your favorite restaurant

[Deleted User]

I don’t eat out much at all these days but I used to and sometimes I miss it.

–What is your favorite dining-out place in the world? Can be in other countries if you travelled. Describe the place and why. Can be a pub, bar, pastry-shop…  hotel.. whatever.

My favorite place in the world to eat out at is the Waterfront Storehouse in Halifax. It does not look like a restaurant but like a storehouse obviously, and it sits right by the ocean so you get the best fish to eat there. It is big, and not the cozy-type dining place, but fine enough people dress up to go there. I like to order white tuna steak when I eat there.

 

[Sarita]

That sounds like a wonderful place to dine!

I have had so many special dining experiences – my favorite type of experience by the way LOL.

Unfortunately if you asked me to tell you the names of the places, I couldn’t, but here goes:

1. There is a crepe restaurant in Concarneau where my husband is from (in France, the Brittany Region) that makes fabulous crepes. They make the savory ones which are my favorite and they serve them with hard apple cider. I always want to go there when I visit Concarneau – we cannot get these things here.

2. Also when my family came to Brittany for our wedding, we discovered this restaurant on the Belon River where they harvest the famous Belon Oysters and had the most incredible seafood feast ever – we still talk about it. All kinds of seafood, we could never get here.

3. When I was growing up, we used to go to a place in Pittsburgh (my mom and dad are from Pennsylvania) called Tambellini’s that served the absolute best fried zucchini ever. I still crave that zucchini.

[Lara]

Oh, gosh… I have so many!! I’m feeling a bit homesick for China these days, so I’m going to go with a few there. In Harbin, there is a wonderful dumpling soup place that was just around the corner from my apartment. The dumplings are so tasty and filling… definitely comfort food. Another of my favourite places in China was a tiny little noodle shop (there are hundreds of them in each city) just down the street from the Wuxi Sheraton. You go in and they give you a little bowl of soup, then you watch as the guy stretches and cooks noodles right in front of you. Add a little chili and a little vinegar… delicious!!

Here in Canada, I really like a local place called Caribbean Flavas. They have amazing jerk chicken and homemade coconut bread. mmm

[Deleted User]

oh, crepes! I had crepes at a creperie in France once. the place only made crepes, any which way you wanted! Those were amazing. I forgot about the creperie… hmm… I could eat some now.
how did they fry the zucchini? Do you know?

[Deleted User]

Posted By Lara on 09/27/2010 08:28 AM
  I’m feeling a bit homesick for China these days, so I’m going to go with a few there.

 

is it true that food in China is nothing like Chinese food here in the West?

[LizzieKnittyBun]

I looooove zucchini. And I love crepes! There’s a fun place in New Orleans called La Crepe Nanou that makes great crepes, both savory and sweet.

Favorite restaurant… that’s a tough one. I might change my mind later, but the one I’m thinking of at the moment is Commander’s Palace, also in New Orleans. Incredible food, a beautiful garden room surrounded by trees with lights in them, and we’ve had so many happy moments there, including one of our anniversaries. It’s definitely one of those “special occasion” type of places.

[Sarita]

Here’s the recipe:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_122983.html

and here’s a photo of them:

http://www.eatzucchini.com/menu_item_detail.aspx

They cut them differently than what you expect so they are thin and crisp.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Thank you, Sarita!

<3

[jennyrabbit]

I would have to say… Milky Way and the Snak Shak. Milky way is in my city, best ice cream around and they have real food too thats just as awsome, and how do you know? because if you want food from that place, expect to stand in line for at LEAST an hour. the snak shak is in the middle of nowhere, litterally its just a little shack on the side of the highway with a single picnic table outside, but the food is amazing! its small and in the middle of nowhere, but everyone knows it! both are tiny with no indoor area(think a food booth at a fair)

[Sarita]

The Snak Shak sounds like fun! What kind of food do they serve?

[Lara]

Posted By Petzy on 09/27/2010 08:39 AM

Posted By Lara on 09/27/2010 08:28 AM
  I’m feeling a bit homesick for China these days, so I’m going to go with a few there.

 

is it true that food in China is nothing like Chinese food here in the West?

 

That is very true! To be honest, I’m not much of a fan of “American” Chinese food, but I LOVE the food in China. There are similarities in the way things are prepared (most households in China don’t have an oven, so things are mostly stir fried), but I don’t thing I’ve ever had a common “Chinese food” dish in China, other than maybe spring rolls. Plus, there are no fortune cookies in China! (I always found that very funny, and, of course, ironic.)

