Best Restaurants in Your City

[Wrathcaster]

So I'm contemplating taking a reprieve from school for a bit after I graduate, and I want to travel a bit before I dive into grad school. I'll probably be going from city to city and spending a few days taking in what each one has to offer. As part of this, I'd like to have a taste of the best restaurants/food that I can come across. Which should I check out? Any city/region will do, as I haven't laid out a travel plan yet. Your input might help me decide.

Ground rules: List the places you love in the cities in which you have lived or spent a great amount of time. Try to avoid big chains (PF Changs, Chili's, etc) unless they are a local or regional deal. If you can, give a clue as to what type of cuisine is served at each place. And of course, tell us what city/region of which you are referring.

I'll start it off. In Knoxville I like:

Copper Cellar (regional chain): Really decent reasonably priced place that's very popular during football season or for just hanging out at the bar. Their staple is primarily burgers, which are some of the best burgers you can get for the price. Their steaks are great as well, along with some other choice stuff.

Calhoun's: Part of the same regional chain as Copper Cellar, but they've got a great location on the river; this is the choice spot for people grubbing out after UT games. Just don't expect to get a table on a game day within 2 hours unless you've made a reservation or know someone. They serve mostly the same food as the Cellar, with a few additions; their catfish is amazing and their ribs are some of the best in the state. They have several locations in the city and in the East TN region, but the one on the river is by far the best.

Chesapeake's: This is part of the same chain as the previous two, but it's their seafood division. Pretty much anything you get here is awesome.

Note for the previous three restaurants: they all brew their own beer, which IMO is absolutely amazing. They have 5-6 different beers for different tastes, as well as seasonal choices. They are also the only beers they serve.

Nama: This is a very cool sushi bar. It's got a great atmosphere and their sushi, appetizers, or anything else is simply amazing. It's also a great place to stop by if you're planning on doing some drinking or barhopping later, as it's located in downtown Knoxville, which is jam packed with all kinds of cool bars. They also have a decent selection of beers and sake, so you can get pretty sauced while you eat.

La Costa: Another place located in downtown Knoxville; they serve southwestern/mexican/hispanic-esque food. They've got some fairly exotic daily specials and their appetizers are top notch. There's some uncharacteristic stuff mixed in, if you're not feeling the rest of the menu, such as calimari. Good for grabbing some margaritas, and once again it's in the middle of a slew of bars, so you can start off with drinks at dinner and get plastered right next door/across the way.

This post is getting fairly long, so I'll end it here. These are the places I regularly visit and think anyone could enjoy. Except if you're a vegetarian. In which case get the fuck out of my post, I'm not fucking with veggie joints. I like eating slain critters.

[Havelock]

I'm not much of a gourmand, but here are a few places that stick out in my memory.

Memphis:

Leonard's: There's one downtown, but the original is better. Outstanding bbq buffet. The lemon meringue pie is not to be missed.

Court House Deli: On South Main; great sandwiches.

George's: Just east of the federal courthouse, amazing Southern cooking for ludicrously low prices (best $5 anywhere).

Rendezvous: Famous and good. The restaurant you're most likely to be asked about if you tell people you went to Memphis.

The Bar-B-Q Shop: More great bbq.

DC:

Rasika: Funky fancy Indian food. The fried spinach appetizer is amazing.

Capital Q: Awesome Texas bbq.

Matchbox: Theoretically a pizza place, but most everything there is really good.

Kunlaya: Great Thai.

[AngryGerbil]

Lion's Choice

A roast beef sandwich shop. It is a chain but it's St. Louis (region) only. It's like Arbys without all the suck. It's hard to describe exactly why it is so much better, but it really is lightyears beyond Arbys. The shit is so good it's like a drug. Arbys in this city are all run down shit holes that barely make any money because Lion's Choice is the destroyer of worlds. Anyone who eats at Arbys around here is either an unenlightened newbie or is a giant queer.

