CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: ELA on May 18, 2024, 02:13:01 PM
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Its not news, and its not cooking. Figured it should be broken out. Any Houstonians have thoughts about Fajita Petes? Apparently they are coming to Pittsburgh, and with 3 kids, this looks like exactly the amount of "Mexican" thry can handle. We have Mad Mex, which makes good margaritas but when their best dish os a "Los Wingos wrap" which is juat a buffalo chicken wrap, that about sums it up. I would honestly kill for a juat a Chi ChiS
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I'm not a Houstonian and I've never heard of this place, but it turns out they have several locations in Austin, a couple of which are pretty close to me. So now, I have a mission to go check it out and report back to you.
The pictures online look the part, and a quick check of a Houston subreddit shows quite a few folks who say it's good.
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never heard of the place
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it looks like a place that prepares one thing and does it well
started in 2008 in the Rice Univ area
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(https://i.imgur.com/ibyxQZZ.png)
Not really true of my kids--we make them eat everything. And although it was hard at first, it worked out...
My favorite with the oldest when he was about 8...
- Do you like tomatoes? "No."
- Do you like onion? "No."
- Do you like garlic? "No."
- Do you like cilantro? "No."
- Do you like salsa? "YES!"
:smiley_confused1:
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Question for @OrangeAfroMan (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=58) and anyone else familiar with the Phoenix/Glendale area. My wife and I are taking my son to the Luke Combs concert there in a few weeks. Need to figure out where to eat dinner before the show, which is at State Farm Stadium.
They have a whole entertainment complex across the street, which I'm sure will be easy, but not very interesting. We're staying on the North side of Phoenix (I-17 & Peoria Rd), so anywhere between there and Glendale works.
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It kinda sucked when my kids figured out that crab and lobster are awesome. Going out to eat got a lot more expensive.
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Question for @OrangeAfroMan (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=58) and anyone else familiar with the Phoenix/Glendale area. My wife and I are taking my son to the Luke Combs concert there in a few weeks. Need to figure out where to eat dinner before the show, which is at State Farm Stadium.
They have a whole entertainment complex across the street, which I'm sure will be easy, but not very interesting. We're staying on the North side of Phoenix (I-17 & Peoria Rd), so anywhere between there and Glendale works.
Not a lot of great places around that area by the stadium. Fleming's is probably your best choice out there.
Do you like German food? There's a really good one on Glendale Road near HWY 60. I went there because DDD went there.
Haus Murphys (https://hausmurphys.com/)
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It kinda sucked when my kids figured out that crab and lobster are awesome. Going out to eat got a lot more expensive.
Our oldest is eligible but off the kid menu. He always goes for the ribs, no matter where we are. I think he's sent his compliments to the chef at Chilis. We went out to a new place last week when my parents came in. Brewery with the typical handhelds, they did have their own brick oven for pizza. He ordered a full rack of ribs, and ate about 3/4 of it. My meal was great, my wife loved hers, I tried his ribs, awful. I will never get why certain places feel the need to throw quickly cooked ribs onto their menu. It literally has to be for 11 year olds
I remember when my parents made the mistake of letting my then 13 year old brother get the surf and turf at my high school graduation dinner.
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Not a lot of great places around that area by the stadium. Fleming's is probably your best choice out there.
Do you like German food? There's a really good one on Glendale Road near HWY 60. I went there because DDD went there.
Haus Murphys (https://hausmurphys.com/)
Not thinking a steakhouse. It's expensive and not all that "special" for that bougie kid.
Might try Pappadeaux, which I just saw has a location near the hotel.
I'll check out that German place though... If nothing else it's unique and local. Thanks!
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Not a lot of great places around that area by the stadium. Fleming's is probably your best choice out there.
Do you like German food? There's a really good one on Glendale Road near HWY 60. I went there because DDD went there.
Haus Murphys (https://hausmurphys.com/)
My wife's whole family is Italian, Dutch, Irish hodgepodge...that all love German food. I can't do it
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Our oldest is eligible but off the kid menu. He always goes for the ribs, no matter where we are. I think he's sent his compliments to the chef at Chilis. We went out to a new place last week when my parents came in. Brewery with the typical handhelds, they did have their own brick oven for pizza. He ordered a full rack of ribs, and ate about 3/4 of it. My meal was great, my wife loved hers, I tried his ribs, awful. I will never get why certain places feel the need to throw quickly cooked ribs onto their menu. It literally has to be for 11 year olds
I remember when my parents made the mistake of letting my then 13 year old brother get the surf and turf at my high school graduation dinner.
I'd say restaurant ribs are bad--or at the very least mediocre--about 95% of the time. My kids know if they want ribs they need to ask me to make them :72:
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Not thinking a steakhouse. It's expensive and not all that "special" for that bougie kid.
Might try Pappadeaux, which I just saw has a location near the hotel.
I'll check out that German place though... If nothing else it's unique and local. Thanks!
If you go to Pappadeaux, get the alligator.
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It kinda sucked when my kids figured out that crab and lobster are awesome. Going out to eat got a lot more expensive.
my daughters got told , NO
I'm not paying those prices
scared for life
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My general rule is to avoid chains (at least larger chains with more than say ten outlets). We were in Orlando and nearly everything near us was a chain. we had lunch once at Carrabba's Italian Grill and it was not terrible.
My other general rule is to avoid Orlando.
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Carabba's is pretty good, at least it's all scratch-made not frozen and microwaved. Started in Houston.
Actually, the exact same statement can be made about Pappadeux. Those Houstonians know how to export a decent chain restaurant.
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Some chains are very good.
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We dined at Papadeaux's once, that was enough for me. It was a solid "OK". Carabba's was "OK". Some of this is because I had low expectations.
McDonald's can be "OK" if you have low enough expectations. I guess they all can be.
There is a seafood place near us we tried, once, "Oceanaire", I later learned they are in the Lindy's group (?). It struck us both as over priced "OK". Never went back.
We can be a bit hard on restaurants. My wife's favorite nicer place near us is called "Ecco", it's part of a group of about 8-10 restaurants of differing styles, and they are all pretty decent. They have outdoor seating which is often a plus for us.
There is a new sports bar type place that opened near us I haven't tried because I'm fairly sure they have ... bar food. Its close to a place called the Sugar Factory, which is always crowded with a very high percentage of black folks, they serve a pretty typical menu, I'm not sure why it has such a racial disparity. I think they have way too many menu varietals and not enough focus, we've never dined there. My wife bought some candy there once or twice (they have a candy story on the side).
Sugar Factory Atlanta Menu - Sugar Factory (https://sf3.sugarfactory.com/atlanta-ga-menu)
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Longhorn is pretty good. So is Texas Roadhouse.
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Carabba's is pretty good, at least it's all scratch-made not frozen and microwaved. Started in Houston.
Actually, the exact same statement can be made about Pappadeux. Those Houstonians know how to export a decent chain restaurant.
Ive actually met with Chris and Harris Pappas when I worked for a living.
They are good people and smart as hell concerning restaurant operation
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the Oceanaire is pretty good here in the midwest
not going to find something much better nearby
but it's very expensive
Ruth Chris is a chain that's pretty good, but over priced and can get a better steak for less around here
Longhorn and Roadhouse to me are OK, because lots of good steakhouses in the midwest
everything is relative, of course
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Chains that are horrible usually don't survive long. Chains usually offer an OK meal for the money, there no doubt are exceptions, which could be local. I've dined at both decent and bad Applebies for example (not in a long time for either). The McDs near us in Cincy was good for breakfast, had nice folks working there.
The chain food items are usually predictable and consistent but the service can vary widely.
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We use Longhorn and Roadhouse on driving trips. Very reliable and close to interstate hotels.
I just get the chopped steak.
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That's what we would do as well when traveling and staying somewhere where options are otherwise limited or uninteresting. We had lunch a while back at a Longhorn and it was fine and I had a burger. It met expectations.
Given a reasonable option, I still avoid chains.
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We use Longhorn and Roadhouse on driving trips. Very reliable and close to interstate hotels.
I just get the chopped steak.
I get the strip, like usual
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In the south, there often will be a BBQ place near an exit if we're staying at a motel heading somewhere. I'll try those, I'd say most of the time they are pretty OK and sometimes quite good. At a point the objective is merely to have food that won't make you sick. and we're lucky in the US and in Europe that getting sick is pretty rare.
I'm reminded me of the cafeteria style place we had lunch at in Korea, the ladies were really slinging stuff out there for a pretty large group. And it was quite good I thought, but the kimchi was as advertised.
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I don't mind a Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn, or Outback. But I don't order a steak at any of them.
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What IYHO is the best of the midlevel chains? I don't have one really, I'm OK with most of'em. But I'm not going to dine at any of them when we're at home.
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Question for @OrangeAfroMan (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=58) and anyone else familiar with the Phoenix/Glendale area. My wife and I are taking my son to the Luke Combs concert there in a few weeks. Need to figure out where to eat dinner before the show, which is at State Farm Stadium.
They have a whole entertainment complex across the street, which I'm sure will be easy, but not very interesting. We're staying on the North side of Phoenix (I-17 & Peoria Rd), so anywhere between there and Glendale works.
Sorry, I drove to LA and back in the past 24 hours, just woke up.
Pappadeax is good, but they haven't redecorated since the 1970s. Only been there once.
There are plenty of places at Westgate (by the stadium). The only one I've been to is Hot & Juicy Crawfish...it was messy and good.
There's a Portillo's down where the 101 meets I-10. Up towards Peoria, you could do Grimaldi's pizza.....Arrowhead Grill and Firebirds are fancy joints I haven't been to. Bobby-Qs is on I-17 (good BBQ), south of Pappadeaux's.
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Sorry, I don't do much fine dining.
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Huge fan of Charleston's. I think it's in AZ, IN, NE, OK. MO and TX. Extremely well run and good food.
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I recall Papadeaux being a salt bomb. Good but way too salty
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I recall Papadeaux being a salt bomb. Good but way too salty
Same. But not very good.
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Same. But not very good.
Ive eaten there for over 20 years and dont get the salt thing at all
very good food
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It could be overrated here because it's seafood and it's Arizona.
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Sorry, I drove to LA and back in the past 24 hours, just woke up.
Pappadeax is good, but they haven't redecorated since the 1970s. Only been there once.
There are plenty of places at Westgate (by the stadium). The only one I've been to is Hot & Juicy Crawfish...it was messy and good.
There's a Portillo's down where the 101 meets I-10. Up towards Peoria, you could do Grimaldi's pizza.....Arrowhead Grill and Firebirds are fancy joints I haven't been to. Bobby-Qs is on I-17 (good BBQ), south of Pappadeaux's.
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Sorry, I don't do much fine dining.
Thanks. BobbyQ looks interesting and it's VERY close to the hotel, so that would be easy.
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I've been to Pappadeaux's but can't remember anything I ate. I do think the dips at Chuy's are really good.
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Thanks. BobbyQ looks interesting and it's VERY close to the hotel, so that would be easy.
Unless it's owned by a Greek, there is way too much stuff on that menu.
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I think every major and most minor seafood places use frozen seafood these days even if they are on the coast. It could be they simply can't buy anything commercial that wasn't frozen. Everything comes from Sysco.
I know an oyster house in Hilton Head that has their own trawlers and their oysters are good.
I used to chuckle at seeing Red Lobsters in Florida.
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some fly in or otherwise serve stuff that hasn't been frozen, but it's a small number and expensive
some have a live lobster tank in the lobby
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Yeah, the ol' lobster tank. Some items may be fresh, but not your basic fish, even in Florida. I recall being in Boston not sure where to dine and we found a Legal Seafood (the illegal one was not nearby) and it was fine, I guess, but I felt as if I could have had the same meal in Atlanta. I know they are a chain.
I like really fresh fish, I used to find in on the coast at these little places (or big) that had their own fishing boats. Hard to find now. If everyone gets their fish from Sysco et al. it doesn't make any different to be on a coast.
Maybe my taste buds have changed or my memories are wrong. Fish tastes about the same as at a Captain D's. Well, probably not, I have not dined at a CD's in ages.
The seafood places near us are "OK", I think, my wife is not much of a fan of any of them. She brags about the seafood in Brittany, but frankly, I wasn't whelmed when we were there especially, it was good.
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I'd say 90 percent of the seafood we get here at restaurants is frozen. Even being on the shore, it's easier and cheaper to use frozen.
Fresh is premium, as it's only fresh for a day. After that, it's frozen, or, God forbid, wasted.
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Roy's says they fly in fish from Hawaii daily
not sure how true that might be
the Oceanaire in Minneapolis states this as well
I've had some stuff there that I think is very good
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The do fly the fish in, flash frozen. The Oceanaire fish I had was definitely frozen. And fish that's been on a plane even cold for 8 hours isn't really fresh. Then you have another 2 hours from airport to restaurant, and then it sits there for however long.
And oddly enough, Hawaii doesn't have much fishing, the waters are too deep. When we visited, I thought I'd find good seafood there, but never have. It's the same as here pretty much. I found some ahi at a grocery they said was fresh and it may have been.
