Your favorite restaurant

[Ready]

I know we have forum members all over the world here, but I thought it would be fun to ask everyone to tell us about their favorite restaurant. What is the name, where is it located, and why do you like it?

I'm really curious to see if we have any favorites that are shared by other forum members. And maybe we'll all learn about a new restaurant in the process.

For me, I'm going to provide two. When I'm local, I love Chen's Chinese Food in Long Beach. It's the classic unhealthy Chinese food, with each portion being enough food to serve four people. Classic comfort food, and the only Chinese food worth eating in my area.

When I'm visiting Palm Springs, I have an addiction to the pizza at Bill's Pizza. I don't know what they do there, but the pizza there is the best I've had anywhere in the world. And I've been to Italy. If you go there, try the Blue Moon special. Worth every calorie!

 

[Sunset]

there is a Udon restaurant in Waikiki Oahu, often there is a line up it's so good.
They make the noodles fresh, and it was really good, and not expensive which was a surprise.
The place is busy, so we went a few times after lunch time, to try to miss the crowd.

We were there for only 1 week, but when I tried to think of what restaurant would I like to go to, that one stuck out.

 

[timo2]

I like Los Potrillos in Santa Fe, NM. It's Mexican food, not 'new mexican', and people tell me it's authentic Mexican. I only know it's one of my favorite restaurants in the country.

 

[Midpack]

Tough question. We've eaten at some better known restaurants, even a Michelin 3-star, but for us it would be between

• Chez Panisse in Berkeley CA - arguably the first & best farm to table, or
• Topolobampo in Chicago - Mexican like you've probably never had before anywhere

I could name a dozen honorable mentions...

We'd love to try Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, but we can't bring ourselves to travel just to eat there (yet).

 

[brucethebroker]

Which ever local restaurant has the best food/early bird special combo....

But, love Gino's pizza in Chicago. Try to go once a year or so.

 

[Proteus126]

there is a Udon restaurant in Waikiki Oahu, often there is a line up it's so good.
They make the noodles fresh, and it was really good, and not expensive which was a surprise.
The place is busy, so we went a few times after lunch time, to try to miss the crowd.

We were there for only 1 week, but when I tried to think of what restaurant would I like to go to, that one stuck out.

I'm thinking that was Marukame Udon, on Kuhio Avenue. We went there on a work trip 2 years ago. Fantastic.

I also recommend Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin on Beach Walk. Never had katsu-don before or since. Lovely.

 

[Ronstar]

I don't have sophisticated culinary tastes, but since I started eating healthy, my favorite has been True Food Kitchen - Chicago and Scottsdale, Az.

 

[Car-Guy]

1st place - Morton's steakhouse (anywhere - never found a bad location)
2nd place (albeit a distance 2nd place) - Ruth Chris (anywhere)

No vegan here...

 

[DektolMan]

Bern's Steakhouse Tampa, great food, quirky atmosphere but hands down my favorite place.

 

[Dawg52]

Hard to pick just one in Orange Beach, AL but I will go with Shipp's Harbour Grill.

Shipp's Harbour Grill-Home

Here is a short video of several restaurants in the area. A couple mentioned are really just fun places to go.....not really known for their great food. But her number one is Fisher's Restaurant and that is certainly in my top 3 in Orange Beach. I like to go their for lunch and look out at all the boats while dining.

 

[Scuba]

We are staying on St. Thomas in the USVI's. There is an excellent restaurant called Thirteen here. Quite a drive on unlit curvy steep roads to get there, but worth the trip. Great cocktails, nice wine list, the appetizers and entrees taste great and are well-presented, and desserts are amazing! One of the reasons I've gained some weight being here.

 

[euro]

Tough question. We've eaten at some better known restaurants, even a Michelin 3-star, but for us it would be between

• Chez Panisse in Berkeley CA - arguably the first & best farm to table, or
• Topolobampo in Chicago - Mexican like you've probably never had before anywhere

I could name a dozen honorable mentions...

We'd love to try Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, but we can't bring ourselves to travel just to eat there (yet).

I second Topo in Chicago - fantastic place (though I haven't been there in years.

Reminds me of my All-time favorite: Charlie Trotter's, also in Chicago. Very high dollar, but insane quality. Sadly, Charlie passed away at a very young age several years ago, and I assume the place is gone now. I don't often go to those $150+ per plate sort of places but once in a great while, it is a true experience.

 

[Corporateburnout]

It's difficult to select only two but we like:

Capital Grill

Legal Seafood (Most locations are in MA and neighboring states but they started to expand outside with locations in PA, VA and NJ). Their Clam chowder is excellent.

 

[Midpack]

1st place - Morton's steakhouse (anywhere - never found a bad location)
2nd place (albeit a distance 2nd place) - Ruth Chris (anywhere)

No vegan here...

Someone should start a favorite steakhouse thread. That would be fun, though many of the very best are local or regional. The steakhouse choices in Chicago are incredible.

We like high end restaurants, but only on special occasions.

 

[Ready]

It's difficult to select only two but we like:

Capital Grill

Legal Seafood (Most locations are in MA and neighboring states but they started to expand outside with locations in PA, VA and NJ). Their Clam chowder is excellent.

