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Paul R - Posted - 02/26/2011: 05:15:59
Food Forum and Forum Fixture have the same initials, so I guess this is a suitable topic for my 1500th post.
Suppose a friend is coming to visit your town. S/he has unlimited funds and wants to go to the absolute best restaurant around. S/he is relying on your recommendation.
We're not talking a chain, and we're not talking cheap. It's possible that the best restaurant isn't the most expensive, but a really good restaurant usually combines a good atmosphere with fine food. You pay a price for that.
My mother said, "I could eat atmosphere." She meant that good food tastes better in a pleasing environment. Conversely, good food in a crummy environment is less appetizing.
So, the question is: What is the best restaurant in your town or close by. We're not looking for bargains, just the one with the best food that isn't a dive. Price is no object.
Here in Kingston, the first one that comes to mind is Chez Piggy, founded by the late Zal Yanovsky, who was lead guitarist in the Lovin' Spoonful and quite the character. Chez Piggy is located downtown in a former stone warehouse in an enclosed courtyard. It has an eclectic menu and the food is excellent - we've been a number of times and haven't had a bad meal yet. You can also get the Chez Piggy Cook Book, which showcases the varied dishes served there over the years - my wife makes "Ly's Fire Ribs". (Chez Piggy has a "sister" bakery nearby, Pan Chancho, and there's a Pan Chancho cookbook, too.) Piggy can be pricey. Last time out, we spent close to a hundred bucks including tip, without alcohol.
I hope we can come up with a good list, so that BHO members will know where to find fine dining when they visit your town.
eagleisland - Posted - 02/26/2011: 05:57:36
Down the road a piece, in Portland, there are restaurants that are nationally renowned. Here in my home town, however, the best restaurant is probably McDonalds.
It's kind of a small place...
Micki - Posted - 02/26/2011: 06:00:57
Subway. Micki
pandjlocke - Posted - 02/26/2011: 07:09:39
I'm the wrong guy to ask. Due to budgetary restrictions, I'm sure that I've never been to the best restaurant in the Seattle area, whatever that place may be. I can tell you that Golden Corral is a great buffet restaurant for around 10 bucks, and the Taj Palace has wonderful Indian buffet at about the same price. Teriyaki Plus is good food with each dish (teriyaki, Chinese & Thai) going about $7.50 and enough for two folks if you go to the Dairy Queen next door for dessert.
Ev - Posted - 02/26/2011: 08:03:59
I don't care for fancy restaurants. I'd probably fire up the brick oven and do the cooking myself.
Brian T - Posted - 02/26/2011: 08:14:51
Vancouver, BC: Commercial Drive: Memphis Blues BBQ House.
From Pulled Pork to fried catfish with all the fixin's.
Not "posh" and not terribly expensive.
You can buy their cookbook on line.
mike gregory - Posted - 02/26/2011: 10:44:13
Milwaukee's MADER'S is famous enough that celebrities and presidential hopefuls like being seen there.
German food.
Miss Katie's Diner has a more 1950's ambience, and (then pres) Bill Clinton showed up there unexpectedly one day.
A guy I know says he just happened to be doing some routine maintainace on one of the flat-roofed buildings at nearby Marquette University, and a small but dedicated group of men came boiling out of the roof access door and ordered him to lay flat and stay perfectly still.
IF the story's true, I can't say as I blame the men. After all, presidential candidate Teddy Roosevelt WAS shot and wounded while in Milwaukee. In their line of work, "Once is once too often".
figmo59 - Posted - 02/26/2011: 14:45:06
Liz's kitchen........................it's REAL close ta home..............;-)
xomcat - Posted - 02/26/2011: 14:52:15
That's an easy one as our town's only restaurant is a pizza place ( other Italian dishes are also available, but seldom ordered). The next town over has a diner, and Chinese and Italian reataurants and every fast food chain- it's right off the interstate.
Mike , I remember going to Mader's as a child in the 50's . Do they still have the singing waiters?
Edited by - xomcat on 02/26/2011 14:56:33
dlc - Posted - 02/26/2011: 14:52:38
N/A
Wichita Falls, TX, has nothing like that description.
The Mighty Ant - Posted - 02/26/2011: 15:24:02
I would say it would be the world famous Boone Tavern here in the town where I live.