When people visit this city they of course want to see the typical stuff like The Arch, Eads Bridge, The Zoo, Forest Park..etc. What they need to be doing is to quit staring at the fucking arch and get their asses to the nearest Lion's Choice as quickly as possible. Any friend or family that comes here form out of town gets a meal there on me and then eats it and then has their life changed forever. When people around here claim they saw God, the police investigate the claim and always find that actually what was happening was the person was eating Lion's Choice. Every time. It's science.

*edit
Ok the website says they have stores in Mississippi and a new one in Florida. If you live in these states, you win at life.

[Wrathcaster]

Originally Posted by Havelock

I'm not much of a gourmand, but here are a few places that stick out in my memory.

Memphis:

Leonard's: There's one downtown, but the original is better. Outstanding bbq buffet. The lemon meringue pie is not to be missed.

Court House Deli: On South Main; great sandwiches.

George's: Just east of the federal courthouse, amazing Southern cooking for ludicrously low prices (best $5 anywhere).

Rendezvous: Famous and good. The restaurant you're most likely to be asked about if you tell people you went to Memphis.

The Bar-B-Q Shop: More great bbq.

DC:

Rasika: Funky fancy Indian food. The fried spinach appetizer is amazing.

Capital Q: Awesome Texas bbq.

Matchbox: Theoretically a pizza place, but most everything there is really good.

Kunlaya: Great Thai.

You from Memphis? I grew up in West TN, I've been to most of those places. And yes, Rendezvous is amazing, except their waiters can be really rude. I've heard they get upwards of $50k starting there. Their BBQ is awesome though.

Ever eaten at Gus's Famous Fried Chicken? I LOVED that place, but their spicy ass chicken always gave me the supershits. I think the guy who owned it died not too long ago. Great chicken joint though.

[Kilivek2.0]

fatass

[Soriak]

Ok, I didn't spend a long time there - but those are safe bets

Seattle: Canlis (French cuisine)

Small restaurant, the main dining area is nothing special. It has a private room, though, known as the "cache." You have huge windows (top to bottom) with an amazing view of Seattle. If you go there with someone, spend the $100 on that room, it's very much worth it. Best setting of any place I've ever been to. Food is excellent, too.

Vegas: Le Cirque (at Bellagio) (French cuisine)

Small restaurant (rough guess would be room for 30 people) that looks like a circus tent inside. Best atmosphere and best food in the city. Eaten there 3 times and it never had a weak moment. Went before I was 21 and when they gave me the wine menu, I mentioned that and didn't order wine - got two complementary glasses anyway


Boston: I can't remember the name of the place, was 6 years ago... maybe someone else knows it. It's on the top of a high-rise building and has an incredible view. You can see the clock of a tower that is lighted with different colors, and a great view of much of Boston. You have to go to a security desk at the entrance and they get the express elevator for you - I guess it has apartments/condos below the restaurant.

edit: adding some details.

[Aulirophile]

Dayton, Ohio - The Pineclub

One of the best steak places in the entire country. No desserts, the side items are kind of meh, but the steak is the best steak I have ever eaten. Ice cream next door if you do want dessert.

[Havelock]

Originally Posted by Wrathcaster

You from Memphis? I grew up in West TN, I've been to most of those places. And yes, Rendezvous is amazing, except their waiters can be really rude. I've heard they get upwards of $50k starting there. Their BBQ is awesome though.

Ever eaten at Gus's Famous Fried Chicken? I LOVED that place, but their spicy ass chicken always gave me the supershits. I think the guy who owned it died not too long ago. Great chicken joint though.

I spend about 2-3 weeks a month down there for work. I eat well, but it sure fattens me up. Gus's does rule - I should've remembered to include it on the list. Best fried chicken I've ever had.

