Name your top 3 restaurants that you eat at regularly

[Kathy in Cambridge]

and tell me why you like them! I'm trying to give myself an excuse not too cook tonight. What about a 'special occasion' restaurant. Do you have one that you just LOVE?

My three:

1) Lil Vinny's, Somerville: awesome Italian food, family-owned and friendly. reasonably priced with HUGE portions (I can get at least 2 more meals out of mine with leftovers)

2) Chez Henri, Cambridge: Cuban-French fusion. They have fabulous bar food (their Cuban sandwiches are awesome) and they make a mean Mojito.

3) West Side Lounge, Cambridge: inventive menu, awesome drink list. Their tuna is to die for!

Special Occasion: there are so many, but Hammersley's Bistro and No. 9 Park are two of my faves.

[candy]

1. Il Capriccio,Waltham,Ma------for special occasions---the absolute best

Luciano's - Wrentham -- Great food,moderate to high prices.

Pho Pasteur---Allston and Needham---Real bargain and great Vietnamese food.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. I LOVE Il Capriccio!

I've never been to Luciano's-I'll have to check it out after shopping at the Wrentham Outlets! :D

We have a Pho Pasteur in Harvard Square. It really is a bargain!

[candy]

64. Luciano's is on Route 1 southbound side.----Enjoy!

[OldLeftieLawyer]

3. :::: sigh :::::

1. Duangrat, Falls Church, VA - the best Thai food I've ever eaten, and that includes Thailand;

2. Full Kee, Falls Church, VA - a great Hong Kong type restaurant, the real deal, full of Chinese families and the occasional person who looks like me;

3. H. T. Ribster's, Annandale, VA - waitresses in hot pants, guys yelling at the bar, smoking their heads off, and families still in go-to-church clothes on Sunday, digging into the best beef ribs and cole slaw I've ever tasted.

Thanks a lot for this thread - now I'm hungry.

DAMN YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:yourock:

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. So I gather you're from VA

did you catch Chavez's BBQ thread? Now THAT made my mouth water! :9

[OldLeftieLawyer]

58. Yes, I am, presently, and no, I missed that thread

Haven't you tortured me enough?

[Dastard Stepchild]

4. In Chicago, that would be:

1. The Chicago Diner - vegan and vegetarian fare
2. Tiparos - delicious Thai restaurant
3. Hema's Kitchen - fabulous Indian food.

In the Detroit metro area, that would be:
1. Mongolian BBQ - love to make my own stir fry
2. Monterrey's Cantina - delish Mexican and awesome salsa
3. Blue Nile - Ethiopian food at its best

In the St. Joe/Benton Harbor, MI Area:
1. Chili's - I love the bean burger
2. Amicarelli's Vineyard - pretty tasty Italian fare
3. errr.... that's it really.

In Boston, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED:
1. Buddha's Delight in Chinatown
2. Country Life
3. Fajitas and Ritas

That is all. :)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

7. Buddha's Delight has good vegetarian food

There are better Mexican restaurants than Fajitas and Ritas: Ole in Cambridge has the BEST Margaritas and is Mexico City cooking; Tu y Yo in Somerville is an authentic, country-style Mexican restaurant.

[intheflow]

16. Is Ole's the place on Church St.? n/t

[Kathy in Cambridge]

32. No, that's the Border Cafe

Ole is on Springfield St. in Inman Sq. Cambridge. it is FABULOUS. Border Cafe is your typical Tex Mex place. Not very good food but good Margaritas!

[intheflow]

33. Yeah, the Border Cafe.

:puke:

But good margaritas. Expensive for the tourists and the professors, but good.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

43. I got food poisoning at the Border many years ago

I haven't been back since. :puke:

[intheflow]

Me too! LOL! n/t

[Dastard Stepchild]

27. Yeah...

we didn't really get into Cambridge and Somerville, much to my chagrin. I liked the beans at F&R, but that's about all I remember.

[intheflow]

13. Fajitas and Ritas!

I forgot about that place! Yuuuuum! :hi:

[Mojambo]

6. There's this little Korean Bulgogi place

tucked away in a mall food court that has the most unbelievably delicious food I've ever had.

I could eat it three times a day for the rest of my life and never get sick of it.

I would almost eat that food out of a dumpster.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

14. What's Bulgogi?

[Mojambo]

21. Korean BBQ

Marinated chicken, beef or whatever served with steamed rice and all the veggies and such.

The barbecued chicken is just to die for. And then there is the spicy kimchi (pickled cabbage) on the side.

