find an opening to stay at their lovely main house for 2 nights and also open reservations for dinners those evenings. This is when you know you should have bought a lottery ticket cause your stars are aligned. There are only 20 seats at this ocean-view dining room on the Pacific coast. Matthew Kammerer is the chef of this 2 Michelin-starred restaurant, and other well-deserved honors like Food and Wine‘s Best New Chef of 2019. However, as I’ve said before, a chef alone can not make a restaurant this great, it takes a wonderfully talented staff too. It’s one of those amazing places where you can ask your server pretty technical questions about the food and they know the answers, without having to run to the kitchen. Sommelier John Miller continues to add to the wine selections, especially those from this region. At this point, the whole staff knows me but everyone who goes gets the same caring attention that makes this a magical place to dine. I heartily recommend it, especially now that their ranch is up and running and supplying some fabulous produce that you can enjoy along with the marvelously fresh seafood, also obtained locally. They do stress sustainability and thus will highlight some less common items. 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
Vivian is the creation of Chef Josiah and Shannon McGaughey who started it as a kitchen pop-up in 2015. Within a year they had their own food truck called Salt & Smoke but they still aspired to own an actual restaurant space. They did just that, opening Vivian in the River Arts District in January 2018. They serve a seasonal changing menu with French overtones. It’s made up of 2 rooms, one with the long bar and counter seating and another room with just tables. There was a patio that people came and went from but I didn’t go there to get a photo. Lots of art is on the walls, sound panels are on the ceiling, the walls are of brick and wood, the lighting is lowered, the floor is concrete and the tables are bare wood. The service was first rate with good advice and recommendations on ordering. In addition to a nice wine list, they have a full bar from which we enjoyed a basic Negroni as we worked out a meal plan. The food is outstanding and I would heartily recommend you try it. Continue reading →
exterior – Clocktower Shopping Center, 1025 Cannon Dr Ste 105, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Epicure Market is a tiny spot in a most unlikely location, where you’d never expect to find fine food and wine at a good price point. Executive Chef Julio Llop turns out some fabulous foods to pair with the huge selection of wine put together by Wine Curator Jerry Gray. They call it global cuisine but I call it really tasty as they use the finest quality meats and cheeses and locally sourced organic produce and proteins when possible. Chef, with the help of Gray makes everything from scratch in their kitchen. There are not many tables but a few chairs at the bar counter add to the options, however, reservations would be in order. The walls are lined with wines and other items for purchase, with lowered lighting and excellent service. It is a cozy atmosphere and it felt like I’d known Jerry forever, he’s that friendly, as was Kristine our terrific server. It did help that we went with another couple that live in the area and frequent the place, but the vibe is to make the guest feel indulged, especially about eating and drinking. If you are anywhere nearby or want to make a hill country trip, put this place on your agenda. Continue reading →
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 →
The Admiral opened in 2007 in a modest building that used to be a bar for cab drivers with a maritime theme – thus the name. It’s a small interior with low ceiling, lowered lighting, vintage music in the background, bare blond-wood tables, and an open kitchen. There is a full bar with a few seats in front of it as well as a plastic-enclosed patio section and a fully outdoor patio section. It felt very cozy and inviting and the service was friendly to match that cool relaxed vibe. They had installed plastic partitions above the backs of the booths which not only provided more privacy but also allowed conversations without yelling. It looks like a dive from the outside and is not in the ‘hot’ section of town but that makes street parking a lot easier. We decided to go with the flow and order a very traditional meal. It was mixed on the food but the place was so fun I’d go back if I was in the area. 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 →
Cúrate offers a collection of ways to enjoy Spanish tapas. Cúrate Bar de Tapas is a large restaurant that opened in 2011. (Other portions are shops, cafes, and to-go items.) The menu includes many staples of Spain’s tapas culture as well as an all-Spanish wine list. There were 2 rooms and a patio that were packed with people even on a weeknight. High ceilings, windows to the street, and copper top or marble tables set with pens to mark your menu for your selections. All plates are meant to be shared. One room had a long bar facing the kitchen and the second room had the ham area in the back. It was fairly well-lit inside but parking is as you can find it on the street, and it is an area with lots of restaurants and bars, so allow yourself some extra time to arrive. We had a terrific server, Denby, who understood our desire for flavor in the dishes and helped craft a menu that was well-paced and tasty. It is popular but get a reservation if you can. 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 →
Cry Wolf is still turning out wonderful dishes to eat with a great selection of beverages. Frankie and I have become regulars there and this visit we sat up at the Chef’s Counter. This is what they call the first 4 stools at the bar opposite the cooking area. It’s a terrific view to watch all the different dishes being prepared and the people working seem to enjoy interacting with guests. I think it’s fun to talk with them and get their opinions on what to order. If you get a chance, go there. It’s a fun experience and some really different and exceptional food. Continue reading →
Kitchen Little is at the Mystic River Marina and serves breakfast all day except Tues. when they’re closed. They also offer lunch options but close at 1:00 pm. It is a medium-sized indoor room, on the second level, with windows overlooking the marina and outdoor tables wrapping around the perimeter. They are very popular so be prepared to wait for service – there was only one server with a helper the day we visited. Food comes quickly once your order is taken but meanwhile, the server kept our coffee cups filled and the view was fun as some boats were being moved to dry dock in anticipation of the winter months. The back wall is blank as the kitchen is behind it but another wall had a large window looking into the marina shop below. The paper placemats on the table had ads for local businesses as well as an overhead photo of the marina and the restaurant’s location. The food was fine but not exceptional but the service was friendly and I’d go again for the view. Continue reading →
Via Emilia is an Italian restaurant on the main street of Mystic. It has 2 stories and we got a table on the second level by the window looking out on the street. It was a nice view. Music was in the background for the small bare wood tables set with armless chairs. A bar is on the first level and lights are lowered. In addition to the menu there were several daily specials orally presented to us, but when we tried to order one it turned out they were out of it. Service was spotty and our server was a bit manic that carried over to the diner. We got our cocktails fairly quickly but the timing of the rest of the meal was uneven. I understand small tables but restaurants need to understand you need room to eat without fear of pushing a dish onto the floor. That said, the food was varied in quality. If you’re in need of an Italian fix, this would be where to go but I’d recommend seafood in this town. 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 →
Oyster Club is a farm-and-sea-to-table place that opened in 2011 and the night we were there Renee Touponce was Executive Chef. Chef has made connections with various farmers and fishermen to present these local items in creative combinations. Originally the building was a small carriage house in downtown Mystic and was renovated to become a restaurant. The restaurant was re-modeled during the pandemic while management moved their food service to Stone Acres Farm where they could dine at a safe distance in 200-year-old gardens. Now the expanded place has a daily changing menu but still delivers creative and delicious food with excellent service. They always have several types of local fresh oysters available in the main dining rooms but in the Treehouse, which is outdoors on the top of the building, a limited selection is available. It’s a fun place with art on the walls, music in the background, lowered lighting, and bare wood tables but enough dampening in the surroundings that the noise level was very acceptable. We sat in one of the booths that line the wall opposite the one with street windows. I understand there is a second-floor dining area but didn’t get up there. It was a dressier crowd but maybe they knew they had arrived at the fine dining spot in town. Put this one on your list when you travel to Connecticut and ask for Dru to be your server. 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 →
entrance in light – 20 East Main Street, Mystic, CT., 06355
The Shipwright’s Daughter opened in 2020 in the Whaler’s Inn in the heart of Mystic. Chef David Standridge changes the menu regularly to present highlights of the Connecticut coast. They also offer a tasting menu with optional wine pairings, but it must be reserved in advance. Wine Spectator magazine gave them an Award of Excellence for their wine selection and they also have a full bar. They also were the second Connecticut restaurant to be recognized by the James Beard Foundation’s ‘Smart Catch’ program. They are open for breakfast, brunch on the weekends, and dinner. It is a fairly large place with lowered lighting, music in the background, windows to the street, bare blond wood tables, and a large bar area. We were there on a Friday night and were glad we had a reservation as it was very busy, which also contributed to the noise factor. The lights are so low that many of the photos turned out grainy, so apologies in advance for that. Service was attentive but sometimes rushed and not engaging and the food was mixed. 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 →
building – 156 Church Road, Burlington, VT., 05401
Honey-Road is female owned and operated, serving Eastern Mediterranean food. Chef Cara Tobin has been a James Beard award finalist 4 times and teamed up with Allison Gibson to open Honey-Road in 2017 that is only open in the evening. (Recently the duo opened a brunch spot called Grey Jay.) The corner building is in the popular pedestrian Church Street Marketplace and named for an ancient trade route in Turkey. The small plates (mezze) are meant to be shared and focus on locally sourced ingredients. For those that are unfamiliar with this cuisine the menu had a glossery on one side explaining the meaning of many terms, but the servers were also helpful in making selections. It is a large place with a high ceiling, subdued lighting, music in the background, bench seating along most walls, small bare wood tables, windows to the street, brick walls, sheer curtains dividing portions of the room and decorations of small mirrors on the walls. The crowd was made up of various age groups but skewed toward the younger side. The food was mixed, with some being very good but others trying too hard. If you want this style of cuisine, it’s the place to go.