[Stroker Ace]

Austin

BBQ:
The Salt Lick - The Salt Lick
Best barbecue I have ever had. Bring a lot of friends and your own beer and everyone order the family style. They bring everything out in droves. Their brisket, pork ribs, dry potato salad and the habanero barbecue sauce is the best they offer. Make sure you ask for the habanero barbecue sauce, that shit has cocaine in it or something.
Other bad ass BBQ:
STUBB'S BAR-B-Q | COLD BEER + LIVE MUSIC
Barbecue Sauces, Barbecue Seasonings, Texas Barbecue - Iron Works BBQ

Hamburgers/American:
Hut's Hamburgers Welcome to Hut's Hamburgers! - About Hut's
Their Hamburgers are arguably the best in town, but all the food they serve is really good. The Fats Domino Burger is one of the tastiest burgers I have ever had. All there food is really hard to eat though, they make it all tall and hard to put in your mouth.
Other bad ass Hamburgers:
Casino El Camino (Get the Buffalo Burger and don't expect fast service)
Crown and Anchor Pub - Austin, TX, 78705 - Citysearch

Mexican:
Too many to name Chuy's for their Chimichangas. Juan in a Million and Taco Xpress for their tacos. Baby Acapulco's for their margaritas. Can't go wrong with most places.

Subs:
Texadelphia - |:: TEXADELPHIA ::|
Best Cheesesteaks in Austin IMO. Get the Texan with extra jalapeños and that crazy good mustard. So good.

Central Market - Central Market
Yeah, it's just a grocery store with health food but they have some really bad ass food in their deli. The Hippy Turkey is bad ass.

Other bad ass subs:
Welcome to Thundercloud Subs
Delaware Sub Shop

I don't really eat pizza or Chinese out much but the best places for those are the Hunan Lion on South Lamar and Rounders Pizzeria.

[brekk]

15 minutes from where I live.

Shady Glen - Manchester, CT

50s style restaurant. Male servers clean cut, females hair in a pony tail and historically accurate outfits for both.

The item to get is the basic cheeseburger. Cheese is placed directly on the grilling surface and is than placed on top of the burger once it is slightly crunchy.The place also has amazing milkshakes and icecream made on the premises.

It was on GQ's list of 50 things to do before you die in 2006.

[Ashes Emberblade]

Just come to New Orleans. You can spend a month here and not even scratch the surface of culinary delights available.

Just off the top of my head:

Restaurant August - 5 star, extremely expensive, best food you'll ever eat. Chef John Besh beat the iron chef. They serve something called the "degustation." It's a 7 course meal that changes every day, and each course is served with a glass of wine chosen by the chef.

Jacque Imo's - They made a television show about it. Best fried chicken and boudin (pork / rice / spice sausage) in town.

Betsy's cafe - Cheap home cooked New Orleans food. Delicious, featured recently on the today show.

Mandina's - Expensive home cooked New Orleans food. Excellent turtle soup, gumbo, crab fingers.

Clancy's - The epitome of a mom and pop fancy New Orleans restaurant. 5 stars, French cuisine. Their roasted duck is phenomenal.

Bayona's - Similar to restaurant August, but not quite as expensive. In the French Quarter, parking is a pain, but delicious modern New Orleans dishes. Their rabbit dishes are always good.

R & O's - Cheap seafood by the lake. Don't go unless some type of seafood (oysters, crawfish, or shrimp) is in season, and only order what's in season.

Domilise's - Cheap poboys (sandwiches served on french bread.) Their oyster poboy is their best. Don't eat there, take it out, it's always smoky inside.

Dunbar's - Home cooked soul food. Used to be located in the ghetto, but took over the Loyola law school's cafeteria after Katrina. Yes, Loyola's law school serves black creole soul food and it's freaking awesome.

Mikimoto - Best sushi in town. Not cheap, but not too pricey either.

Sushi Brother's - Cheaper, not quite as good as Mikimoto.

Do'son's Noodle House - Vietnamese. Their soups are delicious.

Chain restaurants do very poorly in New Orleans proper, because there are so many good private establishments. If you plan on coming here this website is invaluable:

New Orleans Menu Restaurant Index

Ignore his recommendations for any Asian cuisine though. He doesn't know good Asian food from his asshole.