For my east coast visits, I'd have to agree with Legal Seafood. But the only thing I order there is the fried Ipswich clams. You can't get them on the west coast, but they are my favorite childhood meal growing up in New England. Worth a trip to the east coast just to get some.

 

[LOL!]

I was thinking "favorite" would mean the restaurant most frequented by you. You know, at least 2 or 3 or 4 times a month.

 

[USGrant1962]

1st place - Morton's steakhouse (anywhere - never found a bad location)
2nd place (albeit a distance 2nd place) - Ruth Chris (anywhere)

No vegan here...

I always thought the two chains were similar until I ate at Morton's and Ruth's Chris two days apart in Charlotte last year. Morton's was so much better! I don't know if RC was having a bad day or what.

Anyway, it's hard to beat Landry's Select Club for a loyalty program so I'm partial to their chains (Morton's, McCormick and Schmick's, Chart House, etc).

For higher end locals I like Passion Fish in the DC area, and Off the Hook near Pittsburgh.

And Altruda's in Knoxville for Italian comfort food.

 

[Fedup]

I used to like Chez Panisse back in the dark age. But when I tried her restaurant recently like in 2013, I was disappointed.
But I like the Lobster in Santa Monica for the view and food. And Mamas fish house in Maui.
But these are special occasion restaurants. But I be perfectly happy with Duke's at Hungtington Beach on normal day. Also incredible view of the beach.
But in general I like restaurants with good selection of seafood. I can't stand Ruth's Christ steak house. We went there once in Maui and just couldn't go there again. I rather eat my own steak at home.

 

[Fedup]

For my east coast visits, I'd have to agree with Legal Seafood. But the only thing I order there is the fried Ipswich clams. You can't get them on the west coast, but they are my favorite childhood meal growing up in New England. Worth a trip to the east coast just to get some.

One of my ex- roommates used to work at the Legal Seafood near Boston College. I also love fried Ipswich clams. Maybe I need a trip to Boston soon.

 

[Ready]

One of my ex- roommates used to work at the Legal Seafood near Boston College. I also love fried Ipswich clams. Maybe I need a trip to Boston soon.

There is a restaurant in Los Alamitos called The Original Fish Company that offers fried Ipswich clam strips. For clam aficionados out there, the strips are the stuff that Howard Johnson's used to sell, where as the "bellies" are whole bellied clams that are only served on the east coast. I haven't tried the clam strips there, but they do get great reviews. I have it on my bucket list to go there one day and try the clams to see if they are any good.

 

[Winemaker]

I loved Thompson's Clam Bar in Cape Cod, in both buildings. I almost cried when I found out it closed, I visited there on vacation for over 25 years.
Prime 44 West at The Greenbriar is now running neck to neck with Mankas Steakhouse at Mankas Corner near Fairfield CA.

 

[Midpack]

I used to like Chez Panisse back in the dark age. But when I tried her restaurant recently like in 2013, I was disappointed.

Though I chose it as a potential favorite, I am not surprised after so many years. I know Alice hasn't cooked there for decades, though I gather she is still involved.

On that trip, we ate at The French Laundry too, liked Chez Panisse better. TFL was great, but the front room staff were very young and full of themselves. Too bad as it's a Michelin 3-Star kitchen still.

 

[Happyras]

My wife is a fish snob, it has to be perfect. We go to Oto Sushi in Redmond WA at least 1-2x per week, always the best. We just sit down and they feed us the best. Madai, Kurudai, Himachi belly, Otoro, Amaibi, only the best Uni. They never serve something that is not on point.

Now as for steak houses, we can do better at home. My wife sends her steak back routinely even at Mortons or the Met, they never get it right for her.

We hope to find some favorites on our next trip to Asia following the Bourdain trail....

 

[MRG]

I was thinking "favorite" would mean the restaurant most frequented by you. You know, at least 2 or 3 or 4 times a month.

By that definition. Go Chicken Go in KC. Best chicken gizzards ever made, no they are Not chewy.

There's several locations, I like the original KCK one the best. No place to eat there, but 5 minutes gets you on the bluffs in kcmo overlooking the river.

I've eaten there for 38 years. Never had the chicken, some folks say it's great.

 

[Silver]

Columbia Restaurant is hands-down our favorite place to go, and we go often. They serve authentic Cuban food, and it is wonderful.

Family owned and operated for over 100 years, there are seven locations but only in Florida. We have eaten at all of them, and our favorites are the one in St. Augustine and the one in Celebration, which we go to a lot. We have eaten at the original one in
Ybor City Tampa, and enjoyed the flamingo dancing show very much.

We were eating lunch at the Celebration restaurant once, and noticed two well dressed gentlemen talking quietly at a nearby table. It was clear it was a business meeting of some sort. During that time one of the gentlemen called over two wait/bus staff and was quietly, but very firmly, giving them hell for not clearing a table promptly enough.
He was being very discrete and very brief, but because we were so close by we could hear a little bit of what he was saying.

Later during our meal we asked our waiter who those gentlemen were. He told us that one was their on-site manager, and the other was the V.P. for the Columbia Restaurants.
And that he traveled to all seven locations every week to meet with the managers and staff.

When in Florida it's worth making time to go. Make sure you order the 1904 salad which is prepared at table side. It's wonderful.