[LoveChaCha]

I wonder what Chinese students from China think of America’s “Chinese food.” Lol.

The fortune cookie was actually started in California, if I am correct.

I like simple places, Applebees, Olive Garden. I don’t go out often anymore and I don’t eat fast food much, due to my working out. When my mom was sick, that is all that I would eat because it was simple and easy. Now, I just make my own things at home, or my dad cookes galore.

I like burgers can’t keep me away from those!!
I’m not much of a Chinese food fan. I LOVE Asian pastries!!

I like Asian food, just once in a while. I’m not fond of it. If I do go, i usually get spicy teriyaki (OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and if I could eat one Japanese thing, it would be Gyoza.

http://www.yisyisyis.com/blog/uploa…722854.JPG

Hawaiian is another favorite, but in moderation. There is a fast food chain in Hawaii called “Zippy’s Chili.” The place has other types of food of coruse, but the place is well known for their chili.

Hawaiians eat their chili with rice underneath  It is actaully VERY GOOD like that

[Sarita]

I didn’t think Chili was Hawaiian LOL. My Mom used to make chili with rice too…I always thought it was a Southern thing (although my Mom is not Southern).

[LoveChaCha]

It isn’t But Zippys makes their own kind and add stuff to it. I love it spicy

[Alina]

I LOVE eating out, which is terrible. I work 10 hour days and when I get home the last thing I want to do is cook.

1: Benihana. It’s this Japanese hibachi restaurant where they cook food in front of you. They have this clear onion soup and it is SO delicious.

2: Teriyaki Chicken. The owners liked my family so much when we moved they opened a new location near us and moved here. When I walk in she rings me up with out asking because she knows I always get the vegetable tempura.

3: Las Caras. Hands down the best cheese enchiladas I have ever had!

4: Cuba Cuba. It is the only Cuban food restaurant in the Denver/Metro area in Colorado. I can’t find another one. They have this dish called ropa vieja and it is like the most juicy meat you have ever tasted. You have to take small bites or your mouth will fill up with juice too fast. The other dish is picadillo.

Lol so yeah, I love going out to eat. Food is my life.

[Karla]

Sushi restaurants in London. Simply because they have convoyer belts hahaha  I am not used to that here.

EDIT: oh, so you are supposed to describe it. Well, the reason I love it, is basically because of the convoyer belt – I have only seen that in London, so that is why I am so excited. And because I am such a stingy person, it is kind of fun to have to watch the pattern on the plates to find out if it is an expensive one or a cheap one, and than get it in time before someone else takes it…haha.

And my favourite is this one:

So restaurant: http://maps.google.dk/maps?hl=da&am…9,,0,49.98

Don’t really know. Perhaps it was the first one, we entered, and we were so excited about the convoyer belt, that this one just made the biggest impression? Don’t know. But do go there!

[Elrohwen]

This is probably my favorite place to eat out: http://www.ilbarilottorestaurant.com/home.htm

It’s a little Italian place called Il Barilotto, located in the Hudson Valley region. It’s fairly pricey and not super close to where we live, so we only get to go a few times a year (though it’s really close to work, so we should go more often!) but I love it. It’s far above simple pasta with tomato sauce – their pastas are fresh and the sauces are amazing. I’ve eaten at some of the best Italian restaurants in NYC and I honestly don’t think they’ve been better than this place on average (especially for the pasta dishes). Check out the menu on the website – I promise it’ll make your mouth water! My favorites are probably:

ricotta cavatelli, shrimp, butternut squash, wild mushrooms, sage, pine nuts, brown butter

quill shaped pasta, pancetta, asparagus, mascarpone, white truffle oil

 

I love and eat a huge variety of food, but there’s something about Italian food that is so comforting!

 

eta: Sarita, so cool that your husband is from Brittany! I’ve always wanted to visit there. Also, I grew up in Pittsburgh and I’ve eaten at that Italian place! I don’t think I had the fried zucchini, but I’ve heard it’s the best.

eta2: Brit – about Chinese students eating “American Chinese” food – I went to a college with a *ton* of Asian kids, mostly Chinese, and mostly poor grad students. We had two awful (though cheap) Chinese restaurants in collegetown (now I love American Chinese, but there are good places, and there are cheap buffet type places and these were the cheap yucky places – good drunk food maybe, but definitely not high quality!). Every time I went in there it was mobbed with Asian students! I couldn’t believe it. It’s like going to school in China and only eating crappy burgers at McD’s or something. lol I couldn’t figure out why they didn’t eat at the better American/Greek/Italian/sandwich/Japanese restaurants, or at least order Chinese food from the better quality places in the main town.