[Wrathcaster]

Originally Posted by Ashes Emberblade

Just come to New Orleans. You can spend a month here and not even scratch the surface of culinary delights available.

Just off the top of my head:

Restaurant August - 5 star, extremely expensive, best food you'll ever eat. Chef John Besh beat the iron chef. They serve something called the "degustation." It's a 7 course meal that changes every day, and each course is served with a glass of wine chosen by the chef.

Jacque Imo's - They made a television show about it. Best fried chicken and boudin (pork / rice / spice sausage) in town.

Betsy's cafe - Cheap home cooked New Orleans food. Delicious, featured recently on the today show.

Mandina's - Expensive home cooked New Orleans food. Excellent turtle soup, gumbo, crab fingers.

Clancy's - The epitome of a mom and pop fancy New Orleans restaurant. 5 stars, French cuisine. Their roasted duck is phenomenal.

Bayona's - Similar to restaurant August, but not quite as expensive. In the French Quarter, parking is a pain, but delicious modern New Orleans dishes. Their rabbit dishes are always good.

R & O's - Cheap seafood by the lake. Don't go unless some type of seafood (oysters, crawfish, or shrimp) is in season, and only order what's in season.

Domilise's - Cheap poboys (sandwiches served on french bread.) Their oyster poboy is their best. Don't eat there, take it out, it's always smoky inside.

Dunbar's - Home cooked soul food. Used to be located in the ghetto, but took over the Loyola law school's cafeteria after Katrina. Yes, Loyola's law school serves black creole soul food and it's freaking awesome.

Mikimoto - Best sushi in town. Not cheap, but not too pricey either.

Sushi Brother's - Cheaper, not quite as good as Mikimoto.

Do'son's Noodle House - Vietnamese. Their soups are delicious.

Chain restaurants do very poorly in New Orleans proper, because there are so many good private establishments. If you plan on coming here this website is invaluable:

New Orleans Menu Restaurant Index

Ignore his recommendations for any Asian cuisine though. He doesn't know good Asian food from his asshole.

Did all these places survive Katrina? I'd really like to visit NO again and this shit looks tasty.

[Burkex]

Ok I will cover Boston and if you go on a trip and do not go to Boston then your trip was a complete failure:

Originally Posted by Soriak

Boston: I can't remember the name of the place, was 6 years ago... maybe someone else knows it. It's on the top of a high-rise building and has an incredible view. You can see the clock of a tower that is lighted with different colors, and a great view of much of Boston. You have to go to a security desk at the entrance and they get the express elevator for you - I guess it has apartments/condos below the restaurant.

Sounds like Top of the Hub resturaunt which is at the top of the Prudential Building in Boston. Top of the Hub in Boston, MA - AOL City Guide Yea they view is amazing and the food is great, but it is expensive. It is basically the same as the resturaunt on top of the Stratoshpere in Las Vegas.

Other great places in Boston:

Anna's Taqueria: There are like 5 or 6 locations now all over Boston. Every year it wins best cheap eats in Boston. It is obviously mexican food and I have eaten burritos all over the united states (Yea I lived in Cali) and I have to say this is BY FAR the best burrito I have ever had. The food is cheap but there is always a long line outside but it moves very fast. My favorite is a Super Chicken Burrito with cheese black beans and extra of their special green hot sauce. Seriously when I lived there I was addicted to their food, my friends and I think they put drugs or something in their food.

Pizza: Peno's or Presto's Pizza in Brookline Mass. Both of these pizza places are located about 1 minute away from each other but they are some of the best pizza I have ever eaten. Not deep dish just good pizza. There sauce is amazing and the taste at both is great. I would give the slight edge to Pino's pizza. There is also a pizza chain called Bertucci's which offers Brick Oven pizza and their pizza is very delicious too, but it is a different type of pizza, if you go there make sure to try their rolls, which are free.