My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

26. There is a Korean BBQ place in my city

and it is REALLY good. :9

[YankeyMCC]

35. Where?

I recently discovered Korean BBQ, we go to a place in Burlington. Even my 8 year old loves it.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

38. Koreana on the corner of Prospect and Broadway in Cambridge

It has the BBQ grills built into the tables.

It is pretty cheap for lunch there too.

I'm assuming the place in Burlington is New Jang Su BBQ? My friends who live in Winchester love that place!

[YankeyMCC]

40. that's the place

[AlCzervik]

8. Fat City in old town Sacramento

PF Changs in Roseville california, best duck in plum sauce i've had
and Thai Basil in Elk Grove california, their pad thai is to die for.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

10. I went to a PF Chang's in Austin, TX. It was delicious.

We have one here in Boston in the theater disrict.

[AlCzervik]

19. Thats where we go for my daughter's birthday every year now

her favorite place to eat ever.

[intheflow]

9. In along the Front Range in Colorado

1) I honestly don't know the name of my favorite, favorite place I eat at. My boyfriend and I call it the Mexican Barbecue Place. It's in a strip mall next to his apartment in Colorado Springs; we walk over there and enter through the side door. I don't think I've ever actually seen the name. But this food really is like Mexican home cooking, they have these huge barbecue pits where they barbecue chicken, steaks, and pork ribs with the most delicious, yummy spices. And she makes the most killer guacamole in the world.

2) The Shiraz in south Denver. Persian food (which is another way of saying Iranian). They have two dishes I love: gormeh szabshi and a roasted lamb shank. It's too expensive for me to eat there often, but I love it. Bonus: if you go there after 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays it turns into a Persian club, complete with belly dancers and disco balls!

3) Gib's NY Style Bagels in Fort Collins. I love bagels, but the carbs just kill me. Gib's will hollow out a bagel, so the carbs are cut in half. Then they have a low-fat spinach and artichoke cream cheese that's wonderful that I get some mornings on my way to work. Or, if getting a lunch sandwich, they make a great tuna melt with a horseradish cheddar cheese. Ooooh! My tummy's rumbling just thinking of the yummy goodness!

I just realized all these places are in strip malls. Hmmm...



If I were in Cambridge, though, I'd hop an electric bus to Watertown Sqare and eat at Demos. I miss Demos very much!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

12. Demos has great souvlaki

I haven't eaten there in years.

There are two other restaurants in Watertown Sq that I love: Stellina and La Casa de Pedro (Venezuelan food).

[intheflow]

23. I remember Stellina's when it was

in a building accross the bridge toward Newtown, on the left heading toward the Pike. Kinda next to the bus hub. They were only there for about a year before they moved into their Watertown Square home. You're right, they're a great restaurant. I didn't know if they were still there--it's been 15 years since I lived there.

At Demos, it was always the stuffed grape leaves that got me. Just like my Dad used to make!

[fryguy]

11. depends where I'm living at the moment

when in NYC:

1- Louie's Westside Cafe on Amsterdam (where I proposed to my wife)

2- Rosewaters on Union Street in Park Slope

3- Katz'a Deli (does corned beef get any better?)


when in Northampton:

1- Circa

2- Northampton Brewery

3- Smokin' Lil's BBQ

[Kathy in Cambridge]

22. I haven't eaten at any of those places in Noho

I'll have to check them out! :hi:

[fryguy]

31. circa tops the list for taste

as well as cost, but so worth it!

[Sporadicus]

15. I Dined at Davio's in Cambridge a Couple of Years Ago

Had the monkfish & lobster with a side order of shrimp linguini. It was sublime!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

20. I've dined at Davio's on Newbury Street

it's very good. There's so many good restaurants in Boston, it's hard to choose where to go!

[Sporadicus]

25. That's True!

I was surprised to find decent BBQ there, of all things.

[jswordy]

17. NONE!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

18. And the point of your post is?

:shrug:

[jswordy]

34. That I do not eat regularly at any restaurants.

Why? you may ask with your razor-sharp mind.

Well, it saves me a frickin' ton of money over when I used to dine out frequently, I eat a far higher quality food at home, and I get away from an awful lot of food additives that are put in restaurant food that they can get away with because they do not have to list their ingredients. (Some of the additives can cause anything from mild congestion to full-blown allergy-like symptoms in some people...I had indeed noticed how I stuffed up after eating out, when I did. Others have noticed that they do, too.)

Plus, it saves me loads of salt and sugar, the top 2 cheap flavorings used by restaurants (pepper is third).

