D-C Forum Foodies List

[linicx]

I think every forum member knows a least one regional place to eat they would recommend that is not a chain restaurant and it won't break the bank to eat there. I"ll start.

Illinois
Chanticleer in Eureka, IL
Kracker's Korner Havana, IL

[getoutamykitchen]

My favorite would have to be Carmelitta's Mexican Restaurant. Located in Largo, FL. The best chicken enchilada's and the best salsa I've ever had.

[bethzaring]

My first thought was, boy you are optimistic! I live in an area with no original restaurants.....but if I travel 45 minutes to Athens Ohio, this is my favorite restaurant....Casa Nueva

Casa Nueva Restaurant, Cantina & Bodega

[linicx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bethzaring My first thought was, boy you are optimistic! I live in an area with no original restaurants.....but if I travel 45 minutes to Athens Ohio, this is my favorite restaurant....Casa Nueva Casa Nueva Restaurant, Cantina & Bodega

Yes I am an optomist! I believe in the goodness of food.

[GrillingFool]

If traveling I-95 in North Carolina, at Fayetteville, NC....
It's a bit off the interstate, but well worth the drive for really good
authentic Southern cookin'!

They have a buffet with NC style BBQ, fried chicken, greens, mashed
potatoes, seafood, often ribs and much more!

You will wait in line to be seated on a weekend, but well worth it.

SANDPIPERS is the name.


Sandpiper Seafood Restaurant‎ -

411 N Eastern Blvd, Fayetteville, NC‎

link takes you to google's map page, with reviews.

[SRL]

Some hidden gems off the beaten path:

• San Diego, CA: The WineSellar & Brasserie, hidden in a business park.
• Jacksonville, OR: The Jacksonville Inn, a historic hotel.
• Seattle, WA: Mee Sum Pastries in the Pike's Place Market. OK, well, this is on the beaten path. :)
• Leesville, SC: Shealy's Bar-B-Que, across the road from the chicken processing plant.

[kitchenelf]

It might be a good idea if each post were titled to show a city, state, or country, city, etc. That way if someone does a search by title for places to eat it will show up.

[freefallin1309]

We were on our way back up from Captiva Island a few years back and thought we'd stop to eat at this Italian Restaurant we spotted. The parking lot was empty, so we had fears that the locals didn't like it but thought we'd give it a shot. Oh. My. God. It was incredible. The place was called Limoncello Trattoria. All of the staff was Italian, and I don't mean their great grandparents are from Italy, but Grandma (she had to be around 90, she looked like Estel Getty from Golden Girls) that was doing the cooking didn't speak English and the two ladies serving had heavy accents.I had Linguini alle Vongole in white wine sauce and DW had Pasticcio alla Bolognese, or beef lasagna. I've never had such incredible sauce in my life, the meal was full of life. DW's lasagna had a little sausage mixed in and was heaven and exploded with flavor.

There is also a place in Lake Wales, Fl that is pretty well known, Burt Reynolds often flies in just to eat there ... yes, the restaurant has it's own landing strip and hangar. The food was good, the atmosphere was incredible, and the service is unheard of. But of course a 20% tip for them would typically be $100 or more.


The place is called Chalet Suzanne. It's truly an experience that shouldn't be passed by. We had a rich friend of ours that took my DW, my MIL, and myself there because it was my DW and my birthdays (we're only 7 days apart). It's a 5 course meal with aperitifs and other drinks served in between. The menu is simple, but it changes as I've just seen and the price is now much lower (probably due to the recession). There's 3 entree's to choose from at any one time, but all of the courses are very good made by chef's with great creds, and it is a la carte, so each of the courses cost extra and has it's own menu. And no 2 dishes are the same; they'd made on site. All plates are made on site and you can search their entire collection and wont find a twin. It's also a hotel of sorts too, we never stayed, but we hear it's nice. The tab with tip for 4 people was over $600, so come with a heavy wallet.


And one more in Fl we had on Captiva Island a few days prior to Limoncello's was a well known place on the island called the Thistle Lodge. We stayed at the attached resort, Casa Ybel and left very begrudgingly. Not only is the restaurant facing the Gulf for a beautiful view, but they have incredible food and an unbelievable wine and liquor list. This is where I tasted a well aged single malt scotch that is roughly $1000/bottle.

I had the escargot app, it's since changed I see from their site, but it was a mouthwatering delight that will never be matched. The tender snails were swimming in a garlic, herb, and white wine sauce that stopped my heart while I ate them. Now I see they've added spinach & prosciutto and may have taken out the wine.

For my entree, I had the lump crab stuffed beef filet and lobster tail with yucca puree and found another wonderful dish. The filet was incredible, cooked just right and stuffed nicely with exquisite lump crab. The lobster tail was another treat, IIRC though it was Rock Lobster and not Maine Lobster. But still very good.

After the meal, I ordered the aged Talisker for about $200 and received about 3 oz of the most incredible flavored scotch I've ever had, served in a giant snifter you could practically get your whole face in to take in the aroma. I WILL go back to this place, it was so beautiful, the people are fantastic, and the food exquisite. It is what Florida used to be, the old Florida that drew people here in the beginning and not the Mickey Mouse tourist crap. The island itself is exclusive, anyone can go there, but almost no one lives there. A lot of it is a nature preserve and non-buildable, keeping the population on the mainland and not on the island. The island is also shaped perfectly to catch sea shells, so if you like walking the beach and collecting what the sea has to offer, they claim it to be the best place in the world to search for shells.

[freefallin1309]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitchenelf It might be a good idea if each post were titled to show a city, state, or country, city, etc. That way if someone does a search by title for places to eat it will show up.

That's a good idea, the 3 I mentioned were all Florida.

[linicx]

Oklahoma, Tulsa

After I've had enough truck stop coffee and meals in a sack, I long for a real meal in a relaxing atmosphere. where the food is goood and I don't have to wait on myself.. I don't normally equate buttet with elegant, but I found both in trendy Tulsa at 7837 E. 51st between Sheridan and Memorial.

The Royal Dragon features a full bar, full menu, buffet. foot bridge, Koi, spft background music, linen table cloths and napkins at night. The food is very good and the service is exquisite. Ihe buffet - Canton style - usually has a banboo basked filled with with Dim Sum and a full dessert bar with minature Cream Puffs, Petit Four Cakes and other sweet treats. . .

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