I was told that as soon as the catch comes on a boat, it gets frozen, immediately. The only exception, pretty much, is when a restaurant has its own fleet, they go out, collect seafood, and chill it, and return directly to the restaurant. (Aside from lobster etc.).
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I had some great Poke in Hawaii
everything is relative
also the best calamari
Diners and dives often show places that go to the docks in the morning to pick out fresh fish
or have relations with captains of fishing boats
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Roy's says they fly in fish from Hawaii daily
not sure how true that might be
the Oceanaire in Minneapolis states this as well
I've had some stuff there that I think is very good
Salmon?
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One basic reason I think restaurants in France are mostly better than here is that the proprietor often goes out early in the morning to collect "fresh" food items. On the coasts, it may be seafood, but even in Rambouillet, I saw an impressive local market with two large fresh (?) fish vendors. And of course they get real fresh bread. The bread isn't at all like what you get at Subway (duh). And it's a good sign the meal is going to be great when they bring out the bread after you sit. I think this is the case in Italy and Spain and Greece as well.
They don't rely on "Sysco" for their food, and it matters. But it's a ton of extra work. Now I'm hungry.
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One basic reason I think restaurants in France are mostly better than here is that the proprietor often goes out early in the morning to collect "fresh" food items. On the coasts, it may be seafood, but even in Rambouillet, I saw an impressive local market with two large fresh (?) fish vendors. And of course they get real fresh bread. The bread isn't at all like what you get at Subway (duh). And it's a good sign the meal is going to be great when they bring out the bread after you sit. I think this is the case in Italy and Spain and Greece as well.
They don't rely on "Sysco" for their food, and it matters. But it's a ton of extra work. Now I'm hungry.
It's all about time, competition and costs. It's a tough business. Most fail.
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I would never, ever, EVER get into the restaurant business (again).
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I thought about it for a minute, with a buddy of mine. Fresh fish caught on our boats, in the Keys. The busiest time of the day is exactly when I do not want to work so that one minute thought was over.
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I had a one percent interest in a nice place that didn't survive 2008. I got a food credit there each year, so it sort of paid for some of my investment, but I lost money overall.
We had a chef for a while who was excellent, and the replacements turned out to be so so.
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I think every major and most minor seafood places use frozen seafood these days even if they are on the coast. It could be they simply can't buy anything commercial that wasn't frozen. Everything comes from Sysco.
I know an oyster house in Hilton Head that has their own trawlers and their oysters are good.
I used to chuckle at seeing Red Lobsters in Florida.
Maybe not anymore.
Red Lobster files for bankruptcy days after closing dozens of locations across the US (msn.com) (https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/red-lobster-files-for-bankruptcy-days-after-closing-dozens-of-locations-across-the-us/ar-BB1mIuw1?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=9b6c756361e34f489dc69e3aef3870fd&ei=10)
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Even stranger was seeing Red Lobster in Maine...
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I've seen Starbucks in Paris.
Copenhagen had any number of KFCs.
I didn't see a Benihana in Tokyo though.
Kind of interesting, we have chain restaurants for ethnic foods from Mexico, Italy, Japan, Brazil, China ... but that's about it?
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I've seen Starbucks in Paris.
Copenhagen had any number of KFCs.
I didn't see a Benihana in Tokyo though.
Kind of interesting, we have chain restaurants for ethnic foods from Mexico, Italy, Japan, Brazil, China ... but that's about it?
La Madelaine is a French chain restaurant (at least, by intent).
Around here there are a couple of regional chains for Indian food, one is called Tarka and one is called Masala Wok.
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When I interned in London, one of the other interns went to a trivia night with her co-workers, and won a $100 gift card to TGI Fridays. We were laughing that it would feed us for the rest of the summer. But the only one in London was in Leisester Square, with a 2 hour wait, and the exact same menu for about 3x the price
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In Jacksonville, we'd drive over to Miss Becky's Seafood in Mayport. It was a shack on the water and they took the seafood from the boat out back into the shack for display.
When we'd have crab, they were alive when we boiled them at home.
I was too young to appreciate how privileged I was, lol.
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I only eat fish blackened and spiced to the point that I don't care when it was pulled from the ocean. So I'm probably why you can find seafood wholesalers anywhere
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It's rather rare and unusual to see a Brat, Italian, Polish or Chorizo on the menu of a restaurant in Milwaukee. Who the F would go out for something you're going to grill at home or have at a tailgate/ballpark.
Similarly, LJS tends to be hard to find in WI, the land of 100,000 fish fries on Friday. I've talked to enough chefs, almost nobody sells fresh fish.
Shorelunch in Canada and other states is about the one I can guarantee, along with some fresh clams I've had in New England
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(https://i.imgur.com/QiTa9wu.png)
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That meme, like so many of them, is a ridiculous over simplification, and just stupid.
What went wrong at Red Lobster as restaurant chain reportedly plans to file for bankruptcy - ABC7 New York (abc7ny.com) (https://abc7ny.com/post/is-red-lobster-closing-2024-bankruptcy-endless-shrimp-locations/14819751/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2wbBVpoGCXEIWhrXx9r28X6rKqKjed2wXR2mNuFmhqd-L19IzNPdw3lRE_aem_AXWx5VQgsz7196OObZXNyqr0roPUgwz4vKJDyY-bMSxYQFCtI2CzZtf78QqqmQvaw5VfHC9-j0PomsjP6VrQCZYk)
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I only eat fish blackened and spiced to the point that I don't care when it was pulled from the ocean. So I'm probably why you can find seafood wholesalers anywhere
(https://i.imgur.com/bT9Zz4l.png)
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I do think this "blackened" fad is mostly an effort to cover up the taste of tasteless fish.
If that makes any sense.
Which it doesn't.
I think the same about fried fish two.
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I enjoy spicy stuff.
I like the blackened prep on many things, even a steak once in a while.
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Fried fish is delicious. Fried chicken is delicious. Fried steak is delicious. I'm not sure why you'd suggest any of those preparations are to cover the flavor, rather than enhance or complement it.
I'm okay with blackened stuff too. It's just one of many ways to cook a protein.
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Good fried foods are delicious, I agree, but to often the purpose is to mask inferior product in my view.
French fries can often taste pretty good until you let them get cold, then you taste what's really behind it all.
Speaking of which, it's Totcho Tuesday next door.
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Steaks can stand up to blackening. Most seafood cannot.
Salmon, some groupers, some snappers, redfish, some shrimp and other tasteful varieties can handle it.
I prefer S&P, butter and maybe a little garlic. Maybe.
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We get the steelhead trout from Costco fairly often. I grill it, or broil it if I'm last. I just use lemon pepper on it.
If I can get good quality chicken/fish/steak, I don't want it fried. If it's medium quality, fried is just fine with me.
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I wanted to take my wife out last evening to a place we know fairly well called Lure. They have $1.50 oysters during Happy Hour and some other items, so we showed up, sat at the bar, were the first ones there around 5 PM. Ordered oysters, they were "OK'. Then it started getting crowded. Then two young guys came in who were VERY loud and boisterous. It really can ruin the event for me, they sat at the other end of the bar but we could barely talk to each other. The two people behind the bar were getting slammed, the manager stepped in to assist which was nice, but it really took forever to get our bill. I had ordered another glass of wine that got forgotten, it wasn't on the bill at least.
There was a large group sitting in the back who drifted in, they weren't a problem other than that the kitchen probably was getting slammed along with the bar orders. One of the barmen told me it was his first day, he didn't know where stuff was of course, but seemed to be figuring it out, I put a nice word in for him with the manager.
With tip, and the local discount, it ended up being $96. Kind of an ouchee. (We have three apps along with the oysters.)
I recall going during COVID and sitting at the bar, the place was nearly empty, we thought we'd give them some business when it reopened, it was quiet, and not bad.
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the oysters I had in rural Nebraska were tasty and fresh but small
I had 24 of them
then added a large pretzel with stone ground mustard and a wedge salad - very good
the place got busy but the staff was attentive and hard working
one of the owners sat with me for a while. I mentioned that the staff was top notch
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The wife and I tied one on last night. We went to...six different places I think? Got a little fuzzy near the end. Did get crab cakes at Ruth's Chris, as my wife enjoys eating them and enjoys me paying for them. They should sell chicken wings. We did get wings at one place and they were kind of gross. Should have known, as everyone there looked to be about 19. Plus they didn't have blue cheese. That place was a bust, but everywhere else did a good job. My oldest daughter is about to go on a trip so I won't have my free babysitter for a while, so had to take advantage.
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tell me you don't dunk chicken wings in blue cheese salad dressing, please
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tell me you don't dunk chicken wings in blue cheese salad dressing, please
I proudly dunk wings in blue cheese salad dressing, as all good wing eaters should do. If you aren't doing that, you might as well let Russia win.
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tell me you don't dunk chicken wings in blue cheese salad dressing, please
I do with standard wings if I order them (which is rarely). Any really tasty wings I don't, but "bar food" wings are usually other than tasty really. It's a cheap food item that now costs a near fortune.
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Wow I had no idea that chicken wing snobbery was a thing!
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Wow I had no idea that chicken wing snobbery was a thing!
It's up there with chili snobbery, and Mexican spaghetti snobbery.
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we've probably had this discussion in the past
slipping my memory
salad dressing is for veggies
not for meat
if a pre-teen wants to douse their chick nuggets in salad dressing I guess it's ok to get them to finish their meal and get some protein
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I put blue cheese on steak at times.
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I bite into my wing. Then I dip a veggie into blue cheese dressing and eat it while chewing on the wing.
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The only wings I get these days are at the Korean fried chicken place, unless somewhere has them buffet style somewhere. I might snag a couple then.
Our meeting at the ballpark only had dogs and burgers, and I had one of each. The burger was understandably dry as a bone, the dog was OK, I had some much kraut and mustard on it it probably wouldn't matter.
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I love Korean fried chicken, but not for wings. The great thing about wings is (if cooked properly) they come out crispy with no need for any breading at all.
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This Korean place serves the best wings I've ever had, by far.
Their chicken is killer too.
The only two practices I really disdain when it comes to food is putting sugar on grits (grrr) and ketchup on a hot dog.
OK, I'd add putting steak sauce on a really good steak.
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I put blue cheese on steak at times.
crumbles, not dressing
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I've mentioned before how we like the flat iron steaks, though the price like everything meat related has really gone up. I use the baking powder tenderizing now and it works better than the regular stuff based on enzymes and is cheaper.
My wife likes "blu rare", I'm more MR, but I can cook the steak so the center is BR and the outsides are MR and it works for us.
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What I really don't understand is how the French can like their meat blu, and yet the quality of that meat is so so bad. I don't mind going super-rare on a really nice piece of meat. Heck, I absolutely love beef carpaccio. But I'll only eat it that rare (or raw) if it's REALLY excellent quality beef.
In France I typically had to order "bien cuit" (well done) just to get them to cook it medium. And the cook would sometimes even come out of the kitchen to glare at me when I ordered it that way.
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I usually get the snow chicken at CM Chicken, but get it as tenders because it's a knife and fork dish and I'm a proper gentleman.
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(https://i.imgur.com/HdsC0Uk.png)
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I'll take the short rib almost every time
for steaks, I prefer strips and T-bones/Porterhouse
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Gonna do BBQ short ribs out at my BIL's ranch in Fredericksburg this weekend. The big ones off the plate. Gonna be a blast.
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I like ribeye, but only if they are well done. I do not like eating fat at all, but the fat keeps the steak juicy, even at well.
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I like only two kinds of beers...
(https://i.imgur.com/58wfgJg.png)
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yeah, I like both kinds, country and western.
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that ain't no Hank Williams' song
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There's a tear,in my beer,
'Cause I'm cryin' for you, dear
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you are on my lonely mind
I'm gonna keep drinkin until I'm petrified
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Headed here today.
Bokeelia On Pine Island, Florida - Lazy Flamingo (https://lazyflamingo.com/bokeelia/)
Just called. A boat just dropped off fresh triple tail this morning. I'm all in.
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Went to a strawberry festival at a brewery. One of the stands had Strawberry ribs. My wife got them, because I usually skip that stuff. But dang it, the sauce was great. Gonna spend some time trying to recreate it.
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There's a tear,in my beer,
'Cause I'm cryin' for you, dear
you are on my lonely mind
I'm gonna keep drinkin until I'm petrified
But this lonely bar is all
I have until last call...
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Went to a strawberry festival at a brewery. One of the stands had Strawberry ribs. My wife got them, because I usually skip that stuff. But dang it, the sauce was great. Gonna spend some time trying to recreate it.
One of life's little pleasures: experimentally recreating sauces
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The triple tail was fantastic.
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I can only imagine
had a 80/20 burger on the grill marinated with soy sauce after golf, with sauteed onions
no sauce, no bun
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(https://i.imgur.com/d0t19J3.jpeg)
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so, a large saltwater Crappie
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That's a good comp.
