Chow Down

[BestButchBoy]

Once, I was in Charleston, SC (I know, I left the north! Wow!), I had an amazing dining experience here and I have subsequently recommended it to some friends who traveled there. It's quite southern (when in Rome, right?), but, gourmet. Rather good. If you are there, or will go there, try this place. You will not be disappointed.

Click on Magnolias

http://www.magnolias-blossom-cypress.com/


Bon appetit!

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by SassyLeo

Another place I like to go is >Chez Machin<

I found this little gem when I first moved to Portland just randomly wandering around in one of the neat neighborhoods we have, Hawthorne.

The restaurant is quaint and comfy. They decorate in the traditional "French" way...play french music, etc.

What I love about this place is the staff are really kind and always seem really happily mellow. They have great suggestions, are very patient with my weird food ordering ways...And the food is just good. Always good. It never wavers.

They have the best french onion soup I have ever had...so tasty.

They have lots of crepes (which are VERY popular here) but I typically order:
Croque Monsieur-Grilled Emmentaller swiss cheese, Black Forest ham and dijon mustard sandwich topped with melted Emmentaller swiss cheese
and/or
Salade Lyonnaise-Mixed greens tossed in homemade Dijon vinaigrette with bacon, diced tomatoes, homemade croutons and topped with a poached egg.

Sometimes I get the special - Chicken Cordon Bleu or Quiche.

If we are feeling especially decadent, we might get this appetizer: Brie en Croute-Brie cheese baked in savory pastry. Served with roasted garlic and sliced apples, sliced baguette, and local berry compote.

or a crepe for dessert (rarely for me since I don't eat much refind sugar) but if I do, it is often this: La Compote-Cooked apples and cinnamon with caramel sauce.

The prices are VERY reasonable as well. 2 for dinner is usually around $25 depending on what we order.

The salad with the apple-ginger vinaigrette sounded interesting. Okay, the dressing sounds interesting. I think I'll experiment and see what I can come up with.

[Waldo]

Now this is a thread I could spend all day in.

Chicago Favs:

Cafe Ba Ba Reeba. Part of the Melman Brother's Lettuce Entertain You empire, but oh so good. Spanish Tapas with great social ambiance and almost universally great wait staff. They do know how to train 'em. Bacon wrapped dates, stuffed mushrooms, wonderful sangria... sigh. In a word? Festive.

North Pond To say this is a hidden gem is an understatement on two fronts. Most Chicagoans don't even know this exists and those that do still would have a hard time finding it. There is, to my palate, no finer dining experience in Chicago. You might pay more, but you can't get better. They have a great wine list and make lovely cocktails as well as serving up fresh, locally sourced organic food. Therefore their menu changes frequently. Nummy.

There are plenty of great cheap eats as well.

Hot Dogs: SuperDawg on Touhy. You may disagree about the "bestness" of the dog, but you cannot deny that they have a great experience. Right down to the packaging.

Gyro: Andie's. Andie's used to be a hole in the wall drop in joint when I was growing up in the neighborhood. I didn't go for years after I moved out of the area and then finally went for brunch one Sunday. Can't recommend the brunch, but they still have good gyros.

Pizza: Everyone says Duo's, Malnati's or Girodano's. Bullocks. Pequod's is the place for pie. Just try it.

Sweet Treats: For years I would have said Margie's. Hands down. Margie's is an institution and I think it's a shame that I can no longer recommend them, but after being refused service on my birthday ("we don't serve your kind!!") I just can't support them. Instead I say "Cupcakes" on Briar in boytown.

Will be back for tips on other places I've lived and visited.

[BestButchBoy]

It's not only the name of the place, it really is...GOOD!

http://www.goodrestaurantnyc.com/


Great brunch!

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by June

Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Yes. God. Yes. I've been to the one in Chicago and the one in Vegas. I wish they had one here in PDX.

Those bacon wrapped dates. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

That was a fun time, indeed, here in Vegas at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba and getting to spend time with you, Kat, Waldo, LCS, and "The Gang".

That was the first time I'd been to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, or anyplace like it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, too, and the food there was absolutely wonderful.

I didn't know I'd like that kind of food as much as I do!!

