Good Eats Across the United States

Smoky Mountains - Last Visit::November 2007 

The quickest easist place for us to take a quick easy cheap weekend trip

Calhoun's

This is a Tennessee based chain, but most locations are in the Smoky Mtn area. Great BBQ, fried green tomatoes, spinach maria, and thier house salad is good.

Best Italian Cafe - Gatlinburg

Lives up to the name. Large Pizza will feed a small army. All pasta dishes are good. The real reason to go? - The Garlic Rolls.

Burning Bush - Gatlinburg

This restaurant is now called Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant, as their parent company is trying to squeeze it into the mold of a corprate brand...but I will continue to call it Burning Bush. Go for the "bountiful breakfast"...ask for an original leconte sunrise instead of the applejulep.

No Way Jose's

For being in the middle of Appalachia, surprisingly good fresh Mexican food

The Wild Plum Tea Room

A very interesting experience on the Arts and Crafts Loop.

Cherokee Grill

A good steakhouse with some nice interior design. You can get a nice meal without contributing an arm and a leg. Avacado dressing for the salad is good. I like the Teriyaki steak and the pulled rotisserie chicken sandwich. The BleuCheese Grits are rich.

Florida Panhandle -- Last Visit::September2007 

DESTIN - Another Broken Egg Cafe

Breakfast, obviously.

SEASIDE - Great Southern Cafe

Most places that feature "new southern" are awful because they mess up great soul food dishes that are terrific to start with. Great Southern Cafe does do some interesting things with southern food. The Fried Green Tomatoes had a great breading. The pork is too sweet. Wonderful gouda cheese grits. The chef here used to be at the Fish House in Pensacola which is another good choice.

DESTIN - Louisiana Lagniappe

Lagniappe supposedly means "a little something extra" in Cajun/Creole speech. This is a higher end restaurant that still has a nice laid back feel to it. Lots of seafood with a Louisiana touch

PENSACOLA - Fish House

Great seafood with a Southern twist

DESTIN - Fisherman's Wharf

Not extremely fancy -- but very good and very fresh fish. A decent salad bar.

Atlanta, GA - Last Visit::June2007 

The Varsity

Whadda have...Whadda have...Whadda have...Have your order in your mind and you money in your hand...Whadda have

Atlanta Fish Market

Fresh fish in the trendy Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta

Rocky Mountain Area - Denver, CO -- Last Visit::November 2004 

The Delectable Egg

Unique breakfast items. Many, many varieties of Eggs Benedict. We ate at the location near the 16th Street Mall.

San Francisco, CA -- Last Visit::November 2003 

The Stinking Rose

Touristy! But great fun. The Stinking Rose has california-italian cuisine with GARLIC as a major component in every dish. One of the top 5 waiters I have ever had was at this restaurant - Ray

John's Grill

Restaurant was a setting in the Maltese Falcon. It still has that ambviance. Steaks and Saefood are the thing here. One of the best salads I've ever had is their Roquefort Salad

Fisherman's Wharf

Stop at any of the open air seafood stands in the middle of Fisherman's Wharf and you'll be happy. Also get some Clam Chowder in a Sourdough bread bowl.

Cliff House

One of San Francisco's historic landmarks, the Cliff House features three distinct restaurants. We ate at "the high end one". Unfortunately, we were there during some major renovation/construction. And we also confused by where we were going by some old photos. However, the food was wonderful,,,but the reason to go here is the view of the Pacific Ocean.

Frjtz Fries

Located in Ghiradelli Square...they have AUTHENTIC Belgian Fries (paper cone, mayo, etc) in addition to breakfast and lunch with crepes and sandwiches.

Savannah, GA -- Last Visit::Summer2003 

The Crab Shack

"Where The Elite Eat In Their Bare Feet!" is the motto of this place on the road between Savannah and Tybee Island. Used to be a local place...now very touristy and kitchy...but still a great experience and great food.

Mrs. WIlkes' Dining Room

Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room features a unique family-style experince. Great Southern food. You MUST get there early to secure a place in line.

Vinnie VanGoGo's Pizzeria

Vinnie VanGoGo's features a great New York pizzeria experience in the deep South.

The Lady & Sons

Celebrity Chef Paula Deen's Southern home cooking; fried chicken, collard greens, fried green tomatoes.

Clary's Cafe

Clary's Cafe was a drugstore with a soda-fountain counter. We had a very good breakfast here. The cafe was featured in the Book - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Six Pence Pub

The only British food we've ever had. It was good.

Key West, FL -- Last Visit::October 2002 

El Siboney Cuban Restaurant

Not pretty...but AUTHENTIC Cuban food

Conch Republic Seafood Company

Conch Republic Seafood Company is touristy...but a good sample of Key West seafood.

Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe

If there's one thing you must do while in Key West, it's have a piece of REAL Key Lime Pie. However, you must be careful as there's a lot of cheap imitations on the street (esp. Duvall). Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe in Old Town is authentic. We actually had a nice conversation with Kermit. He belives in Key Lime Pie. He also has other Key Lime items for sale. My favorite version of Key Lime Pie is the frozen-on-a-stick-dipped-in-chocolate.

La Trattoria

Quite possibly the best Italian restaurant I have ever eaten at...anywhere.

El Meson de Pepe

Touristy, as it's located right on at Mallory Square. It's still good Cuban food.