Light, sweet, flaky, buttery.
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Maybe gonna hit this place today. I think this is the last Monday they will be open for the season.
Riviera Bar & Grill Punta Gorda | Waterfront Dinning | Live Music (rivierabarandgrillpuntagorda.com) (https://rivierabarandgrillpuntagorda.com/)
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the season?
gonna get to hot & humid?
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"Season" refers to the time of year when all the f'ing snowbirds show up. January to May. Sometimes earlier.
They are mostly gone now, thankfully. Less traffic and much easier to get a table at a restaurant.
I'm sure @Honestbuckeye (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=37) also appreciates it, like the rest of our Florida contingent here.
I do kinda notice that a lot of people are becoming permanent residents lately, like us. Need more restaurants if that is the case - and I think it is.
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Authentic Chimichurri (Uruguay & Argentina) - Cafe Delites (https://cafedelites.com/authentic-chimichurri-uruguay-argentina/)
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They are mostly gone now, thankfully. Less traffic and much easier to get a table at a restaurant.
not easier on a Monday, apparently
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Chimichurri - I'll give it a try
finely chopped flat leaf parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes and red wine vinegar
all seem to pair well with steak
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We generally don't go out on Mondays, except to our local haunt, which is open and has bingo.
Home (casscayrestaurant.com) (https://casscayrestaurant.com/)
I never thought I'd play bingo. It's actually fun. Getting old maybe.
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:72:
couldn't find the head shakin emoji
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It's the place to see and be seen. Kinda like a Kubbs game in Wiggly.
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what's the menu like?
specialties? yer favorite go-to?
well, besides Red Walker
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I quit drinking Scotch (or anything else that's not clear).
They have a fresh catch and butcher block selection every day. Grouper, Triple, Snapper, etc. Steaks are usually flat iron, ribeye and filet.
We normally don't eat after 5PM so we go for lunch mostly.
The regular menu? It's not complete in the online version for some reason. They use Sysco and other providers for their non-specials.
But gimme the smash burger.
We take the golf cart to and fro. Uses about 10 percent of the battery for round trip. Big regret.
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scotch is clear enuff for me
if I squint a little and the ice cube melts a little, that helps
if it's gotta be real clear, give me the Bombay Sapphire, with an ice cube and a citrus slice (lime, lemon, orange, tangerine)
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I've noted before, there are two kinds of beer, and two kinds of liquor, clear and brown (aged).
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Older whiskey is my preference
https://youtu.be/vnvMcX95G20
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I am pondering the best kind of restaurant to dine in when away from home in an unfamiliar location.
Chinese?
Pizza?
Burgers?
Bar food?
Major chain?
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Chinese is takeout only for us.
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I am pondering the best kind of restaurant to dine in when away from home in an unfamiliar location.
Chinese?
Pizza?
Burgers?
Bar food?
Major chain?
Chains can be safe... you know what to expect. But we usually venture and try something new.. or at least attempt to try something new. If you're in the US, we like to look at places Diners, Drive-ins and Dives have showcased as good options or guides. We also asked around the hotel to see what they recommend. Sandwich places are usually safe as is pizza.
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We both like Asian foods a lot. We have several Chinese places near us that are good, one is too spicy for my wife. Our DIL (almost, some day) is from Hong Kong and we took her to all three, she liked them, or was being pleasant (which she is). The fancier Chinese places really don't cater to take out, though I imagine they do some of it. They still are not very expensive in a relative sense. This place is quite good, not so much for takeout:
URBAN HAI (https://urbanhai.com/)
This place is pretty much spicy everything:
XI'AN GOURMET HOUSE, ATLANTA GA (kwickmenu.com) (https://xiangourmethouse.kwickmenu.com/index.php)
And this place has the coolest name:
@BIGBOSSCHINESE (https://www.bigbosschinese.com/)
They cater to students a fair bit as it's near Tech.
I've had decent luck trying Asian places when unsure of the area. I think bar food tends to be pretty predictable, as is pizza. I mentioned we're headed to SD on Saturday, staying up in Carlsbad, I'm checking places near there, we'll have some dinners with eleven people present and I'll probably be footing the tab.
If you know of any place really special in SD or north let me know.
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yup, Cincy's list to me would depend on my mood
I do check to see if there's a triple D place nearby
I don't eat pizza much these days - never been a big fan of Chinese, prefer Thai
I usually go to the bar. I can get burgers and pizza and sammiches at most bars. I eat a lot of wings.
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Among the various Asian cuisines, I lean to Thai slightly, but I like'em all. Chinese is so varied, I have to be careful with anything related to Szechuan because of my wife. Vietnamese ranges from quite good to excellent in my experience. If we count Indian as "Asian", I do really like Indian cuisine a lot.
We have two Persian restaurants near us, both are excellent in my view, and another "eastern Mediterranean/Turkish" that probably is one of the top three places to go near us for us.
Now if some brave soul would open a French bistro, nothing fancy, just good, I'd be content.
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If you know of any place really special in SD or north let me know.
This is in Oceanside. Awesome breakfast and lunch.
MARY'S FAMILY RESTAURANT, Oceanside - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g32815-d4609553-Reviews-Mary_s_Family_Restaurant-Oceanside_California.html)
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I am pondering the best kind of restaurant to dine in when away from home in an unfamiliar location.
Chinese?
Pizza?
Burgers?
Bar food?
Major chain?
Whatever is supposed to be good?
is you’re looking for safe/consistent, probably bar food or pizza. I feel like a burger is bar food half the time anyway.
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I'll look for it, we have had pretty good luck out there with restaurants in previous visits. My wife likes to visit Solana Beach because it's replete with artsy shops.
Oddly enough, when our SIL picks a place to dine, it has often been mediocre. He's a CIA trained chef, he doesn't work as a chef now. When he cooks, he uses every pot in the kitchen.
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Menu | Ocean Thai Cuisine (https://www.oceanthai.com/menu.html)
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"Season" refers to the time of year when all the f'ing snowbirds show up. January to May. Sometimes earlier.
They are mostly gone now, thankfully. Less traffic and much easier to get a table at a restaurant.
I'm sure @Honestbuckeye (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=37) also appreciates it, like the rest of our Florida contingent here.
I do kinda notice that a lot of people are becoming permanent residents lately, like us. Need more restaurants if that is the case - and I think it is.
Yes, the traffic has now lightened up a bit from “season“ but it’s still busier than it used to be because of so many permanent residents and the continuous building of houses and apartments.
Just got home from the trek from my place over to Cape Coral to visit my brother and hang out yesterday and swim, barbecue, etc. Traffic wasn’t too bad
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Damn. Next time you're over here look me up. A couple of drinks would be great.
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We had lunch at Tabla, Indian food, and superb, dined outside, weather very nice after some rain. This sort of dish is called "thali". My wife loves their "Dehli mules", I got one also. I chatted with the bar tender a bit after, they now have Louis XIII cognac, it's $195 an ounce. I've never had any, will probably give it a shot someday.
If I became vegan, I'd probably eat a ton of Indian style food.
(https://i.imgur.com/kspuHBG.jpeg)
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I mentioned we're headed to SD on Saturday, staying up in Carlsbad, I'm checking places near there, we'll have some dinners with eleven people present and I'll probably be footing the tab.
If you know of any place really special in SD or north let me know.
Try this place.
https://www.thisiscampfire.com/
If you like pizza and beer, Pizza Port is excellent for both. They don't have wait staff which I find annoying. So I usually try to get a seat at the bar.
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https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/27/us/hot-dogs-american-favorite-ijgdi-cec/index.html
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not clickin on a hot dog link
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I clicked. They guy is an idiot.
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Well, he has his opinions of course, he's probably not literally an idiot. I avoid hot dogs myself, I eat 1-3 a year probably. They probably are among the most "processed" foods out there.
Anyway, he doesn't like dogs, fine with me.
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His dislike for hot dogs is not why I labeled him an idiot.
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please elaborate
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please elaborate
First passage:
It’s Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial kickoff of summer in the US, which means Americans are practically required under federal law to gather friends and family, fire up the grill and cook something.
That is when I stopped.
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plenty of "yankee BBQs" around here the past weekend
it's grillin season
nothing low and slow about it and the only smoke is from the grease burning off
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We went to our local haunt last night. They had a smoked brisket special on the menu, so I got it.
Terrible.
Told the GM to never offer that again unless his chef could properly trim the fat cap prior to smoking. He didn't remove ANY of it. Not edible unless you like chewing on pure, unrendered fat.
He took it off my bill and 86'd it for the rest of the night so nobody else had to endure it.
I suppose they could trim it out and make chili. I'll watch for a chili special this week, but I'm sure he'll put beans in it.
First bad meal I've had there, in 4+ years.
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I made hot dogs! And T-bones and tried some smoked sausages because they were on sale. The hot dogs were better. Also made strawberry shortcakes, but not on the grill.
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A few weeks back, we dined next door and they had fried oysters which I ordered. The breading was tasty, the oysters, all of them, were rubber bands. I could not chew any of them. I told the server who got the manager who also took it off my bill. I told him "Y'all have good food, you really should not serve stuff like this.". He seemed to appreciated it. I tipped as if it was still on the bill.
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A few weeks back, we dined next door and they had fried oysters which I ordered. The breading was tasty, the oysters, all of them, were rubber bands. I could not chew any of them. I told the server who got the manager who also took it off my bill. I told him "Y'all have good food, you really should not serve stuff like this.". He seemed to appreciated it. I tipped as if it was still on the bill.
Always. It's a must-do.
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I made hot dogs! And T-bones and tried some smoked sausages because they were on sale. The hot dogs were better. Also made strawberry shortcakes, but not on the grill.
Save it for the cooking thread
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A few weeks back, we dined next door and they had fried oysters which I ordered. The breading was tasty, the oysters, all of them, were rubber bands. I could not chew any of them. I told the server who got the manager who also took it off my bill. I told him "Y'all have good food, you really should not serve stuff like this.". He seemed to appreciated it. I tipped as if it was still on the bill.
it's good to know when to just stay in your lane
Brisket in Florida, Oysters in Atlanta, Seafood in Iowa, steaks in Texas, chili in Cincy
just say, no
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I've had some really good brisket here. My favorite is nearby and owned by a Texan. He's in his lane.
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Save it for the cooking thread
Don't all threads eventually become cooking threads
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We went to our local haunt last night. They had a smoked brisket special on the menu, so I got it.
Terrible.
I've come to the conclusion that expecting good brisket at a restaurant is going to be a nightmare, unless it's the following:
- A place that is going to have a brisket rush and basically sells brisket "until it runs out".
- A very good BBQ joint that's known for brisket, and you get it at either the start of lunch service or the start of dinner service.
The key for either is that once you start cutting into a brisket, you should be putting brisket on plates and sending it straight out to diners constantly. If it sits for ANY length of time, it dries out. And as good as a nice fresh moist slice of brisket can be, one that has dried out is equally bad. And it could be the exact same slice of brisket, just 10 minutes later.
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Good conclusion. Lesson learned for sure.
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I thought I didn't like brisket because all I'd ever had was dry as a bone and tasteless. So, I stopped ordering it. My wife ordered it at Fox Bros. a while back and said it was excellent, I tasted it, and indeed it is. I get their mixed plate now, brisket and pulled pork, with okra and okra on the side.
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To keep my thread on point - has anyone gotten good strawberry shortcake from a restaurant? I used to think I hated the dish but that was when I only ever had it with angel's food cake or something similar. An actual shortcake is a hell of a lot better.
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Also made strawberry shortcakes, but not on the grill.
This is your new challenge.
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When I was a kid, I'd often get shortcake when we dined at a cafeteria. My guess was the stuff was sweet and I was a kid. My mom would make it fairly often with frozen strawberries and those little cakes bought in a store with a crater in them.
I can't recall having any other than as a kid.
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The best strawberry shortcake I ever had was at the strawberry festival near Lakeland where I lived as a boy. It was in one of the other towns, Mulberry, Plant City, Winter Haven, or Bartow or one of them.
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my grandmother's was more like a biscuit than cake
She had my brother and I pick the strawberries from the patch in her backyard.
She didn't like snakes.
I don't have much of a sweet tooth, so I didn't use much whipping cream.
Just strawberries and juice and the biscuit
(https://i.imgur.com/I0KpqDQ.jpeg)
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Was the biscuit sweet at all? Or just normal?
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normal
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I despise biscuits. No redeeming quality whatsoever.
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Good biscuits are hard to find. I used to make them myself at times, mine were delicious, but not good for me.
It's akin to good grits.
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Homemade biscuits call for just six ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, butter, and milk.
so, similar to bread or crackers or cake
I try not to eat much of any of them, especially the sweet varieties.
No redeeming quality whatsoever.
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You only need 4 ingredients to make delicious fresh pasta
All-purpose flour
Eggs
Olive oil
Salt
about the same
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Biscuits with cream gravy and bacon crumbled across them are delicious.
Definitely don't eat them very often.