Berea Ky.
jason holgate - Posted - 02/26/2011: 16:07:50
the glider diner scranton pa
figmo59 - Posted - 02/26/2011: 16:12:18
in all fairness i would pick NuNu's bristo in colchester ct..........
really supurb............;-).........byob tho
donc - Posted - 02/26/2011: 19:04:52
Too many to remember here, with every ethnic sort of food you could imagine. I'm not one for spending a day's pay on a sampling of rich people's food. Often the servings are chintzy in the expensive joints.
stonebroke - Posted - 02/27/2011: 05:59:00
"The Grill" here in town is the best place to eat...... Come to think of it, it's the only restaurant in town. We used to be a "One Horse Town".....now we're a "One Restaurant Town". :)
Gomer - Posted - 02/27/2011: 06:42:58
Chez Moi. The cook has an attitude but the liquor is good. If you want it done right. do dit yourself
Mainechowder - Posted - 02/27/2011: 07:33:58
quote:
Originally posted by eagleisland
Down the road a piece, in Portland, there are restaurants that are nationally renowned. Here in my home town, however, the best restaurant is probably McDonalds.
It's kind of a small place...
Skip,
What about Cole Farms????
Who am I kidding, you're probably right.
Don
steve davis - Posted - 02/27/2011: 08:16:59
I'd probably eat in more restaurants if they could cook as good as my friends and family.
Micki - Posted - 02/27/2011: 09:52:25
I have always dreamed of having a B &B , since we too are limited on restaurants, and I love to cook, ain't bad either. Occasionally, I go to subway and bring home, but most meals I prepare for myself at home. Even Subway can't invent liquid food like I do. Micki
eagleisland - Posted - 02/27/2011: 11:03:26
quote:
Originally posted by Mainechowder
quote:
Originally posted by eagleisland
Down the road a piece, in Portland, there are restaurants that are nationally renowned. Here in my home town, however, the best restaurant is probably McDonalds.
It's kind of a small place...
Skip,
What about Cole Farms????
I got carded the last time I tried to get in there. When they found out I was under 75, they kicked me out.
Seriously, Cole Farms is indeed better than McDonalds, but 1) a good storyteller never lets the truth get in the way, and 2) it's just not my style of place. If I want good diner food, I'll go to Becky's or the Miss Portland.
Edited by - eagleisland on 02/27/2011 11:05:11
BConk - Posted - 02/27/2011: 15:20:10
In town? I guess it would have to be something over at the casino as the local eateries all pretty much uniformly suck.
In the Mohegan Sun casino, which is in town, there's a list of high brow eateries like Bobby Flay's Bar Americain, Michael Jordan's Steak House, Todd English's Tuscany Grille... I've been to Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana and the buffets there but that's about it.
mohegansun.com/dining/
TrainmanCSZ4UP - Posted - 02/27/2011: 16:05:21
A bar named the Harvest Moon. Formerly the Lucky Lizzard. (15 years of my 17 year old life finds it hard calling it the Moon) Best burgers in town. They have an appitizer that I take as a side called Moon Fries. Moon Fries is steak fries covered in melted chedar cheese, bacon bits, and onion. (I dont really care for the onion and I get it without) Best part bout living in a town of 806 is you can call one of the 2 resteraunts in town and by the sound of your voice they can tell who you are. (They allways ask me if I want the "usual")
Klondike Waldo - Posted - 02/27/2011: 16:07:30
Too many in my town, and we're only 12 miles SE of Downtown Boston. Hard to say what the best one is, but I like Alma Nove in Hingham, 6 miles away. It's in a shopping mall(not enclosed) that was a Shipyard . My mother worked in that shipyard during WWII. However the Restaurant is named for Mark and Donnie Wahlberg's mom. They own it with their brother Paul, the chef and a family friend. Beautiful place, beautiful food.
bobdenver1961 - Posted - 02/27/2011: 16:13:18
Chili's. It's about the only restaurant in town that hasn't gone out of business....
KE - Posted - 02/27/2011: 16:23:34
St. Louis has many restaurants that fit your description. We're especially known for Italian restaurants, many in the neighborhood called "The Hill." There are several steak/chop houses in the central corridor. Lately, some really excellent Vietnamese restaurants are springing up. Indian restaurants are also starting to excel, and may be among my current favorites.
But if I had to pick one, strictly to impress based on long-term reputation, it would still be Tony's. Or if you want a superb presentation of meat and fish, Al's, where they present the menu to you on a huge platter of chilled meat cuts and fish filets and describe the various optional preparations.
We don't eat out nearly as much as we did before kids arrived. And we've never really gotten back into the habit, as I much prefer what I can do at home in my casual clothes.
brokenstrings - Posted - 02/27/2011: 22:20:48
There's a French restaurant we go to for very special occasions. Can't think of the name right off of the top of my head, but if you get to Orlando and drive down Orange Avenue away from the center of town, it's opposite Fort Gatlin shopping center. The only place in town that makes a really good salad.