Set up
exterior/entranceinteriorinteriorinteriorFrankie enjoys a candlemenuwine listdessert menumenu after dinner drinkswine frontwine back
Food
Baba Ganoush with pickled cauliflower and Za’atar Garlic Knot are ordered separately. The menu has a number of dips and then you can pick your bread of choice to go with it. The Baba Ganoush was well seasoned and tasty that was great with the garlicky bread. The server suggested the combination and it was right on. Good versions of the dishes, easy to split and excellent together.
Baba Ganoush and Za’atar Garlic Knot
Sweet Harissa Chicken Wings with dried lime labne came as 4 flaps and 2 drumette pieces. The sticky excellent sauce was covered with sesame seeds and the moist pieces were good alone or also in the tasty sauce. Fun to eat, it was a wonderful take on the “Buffalo wing” craze. They were thoughtful enough to also send out a couple wet wipes to use after easy the messy food.
Sweet Harissa Chicken WingsturnedFrankie liked that they gave us wipes to go with the chicken
Braised lamb, Simit bun, pickles and herb mayo was nice shreds of lamb on a good piece of bread and accented with pickles. The pickles really accentuated the flavor but the lamb was on the tough, slightly dry side. The first 2 plates were much better but this was fine.
Braised lamb, Simit Bun, pickles, herb mayofrom the side
Duck breast, ajvar, mushroom Tabbouleh, and hot peppers was 2 boneless pieces of meat cooked nicely rare. This one had a terrific sauce and was absolutely full of flavor. Lots of things with the meat that shall remained unidentified due to my lack of note-taking.
Duck breast, ajvar, mushroom tabbouleh, hot peppersturned
Cauliflower with preserved lemon, buttermilk and lentils was suggested by our server. It also had tons of things mixed with it. Pomegranate seeds added crunch and the plump golden raisins added sweetness. Some pickled onion added contrast to the milky dressing. Lots of flavors and textures made this a fun one.
Cauliflower, preserved lemon, buttermilk, lentils
A special dessert was offered that evening with pistachio galette, raspberry and pistachio labna (cream cheese like), figs and a raspberry plum sauce. The labna had a bit on honey on it in addition to the chunks of pistachio. Most of the stuff was good but there were too many flavors competing to make it work for me.
Pistachio Galetteturned
House made walnut Baklava came in 2 pieces. It was sticky with tons of walnuts and honey. It was a very good version of the common dessert. While I liked it better than the special neither of the desserts took it over the top.
House made walnut BaklavaturnedFrankie rested on the bench
Hen of the Wood opened in Waterbury in October 2005 in an old brick feed mill building that is no longer functional. Out back of the thick slate walls is the waterfall that once powered this business. Chef Eric Warnstedt opened the place to showcase Vermont grower’s products. As you enter the old building you’ll find some seating to use while waiting for your table as well as the bathrooms. Down the stairs is the restaurant and kitchen. Upstairs is the residence of the owner of the building who plans to re-purpose the building and so this location will have to move sometime in the near future. It will take a lot to match the ambiance of this place but according to the server it will offer the kitchen added abilities and space for a wood fire among other additions. I’m sure there will also be added space for diners, as it is fairly small now. For now the room is really dark, lit only by candlelight, light from the kitchen and some small overhead fixtures. The bare wood tables are small but well spaced, wood beams cross the ceiling and there is one large table dropped down a half level in the middle of the room. Windows to the outdoors are dark but there is a porch where you can walk out and listen to the waterfall and probably eat out there when the weather permits. They are only the second restaurant to be located in this historic building. 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 →
exterior – 126 College Street, Burlington, Vermont, 05401
Bistro de Margot is named for Chef Hervé Mahé’s grandmother. He fondly remembers the aromas and flavors of her cooking, she being a foodie before it was fashionable. Chef had over 30 years of experience before he opened this, his own place in 2015. The 2 room place is decorated with black and white photos taken by a Burlington long time resident and physician while he was stationed overseas during the 1950s. Windows to the street allow a bit more light in, music is in the background and white clothes cover the generously sized tables. Bench seating is along 2 of the walls and the tables are well spaced. The pandemic forced them to change the menu slightly and now they offer a fixed price menu of $73 for 3 courses. The items are priced individually if you want to order just one or two courses. Chef Hervé Mahé did visit the dining room after diners were served, to visit with his guests. It’s not Paris but a really fun and real French meal in a little place like Burlington.
Set-up
exteriorsign by doorinteriorinteriorFrankie napped on the benchmenuwine by the glass listwine frontwine sidewine side
Food
Bread and butter were slices of bread from a larger loaf served with a softened butter. The bread had a good texture with large air pockets and a crisp crust. It was easy to eat too much of this.
bread and buttercloser
The amuse bouche was cannellini beans that had been smoked, chilled and mixed with basil oil and tomatoes. They had a wonderful texture and a great amount of flavor.
amuse bouche – beans
Tartare de Thon Rouge, Sauce Safran, Chips de Légumes, Herbettes du Jardin means Ahi tuna tartar, saffron sauce, vegetable chips and micro greens. It was a good sized portion of raw tuna under some micro greens and sitting in a tasty saffron sauce. The vegetable chips scattered around the plate added fun texture as did those greens on top. It looked darker in the room’s lighting than I would have expected but with a quick inspection by that dreaded flashlight you could see the color was nicely pink. Darker lighting is nice for ambiance but hell on food coloring. Thank goodness for improved darkness photography but that doesn’t always work. At any rate it was a good dish.