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I despise biscuits. No redeeming quality whatsoever.
Who hurt you
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Who hurt you
Some old lady threw a biscuit at me and nailed me in the forehead.
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probably a Cubs fan
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Some old lady threw a biscuit at me and nailed me in the forehead.
I threw a Skittle across my math class and hit my friend by the ear. Knocked him right out of his chair.
Idk if he tastes the rainbow or not.
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This is your new challenge.
I've contemplated baking on the grill, though that seems more a camping activity. I swore off camping as a kid.
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(https://www.kentucky.com/latest-news/sloud7/picture240729426/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1140/biscuit%20world%20lineup.jpg)
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[img width=500 height=280.994]https://www.kentucky.com/latest-news/sloud7/picture240729426/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1140/biscuit%20world%20lineup.jpg[/img]
Fixed it. Don't fall prey to you-know-who....
(https://i.imgur.com/VwR9aAh.png)
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(https://i.imgur.com/S4YbFiH.png)
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buy one get one is about right
I paid $6/lb for 6 pounds in Feb.
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I've contemplated baking on the grill, though that seems more a camping activity. I swore off camping as a kid.
We make biscuits in the Dutch oven all the time whilst camping. I suppose you could put those on top of a grill although we usually just put it down into the coals.
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I've contemplated baking on the grill, though that seems more a camping activity. I swore off camping as a kid.
If you have a grill that can cook indirect, baking works just fine. I have done it on my kamado as I have a ceramic a heat deflector to make it indirect. Before I replaced my Traeger with the griddle, I could do it in there as well.
Generally if you have something like a gas grill and you can hit your temps with just one burner (or two burners if the grill is large enough), or a kettle grill and build the fire only on one side of the grill, and put the item you're baking on the other side of the grill, that works fine too.
A grill will usually have more consistent temp control than most ovens, too. Ovens can have some pretty significant hysteresis between highest and lowest temps as the burners turn on and off and the temps overshoot/undershoot the set point. My kamado, once I have the vents properly set and the temp has stabilized, won't even vary more than about a degree. It's rock solid for temp.
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Those higher end grills have a lot of heat mass present and of course nearly constant heat, as opposed to cycling heat, as you note.
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If you have a grill that can cook indirect, baking works just fine. I have done it on my kamado as I have a ceramic a heat deflector to make it indirect. Before I replaced my Traeger with the griddle, I could do it in there as well.
Generally if you have something like a gas grill and you can hit your temps with just one burner (or two burners if the grill is large enough), or a kettle grill and build the fire only on one side of the grill, and put the item you're baking on the other side of the grill, that works fine too.
A grill will usually have more consistent temp control than most ovens, too. Ovens can have some pretty significant hysteresis between highest and lowest temps as the burners turn on and off and the temps overshoot/undershoot the set point. My kamado, once I have the vents properly set and the temp has stabilized, won't even vary more than about a degree. It's rock solid for temp.
I dunno if new ovens have that issue. I remember the old ones having it, but mine is about 6 years old and barely changes a tick in each direction. Also, much easier set up than the grill, so not sure if there would be any benefit to the work required.
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Our oven has an internal T probe I use often, it works great. There is inherent hysteresis in any such oven, I'm sure the better ones minimize it to the point of being inconsequential.
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Electric ovens are superior to gas ovens.
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I've been to a few these, in Vegas, Cali and Chicago. The Chicago one, probably 25-30 times over the years.
12 Restaurants Frank Sinatra Loved Across The US (msn.com) (https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/12-restaurants-frank-sinatra-loved-across-the-us/ar-BB1irqLA?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=4d73eecf905344ec97531f3fe7c22144&ei=40)
Menu - Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern (twinanchorsribs.com) (https://www.twinanchorsribs.com/menu/#entrees)
Never had the "chili" because it's not.
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Only been to this one twice. It's great but $$$$$$$$.
Gene and Georgetti | Chicago’s Original Tuscan Steakhouse | Italian Restaurant (https://geneandgeorgetti.com/)
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don't know if I'll ever get back to chicago
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I'm happy to dine at a very good restaurant that has solid service, interesting food, and manageable prices. It doesn't have to be "elite", for me, as that usually means elite prices.
I took my wife here a while back, it's the "place to go for steak" in ATL apparently. It struck me as being a "place to be seen and hobnob". The steak was fine, but the prices were borderline crazy. I view it as a "go once" kind of place, I guess. In the US, at times dining at certain places is more of an event than dining. Places get some glorified reputation and then everyone wants to go just to say they went.
Bones Restaurant – Atlanta's Premier Steak House (https://bonesrestaurant.com/)
For us, if we want to "put on the feed bag" in a serious way, we'll go here:
Bacchanalia — Star Provisions (https://www.starprovisions.com/bacchanalia)
But since they got their Michelin star, reservations are months out last I checked except for pretty early and pretty late.
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prices may have gone up as well
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Wife is going to wine tasting tonight, so I can sneak to CM Chicken while the kids are at taekwondo. Mouth watering already. I also love the pickled radishes they give you, need to figure out how to make those.
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I dunno if new ovens have that issue. I remember the old ones having it, but mine is about 6 years old and barely changes a tick in each direction. Also, much easier set up than the grill, so not sure if there would be any benefit to the work required.
Have you verified with a leave-in thermometer that responds pretty quickly? Something like this (https://www.thermoworks.com/dot/)?
The original (I think) oven from this house crapped out a few years ago, and our landlord replaced it with what I'm sure is an absolute bottom barrel crappy oven, but at least it's new. Natural gas. With the thermometer, I have seen swings of +25 to -20 degrees from set point at least. I've put some thermal mass in the bottom of the oven (pizza stone and a ceramic piece from the kamado; plan to eventually replace both with fire brick) which has gotten it a little smoother, but it still has about a 20-25 degree swing in total. The temperature display on the oven shows zero movement obviously.
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don't know if I'll ever get back to chicago
I have to go up there for a lot of reasons, but I'm not going into the city ever again unless they clean it up and clear out the crime. We used to go down on the train, probably one time a month or so.
The only part of Chicago we touch is ORD (or MDW, not often).
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Have you verified with a leave-in thermometer that responds pretty quickly? Something like this (https://www.thermoworks.com/dot/)?
The original (I think) oven from this house crapped out a few years ago, and our landlord replaced it with what I'm sure is an absolute bottom barrel crappy oven, but at least it's new. Natural gas. With the thermometer, I have seen swings of +25 to -20 degrees from set point at least. I've put some thermal mass in the bottom of the oven (pizza stone and a ceramic piece from the kamado; plan to eventually replace both with fire brick) which has gotten it a little smoother, but it still has about a 20-25 degree swing in total. The temperature display on the oven shows zero movement obviously.
Yeah I have the Thermoworks leave in I use for the grill.
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I was assured on the food thread that if you're checking the temperature of anything, at all, then you're not a real cook. :)
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Yeah I have the Thermoworks leave in I use for the grill.
Thanks. So your oven is within a few degrees up and down from the set point? Is it electric or gas? If it's gas, does it actually "cycle" on and off or does it control temp by regulating gas flow to stay more constant?
As mentioned ours is as cheap as cheap gets, and I can hear it cycling on and off, so it might be that despite being new, it's still based on the cheapest possible design.
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Our oven is Bosch electric and I'm sure it cycles. So does our AC. I don't THINK the hysteresis is very large.
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Thanks. So your oven is within a few degrees up and down from the set point? Is it electric or gas? If it's gas, does it actually "cycle" on and off or does it control temp by regulating gas flow to stay more constant?
As mentioned ours is as cheap as cheap gets, and I can hear it cycling on and off, so it might be that despite being new, it's still based on the cheapest possible design.
It's electric. Can't say I know a ton outside of that. I've read newer ovens are more efficient, especially in materials, but no clue what specifically it has
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Teh Samsung stays within 3 degrees of where it is supposed to be based on my thermometer I keep inside.
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Portillo's is the last place I'd go to in Illinois if I was just getting a hot dog. So many great mom and pops there. Don't get me wrong, they are not bad dogs at all. There are just better ones.
America’s Best Hot Dog Joints For Your Bucket List (msn.com) (https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/america-s-best-hot-dog-joints-for-your-bucket-list/ss-BB1keNyP?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=50219ccbc3c644fabf102cecce919632&ei=19)
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What is the best thing at Portillo's? We dined there twice in Orlando. It was in the OK range for the money I guess. I was whelmed.
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Italian beef, burgers and fries (with cheese sauce) are the go-to- things for me.
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Agree on the cheese fries. That sauce is addictive.
I personally find their Italian Beef just "ok", compared to all the great mom & pop places I grew up with. I prefer their jumbo dog to the standard hot dog--I think the proportions work better. And I agree with badge that their burgers are really quite good.
When I go to the local-ish one here, I always get two jumbo dogs (w/ everything obv) and cheese fries.
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Best Italian Beef Sandwiches in Chicago (msn.com) (https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/best-italian-beef-sandwiches-in-chicago/ar-BB1kpsdg?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=7632b814e17b4ac583d0ecafc3a4d1b9&ei=9)
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The Cincinnati-area restaurants Guy Fieri has visited on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives'
https://local12.com/news/local/cincinnati-restaurants-guy-fieri-visited-visit-diners-drive-ins-dives-food-restaurant (https://local12.com/news/local/cincinnati-restaurants-guy-fieri-visited-visit-diners-drive-ins-dives-food-restaurant)
1. Terry’s Turf Club
ADDRESS: 4618 Eastern Avenue (Linwood)
Although Terry’s Turf Club came under new ownership in 2019, their menu and recipes remain the same. Stop by this local Linwood joint for a hearty bowl of filet mignon chili and the aptly named “Fieri Burger” topped with the restaurant’s one-of-a-kind Burgundy wine sauce.
2. Blue Ash Chili (Blue Ash location)
ADDRESS: 9565 Kenwood Road (Blue Ash)
It’s no surprise that Fieri tried Cincinnati-style chili on his visit, and it's no surprise that he was wowed by the 6-way topped with fried jalapenos at Blue Ash Chili. Add the chili lasagna and the chili Philly cheesesteak to your order here and know that deep in his foodie heart, Fieri is proud of you.
3. Melt Revival (formerly Melt Eclectic Cafe)
ADDRESS: 4100 Hamilton Avenue (Northside)
Since Fieri's visit in 2014, Melt’s location, ownership, and even its name have gone through a few changes. It’s now called Melt Revival, but owners Shannon and Diane assure me that—although the BBQ chicken sandwich and vegetarian 3-way featured on Triple D aren’t always on the menu—they’re still available to guests who request them, in addition to their other locally sourced dishes served daily.
4. Island Frydays
ADDRESS: 2826 Vine Street (Corryville)
Jamaican-born chef and former UC football player Leo Morgan cooks up flavorful Caribbean fare behind the bright yellow and green facade of Island Frydays on Short Vine. The food has just as much flair as the colorful exterior, and Fieri had only good things to say about the jerk chicken and traditional Escovitch Snapper fish he tried when he stopped by.
5. Pho Lang Thang
ADDRESS: Formerly 114 W Elder Street (Findlay Market), since moved to 1828 Race Street (near Findlay Market)
Fieri called this Vietnamese restaurant “a full cultural experience” when he sampled the Pho Bo (beef and rice noodle soup) and their “special” Bahn Mi sandwich with headcheese and paté. If that’s a bit outside of your comfort zone, the menu also offers pork, beef, chicken, vegetarian, and vegan options to please every palate.
6. Senate Pub (OTR location)
ADDRESS: 1212 Vine Street (OTR)
Fieri visited three restaurants on this list in one trip because they’re all conveniently located near each other on Vine Street. Senate Pub calls its fare “gourmet street food.” But, Fieri gives the massive, specialty hotdogs a catchier name: winner wieners. For the full Triple D experience, try the Korean hot dog with braised short rib, kimchi, and pickled cucumbers.
7. Bakersfield OTR
ADDRESS: 1213 Vine Street (OTR)
Get a little tipsy on your next Taco Tuesday with the expansive selection of tequila and craft cocktails at Bakersfield OTR. Then, be like Fieri and round out your night with the braised short rib tacos on house-made tortillas, or the Milanesa Torta with chicken and black bean spread.
8. Taste of Belgium (OTR location)
ADDRESS: 1135 Vine Street (OTR)
Belgium native Chef Jean Francois Flechet melds the flavors of his childhood with a Midwest twist at his nine Taste of Belgium sites in Greater Cincinnati. Follow in Fieri's footsteps by visiting the OTR location. “When you walk through those doors off of Vine Street, you gotta kinda catch yourself and look around because you’re in another country,” says Fieri. Then, order the crispy, light, Belgian waffles (duh) and the Carbonnades (beef stew) poutine for a taste of Belgium in the Queen City.