I'd rather cook at home. We make up a shitload (that is way more than you need, plus some) of any one meal, and freeze the leftovers in portion containers in an upright freezer. After a while, the freezer gets quite a variety of quick, heat and eat dishes. That is a great spot to be, cuz you actually cook only once or twice a week, and the rest of the meals come out of the freezer.

[seemunkee]

24. Mmmmmm

Royal Mile pub - Wheaton, MD Burgers, Beer, and Scotch Eggs
Urban BBQ - Rockville, MD - BBQ what else
Mon Ami Gabi - Bethesda MD - Steak, Frites and great House wines.

[YankeyMCC]

28. Alright...

1) Blue Ribbon, Arlington
2) Midwest Grill, Cambridge
3) Giacomo's, North End

[Kathy in Cambridge]

41. Giacomo's is AWESOME, and Midwest Grill is too!

We have so many great restaurants here, don't we?

Midwest Grill is a meatfest! I haven't been there in a while...

[YankeyMCC]

44. I discovered chicken hearts there...

At the Midwest Grill. I mean I always knew chickens had hearts just never knew they were so delicious when BBQ'd! :)

And yes having all these great places is one of the great things about living near the Hub of the Universe.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

50. Chicken hearts are one thing I won't try

:scared:

They scare me!

[NewJeffCT]

29. well, here in the CT area

1) Szechuan Garden in West Hartford. My wife says it's authentic Chinese food, and I like it, too.

2) Pho Boston, also in West Hartford. Good Vietnamese food.

that's really the only real restaurants we eat at regularly. The other places we go because they sell mac 'n' cheese for our 2 year old daughter (or, "m-roni cheese" as she puts it) - like Friendly's, Pizzeria Uno, TGI Friday's, etc.

[GOPisEvil]

30. In Austin, get thee to the following

1. Curra's Grill, more Mex than Tex. Site of DU brunches (there's one tomorrow, kids).

2. Threadgill's, southern classics

3. Habana, for great Cuban food (assuming the place has been rebuilt following the fire).

There's lots, LOTS more.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

36. I LOVE Curra's!

My friends have taken me there before when I visited. I also liked Trudy's (I think that's what it's called) for Mexican Martinis.

[GOPisEvil]

37. Trudy's Mexican Martinis will put you on your ass!

They are quite yummy!

I'll be having the migas at Curra's tomorrow morning. I can taste them already! :9

[khashka]

39. Ashamed but I'll tell you

1) Olive Garden - yeah I know, but it's the only place around here that serves calamari.
2) Ninfa's - another chain, but their chili con queso with taco meat is simply to die for.
3) This little Cajun place with no name has the best crawfish etoufee ever. It's like dying and going to heaven.

Khash.

[sir_captain]

42. Hmm.... In NYC

Probably

1) Lupa -- Best italian I've had outside of Italy, by far.
2) Flor de Mayo. With the exception of college, I've probably gone to this cuban restaurant once a week for the last twenty years.
3) Oriental Garden -- my favorite restaurant in Chinatown. Been going there for 20 years too.

In the Boston area:

1) Pho Pasteur--I lived on the pho in college. It's probably the thing I miss most about Harvard Square!
2) Pinnochio's Pizza. See above and replace with Spinach pizza.
3) Hammersley's Bistro--that's a really good restaurant.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

45. I grew up on Pinocchio's Pizza. And Angelo's.

It's difficult to find BAD pizza in Boston (except at those Greek-style pizza joints).

[sir_captain]

46. I literally dream about Pinnochio's sometimes

I've made trips to Cambridge just to eat there and at Pho. It's a little sad.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

48. LOL. there are so many fabulous restaurants in Cambridge

and he eats at Pinnochios! ;-)

The pizza really is good. I wish they delivered though! x(

[sir_captain]

53. Heh...well, I had to do it on a budget

It's only recently that I've been able to occassionally enter into the world of high-end dining! ;-)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

55. Did you ever go to Bartley's for a burger?

YUM!

[sir_captain]

56. Oh sure...

Bartley's, after all, being one of the only places that was still around from my previous stint in Cambridge in the early 80s. Definitely one of my favorite burgers.

[yellowdogintexas]

65. I remember Bartley's from the '60 s...and it was a legendary

institution then. Do they still do the brick of stringy onion rings that are real skinny?

And is that little sub shop just off Mass Ave near the Law School still in business? Man they used to have the best peppersteak subs, pastrami subs and egg salad...on extremely fresh wonderful bread.

[flamingyouth]

47. I have a few local favorites

Cafe Lago - my neighborhood Italian restaurant.