[Queensbun]

I went to a pow wow (Native American gathering) yesterday and had some delicious “fry bread” which is a staple in their culture. I think lard is used to make the fry bread which isn’t very healthy but it sure taste good. You can have fry bread with savory flavors – buffalo meat and what not – but I chose to have mine with a sprinkling of powdered sugar. Yum!

[Dextervonbon]

Oh geez I could eat Sushi everyday of my life if I could afford it and it was local. I haven’t really lived around too many places that have sushi. I use to make picadillo all the time too My mom always served rice with Chili and I still do to this day but I grew up in South Fla, not sure if that is really considered the south lol. The best fish place I ever went to was in Key West, it was kind of a hole in the wall place but was right on the water and very fresh.

[Alina]

Oh my gosh I know, I’d love to have sushi every day. It is so delicious

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Oh me three about the sushi…. LOVE IT

[Nibbles_NZ]

I’m going to be boring and say the Olive garden. lol I LOVE their chicken scampi and salad. I also enjoy the wine with the meal. There is really nothing different about the place. I just love Italian food. I would love to go to Italy and try some authentic Italian food.

[AbbyGirl]

I love to go to Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. It’s a really nice burger joint and they serve bottomless fries with every sandwich. They are one of the only places around here that caters to gluten free dining. Me and my girls can’t have any wheat, barley, rye or oats. So it’s nice for us to order a burger that comes in a lettuce wrap, eat some fresh fries and know that no one will be sick from it. =)

[Monkeybun]

I’m going to be boring too. My favs around here are Stanford’s and Olive garden. mmmmm. when we drive to the coast for the day, we always go to Mo’s, best seafood ever.

[Dextervonbon]

I love Red Robin, I always get the brushetta chicken (spelling?) sandwich or the Bayou burger Their garlic parm fries are the best too! My favorite thing from Olive Garden is just the bread sticks and salad, the other stuff is too greasy for some reason

[BinkyBunny]

What a great thread…making me so hungry!

There are so many great restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, it’s very difficult to decide a favorite.  My favorite foods are Italian and Japanese.   

One of my very favorite restaurants though is neither Japanese nor Italian.   It’s Singaporean — Straights Cafe/Restaurant.  Which is strange because it’s not like I would say… Hey, my favorite food is Singaporean! (something I never really even considered — just happened upon by a friend’s recommendation and I was hooked.)  Though they have Straights in other states -Houstan and Atlanta, I have only been to the one in San Francisco. Love it!

 I like Kamakura Japanese restaurant.  It’s a little squished, but great food, and you get a free little dessert plum wine after every meal.  The owner is normally there too and she comes by and checks on patrons and asks how there meal was.   She also makes sure to say goodbye or at least makes sure to have a few restaurant employees open the door for you on your way out and they say goodvbye, and thank you a few times. I was actually suprised the first time this happened because as Steve and I were heading torward the door, we almost got runover by the hostess and two waitresses as they raced to beat us to the door so they could open it for us. 
 

The other favorite is Bambino’s in San Francisco.   Food always tastes fresh and the service is good. (Another small place, but it seems like alot of places are like that in here.  

We haven’t gone out alot lately as we are on a tight budget, but I can’t wait to eat out more when we are less lean, and have more $green$.

 

 

[Deleted User]

Spargo’s makes the BEST pizzas. Wood fire pizzas and gourmet mains and pastas. I don’t know if they have spargos in USA

-Lil_Miss_Bunny_Lover

[RabbitPam]

queensbun, I used to go to pow wows in New England all the time. I miss it so much! Florida – feh. Nothing happening down here.

Lara, my sis-in-law is from Taiwan (here family lives there) and cooks real Chinese food. Much, much better. Very happy when we discovered a local restaurant that serves a huge menu with “both”. She ordered for us so we got the best selection of the traditional style of cooking and it was fabulous. Appetizers of lightly fried tofu with a dipping sauce – yum. Eggplant dish with fish….sigh. Not bad for Weight Watchers, however.

I had many favorite restaurants along the shore in Massachusetts, the key reason being freshly caught fish, lobster, muscles. Cape Cod is great in West Dennis and Hyannis; Marblehead and Newburyport all have lovely places that have NE ambiance with good food. Florida does really well with ribs, like Longhorn’s.