9. The Governor
ADDRESS: 231 Main Street (Milford)
Fieri enjoyed a chicken sandwich and short rib grilled cheese with kimchi tomato soup. The Governor is a modern diner in historic downtown Milford. Owned by brothers Paul and Neil Barraco, the restaurant offers breakfast (all day), brunch, and dinner to pair with a creative cocktail menu. Paul is the former executive chef of 20 Brix and sister restaurant Padrino, where Neil also served as GM.
10. Kiki Cincinnati
ADDRESS: 5932 Hamilton Avenue (College Hill)
Kiki is a Japanese gastropub in College Hill serving up Asian specialties, small plates, cocktails, and flavorful ramen dishes. Chef Hideki Harada is the owner and was the previous owner and chef at Kaze. The space opened in August 2019 with a fresh, modern aesthetic.
11. Big Jay's Place
ADDRESS: 930 Hempstead Drive (Finneytown)
Food Network called Big Jay's a Cincinnati hidden gem that delivers Caribbean favorites. Big Jay's specializes in jerk chicken and other meats in a variety of dishes. It also has classic soul food sides, like collard greens and mac & cheese.
12. Citrus & Sago
ADDRESS: 1004 Delta Avenue (Mt Lookout)
Citrus and Sago is a restaurant in Mount Lookout Square inspired by authentic French, Malaysian, Cantonese, and other Asian cuisine. It’s also a catering venue and a rotisserie featuring fresh meats such as roasted ducks. Executive chef and owner Paul Liew sources local ingredients to create his unique, Eurasian dishes from scratch. Liew grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he was influenced by an intersection of flavors from Southeast Asia. He moved to the United States and trained in various restaurants throughout Cincinnati before opening Citrus and Sago.
13. Lucius Q
ADDRESS: 1131 Broadway (OTR)
In Cincinnati, a smokin' spot is piling up a mega pork sandwich and the city's signature chili-pasta mashup. Pendleton’s BBQ restaurant and bar Lucius Q keeps its smokers hot. Those looking for smoked meat and vegetarian Veggie Q, delectable sides, and cocktails, can look no farther.
14. The Schoolhouse Restaurant
ADDRESS: 8031 Glendale Milford Rd (Camp Dennison)
Time travel back to 1962 when Dr. Donald and wife Phyllis Miller converted the old schoolhouse into a restaurant. Their goal was to create a place where families could gather together for a dinner time meal like they had in their childhood. The Schoolhouse menu features traditional entrees like fried chicken, roast beef, and meatloaf, to name a few.
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Blue Ash Chili was my go to place in Cincy. We also ate at the Schoolhouse from time to time, usually on a Sunday, it was solid, and interesting.
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I had dinner at this Kearney, NE restaurant last week.
Cattle country for sure............
Toasted sourdough bread in dry-aged tallow, topped with 45 day dry-aged Connealy New York Strip, top off with winter truffle butter. Also served with bone marrow canoes and parsley capers salad!
(https://i.imgur.com/2oY0Kjt.jpeg)
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Did you eat all of that by yourself?
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no sir, too old for that
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What was the name of the place?
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the Copper Mill
the guy also owns a few other great places in Kearney
Fyre Modern Grill and Cunningham's Journal on the lake
I come move south to Kearney some day
great golf course there, Awarii Dunes
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Heading here today, to listen to some music, drinks, eats. Cool place.
And they will give me an ashtray for my cigar. Bonus.
Dean's South Of The Border - Punta Gorda, FL (deanssouthoftheborder.com) (https://deanssouthoftheborder.com/)
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heading to the golf course
no ash tray required for my cigar on the back 9
maybe I'll take my bluetooth speaker for some cool tunes
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tried a restaurant I didn't know about for my daughter's Bday on the 30th in Lincoln
great location in the Haymarket
https://www.jtkrestaurant.com/menu (https://www.jtkrestaurant.com/menu)
had a nice strong martini at the bar while waiting for my daughter to arrive - $15
54% by volume
(https://i.imgur.com/HBtUzXW.jpeg)
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For some reason, I've run into overly loud tables near us a couple times lately. The first was at a "wine bar" which really is a tapas restaurant, pretty nice place, and the table behind us had one guy basically shouting, not angry, just a very loud voice. The second was at a nice place we like for lunch called Canoe, we actually sat at the table next to a group of 5 "ladies" and immediately asked to move a table further away. I guess they were deaf or something, even the table further away they were shouting at each other, again, not in anger, just raised voices. I could make out their every word. It was highly annoying.
Canoe has a very nice garden outside right on the river, but the outside tables were closed for the season. The inside has a lot of glass, so it's still nice, and the food is reliably good. Lunch ran close to $100.
We'll spend $50 or so every time we have lunch out pretty much. We don't do dinner often, it's just too pricey.
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We'll spend $50 or so every time we have lunch out pretty much. We don't do dinner often, it's just too pricey.
Same.
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Going to this place today. Birthday late lunch.
Waterfront | Miceli's Restaurant | Matlacha (https://www.micelis.com/)
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meeting customers at Cielito Lindo Mexican Restaurant on the south side of Blackhawk Lake in Lake View, IA for lunch
it's nothing special, but it's the customer's choice and there aren't many choices in the Lake View area
I'll probably have the taco salad
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Weird, we have a Cielito Lindo Mexican restaurant just a mile or so away, it's the closest Mexican place to our house. They have outstanding interior Mexican and fairly good Tex-Mex. I usually get enchiladas mole there.
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We have one also, about 6-7 miles away.
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It's a national chain!!
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The one here was definitely not a national chain. Tiny little mom and pop place.
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CIELITO LINDO - Updated January 2025 - 1020 White St SW, Atlanta, Georgia - Tacos - Restaurant Reviews - Menu - Yelp (https://www.yelp.com/biz/cielito-lindo-atlanta)
Walking distance, longish walk. They are all over.
Cielito Lindo Mexican Grill
Located in Haw River, NC, our story began with a dream to create a warm and inviting space where families and friends could come together to enjoy flavorful dishes made with the finest ingredients
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the one I was at this afternoon, NOT a chain
but, the owner/operator struggles with english
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We have a new one near us that is pretty decent. We have two South American places that are both solid, and 3-4 more TexMex kind of places, but the "best" ones are up Buford Highway from us.
Emilio's Tacos and Tequila (https://www.emiliostacosandtequila.com/)
They all seem pretty solid to me.
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Block 16 in Omaha
Lobster Omelette on toasted sourdough English muffin with truffle aioli and a boat of kaluga caviar. It's $15 but cmon.
(https://i.imgur.com/aupYSz6.jpeg)
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Seems like a good price.
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it's Omaha - not San Fran
I can afford to live here in dirt farmer country
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Weird, we have a Cielito Lindo Mexican restaurant just a mile or so away, it's the closest Mexican place to our house. They have outstanding interior Mexican and fairly good Tex-Mex. I usually get enchiladas mole there.
How do you rank the states based solely on their Mexican cuisine?
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How do you rank the states based solely on their Mexican cuisine?
- California
- AZ, NM, TX (excellent but more dominated by Tex-Mex)
- Other Southwestern/Western states (CO/UT/NV/maybe OK) -- proximity and population
- Everywhere else, but with a bias to large cities / population centers because you can find good anything if there are enough people around.
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- California
- AZ, NM, TX (excellent but more dominated by Tex-Mex)
- Other Southwestern/Western states (CO/UT/NV/maybe OK) -- proximity and population
- Everywhere else, but with a bias to large cities / population centers because you can find good anything if there are enough people around.
1) Texas (big state with a massive border with Mexico, with tons of actual Mexican food plus Tex-Mex, also a heavy New Mexican influence in the W/NW)
2) California, (very good Mexican food, much of the state is further from the border which results in decreasing quality as you move north. Cal-Mex is just okay. Fish tacos is a dish not a cuisine :))
3) New Mexico (very good Mexican food, but it's just smaller with fewer population centers and less Mexican food overall. But they do get bonus points for having their own New Mexican cuisine which is delicious).
4) All the rest, and agree with bwar that larger cities will just have more options and therefore more chances at being good.
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my small town bar.................. pretty good place to watch the Chiefs today
(https://i.imgur.com/XZERzod.png)
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Who are the Chefs?
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Blindly putting green chilis in everything. That's NM cuisine.
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Alaska has reindeer burritos.
(https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAEQuHN.img?w=800&h=435&q=60&m=2&f=jpg)
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adding green chilis to those reindeer burritos wouldn't hurt
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Blindly putting green chilis in everything. That's NM cuisine.
Uhhh... no. No green chile in this one:
(https://i.imgur.com/AljU1Lk.jpeg)
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We stayed with another couple in Hilton Head (2 bdr condo on the beach). We had lunch at Hudson's, which is always good. We had dinner at the Jazz Corner which is excellent, and the jazz was all that.
We then had dinner at a new place called the Black Marlin which had a nice looking menu and ... that was it, Red Lobster might be better.
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I tried a new fast food place called Dave's Hot Chicken.
Nope.
I'm not sure how it's even a thing. Unimpressive in every way.
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I tried a new fast food place called Dave's Hot Chicken.
Nope.
I'm not sure how it's even a thing. Unimpressive in every way.
My kids mentioned that place as there's one local that they went to with their mom. They were also not impressed. My 12 yo said it was WAY too heavy on the cumin, which should tell you what a little bougie eater she is :57:
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Buffalo wild wings for me tonight
always solid
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My kids mentioned that place as there's one local that they went to with their mom. They were also not impressed. My 12 yo said it was WAY too heavy on the cumin, which should tell you what a little bougie eater she is :57:
It's offensively mediocre.
Hot chicken feels like something you should make well or not make at all.
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Alaska has reindeer burritos.
(https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAEQuHN.img?w=800&h=435&q=60&m=2&f=jpg)
Goddamn I bet that's good
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I've had reindeer, it wasn't good.
But, it wasn't in a burrito
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When I travel and am looking for a place to eat, if I see a locally owned restaurant advertising it has been in business for 30 or more years under family ownership, that is where I want to stop, because it will not have been in business for decades unless it has great food and service.
And so it is here in Iowa. On Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, I took my wife and kids (daughter and son-in-law) here:
https://www.breitbachscountrydining.com/
Breitbachs is Iowa's oldest bar and restaurant, owned and operated continuously by the Breitbachs since 1852. It is a huge restaurant in Balltown, population 79. On Saturday there were far more people in the restaurant than 79. We waited 20 minutes to be seated. As always, it was worth the wait. And, surprise: My son-in-law of 1.5 years (but with a dating relationship of 13-more years with my daughter) had never been here with us. He sells cars, but his hobby is being a chef. When a guy cooks like him, and likes a restaurant, it is a huge compliment to the restaurant.
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In addition, the view in Balltown is spectacular. You can see the bluffs in Wisconsin about 5-miles away. The wind farm is about 15 miles away.
(https://i.imgur.com/n9Xkatu.png)
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When I travel and am looking for a place to eat, if I see a locally owned restaurant advertising it has been in business for 30 or more years under family ownership, that is where I want to stop, because it will not have been in business for decades unless it has great food and service.
I try, as well, but often we've stopped overnight in a smallish town on a freeway, and there isn't much around I can find. The chains have done a Walmart on most of the local places.
One thing I do like about France is a relative paucity of chains.
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https://www.breitbachscountrydining.com/
Breitbachs is Iowa's oldest bar and restaurant, owned and operated continuously by the Breitbachs since 1852. It is a huge restaurant in Balltown, population 79. On Saturday there were far more people in the restaurant than 79. We waited 20 minutes to be seated. As always, it was worth the wait. And, surprise: My son-in-law of 1.5 years (but with a dating relationship of 13-more years with my daughter) had never been here with us. He sells cars, but his hobby is being a chef. When a guy cooks like him, and likes a restaurant, it is a huge compliment to the restaurant.
I'll have to stop by when I get the chance
It's off the beaten path. I drove by it last year. The Great River Rd is my favorite drive in Iowa.
I was in Hawkeye, West Union, Monona, Elkader, Strawberry Point, Winthrop, and had dinner and drinks at Wolfey's in Quasqueton last week.
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I was at Wolfey's once. It is about 20 miles from here. I don't remember why I was there. Maybe it was a bachelor's party 15 years ago. It is not sufficient compelling to justify a return trip. Quasqy is in the middle of nowhere.
Next time you are in Manchester, stop by.
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It is not sufficient compelling to justify a return trip.
Correct.
The men's room has an interesting window with view of the bar. You can keep an eye on your drink or lady friend.
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Funny. In the 1970s there was a building downtown Minneapolis that had a men's room with a one-way window from the urinals giving one a view of passersby on the sidewalk while one did his business.
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I like my food pretty spicy, but what is up with all these "hot chicken" places where even the medium tastes like it's been marinating in ghost peppers for a week?
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I like my food pretty spicy, but what is up with all these "hot chicken" places where even the medium tastes like it's been marinating in ghost peppers for a week?
Apparently Nashville Hot Chicken is known for being insanely spicy.
I haven't been to any of these new chains, which I'm sure are much LESS spicy than the below. But I've had Nashville Hot Chicken sandwiches at restaurants that don't specialize in it, and a couple of them have been pretty hot even without actually specifying how hot it's supposed to be.