Italian Food: Hanover Street aka The North End. The North End is the little Italy of Boston but with much better food. I have eaten in Little Italy and had Italian food all over the US and the best Italian food comes from the North End. Actually the only good places I have had amazing Italian foor were Little Italy, the North End, and in Providence RI, I guess these places have the old Italian populations that know how to cook, and I am not talking about nasty crap Italian food from some chain liek the Olive Garden, thats some nasty crap. Each resturaunt in the NE has long lines at dinner time and the food at all of these places is AMAZING. There is also a bakery on hanover street. Also on Hanover street there is a bakery which has some of the best deserts, canolies, cheescake etc. The bakery always has crazy ass huge lines and I have even run into the mayor of Boston in there and he too had to wait in line for canolies. This is a great place btw to take a date, get some good italian food and wine and then get some desert and then walk around Fanuel Hall, if you can't seal the deal after the wine, the great atmosphere, and the amazing food then you have problems.

On Newberry Street there is another Italian Resturaunt. It is very small but the italian food is amazing because they have a delicious sauce. The place is called La Famiglia Georgina. I think I have had everything there on the menu and it is all amazing. If you go there for lunch it is crowded but they have very cheap lunch specials (It is more expensive for dinners). You can get a meal like chicken parm and ziti (a HUGE portion) for $5. You really can't beat that. I am drooling right now thinking about their sauce.

Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe. It is a little hole in the wall, has no bathrooms, but this place has been open since 1927 and forget the sandwiches it is famous for its breakfast. They make amazing french toast and pancakes. Probably the best breakfast that you will get in Boston. Very friendly and cheap too. I used to go here for breakfast all the time before I went to work. Definitely go here for breakfast one day. BTW people love their turkey hash, which I guess they are famous for.

If you enjoy a good beer, Boston Beer Works loacted next to Fenway Park has tons of home made ales and brews. Guarenteed to enjoy and get drunk very fast. Go there early on a Sox home day game, it will be packed and packed with hotties. After the game all of the bars are packed and it is a really fun time.

BBQ: In Brookline there is a Texas smokehouse called The Village Smokehouse. They have amazing BBQ Chicken and Ribs. Their sauce is finger licking good. It is ''authentic Texas barbecue" and good. You get big servings too. I have to say I have had better BBQ in the south but in Boston it is easily the best BBQ and it holds up to the BBQ in the south, except for The Gold Rush in Venice FL which is the best BBQ in the world, hands down better than Smokey Bones but for the record I have yet to go to Texas for BBQ, that I need to do.

As for seafood you can pretty much go anywhere in Boston and get good seafood. Legal Seafood is a chain and pretty good, if you go there make sure to get their clam chowder, it is award winning and delicious.


ALSO: there is no need to mention Las Vegas Resturaunts because Vegas has some of the best Resturaunts in all of the world but they are very pricey.

[MrGraham]

Lexington, KY - A La Lucie's. Higher end dining in a Great Gatsbyish restaurant, not uncommon to go there on Friday/Saturday and see politicians, etc, really cool atmosphere.

Northern Virginia - I've lived in several places in the US and this is the only area where I've found POLLO A LA BRASA which is a kind of rotessirie chicken, several restaurants have it here, I prefer the Peruvian one. Anyways, get half a chicken Pollo a la Brasa style with fried Plantains and Yucca and it is divine. I'm sure other places have it, I just hadn't seen it before moving here.

New Orleans - Tujaques. No idea if it's still there, but their Chicken Bon Fon was to die for. Nice bar, too.

... Random other advice. If you don't live in CA and you go to CA, try CLOVER MILK. It tastes way better than milk I've had in the eastern US. Get BBQ in Memphis and the surrounding area. Do a little research and only get seafood that's in season, always. Fried chicken is not better in Kentucky. The further to the coast you get, the harder it is to find someone that knows how to cook a rare steak.

The end.

[Dinthug]

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