Tartare de Thon Rouge, Sauce Safran, chips de legumes, herbettes du Jardindifferent lightingFrankie enjoyed the candle
Filet de Loup de Mer Poêlé, La Ratte ad Poireaux au Beurre, Sauce Légere au Persil, Truffe Noire d’Alba translates to Pan seared “Bronzino” filet, buttered La Ratte potatoes and leek, light parsley cream sauce, and Alba black truffle shavings. The fish was kept perfectly moist in the cooking process and wonderful with the foamy parsley sauce. The truffles added more color and effect than flavor. La Ratte potatoes refers to a type of potato rather than preparation. They are a small potato with nutty, buttery flavor that are grown in France. They were perfectly cooked and creamy. The leeks were a star on the plate – really excellent. Another fine dish that was very well executed.
Pan seared Bronzino filetdifferent angle
Paris-Brest Revisité is Revisited classic French pastry, that was created in 1910 in honor of the Paris-Brest bicycle race, with Chou pastry and pistachio cream. This was a large portion and very tasty. Not overly sweet but it was incredibly creamy and had a richness of flavor. Chunks of pistachio gave more texture and added to the wonderful taste of pistachio. A fine ending for a good meal.
Paris Brestfrom the top
Last treats were a plate of small meringues. They were sweet, light, airy and crisp. I detected a hint of orange which added to the fun flavor. Very good.
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 →
Hen of the Wood opened in Oct. 2013 in Burlington as the sister restaurant to the original one in Waterbury. Menus change daily and feature wood-fired cooking. They strive to present the products of regional ranchers, growers, and bakers. It’s a fairly large place located next door to the Hotel Vermont. The entrance end of the place is bar seating where they will serve walk-ins, but it was an hour and a half wait for those on the Monday night that we visited. The other end of the room is the kitchen with fires blazing. There are also some counter seats facing the kitchen but we opted for one of the relatively small bare wood tables. Bench seating lines some walls and a low wall separates the dining area from the bar. Music is in the background and in combination with the crowd it made it fairly noisy. There are windows to the street outside along one wall but the lights were dim enough that I did want to turn on my flashlight but didn’t. Service was friendly and helpful and got the first several things out very quickly and then died for about 30 minutes before it picked back up. Parking is on the street or in the garage between the restaurant and the hotel. Continue reading →
Homewood has been visited by Frankie and me in previous posts but tonight they hosted a Wine Dinner featuring wines distributed by Rosenthal Wine Merchants matched with an 8-course menu designed by Chef Matt McCallister. The food was designed to showcase fall flavors and offered the opportunity to taste 11 wine selections from around the world. The doors opened at 6:30 with the dinner beginning promptly at 7:00. Wines were for sale in addition if you wished. A brief introduction preceded the first course but there were no further comments during the meal. Each seat had a menu for the evening with the corresponding wine/s and on the back was a list of the wines for sale. I couldn’t see an empty seat in the entire restaurant. That made for a moderate wait between the courses. Wines were brought first and no refills were offered. The wine rep and her distributor did stop by each table to chat and answer questions. The event lasted about 3.5 hours. Continue reading →
The Landmark Restaurant is in the Queen Anne Victorian home called the Rittenhouse Inn in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Located on a hill, overlooking Lake Superior it provides a wonderful view of the water and quaint town. The well-maintained brownstone also houses a bed and breakfast inn, there and in other buildings off-site. Three rooms on the main floor make up the dining area, kitchen, and the beginning of the cherry staircase that leads to 12 guest rooms upstairs. The 1890 house was purchased in 1973 by Mary and Jerry Phillips who began running the B & B. It was expanded in 1985 to add more guestrooms upstairs. Out back is a dedicated parking lot. The menu is small and one special was featured the night we were there, but you do have the option of making it a 5 course tasting and choosing from the soup, salad, sorbet, entree, and dessert options, some of which have an upcharge. Each small room has a different color scheme, with lots of windows to the outside, a fireplace, and various decorations. The tables come in an assortment of shapes but most are large and are covered with white tablecloths. They do not have a bar but your server can make cocktails. The wine list is limited but there are some ‘special’ bottles in the cabinet out front you can additionally choose from. Service was friendly and fairly efficient. Continue reading →
The last of the 3 nights we were there may have been the best meal yet. The menu had slightly changed from the previous 2 nights. We were excited to have our server Ethan from the first night again. He made the meal so relaxed and enjoyable. It really is a fun place with good food and the surrounding area has lots to explore. I hope you’ll visit and let me know what you think. 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 →
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery offers several tastings of their wines but the 1886 Food and Wine Experience is the most in-depth experience. It is by reservation only and includes a seated educational wine flight paired with creative, small foods. The visit also contains tours of some of the wine-making areas as well as some vineyards. On the property, they also have a retail shop, seated tastings of 5 wines ($15), or Eugenia’s Garden (price varies with what you order) where you sample 3 wines with optional food for purchase. The 1886 Experience is $75 and in retrospect, I don’t think it’s worth that. It was a nice, small, informative tour and the paired foods for the different wines were attractive but not that good. It was fun to see the different buildings and learn a lot about how sparkling wines are made, but I’d recommend one of the cheaper tours and if you really like the wine you can come back for the in-depth experience. The Frank winery is significant because Konstantin is the one that elevated the Finger Lakes wine region of New York into a well-respected wine region. He planted the first vinifera vines from Europe in 1957 which forever changed the course of winemaking in New York. Continue reading →
We ate at The Restaurant at the Park Inn the night before and were scheduled to eat again the next two nights. We opted for a cocktail in the room first so went straight to wine. It is very approachable food with a menu that makes you want to try all of it. See the post of 9/21/22 if you want more photos of the interior.