And that's from someone who has mostly obliterated his taste buds over the years so the things I eat without a second thought, my family (especially my wife) won't even touch a bite of...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9ztecYHFwU
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Yeah, I can normally wolf down something that other people can't eat like it isn't even hot.
We had Nashville Fried Chicken in Columbus, and it was the original. But now they are everywhere. I just had Houston Hot Chicken, it was just as bad. Jay Birds is another, and on and on and on.
Not even good, just hot.
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Yeah, I don't typically go to any dedicated chicken restaurants, given that my wife has a poultry allergy.
My kids have been to "Dave's Hot Chicken" which I understand is a national chain, with their mom when they're not with us, though. My daughter (age 12) complained that it tasted like just about nothing but cumin (which for whatever reason she pronounces "kume-ON") and heat. So it didn't make me want to try that place lol. Even though I really love cumin.
I figure that it's just a fad, and it'll fade like so many of them do. Kinda think Korean fried chicken and Japanese (karaage?) fried chicken might to do the same.
We might just be in a fried chicken bubble lol!
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Big fan of karaage and Korean FC. We have Hattie B’s here which is quite good and crowded.
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I've yet to have hot chicken that was actually hot
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Many kids have now been raised eating hot cheetohs and the like, so I'm guessing their taste buds are screwed up a little bit.
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I like my food pretty spicy, but what is up with all these "hot chicken" places where even the medium tastes like it's been marinating in ghost peppers for a week?
It's all the rage to challenge people, like the reality shows on TV do.
I eat Nashville Hot Chicken, in Nashville. It's really good.
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I enjoy the hot lamb in Indian places
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There is no point to eating food that blows your face off. Nobody needs to eat a ghost pepper. If you do, you can't taste anything afterward. That's just plain dumb.
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agreed, Habaneros are hot enuff
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Personally I like very hot as long as it has flavor. Which why I don't care for ghost peppers. Yes heat, but bitter flavor. Most places that says there item is extremely hot, it is not.
A local company makes a hot sauce called the 3 kings, made with Ghost, Scorpion and Reaper peppers. plenty of heat, plenty of flavor.
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Yeah, a lot of restaurants (especially fast food places) that hype that their new menu item as a "ghost pepper X", they use such a tiny amount of ghost pepper in there that it's barely even medium. Because they know "ghost pepper" sounds like eating it means you're a tough guy, but the also want to sell food and if they make it as hot as real pepper heads are looking for, they'll piss off the other 98% of their customers...
I definitely want some flavor with heat. My son once seemed to go through a "spicy food" phase and ordered this spicy microwave popcorn online. I was the only one who would try it with him. But it was just pure heat--no flavor. It wasn't enjoyable at all.
I think one of the things about heat, though, is that it opens the taste buds. On Alton Brown's Good Eats, he had an episode which basically talked about the various taste buds basically being like little locks, and specific flavors (sweet, salty, sour, etc) were keys that would only unlock the taste buds for which they fit. Whereas capsaicin was like a skeleton key, unlocking everything. To me that's how heat should be--something that opens up the palate to fully experience the flavors. But we all have a different threshold where it goes from that, to pain. Some of us it's just higher than others.
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yes sir
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Personally I like very hot as long as it has flavor. Which why I don't care for ghost peppers. Yes heat, but bitter flavor. Most places that says there item is extremely hot, it is not.
A local company makes a hot sauce called the 3 kings, made with Ghost, Scorpion and Reaper peppers. plenty of heat, plenty of flavor.
Been there, I think. Wing Kings - Hell Sauce - combo of those three plus some extract from Hawaii. I did not like that.
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There is no point to eating food that blows your face off. Nobody needs to eat a ghost pepper. If you do, you can't taste anything afterward. That's just plain dumb.
Ed Zachery,I usually use Marie Sharp's Habanero sauce interesting story here she began Marie Sharp's Fine Foods. Her first product was called "Melinda's" after the farm owned by her husband's family. For ten years, she worked to build the family brand, expanding into jams, jellies, and marmalades made with tropical fruit. In 1988, with the help of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the United States Agency for International Development, she attended Clemson University, studying food packaging.Sharp found a distributor in the United States and began to market the product internationally. It was the first Belizean-made export product to gain wide acceptance and the only habanero-based sauce on the market at that time. In a marketing move, the distributor filed a trademark on the name.
When Sharp found out in 1991 that the distributor had trademarked her product, she hired a lawyer. Because of the cost involved, travel constraints and the fact that as her sole distributor she could not work, Sharp eventually gave up the name to her sauce in exchange for a release of her contractual obligations, after a five-year struggle. Though the situation required that she start over with new branding, Sharp re-branded with her own name that same year.Sharp was contacted by a distributor for a major superstore and began exporting her products to U.S. markets in 2003, though she refused to sign an exclusive distributorship arrangement.
Good stuff just enough zest for my 7qt chili pot but nowhere near nuclear.
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I like the Melinda's sauce
https://youtu.be/kBZR-TGuwHI
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https://youtu.be/ms-cJBULe0U
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There is no point to eating food that blows your face off. Nobody needs to eat a ghost pepper. If you do, you can't taste anything afterward. That's just plain dumb.
Like I said, I like to pick up stuff from these guys who are local and sell at the farmer's markets: https://www.chonehotsauce.com/
One of theirs is a ghost pepper / habanero mix. It's quite hot.
But, as you can imagine, I don't drink the damn stuff. But when we make crunchy tacos with the kids, a few dashes per taco kicks up that heat level nicely for me. Doesn't blow my face off.
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I like the Melinda's sauce
https://youtu.be/kBZR-TGuwHI
I used to love that stuff, but I can't find my favorite flavor anymore, a habanero one with a green label that was the best hot sauce ever, and now instead there's just like 2 dozen new, goofy flavors that just don't hit the same.
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progress
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Went back to Atlantic Fish restaurant. A+++
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Must have a great wine list
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Don't recall the wine list but their food is great.
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The wine list was so so, but that isn't a factor for me at all. A massive wine list usually means a ton of wines I would never order because they are priced out of existence.
Food and service work for me. Our server recommended the swordfish which usually is dry and tasteless, here it was the opposite. My wife had a "lobstah roll".
The server gave us his email, he's a Red Sox fan and I'm hoping to go back and see a game with him in June maybe. I left a $100 cash tip on a $200 meal.
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The wine list was so so, but that isn't a factor for me at all. A massive wine list usually means a ton of wines I would never order because they are priced out of existence.
Food and service work for me. Our server recommended the swordfish which usually is dry and tasteless, here it was the opposite. My wife had a "lobstah roll".
The server gave us his email, he's a Red Sox fan and I'm hoping to go back and see a game with him in June maybe. I left a $100 cash tip on a $200 meal.
Absolutely. I prefer a shorter, well curated wine list. Oh, and if there's no French wine on your wine list, it's unlikely I'll ever return to your restaurant.
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I almost always ask the server for recommendations
usually works out very well
I'd like to see a game in Fenway some fine day
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Absolutely. I prefer a shorter, well curated wine list. Oh, and if there's no French wine on your wine list, it's unlikely I'll ever return to your restaurant.
Depends on the kind of restaurant of course, but I haven't seen a medium to higher priced restaurant without French wines in ... a long time.
It's a "mark of distinction" even if the wines they feature are mundane.
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Depends on the kind of restaurant of course, but I haven't seen a medium to higher priced restaurant without French wines in ... a long time.
It's a "mark of distinction" even if the wines they feature are mundane.
Some of the high end restaurants I've been to, at least around here, focus solely on California wine. There are certainly some good ones but it's... limiting... to say the least.
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I probably would avoid those places once I learned of this. I don't know of any here. Some places that would run $100 for dinner for two without wine have a fairly sparse but OK wine list. Some have a "flashy wine list" which I almost dislike more.
We had one meal at a place called Eddie V's in Boston which was OK, they had a splashy wine list, and a prominently featured bottle of Louis XIII. They are part of the Darden Group.
I'm "on the wagon" for now except weekends and travel, or trying to be, but a week in Paris will upend that no doubt. We have a lot of dinners scheduled with friends.
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Eddie V's?
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Boston | Locations | Eddie V's Prime Seafood Restaurant (https://www.eddiev.com/locations/ma/boston/boston/8523?cmpid=br:ev_ag:ie_ch:loc_ca:EVGMB_sn:gmb_gt:boston-ma-8523_pl:locurl_rd:1022)
Yeah, we sat at the bar and did Happy Hour which wasn't too pricey.
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Don't recall the wine list but their food is great.
Their wine list was "fine", not extensive, but the focus is seafood, as it should be. I had an "alvarinho" from Portugal but the glass, it was nice enough. I'd rather have really good food and OK wine than the reverse.
We also stopped at Legal Seafood during their Happy Hour, $2 oysters. We had the same kind as at Atlantic and they were not as good, but cheaper of course. Legal is a decent enough chain, they just are a bit short of elite in my book.
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not bad prices, even for the steaks
the carbs were pricey
I'd hafta try the warm goat cheese salad
lots of seafood from other places than the north atlantic
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We've been to Eddie V's. It's OK. That group owns a lot of concepts, most of which we've been to.
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Eddie V's started here in Austin, then eventually sold out to that group. It's always had very good food. I can usually find something on their wine list that I like that isn't crazy expensive.
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We went for happy hour one time. Had filet sliders and oysters.
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Yeah their happy hour has pretty good deals, we go there occasionally (maybe 2x per year?).
We took my i s c & a aggie wife's aggie parents there for their anniversary dinner back in September. It was pricey, especially when paying for our family of 4, and then covering half of their meal (split it with my BIL). But quite tasty.
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So, we had two dinners 'catered' in effect, one was before the symphony at the hall which was "OK". Happy Hour at Legal was OK, same with Eddie V's, but I'd call Atlantic Fish "exceptional". We also had lunch at the museum (MFA Boston) which was quite good for a museum, and in a nice spot.
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One of my very favorites back up North. We go every time we head back.
D&J Bistro (https://djbistrorestaurant.com/)
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Pasta da Pulcinella (https://pastadapulcinella.com/)
This is an Italian place near us we like a lot, know the owner etc. The wine list is fine with me, not incredibly over priced, not an 'expense account wine list'.
She has a brunello for $65. Not many French wines, but .... it's Italian, fair enough. Now I'm hungry.
(https://i.imgur.com/akKkKp3.jpeg)
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Yeah I can understand an Italian place not necessarily having French wine on the list, although my favorite Italian places do...
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The place I cited isn't "high end", but it's very good IMHO. It's good enough for me to enjoy a lot, especially when the weather is nice and we dine outside.
Two new apartment high rises are about to open near us with space for several restaurants on the ground floors, we're interested to see if anything latches on there.
They are both already renting under contract. They finish one to show and an office first. THey are giving away free weeks if you sign up now.
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Home Page - The Juniper
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Casa Bovina - Lincoln, NE
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We’re excited to be hosting Giorgio Bava on his first trip to Nebraska. Giorgio and his family run the Bava winery, an historical wine producer on the hills of Piedmont Italy. The Bava family has cultivated vineyards in the village of Cocconato since 1600 and in 1911 built the first winery. For this dinner, Giorgio will be showcasing the beauty of his favorite grape – Barbera. We will be serving a 6 course menu with wine pairings, including 3 examples of Barbera of varying ages and styles, showing its versatility next to wines more traditionally served with those courses.
Make your reservation at the link in our bio or here: https://www.exploretock.com/casabovina/search...
Event Details:
- By reservation only
- Six course tasting menu only, $295/person - includes food and wine pairing
- Cocktails at 6:00
- Dinner to begin at 6:30
- A $50/person deposit will be collected upon making reservation.
- You may cancel up to 48 hours prior to your reservation and receive a full refund of your deposit.
(https://i.imgur.com/k70TpaG.jpeg)
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Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish in South Pasadena, Florida, has been a beloved institution since its founding in 1947, serving up some of the best smoked mullet, mahi-mahi, and salmon on Florida’s Gulf Coast. By 1979, the restaurant was already a well-established landmark, drawing locals and tourists alike with its rustic, no-frills charm and dedication to traditional fish-smoking techniques. The family-run eatery became famous not only for its smoked fish platters but also for its signature German potato salad, freshly made coleslaw, and classic cheeseburgers. The roadside stand, with its open-air seating and laid-back Florida atmosphere, embodied the Old Florida dining experience that has become increasingly rare over time.
The smoking process at Ted Peters remains largely unchanged from its early days, using red oak-fired smokers to impart a distinct, rich flavor to the fish. This time-honored technique harks back to a fishing tradition deeply rooted in Florida’s coastal communities, where mullet and other local fish were smoked to preserve them before refrigeration became widespread. In the 1970s, as Florida tourism boomed and chain restaurants began to take over, Ted Peters remained committed to its original recipes and methods, keeping its old-fashioned appeal intact. Its dedication to quality and tradition helped the restaurant earn a loyal following, with mentions in travel guides, newspapers, and television programs highlighting its status as a must-visit destination.