When you guys come back....and I know you will, one of these days, I will take you to eat Dim Sum at the Orchid Garden....and we will also take in the all-you-can-eat sushi and tempura bar at Makeno's.

~Theo~

[femmennoir]

Originally Posted by June

I like my sushi on a train. We have a couple of places here in town that do that, Sushiland and Sushi Takehashi. Mio Sushi is good too, but sadly, no train.

On Monday nights we have the NYC Queer knitting group, and we meet at Whole Foods on Houston. They have a sushi bar with traveling sushi! They also make sushi with brown rice if you ask!

Elle*

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by theoddz

That was a fun time, indeed, here in Vegas at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba and getting to spend time with you, Kat, Waldo, LCS, and "The Gang".

That was the first time I'd been to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, or anyplace like it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, too, and the food there was absolutely wonderful.

I didn't know I'd like that kind of food as much as I do!!

When you guys come back....and I know you will, one of these days, I will take you to eat Dim Sum at the Orchid Garden....and we will also take in the all-you-can-eat sushi and tempura bar at Makeno's.

~Theo~

Stop talking dirty to me.

Okay, don't stop. Just give me directions.

[Waldo]

Massachusetts

Boston
Legal Seafood may be a chain and it may not be the best seafood in the world, but I have never had a bad meal at a stand alone Legal outlet. The Logan airport location just delivered the first bad meal I'd ever had at Legal so I can no longer claim "never" wholly, but well qualified I still recommend it.

Abe & Louie's is one of those "old boy" type places that you don't think exist any more. If you're a regular they know you and your palate extremely well. They know the table you prefer and the cocktail that you'll want waiting. If not, you may well want to become a regular.

East Side Bar & Grille in Cambridge is my go to place for a good cocktail or a well poured beer and a low key atmosphere. Get a baked quahog and a salad with your Harpoon IPA and you're golden.

Western MA
Eastside is the place I jones for when I'm away. They have a good caesar salad and serve it with anchovy (as the food gods intended!). They no longer plate my favorite fish dish, but always have a nice selection of fresh seafood. Try the sweet potato chips with artichoke and crab dip. I have no idea why they don't put it on the regular menu because it's been on the specials list every time I've been there over the last three years.

Carmelina's in Hadley is a new fav for me. Was just there this month. It's easy to say that it's charming, but what you wouldn't realize from the exterior is that you'll get some of the best service inside this unassuming space. Paired with great ambiance and live music and you start to understand why it's always packed.

Esselon, also in Hadley, is one og my favorite places to grab breakfast or brunch. They have a lovely gardenside patio to enjoy while injesting amazing carb laden breakfast goodness. If I liked coffee I have no doubt I'd love theirs. It smells great!

Green Street Cafe, in the shadow of Smith college, serves a small but very fresh menu in a converted storefront space that can feel a little odd, but none-the-less quite welcoming. The service tends to be a little on the flighty side, but the food more or less makes up for it.

Cape Cod
http://www.yelp.com/biz/edwige-provincetown in Provincetown is ideal for a romantic dinner with cocktails, but be forewarned, it's small, bustling and can be quite hot when the weather heats up. They win points for great cocktail concoctions.

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by Gemme

Stop talking dirty to me.

Okay, don't stop. Just give me directions.

Now, if you're talking about Makino's (I spelled it wrong before), Gemmie, you gotta go for lunch, because it's the same menu, just less expensive. It'll run you about $20, plus drinks now, I think, but it's well worth it and all you can eat!!

Their web site looks like it may be under construction right now, but the details and addresses of their locations (I usually go to the one on Decatur) can be found here:

http://www.lasvegas.net/Makino-Las-V...ood-Buffet.htm

On another note, I am originally from Savannah, Georgia, and a Southern boy in just about every way. One of my most favorite places to eat is a little seafood joint called "The Crab Trap", located at St. Simon's Island, off the intracoastal waterway, near Brunswick, GA. That place has the best southern fried oysters and batter dipped fries you'd ever hope to put in your mouth!! The tables in the restaurant have holes cut into the middle so you can toss your shrimp tails, crab shells and oyster shells into, as you eat. If you ever get down that way, be sure to stop, as it's a place you'll not want to miss!!!

http://www.thecrabtrapssi.com/about_soliv.html

~Theo~