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 →
The Restaurant at the Park Inn is made up of 2 adjacent rooms on the first floor under the small inn located on the second floor. It’s an old building with the current chef arriving 4 years ago. We read about their locally sourced and seasonal menu from Chef Dan Eaton and the accompanying wine program under the care of Sommelier Jason Ferris (who received a “Best of Award Excellence” from Wine Spectator Magazine in 2022) and wanted to try the wines of the Finger Lakes area. We spent 3 nights in the region and managed to snag a reservation at the 60-seat restaurant each evening. The entry room is long with a bar counter on one side and tables in the back, heading toward the fireplace. The other room steps down to your right as you enter and has windows to the street with bench seating around the perimeter. The full menu is available at the bar counter as well as at all the tables. Lots of historical photos are on the walls, music was in the background, lights are lowered, the floor is wood while the ceiling is tin and the tables are well-spaced. Service is friendly and attentive and will offer guidance if requested. Its menu has enough choices that it was no strain to go 3 nights in a row but we learned the first night that the portions are generous so don’t over-order. I totally recommend visiting the region and staying and eating at the Park Inn. 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 →
Cry Wolf is a local favorite, especially due to the ever-changing menu, casual atmosphere, interesting wine choices by Sommelier Tim Case, and excellent cooking by Chef Ross Demers and his staff. We don’t always think ahead for reservations so the bar counter stools are for walk-ins but we’ve also learned for last-minute cancellations on the reservation system where you can snag a table. I hesitate to overwhelm readers with the same restaurant but when you’re hot it’s too tempting to not post. So I’ll keep it short but if the menu doesn’t tempt you to go even my poor picture-taking will make you want to stop by. We shared all the plates. 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 →
building – 3309 Elm Street, Ste. 120, Dallas, TX, 75226
Tatsu opened a couple of months ago in the Continental Gin Building near downtown. The Sushi Omakase dinner included 15-18 courses made personally by Chef Tatsuya Sekiguchi. There is free parking out front and a comfortable waiting area inside as you wait for one of 2 seatings Tuesday through Sunday. The wooden counter is set with comfortable chairs and bright lighting with music in the background. An exposed brick wall backs up the counter and next door is a smaller room for 6 guests. Service starts fairly promptly and lasts just under 2 hours (that depends on how many extra items are ordered at the end). Each place has a menu card that also lists the origin of the day’s ingredients. It is well thought out. The sushi can be picked up with your fingers or chopsticks. I prefer the former and they had a lovely little folded moist towel at your place where you can wipe the fingers before and after each bite. When you go, and do put it on your list, don’t miss the elegant bathroom with bright fish roaming the walls and a fancy Toto toilet to use for the necessary. It is a calming and beautiful meal, especially under the care of the delightful chef, who has worked with sushi for 27 years, and his wife. Continue reading →
building – 10590 N. Ranch Rd., Hayward, WI., 54843
The Ranch Supper Club started out as The Aladdin in 1931. It had a varied following from lumberjacks to timber tycoons to Chicago gangsters. It changed ownership several times during the ’40s and ’50s but finally became the Ranch Supper Club in 1960 when the “colorful personality”, Vivian Levinson owned it. In 1987 Beth and Barney Morgan partnered with Cheryl Haupt to run it for the next 30 years. After Haupt died in 2016 the Morgans were happy to have their daughter Haley and her husband Nathan Bochler take the helm a year later. Haley was raised in the business and her husband is also from northern Wisconsin. They spent 13 years in California learning more about the food industry where she earned a sommelier certificate. We visited on a Sat. night and the place was packed. A large parking area is outside with 2 doors that lead into the large bar area with tables too. Don’t miss the beautiful counter at the bar that is made with colorful inset stones. The dining rooms are behind the bar and have a separate hostess station for check-in. Windows to the woods out back make up one wall with tables in the middle and booths along the opposite wall. Another dining room was in the opposite direction. Faint music is in the background and farm and cooking implements decorate the ceiling and walls along with wood beams. The lighting was lowered, the wine list was above average, the bare wood tables were set with flatware wrapped in a cloth napkin and service was friendly and attentive. Overall it was a good meal but I expected more. However, if you’re in the area I’d stop by and try it out I think it has potential and any drink would taste better drunk over that beautiful bar. 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 →
hotel exterior, restaurant on second floor – 2740 S. Pacific, Cannon Beach, OR., 97110
The Stephanie Inn Dining Room is of course in the oceanfront Stephanie Inn. Chef Aaron Bedard creates a 5-course prix fixe tasting menu that changes often and in which you have a choice of entrée. They have a full bar but also offer wine pairings for the meal. Built in 1993 the inn is a luxury coastal retreat in Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast. They do 2 seatings in the evening at 5:30 and 8:00 in the second-story room overlooking the mountains and nearby homes. The large tables are set with cream-colored cloths and brown napkins in a room with a vaulted wooden ceiling. The room faces east so the glaring sun is not a problem for diners. Music is in the background and there’s plenty of parking out front. Some tables are on the outside veranda but they didn’t seem to get used for the dinner service. They didn’t open early, in fact they were a bit late, and so a number of the diners lined up at the door. The problem with that is many people wanted a cocktail and the servers were trying to get out an amuse bouche and take dinner drink orders – and basically, it felt clunky and ill-planned for a fine dining experience (we waited 25 minutes to place a drink order). It is hard when the diners are all served at the same time so the place can accommodate more people, but there must be a way to make it flow more smoothly. That said, the service was friendly and finely caught up with demands to provide a lovely evening with pretty good food too. After the salad was served the chef came out to talk about the evening’s menu and the 2 choices for entrées. 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 →
Neah-Kah-Nie Bistro was opened in the late fall of 2012 by Owner/Chef Lynne Hopper, who specializes in gourmet comfort food. I’d call it a casual fine dining place, if that makes sense. It is named for a coastal headland a few blocks away and located in a 1920’s house with just 7 small tables and a bar. They added a cover to the tables on the patio to provide additional seating. The bare wood tables are set with stuffed chairs and music is in the background. The small kitchen is open behind the serving bar and there are windows around the room to the street and patio. There were chairs at the bar, which turned out good cocktails. The service was very friendly, welcoming and helpful. It was a fun and tasty place to eat. 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 →
exterior – 5033 Front Street, Eagle River, MI, 49950
We visited The Fitzgerald in 2018 and much has changed at the Eagle River Inn where it is located. The dining room is the same but the menu seems smaller. They still have the whiskey bar but the 12 rooms have now become 6 and they are (you guessed it) twice as big and have air conditioning. The waves of Lake Superior are still right off the dining room or any room at the inn, so the scenery is excellent. The dining room is wood-filled with lots of light from the windows. The crowd is casual and they did have specials for the night. Service was excellent, friendly and helpful. They still specialize in barbecue and you can see evidence of adding-on to the kitchen in front of the building, so not sure what will be added. Portions are generous and combined with the beautiful scenery, this is a lovely place to spend a meal and then retreat to your room to sleep with the sound of the waves. It’s out of the way but go if you get the chance, especially if you’re a whiskey lover. Continue reading →
exterior – 177 North Ada Street, Chicago, IL., 60607 – ground floor
Smyth was last visited by Frankie and me in Nov. of 2018. The interior hasn’t changed much – the main difference this time was eating there in daylight, as the days are much longer in summer. It does give the room a different feel with the floor-to-ceiling windows being open to the street activity. The large open kitchen is divided into 2 parts, one serving as the dessert area. The small bare dark wood tables are well spaced and some bench seating is along one wall. Music is in the background but you also hear the kitchen calling out orders to one another. I don’t remember that. It still serves only a tasting menu with optional drink pairings but there is only one tasting menu (except for allergy substitutions). The wine list is small and on the pricy side. The diners seemed more casually dressed than I’d expect in a Michelin 2-star place. Service was attentive and efficient but not as warm as on our last visit. We decided to have a bottle of champagne to accompany our tasting. No menu was provided but one was emailed about a week later. 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 →