[Beka27]

I am not a very adventurous eater. I’m the person who gets the same thing, every single time… We have Layalena which is an amazing Mediterranean restaurant. Other than that, it’s mostly chains around here (Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill, etc…)

[ScooterandAnnette]

We have a great teppanyaki restaurant here called Ichiban, which I just love.  I’ve been to other similar restaurants and so far my favourite is still Ichiban.  This is the kind of place where the chef prepares the food on the hot flat griddle right in front of you.  I know a lot of people refer to this as hibachi-style cooking but it’s actually teppan.  (“Hibachi” in Japenese technically is just a wood or charcoal heater, the little BBQs we tend to call hibachis are actually shichirin in Japanese).   

There’s a great Moroccan restaurant in Las Vegas called Marrkesh (I think just about every Morrocan restaurant is named that).   I love pastas and Italian foods but I don’t think I have a favourite restaurant for that.  Favourite steak place here is 529 Wellington but it’s really pricey so definitely only a special occasion place.  Hy’s is another really good steakhouse, also on the expensive side though.  I really like going to Mongo’s, which is a Mongolian grill.  Not exactly fancy but you know exactly what you’re getting and if you don’t like your meal well then that’s kind of your own fault!

And yes, North American “Chinese” food is nothing like real, traditional Chinese food.  Dim Sum at most places is pretty close I believe, although we were at one place in LA that had little hamburgers on the carts which was just weird.  I have a difficult time with a lot of traditional Chinese food because I don’t eat pork, I can’t eat seafood, and a lot of the traditional stuff I frankly find really oily.  It’s always interesting going out to the authentic-type restaurants with Scooter because it’s interesting to see the difference in how they treat him (he’s Chinese) and me – the Gweilo.  Generally it’s like I either don’t exist or I’m stupid.  I’ve had some places bring a fork and put it on the table for me to use, assuming that I can’t use chopsticks!

– Annette

[Lis]

Norfolk Ice Cream Company. I discovered them last night while over on that street trying to meet a friend for calc hw (she never did show). Their amaretto almond ice cream is TO DIE FOR.

[MimzMum]

OH gosh, I wish I hadn’t peeked in this thread! 0_0 Now I’m STARVING and it’s too late to be eating here!

Sarita, I had no idea your hub was from France! My grandfather’s family came from Pau, above the Pyrenees. They settled in San Francisco and the family branched out from there to the whole Bay Area and Central Valley, mostly because it reminded them so much of southern France. Good wines in California, to be sure. *nods*

I love French meals, they are about 7 courses in a fancy restaurant and small portions, like the stuff you see them preparing on Hell’s Kitchen. There was a good one in SF that I can’t recall the name of, it was when I was wee. I remember the Baked Alaska though. ^_^ The funny thing is, we ate our salads for dessert, (with a little cognac and coffee for the adults). I recall not quite liking the watercress and won’t have it on my salad ever since.

I love crepes. Want to learn to make those, and mochi too (but not altogether at once!) I’ve had sushi, but only rarely, as I’m always afraid I’m going to get the chef who doesn’t cut the poisonous fish right with my luck!

I’m not greatly traveled, so all my picks are west coast.

In SF there is an awesome burrito place near the mint. (at least it used to be there about 15 years ago) that was called El-Quake-O. They made burritos filled with rice and meats and veggies that were about as big as your head. You had to eat them from inside out with a spoon, they were so big.

Just north of Pismo Beach, there was a place called the Custom House that used to make an amazing fish and chips. The fish was white and flaky, and cooked in a curled fashion in a delicious batter. Their fries were also curly and delectable. And the burger place in Pismo called Garlands, that just went out of business, had heavenly burgers and onion rings that were to die for! They had about the freshest tasting hamburgers that I’ve ever eaten and each onion ring was like having a whole bloom to yourself, they were so large and nummy!

If you like Danish cooking, Solvang in southern California is a great, touristy place to go. I mostly get the fudge. But once in awhile some ebelskivers. ( < sp? ) My best friend would never go by there without also going to the Andersen's Split Pea Soup place, but I've never been. Don't like soup that much. 0_o;

Sadly, Alaska doesn’t sport any great eating places. And who has the money to dine out? I feel bad getting my coffee at Starbucks, much less paying almost $20 any time I eat at a fast food restaurant. But alas, my cooking is something to be avoided at all costs, so we mostly eat at Chez Freezer. >.<

[Author]

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