Memphis TN -- Last Visit::June 2001 

Blues City Cafe

Best Meal on Beale. Get one of Bonnie Mack's oven broiled steaks. The tamales are good. Catfish is too. We visit this restaurant everytime we're in Memphis.

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous

You will feel a slight tinge of dnager as you walk down an alley and have to go down into a basement to get to the Rendezvous...but it's worth it. The Ribs are "dry" not the meat...but the seasoning...they're not "wet" with sauce.

Interstate Barbecue

A very unattractive name for a very good BBQ place. A unique item that you'll only get at Memphis area BBQ places...Barbeque Spagetti. Try it.

Cozy Corner

They don't have a website...they don't have a nice looking restaurant. They do have good BBQ. Don't go at night...it's in a bad part of town.

Boston & Bay Area, MA - Last Visit::April 2001 

CAMBRIDGE/HARVARD - Grendels Den

Great funky (and they're all funky in this area) little Mediterranean place near Harvard. We enjoyed the hummus.

CAMBRIDGE/HARVARD - Tealuxe

How could you not go into a place called Tealuxe? It's a tea bar.

CONCORD - Concord Cheese Shop

Yes. Cheese.

But also other gourmet foods and supplies. And they have a full menu. We had a great lunch there.

PLYMOUTH - The Lobster Hut

We doubted when the hotel told us this was the best seafood in Plymouth. It looks like an old McDonalds. It was odd ordering $40 worth of seafood at a fast food counter. But it was good. Try the Lobster Roll...or any of the lobster stuff, obviously.

Washington, DC -- Last Visit::April2000 

Red Sage

We were told to go here by someone who is in DC alot. It's a very unique Southwestern/Latin restaurant.

Phillips

One word - Seafood.

Old Ebbitt Grill

We had a good lunch here. Supposedly, a place to see the shakers in DC...we didn't.

Senate Dining Room

I haven't been back to DC since 9/11 so I'm sure you can't wander around the Capitol the way I used to when I would visit. If you can still get in, go to the Senate Dining Room in the Capitol. It's good food and it's a great place to watch out for politicians, etc. Good eavesdropping. Get the White Bean Soup...it's a tradition.

New Orleans, LA - Last Visit::1999 

Cafe Du Monde

The classic French Market Coffee Stand. Cafe au Lait and Beignets.

Hot Springs, AR - Last Visit::Summer 1999 

Stubby's BBQ

You'd think we would have gone to McClards in Hot Springs.

The Pancake Shop

I hate pancakes. But the other breakfast items here are wonderful. It's across the street from the Arlington

Granny's Kitchen

Great meat&3 place on Central Avenue across from the Bath Houses

Nashville, TN -- Last Visit::Continuous 

Demos' Steak & Spaghetti House

A dated 80's fern bar restaurant...but VERY good. At some point in time, I've had nearly every item on the menu and never been disappointed. Love the cheese on the tables, Love the simple syrup they bring with tea, love the fast attentive service, love the ROLLS, love the memories we';ve had there, love everything.

San Antonio Taco Co

Call it SATCO. Grab a pencil and fill out an order at this college hangout near Vanderbilt

South Street Original Crab Shack & Authentic Dive Bar

Feels like you're on the Gulf.

Noshville New York Delicatessen

An Authentic New York Delicatessen in Nashville, TN

Loveless Cafe

The original - Located at the northern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Good country ham, biscuiits, soul food, etc. Go for breakfast.

Louisville, KY - Last Visit::Continuous 

Mitchell's Fish Market

Mitchell's Fish Market is part of a chain...but this one uses it's Louisville location to its advantage. The UPS hub in Louisville means that fresh fish can be flown in quickly, You're eating something that was caught less than 24 hours ago...sometimes that morning.

Lynn's Paradise Cafe

Quirky is the word. Southern eclectic food in a unique atmosphere.

LouisvilleHotBytes.com

There are lots of great restaurants in Louisville. Louisville restaurant critic Robin Garr has his reviews here.

Bowling Green / Southern KY - Last Visit::Home Field 

Mariah's

The oldest standing brick structure in Bowling Green has a great restaurant with a wide American menu

Montana Grill

Beautiful log building featuring lots of rotisserie meats, salads, steaks, and seafood.

Dovies

A vat of grease. Get your burger "squeezed" or "unsqueezed".

Remember the John Belushi "Cheeburger, Cheeburger" skit? Very simliar...no fries...just chips...and RC cola

A Little Taste of Texas

downtown Glasgow

Chains We Like 

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Good traditional comfort food.

Miami Subs

I like the Gyros

In and Out Burger

Super basic menu and close attention to detail makes the burger and fries good

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Big time steaks and big time bucks.

Waffle House

Scattered - Smothered - Covered
If you can't find one, you're not looking hard enough.

Sonny's Real Pit BBQ

Found in the Southeastern US. Good BBQ for a chain

Panera Bread

If you can't find a local bakery cafe, Panera Bread is the next best thing.

Romanos Macaroni Grill

While the Olive Garden is throwing together frozen premixed garbage, the Macaroni Grill is prepapring fresh seasonal Italian menus. It goes on and off the menu, but try the Bella Napoli appetizer.

PF Changs

Dependable trendy Mandarin style Chinese.