We last visited Oriole in Nov. 2018. Opening in 2016, Chef / Owner Noah Sandoval’s restaurant has 2 Michelin stars. They still offer only a tasting menu of contemporary American cuisine but their site mentions an extended tasting also. Optional wine pairings are available. The first difference we noticed was the entrance – which is now through an open gate on the corner of the alley-like street. You still stay in that admitting area for a drink before being taken through the sliding door to the restaurant. Inside has changed a lot with a bar area now opened up where you have your first bites and a drink. From there you proceed to the kitchen, which is now a huge open space. You have a counter there where you also have a bite and a glass of champagne. After that, you are finally taken to your large, white cloth-covered table with music in the background. I’m not a big fan of having to rove around while you’re eating, maybe because it’s hard to take notes and photos, but I like to get settled and soak in the experience. The staff is first-rate with our main server, Celeste, being a wonderful part of our time there. They do present you with a ‘menu’ when you’re finished. Continue reading →
Clementine’s Homemade Ice Cream opened in 2017 and served delicious ice cream with high quality ingredients. They offer an array of flavors and some dog-friendly ice cream also. The name of their shop is a tribute to a dog. They make their own waffle cones and the aroma when you enter the shop is sweet and mouth watering. The cones are also available stuffed into a dish in which you can put your chosen scoops. It’s a small shop with a couple tables inside as well as counters to lean on. Outside there were also some tables and 3 designated parking spots. We chose 2 flavors – Coffee Heath Bar and Butter Brickle – and got them in one of the cones in a cup. It made it much easier to share but the cone did stick to the cup a bit. The ice cream was thick, sweet and well flavored. It really hit the spot for a terrific sweet snack. Strong recommendation here. 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 →
Frankie and I have visited Harbor House Restaurant before and it is on this site numerous times. Every time I go back I think I’ll just eat there and not do another write-up but the food is so good I really hate not to share the photos. We were lucky enough to dine there 2 consecutive nights so Chef Matthew Kammerer was kind to vary the menu some but other courses just need to be repeated – and you don’t mind. He continues to win awards for his culinary talents with the restaurant now having 2 Michelin stars. Their ranch is also now producing some incredible produce which he includes in the dishes. The wine program continues to evolve under the capable leadership of Wine and Beverage Director, John Miller. Both nights he managed to delight us with interesting choices from the area. The final component of the experience is the staff, which are all terrific. Friendly and knowledgeable (many of our other dining choices came from their suggestions) they make a 2-star Michelin meal feel like you’re dining in a friend’s home. The hotel it’s in, is a lovely place to stay, if you get the chance. My highest recommendation here – I’ll go again and Frankie hopes to see you there too. 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 →
The Ledford House Restaurant is south of Mendocino on a bluff overlooking the Pacific ocean. They can serve 65-90 people in 2 adjacent dining rooms that both are lined with windows looking through to the coastline. It is owned by a couple Tony and Lisa Geer, where she manages the kitchen and he the front of the house. The cuisine is influenced by southern France and the Mediterranean with an emphasis on using sustainable sources. Open Wed – Sun for dinner, they have nightly live music but not sure when it begins as it wasn’t happening when we were there, but we were in early. In addition to the menu, they have a 3-course bistro special and nightly appetizer and entree specials. There is a full bar with seating and people were eating there too. Both rooms had fireplaces and piped-in music in the background. There was plenty of parking out front and tables somewhere outside. Inside had open windows. Staff were all friendly and efficient. It’s not a wow place just good solid food with fun choices. Continue reading →
exterior – 1295 Coast Village Rd., Santa Barbara, CA., 93108
Sushi By Scratch is part of the historic Montecito Inn and the concept of Chef Phillip Frankland Lee. It is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the area and serves an Omakase 17 courses to 10 diners three times in the evening. It is part of the Scratch Restaurant group with different concepts in cities like Los Angeles, Miami and Austin. This dining experience starts 15 minutes prior in the hotel’s lobby with a welcome cocktail. (Parking is via hotel valet or they will direct you to the self-park lot). With the meal you can order your own beverage or buy one of their pairing packages – house, sake, or wine – all $110. We took the House pairing which served a combination of sake, cocktails and beer. In hindsight, even though the pairings were well matched, I would recommend getting your own bottle of something as the pairings felt over-priced. Seating was comfortable and the 3 chefs preparing your bites were conversational and friendly. The 16 items featured are on the wall in front and #17 is dessert. Numbers by each entry are the price of each if there is time and you want another piece at the end of the meal. The sushi is all outstanding and it is a fun experience that I recommend. Continue reading →
exterior –728 State St., Santa Barbara, CA., 93101
McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams has been in business for 70 years, founded in 1949 by a husband and wife couple after running a health food store. They were put off by the artificial ingredients and filler in ice creams and wanted to use seasonal ingredients as well as local milk and cream, fruit, nuts and produce. The couple opted to not use any fillers, stabilizers or preservatives and use the European French Pot process. In December of 1950 they opened their first shop. They sold the shop to another Santa Barbara native in 1962 who expanded the locations and then it sold again in 1975 and lastly in 2012 when it underwent a major renovation of the systems, freezers and equipment. Now in addition to 2 locations in Santa Barbara, they are in 4 other California cities and offer to ship anywhere. Their State St. location felt pretty sterile considering all the ‘love’ this place has. They had cone bowls but they were stale and not sweet enough. The scoops seemed small but it turned out the server thought we wanted two flavors in one scoop, so that made sense. Nevertheless, the ice cream was uninspired with a less than satisfying texture. I do not recommend it. 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 →
Caruso’s is in the Rosewood Miramar Beach Hotel on the ocean front of Montecito serving Italian-inflected coastal cuisine. It is the fine dining option at the hotel. The facility was complete around 2019 and definitely delivers the pampered dining experience. They offer a 4-course tasting menu with at least 4 choices in each category and also a 10-course Chef’s Tasting menu with optional wine pairings. Executive Chef Massimo Falsini was not there but the kitchen was in the most capable hands of Chef de Cuisine Shibani Mone. We chose the 4-course menu and had our own wine after a well-made Negroni cocktail. The large white cloth-covered tables are well spaced and are serenaded by the sound of the waves coming ashore. There are lots of outdoor heaters for when the sun goes down. When you pull up to the hotel the valet will park your car and then be prepared for a bit of walk down to the beach front. You’ll have to cross an active railroad track and finally down a flight of stairs, but it’ll be worth the trek, I promise. 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 →
exterior –9 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, CA, 93101
Bouchon calls itself the ‘wine country cuisine.’ They specialize in local ingredients, “as-fresh-as-and-as-local-as-possible” and local Santa Barbara wines. It’s a medium-sized place with a patio out front. Inside the white cloth-covered tables are on a wood floor, music is in the background, antiqued mirrors are on the walls and the end of the room opens into the kitchen. Service was helpful, particularly the knowledgeable sommelier, and the staff all were friendly. The food was very good and I’d go back again if in the area. 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 →
Bouchard Restaurant has been in business over 20 years and also has a few rooms/suites to stay in. They have a parking area but you need to go into the restaurant and get a pass to place in your car before parking there. They have a dress requirement that is on their website as well as reminded about when they call to confirm your reservation. No jeans, t-shirts, flip-flops, etc but I saw no enforcement of that whatsoever. There were many casually dressed people in the dining room that were obviously regulars due to their rapport with the staff. There were also ‘dressed-up’ people there but this was only the first odd bit of this place. They have a full bar which is located adjacent to the check in desk. Further inside is a medium to small dining area with small white cloth covered tables with full drape underneath. Lighting is lowered, there is music in the background, carpet is on the floor and the ceiling is low. They offer a tasting menu which is 5 courses at the second seating. Most courses have choices, some with an upcharge. The food was average at best but the service was awful. Slow and inattentive, it aggravated me and probably affected the way I perceived the food. The captain spent little time with many tables and concentrated on the ones he knew. It’s a fine line to walk, but it bothers me to see tables sit for 20 minutes with their menus still in their hands and staff carrying on conversations neglecting their job. 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 →
