What's your favorite restaurant?

[vsvo]

Originally Posted by Air.177

...I would say probably 40% of the viet places in the continental US are called something very similar LOL...

LOL. Did you guys smell funny when you walked out? Every pho joint I go into, the smell of onions permeates the place, and it just clings to you.

Babbo in NYC. My sister-in-law and her husband took us there a couple of years ago, and my wife still raves about it. The gnocchi and sweetbreads were memorable. My wife has a trade show there in April, so we will go back, hopefully it's still as good. We've eaten at The Inn at Little Washington, and the meal was not as memorable.

[lrd]

Originally Posted by Spartan359

"Main Street USA" in Stanley market, Hong Kong. Damn good steaks.

The American Club was pretty good in the mid-90s. The complimentary after-dinner cigars in the cigar bar didn't hurt...

[MogMechanic]

If I was looking at Chain places Texas Roadhouse has some pretty good steaks and not a bad place to go. I've also found a nice place here that is not big chain and that is Pinnacle PEak in Tucson the steaks there are great and the place is alwyy packed. Not to mention it does not cost a lot of $$

[SP5IC]

Originally Posted by MogMechanic

I've also found a nice place here that is not big chain and that is Pinnacle Peak in Tucson the steaks there are great and the place is alwyy packed. Not to mention it does not cost a lot of $$

Is there one near Phoenix? Be sure and wear a tie!

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally Posted by SP5IC

Is there one near Phoenix? Be sure and wear a tie!

There used to be one at the Pointe Hilton South Mountain. Not sure if it's still there.

hands down....Don Pepe's Vesuvio -


from a web site....Old-school Southern Italian in the shadows of Kennedy Airport in South Ozone Park, Queens. They just don't make ’em like this anymore. Platters of sizzling baked clams, linguine with white clam sauce with more whole garlic cloves than you could possibly imagine, veal chops so thick they split them in half before broiling, lobster Fra Diavolo served with spaghetti cooked in the lobster sauce, steak pizzaiola made from a double New York strip steak, and last but not least, Chinese chicken (chicken cacciatore) with homemade sausage that is served in the single greatest red sauce known to mankind. And you get to dine with the ’dese, ’dem and ’dose crowd—a combination of Queens locals, stragglers to and from the Five Towns, and transients like me who have made it out from Manhattan. Plus there always seems to be a group of people who look like cast members from The Sopranos. Don Pepe's served as the inspiration for the Manhattan restaurant Carmine's, as well as Long Island's La Parma chain. A one-of-a-kind place. Wear your big hair and you will feel right at home. A

[FILO]

Almost forgot, but reminded yesterday for the 1000th time, lunch in just about any mid-town Manhattan deli is a culinary safari and damn good!:

Yesterday at the "Crowne Deli," 52nd & Broadway.

[FILO]

DP

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally Posted by Doc T

hands down....Don Pepe's Vesuvio -


from a web site....Old-school Southern Italian in the shadows of Kennedy Airport in South Ozone Park, Queens. They just don't make ’em like this anymore. Platters of sizzling baked clams, linguine with white clam sauce with more whole garlic cloves than you could possibly imagine, veal chops so thick they split them in half before broiling, lobster Fra Diavolo served with spaghetti cooked in the lobster sauce, steak pizzaiola made from a double New York strip steak, and last but not least, Chinese chicken (chicken cacciatore) with homemade sausage that is served in the single greatest red sauce known to mankind. And you get to dine with the ’dese, ’dem and ’dose crowd—a combination of Queens locals, stragglers to and from the Five Towns, and transients like me who have made it out from Manhattan. Plus there always seems to be a group of people who look like cast members from The Sopranos. Don Pepe's served as the inspiration for the Manhattan restaurant Carmine's, as well as Long Island's La Parma chain. A one-of-a-kind place. Wear your big hair and you will feel right at home. A

Thanks, Doc. I'll have to try it.

[aiki ins]

My wife enjoys dessert more then main courses of meals...
Hands down the best dessert she has ever tasted is the chocolate souffle at Roys Restaurant in Tampa/ Bonita Springs. Roys features Hawiian Fusion cuisine and the food, by the way, is quite excellent. Make sure to order the souffle when ordering the main course because it is prepared fresh each time.

[Sigaba]

American -- Musso and Frank Grill

Deli / breakfast -- Billy's Deli

Middle Eastern -- Zankou Chicken

Cuban (sit down) -- Mambos (those who rave about Versailles are often pleasantly surprised)

Cuban (on the go) -- Porto's Bakery (the one in Burbank over the original in Glendale)

Mexican -- Poquito Mas or El Tepeyac Cafe

Italian -- Anna's but the Olive Bistro is a hidden gem.

Bakery -- the Beverlywood Bakery

Chili -- Chili John's

Dimsum -- Empress Pavilion

[mojaveman]

Here in Socal we don't have any of the authentic redneck southern fried restaurants. There used to be a place in Fayetteville called Chasons Southern Barbeque (?) if I remember correctly. It looked like an old red barn or farmhouse. They had it all, chicken fried steak, fried chicken, fried catfish, fried shrimp, fried crab, fried okra, french fries, hush puppies, etc. Your cholesterol count could go up by merely reading the menu. The place wasn't anything special but I do miss the traditional Southern cooking that we don't have here on the West Coast.

[Richard]

Because your question only asks for one - mine is the H3 Ranch over at the Fort Worth Stockyards next to Booger Red's Saloon - best chicken-fried steaks, cut fries, salsa, and beer (Buffalo Butt) in the AO.

Richard's $.02

[Saoirse]

Doc T...
Oh yeah, hands down...Don Pepes...right outside of the back gates of Aquaduct racetrack...best Italian in NYC. Favorite steakhouse...Peter Lugers in Brooklyn (there are others, but the one in Brooklyn is the original and the best!). But if you go to Peter Lugers, be prepared to wait if you don't have a reservation and DON'T ask to see a menu, the response would be, "what would you come here for for anything BUT steak!?". Their steak is WELL WORTH the wait!

[Slantwire]

Sandwiches - Lost Dog Cafe, Arlington VA. If I lived closer to it, I'd be closer to 300 pounds.

Burgers - Five Guys. At least, in the DC area - I've heard that the quality isn't as good in the newer franchised locations.

Vietnamese - Present Restaurant. In a tired old shopping center next to a tire store, but it's a whole other world inside. Food is fantastic.

Thai - Neisha Thai in the DC area, but I do love real Thai street food. Unlike Magician, I never had a bad meal off the soi, but he's spent more time there than I have.

Steak - Texas Roadhouse (chain). I've never brought myself to pay for the Morton's or Ruth Chris types of places.

Tex / Mex - I have fond memories of Anita's (local chain), but it doesn't measure up when I go back now. Need to find a new place.