Chinoise on Madison - decent sushi, great sushi chef who graduated from the Culinary Alliance of America (the good CIA ;))

I love The Dahlia Lounge in Seattle. I've been eating at that place since it was in its former location. :9

[Kathy in Cambridge]

49. Is Chinoise a chain?

I think I've eaten here before...

[flamingyouth]

51. There are three in Seattle

I don't think there are any outside Seattle, though. (It's not the same as the LA-based Wolfgang Puck restaurant with the same name.)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

52. We're going to two of our favorites this weekend...

Mr GoG turns 57 tomorrow, and he wanted to spend the weekend in Rehoboth Beach. So Tomorrow night we'll have great pub food and 1st class microbrew at the Dogfish Head brewpub.
http://www.dogfish.com/

On Sunday night, we'll splurge and dine at The Blue Moon. http://www.bluemoonrehoboth.com/

One of my local favorites is Il Pizico in Rockville, MD. http://www.ilpizzico.com/thecritics.htm

Bon apetit!

[Nailzberg]

54. Frankies, Irv's Burgers, and Barney's Beanery

Okay, one's a burger stand, and one is a filthy bar. Not sure if those last two even count. But that's were I eat.


www.irvsburgers.com

[mvd]

57. I usually take out from these

But here they are:

Lou's Too: great hoagies and improved cheesesteaks; amazing French fries

Max and Erma's: I love their chicken finger dinners. Burgers used to be great, but lately they've been too raw. I'll have to shout "well done!" at them next time. :-)

Limerick Diner: Their pork dinners with stuffing are quite enjoyable

[Kathy in Cambridge]

59. Is Max and Erma's a chain?

[mvd]

61. Yes, it is

[amazona]

60. hmmm

The top three I've eaten at regularly in recent years have been a casino chain called Farradday's (monthly), Emeril's in New Orleans (a few times a year), and, the third one is a toughie, but I'll say it used to be Red Square at Mandalay Bay until that fine establishment decided not to comp me any more. There are many great restaurants in this wicked world but for long-winded reasons I have been able to get invitations to eat in these places free. A lot. I don't eat or buy fast food, hey, I'm a cheapskate! Don't try to kid me with your 99 cent meals, I hold out for the comps. :-)

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[bleedingheart]

62. We don't eat out often but our top three would be...

1. Valozzi's in Greensburg, PA
2. Mountain View in Greensburg, PA
3. The Carlton in Pittsburgh, PA

[Huckebein the Raven]

63. Here's my list

1.) Aubeulo's (I've butchered the spelling so bear with me)
- a really nice Mexican restaurant. Very good Margaritas.

2.) Outback


3.) J.Alexander's
- like their tuna and their burgers.


For special occasions, I have to say Owen Brennan's (again bad spelling). A very nice Cajun restaurant. Their best dish is this sort of baked seafood casserole (I can't describe it off the top of my head but it's delicious ).

[yellowdogintexas]

66. in Fort Worth:

Mexico Real, a neighborhood place ..for spinach enchiladas...from HEAVEN

Red Hot and Blue for Memphis style BBQ


West Side Cafe for home style food


King Tut's for Egyptian


La Madeline French Cafe/Bakery..rosemary roast chicken, various soups and light French cuisine and divine desserts


WanFu or China Jade for chinese.

My daughter says Texas Roadhouse has steaks that are out of this world

7th Street Cafe home style food and they are good Democrats, too.

Charley's for burgers

Esperanza's for Mexican breakfast

Michaels for a special evening out.

[Lisabtrucking]

67. RAMONES, In Brandon FL, MMMM Great Italan food. n/t

[solinvictus]

68. Birmingham

Taziki's Greek Fare: Mmm Mmm good
The Fish Market
Niki's West: Great homestyle Southern food from a steam table served by Greeks.
The Greeks have the restaurant business here sewed up, much to my delight!!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

69. Key Largo and Islamorada

Snappers - lots of friends and locals, but I love the gator and oysters moscow and cracked conch and they put out a decent steak.

Buzzard's Roost - chicken salad on croissant (has little green grapes and almonds in the salad, yummm)

Outback - the bar is outside and the view is the best...overlooking the ocean... but the prices are standard Outback so they don't gouge the tourists or the locals.

[Ellen Forradalom]

70. 1) Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop, 53rd Street & Harper, Chicago

Nicknamed by my son "The Crocodile Restaurant" because they give little rubber crocodiles to the kids. Serves a great pulled pork sandwich. Don't tell my rabbi.

2) Manny's Deli. Two words: Corned beef. My rabbi already knows about this, thanks.

3) The Golden Snail on 55th St. We order in Thai about once a week.