exterior – 194 Washington Street, Providence, RI., 02903
Gracie’s is a medium sized place in downtown Providence with Matt Varga as chef. There is no valet or assigned lot, so allow some extra time if you need to hunt for street parking. In addition to the nice sized white cloth covered table they had a number of booth like seats around the perimeter. Large windows to the street make up one wall of the dining room and they are heavily tinted which darkens the room quite a bit. Patterned cut outs are on some of the windows and gauzy drapes hang between some of the perimeter tables. There are a few tables outside. The wood floor is opposite the high dark ceiling with hammered copper inserts in some of the wood columns and booth dividers. The view out the window is of the street that is mostly filled with a bank building and its sign. They offer an a la carte menu as well as 2 tasting menus of 5 or 7 courses. Optional wine pairings are available and they have a full bar. We had pre-ordered the 7 course tasting and ordered our own wine. They promised to email and menu but never did. It is a good place anyway. Continue reading →
Tricycle Ice Cream opened in 2014 selling ice cream out of a 3 wheeled vehicle at markets and such. The storefront opened in Jan. 2019. They were inspired by childhood memories and wanted to craft amazing ice cream sandwiched between excellent cookies. They have regularly changing flavors and combinations ready made at the storefront. There is a patio next to the building with picnic tables where you can enjoy your treats. As you enter the small place there are counters you could eat at also. At the counter you order and pick up your treats and then you just have to wait a few minutes for them to thaw enough to eat. They now also offer fruit push pops made of sorbet and ice cream filled ‘tacos’ that are made with cone shells. It is worth a stop if you are in the area. 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 →
Al Forno Restaurant was opened in 1980 by Johanne Killeen and George Germon to use New England’s farms and waters to produce renditions of Italian food. Al Forno means “from the oven” and they use wood burning ovens and open flame grills to incorporate that concept into their dishes. It is where the concept of grilled pizza was first used, which is served as an appetizer. It’s a larger place with a dedicated parking lot. Inside there are 2 floors for eating and a bar area that also serves food. Small white cloth covered tables are quickly turned for the constant flow of people. The downstairs room we were in had a wall of windows to the parking lot with the opposite wall’s windows being mirrored. The lighting is lowered and no music was in the background. Service was very friendly but not well coordinated. Restaurants need to learn that if you provide very small tables you can’t bring too many dishes to the table at the same time. Our pizza came out first following the bread bowl and then quickly followed by clams. Food was piled to an uncomfortable mess. I asked the server to slow down a bit and then it was 30 minutes after we finished that before anything else came. It was good food but timing can really make me less fond of a place. 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 →
Coneflower Creamery is the inspiration of Founder/Chef Brian Langbehn and Katie Arant Chef/Co-Owner. They had both worked as pastry chefs in various kitchens and dreamed of opening a farm to table ice cream shop featuring small batch artisan ice cream. Their website even lists the local farms where they get the flavoring ingredients for their ice cream. Their flavors have the Classics that are always on the menu as well as Signatures which highlight seasonal ingredients and plays on favorite foods and drinks. They also have sauces, toppings, floats, sundaes and the ice cream can be in a cone or a cup. Their waffle cones were especially great. One thing that impressed me was the way the end was folded over so no leaking while you’re eating occured. The rich, thick and smooth ice cream is perfect in one of these cones. The end of March they announced that a second location is pending in the Ashton Building. If you can, try this place. Continue reading →
Au Courant offers a 6-course chef’s tasting menu that changes weekly. Chef/co-owner Benjamin Maides works with local producers to find and feature the freshest ingredients. Maides partnered with local restauranteur Carlos Mendez to open Au Courant in Nov. 2016 and now “Chovy” Caniglia is the Chef de Cuisine with “Barnie” Barnard serving as Sous Chef. They serve some really fine food. It’s a long space with the front half taken up by a U-shaped bar surrounded with stools. Art and mirrors decorate the unfinished walls on either side and lots of plants are everywhere. The high tin ceiling has lighting that was pretty bright and then turned down midway through out meal. The small tables are topped with marble and set on an old wood floor. They have an a la carte menu at the bar whereas the dining room is offered the tasting with an optional addition of oysters on the halfshell. They also offer wine pairings. We got a half dozen of the oysters and our own wine. One quirk was that you could buy a ’round’ for the kitchen and then they’d ring a bell in back. 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 →
V. Mertz is in the Old Market Passageway of Omaha. The space between two close buildings was covered with a roof and V. Mertz came to be 44 years ago on the lower level, as a wedding gift. The location allows the inside rooms to open to the ‘patio tables’ that are in the passageway. There is no dedicated parking – it is either at street meters or paid lots. The interior rooms are fairly dark with brick walls lined with wine bottles and the wall between rooms is filled with lit liquor bottles. The small tables are cloth covered under a low tin ceiling and no music is in the background. They presented us with the a la carte menu but when asked they brought out the tasting menu with optional pairings. Menus change regularly, as both were dated. There is a large wine list and full bar. We chose the tasting and ordered our own wine. The food is fun, creative and tasty – go if you can. 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 →
street entrance – 1101 N Calvert St, Baltimore, MD 21202
The Prime Rib was founded by brothers Buzz and Nick Beler in 1965 and is still a family run business. It evokes feelings of 1940s Hollywood with lower lighting, live music, stiff drinks and fabulous food and service. They now have several locations. The Baltimore location is a dark place with art on the walls, white clothes on the tables, comfortable seating, black walls with gold trim, leopard print carpet and complimentary valet parking in the garage below. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel welcome, that they’re glad you’re there. Timing was relaxed as we enjoyed a terrific martini and live piano music. The server was fantastic and really added to the overall experience. If you are in the mood for beef, put this place on your list. We were one of the last ones out so I took interior photos then. (Didn’t get a pic of the menu but you can find it on their website <https://theprimeribs.com> and make sure you pick the city you want).
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 →
Magdalena is in Mt. Vernon’s Relais & Chateaux Ivy Hotel and run by Chef Scott Bacon. Closed for about 7 months during Covid the historic mansion did a major re-design to the restaurant. Now it is labeled as a Maryland Bistro rather than the former fine dining concept. The color tones of all 4 of the dining rooms now are similar and there is a more variation in the cost. Patio dining is available and one of the rooms is in the wine cellar. Exposed brick walls have some display cabinets of historic objects and rugs to fit each room are on the floor. Music is in the background and well spaced small tables are now marble topped yet still set with nice white cloth napkins. The lighting was fairly bright but pleasant and staff were knowledgable about the menu. Valet parking is available and there were a few specials offered that evening. It was good. Continue reading →
Charleston was opened by restaurateurs Tony Foreman and Chef Cindy Wolf in 1997 in the Harbor East neighborhood of Baltimore, MD. They now have at least 6 restaurants in the city. Chef Wolf offers a constantly changing menu and even cooked lunch at this place for Julia Child in 1999. Chef’s reputation is that she cooks at this, her flagship, most every night. Unfortunately she was not there when we visited and I wonder if that’s why our meal was so unsatisfactory. The food is a combination of French and Southern cuisines and she has been nominated 9 times for the James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic award. The fairly large place enters from a side street, which is not where Google Maps directs you to go. The bar is to your right as we were led to a table that looked directly into the large open kitchen. Table sizes varied but all were set with white cloths and napkins and well-spaced, no music was in the background and the lighting was lowered. The menu offers prix fixe menu of 3-6 courses, which you pick from the entire menu, with optional wine pairings. Desserts are complimentary with your meal and an optional cheese course is available. Continue reading →