Even today, Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish continues to thrive, preserving its legacy while welcoming new generations of diners. The restaurant has been featured on numerous food shows, including Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, further cementing its reputation as an iconic Florida eatery. Though the world around it has changed dramatically since 1979, the flavors, techniques, and atmosphere at Ted Peters remain a delicious link to Florida’s rich culinary past.
(https://i.imgur.com/YDHPXPU.png)
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(https://i.imgur.com/pnFu2Lh.jpeg)
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I don't mind a Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn, or Outback. But I don't order a steak at any of them.
I think Lincoln no longer has any good steakhouses anymore; my parents used to go to The Steakhouse at the corner of Cornhusker and Adams (I think that is where it was) every year on their anniversary; it opened in 1949 the year they got married and I think it closed after their 50th - I never had a chance to eat there myself but Dad always swore by their steaks. It is a used car lot now.
We went to Texas Roadhouse off of Hiway 2 after my graduation from my master's program but it was super crowded, the service was horrible and by the time we got our food none of were in a very good mood - it might have been good food but we really couldn't enjoy it. There was another good steakhouse on the corner of 70th & O street (behind what is now the CVS) and it served pretty good food when my son-in-law worked there but was a bit expensive at the time for us. It is now a car wash. Had a gift card from my brother one year to Outback and I will never do that again - couldn't handle the seasonings.
Bonanza changed to Knickerbockers (or vice-versa) but neither one is open now. I loved the buffet at Golden Corral, but it is no longer open (Covid put a kibosh on that and it never recovered). Ditto for Red Lobster.
I sense a theme here. All my favorites are closed, lol. What remains are the Applebee's and Olive Garden at Gateway and tons of Chinese buffets or Japanese restaurants or Mexican restaurants. Anymore I tend to get Subway or McDonald's (I used to work for years as a manager there, so loyalty ya know) with an occasional foray into KFC or Runza. Simple tastes and I have never been too adventurous. I think if I ever make it to an away game I could be in trouble if I want to eat out.
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Did Misty's fall off a cliff or something?
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I think so, hanging on with the memorabilia
visited there a few years ago. Was good, but nothing real good.
there are a few new places in town that are very solid but very expensive - especially for Lincoln
Casa Bovina is one of them
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Did Misty's fall off a cliff or something?
oops! I completely forgot about Misty's - I've never made it there but it is another thing on my bucket list of restaurants that I would love to go to on my birthday, or least the Friday before (it's usually an away game on my birthday or a BYE week, lol). One of these days, though. This year the day before my birthday is the UCLA game which is away, so possibly the USC game the week before.
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I was there once when Switzer was holding court. He was most popular guy in the house. Always a fun place during game weekend.
Pretty damn good prime rib.
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Went here yesterday for the first time. Great value for the quality of food they serve. We will return for sure.
Harpoon Harry's Restaurant & Bar, Punta Gorda, Florida – Restaurant & Sports Bar in Punta Gorda, FL (https://harpoonharrys.com/)
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What's the most unusual "surf and turf" combo that you've ever eaten?
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I was there once when Switzer was holding court. He was most popular guy in the house. Always a fun place during game weekend.
Pretty damn good prime rib.
Yeah, I've heard good things about the prime rib and I guess the size of the baked potatoes is pretty awesome, too.
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We had some good surf and turf at my house w some Board members.
Oysters. Crab corn chowder and steak and lamb.
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Headed here as family is in town: https://www.kingsfishhouse.com/hb
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Is anyone else getting an influx of BBQ/Mexican fusion restaurants?
(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63caec03b722e659a46e73bd/b1609dfc-8c0c-49a6-82c3-1cb809e52c15/email-ig+-+burnt+ends+fridays.jpeg)
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What's the most unusual "surf and turf" combo that you've ever eaten?
A lifeguard and a park ranger. We were all very drunk.
(https://i.imgur.com/zRAuCpA.jpeg)
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not a classic steakhouse
but had a great steak here in Lincoln
Haymarket area, hidden away across from Lazlo's
https://www.jtkrestaurant.com/menu/ (https://www.jtkrestaurant.com/menu/)
I've heard great things about this place.
they have a Bacon Butter Ribeye
https://yourvenue.net/?utm_source=localsearch&utm_medium=directory&utm_campaign=wlso (https://yourvenue.net/?utm_source=localsearch&utm_medium=directory&utm_campaign=wlso)
This place is fabulous. I'd not heard of it but took my daughter there for dinner.
Also, not a traditional steakhouse obviously. but GREAT steaks
https://momo-pizzeria.com/menu/ (https://momo-pizzeria.com/menu/)
a few great steakhouses outside of Lincoln
https://ruhlmansteakhouse.com/ (https://ruhlmansteakhouse.com/)
In Ashland
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Casa Bovina
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✨ Scallop Stunner Alert ✨ crowned with @regiisova caviar, bright calamansi, zesty ginger and Nebraska’s own @millerdohrmannfarm popped sorghum.
A luxurious bite that’s sweet, silky and umami-packed.
(https://i.imgur.com/46SDL23.jpeg)
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This is too perfect not to share with you guys (at my expense).
Go to Burger King for breakfast. Order 2 sausage croissandwiches with no egg (of course).
Wait about 16 min "for the meat to cook"
Get my order, with a smile, it's Sunday morning, in no rush.
Get home.
2 croissandwiches with only egg and cheese.
Threw it in the garbage.
.
They had 1 job....
The egg taunts me....
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Been there OAM....few things get my in a lather quite like a food order getting botched, which of course is irrational.
we expect a perfect game from fast food, a hot bag of food, prepared and served quickly by human beings often in their first job or at least not necessarily particularly skilled labor.
I remember one time ordering a cheeseburger at a diner style restaurant and it was just a bun. the burger was omitted.
the waitress just laughed.
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Yeah, I usually just chalk it up to "that's why you're working at a fast food place." But to wait extra for something omitted was one thing, then to be given the precise opposite of what I ordered.... sheesh.
And the egg thing was just an add-on for yous guys....thought you'd get a kick out of it.
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I'm sure this type of thing happened 40 years ago, but not as often
folks were fired 40 years ago for this crap
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https://youtu.be/5x5NCDYB1Lc?si=T5WJoicAdAMDRAzL
do you like this song?
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(https://media1.giphy.com/media/xT5LMLnv5VSYHCNnBS/giphy.gif)
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do you like this song?
no
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Unpopular opinion-- I really hate the Beastie Boys. They suck.
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I like a handful of their songs
not that one
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I like a handful of their songs
not that one
I only like one. Sabotage. I really dislike all the rest.
My i s c & a aggie loves them, though. One of the first concerts she ever went to on her own with just friends, rather than parents. Although she did not enjoy getting stuck in the mosh pit.
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Only One Atlanta Restaurant Has Been Nominated For The 2025 James Beard Awards
https://secretatlanta.co/james-beard-2025-nominee/ (https://secretatlanta.co/james-beard-2025-nominee/)
About Aria
Aria is a fancy American-style restaurant that will add the perfect touch of elegance and elevation to your evening! They’ve got a very nice bar and a wonderful dining room, complete with a rotating menu of seasonal and local ingredients.
Aria says on their website,
Our dining room offers a cozy, hip space for unwinding and enjoying Chef Gerry Klaskala’s modern American cuisine paired with an award-winning wine list and distinctive cocktails. And no meal at Aria is complete without a sweet treat from Pastry Chef Kathryn King. Both à la carte and tasting menus are available, and reservations are recommended.
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I'd like to spend a food weekend in ATL.
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Heading here for our 28th this Saturday.
Cape Coral Fish & Seafood Market: Restaurant: Shrimp, Crab, Lobster (https://bestseafoodcapecoral.com/)
Hit the restaurant, and then the market.
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I only like one. Sabotage. I really dislike all the rest.
I don't even like that one.
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I don't even like that one.
I like it because it's really a heavy metal song.
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I'd like to spend a food weekend in ATL.
I'd rather spend a food weekend in your kitchen
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I'd rather spend a food weekend in your kitchen
The indoor one or the outdoor one?
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depends on the weather
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wednesday menu in a town of less than 100
(https://i.imgur.com/vHfhfv8.jpeg)
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wednesday menu in a town of less than 100
(https://i.imgur.com/vHfhfv8.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/z6un9GJ.jpeg)
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New drive-thru WTF:
order a "COKE"
was that a "DOCTOR PEPPER?"
no.
COKE
.
Again, not a big deal in any way. But to mistake a 1-syllable word for a 4-syllable term. I don't understand how that is possible.
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were you in Texas? Possibly near the measles outbreak?
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were you in Texas? Possibly near the measles outbreak?
That's not how it works. That's not how any of this works.
(In Texas)
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I am waiting for the measles to break out in AZ, as we have counties with lower vaccination rates than those battling the 'eliminated' disease there.
I swear to god, the stupidity knows no bounds. Just because you have the right to be stupid doesn't mean you must be stupid.
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Portillo's adding 900 locations to their existing 94.
Hurry up!
https://www.wsj.com/articles/chicago-hot-dog-eatery-portillos-slims-down-menus-to-expand-nationally-311be817?st=zQfKXv&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
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Love Italian beef sandwiches, but have never viewed Portillos as the place I'd seek out for it. Suitable alternatives.
Since I don't care for chocolate cake , not my cup of tea. That said, makes sense for them to make much smaller stores. They are unusually large restaurants.
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It's better than anything I can get down here, for sure. The closest to us is St. Pete. Fort Myers would be good. Across the street works too.
(https://i.imgur.com/nQzlNoe.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/FhjcBqK.jpeg)
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Love Italian beef sandwiches, but have never viewed Portillos as the place I'd seek out for it. Suitable alternatives.
Since I don't care for chocolate cake , not my cup of tea. That said, makes sense for them to make much smaller stores. They are unusually large restaurants.
Yeah, in the Chicago area I've got places I prefer over Portillo's for a beef. But in the rest of the country where people don't even know what an Italian Beef sandwich is... Portfolios is better than nothing.
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I think I'll head there now.
(https://i.imgur.com/bxx8ywD.jpeg)
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Bastage.
(https://i.imgur.com/hNlZsCw.png)
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You say that like you live in East Germany.
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You say that like you live in East Germany.
An argument can be made that I-4 = the Berlin Wall
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I-4 sucks.
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brother and I tried the Portillo's Grapevine - not good, won't go back
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brother and I tried the Portillo's Grapevine - not good, won't go back
What did you order?
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I-4 sucks.
I've driven it a few times over the years from Orlando to North Port and it seems OK to me. I keep hearing it's awful. I'm probably a bit early in the day.
There is a Portillo's across from where we stay in Orlando and I've tried it twice. I think I order the wrong things. Or something.
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What did you order?
Regular Italian beef sammich with sweet & hot peppers, cheddar cheese and standard gravy
not much beef, not many peppers and not much flavor
now the place had just opened in the last few weeks or a month - maybe working out the kinks
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Beef, giardiniera, and wet is how to order.
No cheese, ever.
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don't think giardiniera was an option in Grapevine
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Beef, giardiniera, and wet is how to order.
No cheese, ever.
So close.... but cheesehead here needs cheese, otherwise yeah. Wet
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It's "interesting"? how one hears about "X" all the time, and then one has "X" and thinks "Meh", fairly often, or worse. Think Coors beer back in the day, or In and Our burger, or Cincy Chili, or whatever. Here I kept hearing about Bones steakhouse, so I took the wife, and it was fine I guess, but nothing unique or special other than that it was packed on a Tueday night with folks who looked like they were more interested in being seen than dining.
In Cincy the top place was called the Maisonette, labeled one of five real five star places in the US. I went once, and the service was impeccable, the food was good, I wasn't any expert in French cuisine of course. $$$ Never went back, it closed a while back.
I'm hesitant to really call out anything as being "truly special" because others will have expectations often dashed,
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it's tuff to meet or exceed lofty expectations
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BATON ROUGE - A locally owned restaurant will be featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" on Friday night.
A crew shot the episode at Iverstine Butcher during Superbowl weekend.
Owner Galen Iverstine said he is hopeful that the episode, premiering at 8 p.m. on the Food Network, will bring more business to locally owned restaurants like his. Iverstine says he thinks the handmade aspect of their restaurant is what made Fieri want to feature their restaurant.
Iverstine told WBRZ that, when he first received the email from Food Network producers asking about featuring his restaurant, he thought it was a scam. When he discovered it was the real thing he said the feeling was surreal.
The family-owned restaurant opened as a butcher shop in 2016 and added table service in 2022, offering handmade Southern staples.
Ivertsine's is one of three restaurants in the capitol area featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives." Fieri also visited Dempsey's and Phil's Oyster Bar, whose episodes aired earlier in April.