Shoyo, opened in fall 2021 on lower Greenville Ave. It is a 12 seat Omakase restaurant, meaning the chef choses your menu. Chef/owner Jimmy Park worked with Sous Chef William Yoon behind the counter to provide our meal, Chef Shin Kondo was missing ( instead there was a soft-spoken chef not authorized to make sushi). Together they have more than 50 years of restaurant experience. Reservations for the following month are released on the first of the month and go quickly. There are 2 seatings, Tues through Sat, at 5:45 and 8:15, with dinner lasting about 2 hours. There is parking behind the building or as you can find it on the street. There is a small waiting area until you are escorted to your seat the counter. While getting settled you can order sake, wine or beer to go with the meal if you chose. They have halves as well as full sized bottles of sake. There is also a list of extra courses you can order toward the end of the meal. 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 →
Nicola’s Restaurant is in the building that once was a barn for the city’s 19th century incline trollies. It was established in 1996 by owner Nicola Pietoso and after 20 years his son Cristian now is in charge. He added some new second floor seating and expanded the wine cellar. In addition to seating downstairs there is also a bar with seating. The brick walls are punctuated by the structural beams and high ceilings. Downstairs a giant chandelier hangs overheard and windows to the outside let in light and look out onto the patio tables. White tablecloths and napkins are on all tables and music is in the background. Valet parking is available out front. The place is really popular so a reservation is a must and even with a reservation we still had to wait in the bar until out table was ready. They serve Italian cuisine and offer a chef crafted 5 course tasting menu. We happened to be there during restaurant week and so a 3 course menu was also available as well as the a la carte selections. We ordered a la carte. Continue reading →
building – 332 Ludlow Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Graeter’s Ice Cream began with Louis Charles Graeter selling ice cream on the street in 1870. By 1900 he and his wife, Regina, sold it out of a storefront while making it in back. After 20 years Regina was widowed with a couple young sons and despite the stigma of women running a business she made the business thrive under her direction. She began to expand in 1922, now competing with mass market options that didn’t use her small-batch French pots system. Her sons eventually took over the business with one adding a bakery to the store and the other developing a unique way to blend chocolate into a batch. The business continues to be in the family’s hands and now they have numerous locations here and in surrounding states and grocery stores. The store we went in had the bakery and then the ice cream as well as lots of packaged products for sale. By the front door was a freezer with pints of ice cream if you wanted to take some home. I hope you’ll try it if you have the opportunity. 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 →
Boca came to being in October of 2001, the concept of Chef/Owner David Falk. It opened in the Northside community featuring flavors of Italy and France, then moved to the Oakley neighborhood in 2004 and stayed for 9 years. It moved to the heart of downtown Cincinnati (the former Maisonette space) in 2013, where it is today. It’s a fairly large space with a few seats at the kitchen counter, stools at the bar and a second story. Downstairs there is a combination of booths, various sizes of tables and bench seating with music in the background. Lots of pillows were on the bench seats and lights were lowered. The large open kitchen allows you to see some other foods as they come out. Valet parking is available, otherwise it means using a paid garage. Staff were super friendly and helpful. We wanted to try lots of things and the server was willing to course them out for us. Tables are close enough that conversation can happen between occupants. I can see why many use this as a ‘special occasion’ place but if I lived closer, I’d go all the time – it’s that good. 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 →
Note 7/19/22 – Just had a call from the customer service person at Jeff Ruby’s Precinct that saw my write-up and was concerned that we were unhappy. Now that’s some incredible service. She took the effort to find a phone number to reach me and that is impressive. That said, so many people raved about this place, don’t be turned off by my experience. I’d love to hear about your experience if you go. If I ever get back to Cincinnati I would consider going myself. They didn’t pay me to say this but honest caring is what can make a great restaurant and they do care.
Jeff Ruby’s Precinct started in 1981, in the former Cincinnati Police Patrol House Number 6 – a turn of the century Romanesque style structure – that holds the ‘longest, continuously running white tablecloth restaurant in the city.’ It has been recognized by a number of publications and is well known in the city. They pride themselves on the excellent service, quality of food and overall dining experience. Some street parking is available nearby but they also offer valet service. Inside the lights are lowered and there is lots of red upholstry to go with the brick walls. Some stained glass windows are in the downstairs dining rooms and chandeliers. Most notable are the large cut-outs of groups of policemen on the walls. It feels clubby. In the entry there are numerous awards and press along with photos of famous diners. Although this place gets lots of praise our experience was not the best. Our steaks were both overcooked and tasteless while the potatoes were undercooked. In their defense they offered to cook others but I didn’t think they could do better. They ended up comping the steaks which was more than gracious so I think the place has promise but I will never go back. 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 →
Back for our second visit to J. C. Holdway and it was a busier night at the corner restaurant. The fairly large place goes fairly far back with tables in various places with an L-shaped bar taking up the first room. On the way to the back portion we passed a couple cooking areas. Exposed ducts run across the ceiling opposite the older wood floors. Bench seating is along some walls and the tables are nicely sized bare wood set with large well starched towel shaped napkins. Lights are lowered but much light comes through the many windows before sundown, music is in the background and it was a bit noisy. Service was once again very friendly but pacing was quite a bit slower probably due to the crowd and several large groups. 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 →
J.C. Holdway is named after Chef Joseph Lenn’s late uncle, Joe Holdway, who sought quality food adventures throughout his life. Now Chef Lenn hopes to provide that sort of dining experience to his customers, and that he does. His professional career has certainly readied him to meet the challenge. A Knoxville native, he so enjoyed cooking for friends and family that he decided to attend culinary school, after which he went to work as an intern at Blackberry Farm and then the Peninsula Grill followed by working with Sean Brock to open the Capitol Grill in Nashville. An urge to return to east Tennessee took him back to Blackberry Farm where he became executive chef of the Barn restaurant and received the James Beard Award for the Best Chef Southwest in 2013. He opened his own place in 2016 in downtown Knoxville using primarily wood-fire techniques. Lenn’s attempt to provide an outstanding experience to guests succeeds so well that we cancelled out next evening’s reservation in order to dine with him again. Strong recommendation for this wonderful place and look for another chronicle of luscious dishes on this site in a couple days. Continue reading →
Cruze Farm Ice Cream is made with milk and churned buttermilk from Earl and Cheri Cruze’s farm’s hormone-free Jersey cows. The farm was established in 1980 and their not-homogenized milk is sold at some local markets. In 1992 the family branched out to open a scoop shop selling hand dipped ice cream churned from their products at a Target. It closed after 8 years and the family concentrated on their milk business. When their daughter Colleen joined her goal was to sell all the surplus milk and an ice cream store was the best way to do that. In 2016 Colleen and her husband opened a store on Union and one on Gay Street in 2017 with plans for more. They serve only soft-serve ice cream and mix it with multiple other ingredients and flavors. We tried a Sassy Cow which contained sweet cream dipped in chocolate and drizzled with caramel and then sprinkled with salt. A half order if called a ‘calf’ and a whole one is a ‘cow.’ It came in a cup and the chocolate sauce froze into a crisp layer. Underneath the ice cream was smooth but tasteless. It was all about the texture and not the taste. I’d stick with their milk products – they sound fun. 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 →
Oliver Royale is one of the two restaurants in the historic boutique Oliver Hotel. They serve new American cusine with a focus on seasonal and regional products in the more upscale and smaller of the 2 settings. There is an entrance from the Market Square as well as within the hotel. The building dates back to 1876 but has been very updated to include a bench seating along the walls with tables in the middle for the first 2/3’s of the place and a u-shaped bar with stools for the last third. Windows to the street, faint music in the background, lowered lighting, acid washed mirrors on the walls, sound panels lining the ceiling, and a enormous skylight make up the room.. The small bare wood tables are set fairly close and there are a few tables available on a front outside patio section. It’s nicely done but comes off a bit sterile. Service was friendly but the pacing that started out so fast slowed way down as the evening wore on. The food was mixed. There is also an old ‘speak-easy’ in the hotel if you want more drinks afterward. Continue reading →
Kilwins has been in operation since 1947 and is now open in downtown Knoxville. They sell 32 flavors of ice cream made from original recipes. Waffle cones are available and also waffle bowls. When you enter the long shop the front is filled with candies, caramel apples, fudges and other packaged sweets. The ice cream is further in the back along with some stools and counters where you can sit inside and enjoy your treats. The first time we visited they were making the waffles for the cones and cups as well as dipping Granny Smith apples in caramel. The smell was heavenly and made you want to induldge. We tried the Tennessee River Mud which is vanilla ice cream mixed with chocolate chips and caramel and a praline pecan ice cream. The praline pecan won the flavor contest, hands down, but both had excellent density and smoothness to the ice cream. We tried the waffle bowl and it was a totally ingenious way to combine an often problematic yet very tasty cone. The bowl was inside a plastic one so you could crack it up and eat with the tasty ice cream. Get in there and try it. I did try one of the caramel pecan candies but the pecans were on their way to rancid so be cautioned on the candies. Continue reading →
Cry Wolf is such a treasure, I can’t not post it when we go. Chef Ross Demers has moved the bar high for other Dallas establishments and so has sommelier and General Manager Tim Case. The menu is constantly changing but what is consistent is that there are no duds. You won’t find me saying that about many places. It doesn’t fill you with bread and there is only one small candy for dessert but somehow that all works magically. When you find that rare place that is operating at such a level you really want your friends to experience it too. So, here is the latest meal at this gem of east Dallas. Continue reading →
Roots Southern Table is all about Chef Tiffany Derry’s southern upbringing. Eating with the seasons and never wasting anything were mantras of her family. She has been nominated for James Beard awards in a couple categories. The far north Dallas location opened in June of 2021 in a strip-like shopping center. That means there is plenty of parking but it gives the place a slightly sterile atmosphere. Reservations are a must and even with one we were kept waiting for 15 minutes as other guests were seated. We were out with friends that evening so Frankie made less of an appearance and I didn’t make as many notes on our food. Pictures will give you a good feel, though. The food did have a nice amout of flavor but even with all the vegetables I left feeling heavy on the starch. Our server could have helped with that but he was ‘all about the bread.’ They have a full bar, the noise level is high and portioning is variable. Continue reading →
The Fearington House Restaurant is located in Fearington Village, just outside Chapel Hill in Pittsboro, NC. They have been in operation over 40 years, with the restaurant being in the original farmhouse. The couple that started it, R.B. and Jenny(she ran the kitchen) Fitch had a dream to turn the dairy farm into a community. The property itself has an inn and homes for sale as well as stores and event space to rent. The restaurant has several rooms in the building, one of which houses the bar. The widely spaced tables are double clothed with matching napkins and armless chairs. Lots of windows look out onto the property and the interior lights are lowered. They offer an a la carte menu as well as a Chef’s tasting with optional wine pairings. We had the Chef’s tasting menu and the pacing was really slow and the portions were on the large side. While service was trying to be friendly it was almost intrusive with the constant query of “what are your thoughts on this one?” It was a beautiful place to stay but the food would only rate okay – nothing made me want to lick the plate or wish I had more. 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 →
dining room entrance –The Umstead Hotel and Spa, 100 Woodland Pond Dr, Cary, NC 27513
Herons is the signature restaurant in the Umstead Hotel and Spa. The 98 seat restaurant features a view of the kitchen as well as the landscaped grounds and art on the walls. The large, white cloth covered tables are appointed with chairs and couches with pillows. The room is decorated in earthtones with lots of wood, lowered lighting and no music. The elegant place takes itself seriously in that they have a dress code asking you not to wear jeans, shorts, sandals or tattered clothing. The menu changes seasonally and tries to feature local produce and proteins. It is divided into 4 categories which each have about 5 choices for you to pick from Some choices do have a supplemental charge. Beverage pairings are available in addition to a huge wine list. Service was first rate and the pacing and portion control were spot on. The food was very good and they threw in lots of little things in between courses. 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 →
Crawford and Son is a casual neighborhood restaurant in historic Oakwood. It is medium sized, with dim lighting, loud music and a long bar across from the wall of small tables. It was packed in the middle of the week so the crowd added to the noise level. It also has no dedicated parking so allow time to hunt around the local streets. It opened in 2016 and offers a full bar. The small wine list has a pretty hefty mark up, albeit a nice selection. Brick walls, exposed duct work in the ceiling and a few sets of antlers make up the interior. Reservations are a must, even for the counter seating. It was buzzing with people and the food was amazing. Also the service was spectacular. Our server, Sydney, really knew how to pace the meal and add just the right amount of conversation to enhance the evening. Strong recommendation here. 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 →
Second Empire Restaurant is in the historic Dodd-Hinsdale House, whose architectural style is the Second Empire Victorian style developed in France under Napoleon III and marked by heavy ornate modification. The home was built for Mayor Dodd and completed in 1879 but lost quickly due to finances. Col. Hinsdale purchased it in 1890 and it remained in the family till 1971. Till 1993 the house suffered vandalism and then Ted Reynolds and family bought it and started the restoration to transform it into a restaurant. In Sept. 1997 the restaurant and tavern opened for business. The structure retains its original exterior, heart pine flooring, masonry walls and windows. Four main rooms of the main body now make up the restaurant and a tavern was made from additional rooms and a glassed atrium room. There is a small parking lot by the back entrance and otherwise you’re on your own. At the front entrance is a dramatic stairway lined with photos and awards. High ceilings, soft music in the background, lowered lighting and art on the walls surround the widely spaced large white cloth covered tables. Chef Daniel Schurr offered a couple specials in addition to the printed menu and offers many gluten free options. His style was to stack multiple ingredients into each dish. Service was friendly but the pace was slow. 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 →
Cry Wolf is a great place, and unfortunately too many people know that now. We had to book a couple weeks ahead to find a reservation we were in town with. Everytime I go I think I won’t post it cause it’s already on this site, but the food is so good I just can’t resist sharing the photos with you. Another wonderful part of this place is the changing wine list, which introduces me to things I haven’t had that go with food well. The ambiance is great and there’s a parking lot at the end of the shopping center. Without further ado, I present photos of our latest fabulous meal (sweetbreads and escargot were amazing). Continue reading →
Charlie’s Steak House was started by Charlie Petrossi in 1952. It’s one of New Orleans oldest steakhouses and prides itself on its unique service model. There is no menu passed out, if you ask for one you are laughed at as a first-timer. You simply tell your waiter which steak you want, how you want it cooked and the server will suggest your sides. They were closed for 3 years after Hurricane Katrina and only opened after the family sold it to Matthew Dwyer who had lived nearby and helped with bartending duties. He purchased Charlie’s in 2007 and re-opened in 2008 but tragically died at age 49 in the summer of 2020 as Covid was taking over. Several couples joined forces to have the historic restaurant start up again in January 2021. They do have a menu on their website <charliessteakhousenola.com>, so look it over before you go. The food is good not great but it’s fun to go to such a retro place. 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 →
Brigtsen’s was last written up here in 2017, but not much has changed here. The small old home is quite a ways from the Quarter and it’s many rooms are filled with dining tables and happy people. Chef Frank Brigtsen is still running the kitchen and his wife Marna manages the floor. Frank apprenticed at Commander’s Palace and then worked under Chef Paul Prudhomme, who helped the couple open this place in 1986. He has since won numerous awards for his cooking. The super friendly and efficient staff were all wearing buttons saying “I’m vaxed to the max.” The polished bare wood tables no longer have cloths but white cloth napkins are still on the table. Music is in the background, art is on the walls and a bottle of cold water is set on each table. Continue reading →