@MikeDeTiger (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1588)
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I fear my "standards" have gotten too high over the years, which is not entirely bad I guess, but way back in the day, my idea of a nice meal was at Red Lobster or equivalent. I recall on special occasions taking my kids to Benihana (which they really liked). (I took my wife back there a few years ago in Cincy and it was awful, nobody working was remotely Asian).
There are places near us where I enjoy the experience but it's rare I eat something and think "Wow, that was unique and great and I wouldn't be able to fix it at home.".
I think this is one reason I like good French "cuisine", making it at home usually would be complicated and with no certain success.
My wife fortunately has started really liking my "Mexican spaghetti", which I call "chili". I dialed back on the chili powder, she's not much for spiciness. I'm happy to eat that at home without dining out. Anyway, if I'm spending $100+ somewhere I'd prefer being somewhat wowed.
I have not had really good seafood in ages and ages, even at the beach. I have a feeling most places just use Sysco and get frozen whatever. Yes, I know I haven't found the right places. Maybe my memory is deficient. Hilton Head has a couple places that are good, but they do a lot of fried whatever which is kind of cheating.
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Went to Cooper's Hawk yesterday. They have good food and are very consistent. We are wine club members.
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They have one in Cincy I went to once with friends who perhaps oversold the place. It was fine, I thought, never went back. I see there is one north of us here. The traffic around there is ridiculous (?) but I drive further north for pitching lessons at times so we could stop by for lunch coming back. Traffic usually is "OK" after 9 and before 3.
Alpharetta, GA | Cooper's Hawk (https://chwinery.com/locations/alpharetta-ga)
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The food is good and it's very consistent. I know what to expect and I'm never disappointed. That's why we go.
We have a choice of two. One in Fort Myers and one in Sarasota. We generally go to FM.
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took my daughter to Archie's last night.
the extra thick cut special sirloin is $26 We each had one.
(https://i.imgur.com/OdZCQiC.jpeg)
30-day dry aged - 12 oz - rare
old school relish tray - salad dressings made in-house
with onion rings for an appetizer and a couple nice drinks each, the bill was $106 + $30 tip
I need to do this more often - it's a 30 minute drive in the Corvette
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My wife "fell in love" with the "French" restaurant on the ship because of their steak oddly enough. There is another "steak" place aboard called Cagney's that we tried and it was fine, but somehow the steak at the French (quasi) place was better. I tried various other items, their menu is pretty limited really, which were OK, but their steak was actually pretty good. I will say they treated us well, we got comped on a lot of stuff mostly after I left a nice tip on the first time there.
I don't generally order steak out because I can fix it easily at home when we want it. The closest steak place called STK has a decent 4-6 PM special that has a 3 ounce filet and shrimp for $19. The other apps are half price so it's easy to put together a pretty solid meal. It's not fabulous but their regular prices are. The place also is noisy at night.
$3 $6 $9 Happy Hour - STK Steakhouse (https://stksteakhouse.com/happenings/happy-hour/)
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3 ounce???
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3 ounce???
Yup, it's about enough for us, it comes with some shrimp, and we add a couple apps. $19.
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about 5 small bites but I understand not needing as much to eat as I get older
12 ounce is a bit more than I need
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3 ounces is fine, with some shrimp.
The big meal is lunch. Light dinner is all anyone needs.
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shrimp? We don't need no stinkin shrimp!
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Thems fighting words down here.
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not here
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3 ounces is fine, with some shrimp.
The big meal is lunch. Light dinner is all anyone needs.
LOL. Occasionally I'll eat next to nothing all day long and then a nice large dinner :57:
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I do that almost every day
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I most often don't eat after 4PM. The only time I do is when we go out with others to a restaurant.
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I most often only eat one meal between 5-7pm
last night was a bit later because of the daughter
just liquids otherwise - 2 cups of coffee and some water so far, there will be budweiser on the golf course about 2:22 when I hit the first tee
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I do try to eat before/during golf. Gotta keep up my energy to hit the ball as many times as I do!
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3 ounce???
That's 1 steak medallion where I come from.
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That's 1 steak medallion where I come from.
1 steak medallion was my dinner last night. I had the other two for breakfast.
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I do try to eat before/during golf. Gotta keep up my energy to hit the ball as many times as I do!
there's pork chop in every 16oz can of Bud Heavy
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there's pork chop in every 16oz can of Bud Heavy
Damn. I miss my mom's pork chops.
Do any of you ever miss a certain dish, but don't make it yourself because you want to leave it with the memory of someone?
I have a few. I like how just the idea of them conjures specific memories of my mom or one of my grandmas.
I could make them. They'd be fine. 95% of what I'm going for.
But I don't want to touch the sun.
I'll order those dishes in restaurants, but I won't make them myself. I want the last pork chop made that way to be one my mom made me. Hmmph. Something I'm sentimental about. Nice.
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I make almost all of my Ma's recipes that I liked. One I do not make - cabbage noodles.
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My mom made fried okra a couple times a week, I never have tried to make that myself, for one thing it makes a mess. Her FO was delicious.
Of course, fried anything is usually pretty good if done well and fresh.
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Love Italian beef sandwiches, but have never viewed Portillos as the place I'd seek out for it. Suitable alternatives.
Yeah, in the Chicago area I've got places I prefer over Portillo's for a beef. But in the rest of the country where people don't even know what an Italian Beef sandwich is... Portfolios is better than nothing.
For lunch last Friday, stopped into an Al's No. 1 Italian Beef location in downtown Chicago. Ordered the regular beef sandwich w/ Hot Giardiniera. 👍👍
(https://i.imgur.com/fDx09Xa.jpeg)
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Al's is really good.
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All the Chicago-connected restaurants in Phoenix all look the same. They look like antique shops with every inch of wall space covered in photos and shit.
Why does a place to eat need to look like a hoarder's house?
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That's 1 steak medallion where I come from.
An Hors d'oeuvre.
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An Hors d'oeuvre.
En effet, mon ami
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I think there can be "best food" and "best dining experience" and "best service", etc. Sometimes all of the above, but rarely.
Some of the most memorable dining experiences I've enjoyed were in little family operated bistros in France (one in Italy, I've only been to Italy once), and one in Athens, the old Athens.
Fantastic service, to me, is secondary if I get reasonable service and great good. Sometimes the view can be excellent or notable. I've probably mentioned this place before,
Home - Bistro Le Relais (https://www.lerelaisrestaurant.com/)
It ticks every box, for us. In Louisville.
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How's the view?
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How's the view?
In Louisville, that isn't a strong point for Le Relais, but it's in the old airport terminal building, so occasionally you see a light plane land.
I've found, often, a place that advertises a view is trying to compensate for over priced food. There is a place here atop the Westin on the 72 floor that used to rotate and had quite the view, and the food was pretty good, but last time I was there it didn't rotate, they apparently had someone get injured, somehow, and the food and service were pretty blah.
One thing we like a lot is outdoor dining, the view might be just of a street or whatever but we watch people strolling by. Most places near us offer it, and in winter many of them have heaters so you can still dine out when it's say 40°F.
Renowned Cincinnati chef Jean-Robert de Cavel dies after cancer battle
(https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/renowned-cincinnati-chef-jean-robert-de-cavel-dies-after-cancer-battle)This guy had some really good places in Cincy, not over priced, one was pricey but really good, they all closed but one, which is still quite good.
Le Bar à Boeuf - Bistro at Edgecliff Condos - East Walnut Hills - Cincinnati
(https://www.decavelgroup.com/locations/edgecliff/bistro)No view, but really good food. Not a steak place per se.
If you asked me for a really good place in Atlanta, I'd have to ask your price range. And of course we have not dined extensively here outside the 'hood. One place we do drive to is quite food, and quite pricey ($125 per person).
Bacchanalia — Star Provisions
(https://www.starprovisions.com/bacchanalia)
21 Best Restaurants in Atlanta | Condé Nast Traveler
(https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-restaurants-in-atlanta)
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I'd want to hit Holeman and Finch for a burger.
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How's the view?
a hot dog at the ball park or a runza at Memorial stadium in Lincoln
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I'd want to hit Holeman and Finch for a burger.
There is one close to us, we tried it twice, once for lunch, once dinner. We might not have ordered the right thing, dunno, it was mediocre we thought. Just across from it is a place a friend started up that we do like a lot.
Saints + Council - Midtown, Atlanta, GA
(https://saintsandcouncil.com/)
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All the Chicago-connected restaurants in Phoenix all look the same. They look like antique shops with every inch of wall space covered in photos and shit.
Why does a place to eat need to look like a hoarder's house?
So Uno's, Giordano's, Lou Malnati's, Rosati's - I don't disagree (all Italian/Pizza chains), but who else?
Speaking of Italian/Pizza, you ever do Oregano's? They are not Chicago based (only in the Phoenix and Tucson areas), but boast Chicago-style pizzas & sandwiches. What gives them the edge in the Italian game (IMO) is fusing a bit of latin flair into what would otherwise be mostly an Olive Garden menu. Like the chipotle sauces and pepper mixes added into their pasta dishes. I always make a point to take my Dad to their Tempe location. Oregano's interiors are definitely antique-shoppy:
(https://i.imgur.com/3WyeGaW.jpeg)
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It's flare, you need a minimum of 28 pieces, some choose to have more.
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I like Oregano's.
I don't know the names of the Chicago places, but there's a beef sandwich place near 7th/camelback maybe and another Chicago slider place at 38th/camelback.
It just seems to be a theme to me. A Chicago pizza place in Vegas was similar as well - just infinite small, framed photos of everything. Even Portillo's is like that, with photos and wagons and random shit hanging up by the ceilings.
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Maybe Cracker Barrel made it widely spread, dunno.
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It's a Chicago thing.
Chicago Chop House:
(https://i.imgur.com/odNnm5S.png)
Twin Anchors:
(https://i.imgur.com/F3FZIKs.png)
Gibson's Steakhouse:
(https://i.imgur.com/8hPNht6.png)
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I noticed a hot dog at the Braves' stadium was $9.69. We had an event before the game with "free food", so I didn't partake. They sent me a survey about how I liked the game, I gave mediocre to low marks. My wife told me she enjoyed the game, which surprised me a bit, I didn't respond until she asked what I thought.
"I realize they try and cater to younger folks and families, which is fine, but to me, it isn't "baseball", it's some show that happens and in between some folks play baseball."
I go to one game a year because it's "free" and I get to see guys I know, fine, but the game itself today in person is not something I enjoy, and yes, I'm old and crotchety. Part of it was sitting in the second desk down the right field line, I could barely see the ball.
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I lean to thinking a lot of "crap" on the walls is to cover up having mediocre food, but obviously that's an over generalization. It doesn't do much for me unless it's a collection of interesting old photos of something. I dimly recall sports theme restaurants where the photos are of the owner and some pro ballplayer who dined there.
There is a steak house in Cincy called "The Precinct" that I'm told was considered the place to go for visiting baseball players. I dined there 2-3 times on the company's dime, I thought it was only "OK" foodwise, but we were a larger group. They had a lot of photos on the walls.
I wonder if it survived. Yup, this fellow Jeff Ruby runs a lot of steak houses in Cincy. I guess it's better than bare walls. Mebbe.
The Precinct | Cincinnati's Original Upscale Steakhouse (https://www.jeffruby.com/precinct)
The Precinct is the first of Jeff Ruby’s nationally-acclaimed steakhouses and where his vision for The Jeff Ruby Experience was brought to life. Opening in 1981 in the old Cincinnati Police Patrol House No. 6, it is now the longest continuously-running fine dining restaurant in the city. For more than four decades, The Precinct has served its guests timeless memories right alongside the ultimate dining experience.
(https://i.imgur.com/DkvScmp.jpeg)
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Lots of those national chains put a lot of crap on the walls.
(https://i.imgur.com/FXImBCx.png)
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this was a place in Lincoln, burger bar....... PO Pears - no longer there
(https://i.imgur.com/vhXRwT1.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/WMv7lW1.jpeg)
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I understand why national chains do this sort of thing. It comes with the turf, fine with me, I avoid them, mostly. I think some of the midrange national chains are "OK to decent", if I'm somewhere new I might seek one out in lieu of something locally owned, or not, usually not.
I don't know of any "national chains" in Europe beyond fast food places.
I'm still kind of rolling my eyes at seeing 7-11s over much of Asia everywhere, on every corner, and of course a ton of McDs and BKs and KFCs, especially the latter. KFC seems really popular overseas.
I can recall as a kid when Dad would bring home a bucket it was a cause celebre.
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(https://i.imgur.com/SIcCJ2W.jpeg)
Omaha, NE - don't know the year - 1971 or later
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(https://media.tenor.com/xdEpJNXm3IgAAAAe/simpsons-uncle-moes-family-feedbag.png)
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(https://i.imgur.com/SIcCJ2W.jpeg)
Omaha, NE - don't know the year - 1971 or later
I'm not a fan of T-Bone or even porterhouse.
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I'm not a fan of T-Bone or even porterhouse.
What in the HELL is wrong with you???
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My wife for some reason loves the Brazilian steakhouse deal. I'm taking her to one for Mom's Day, she seemed excited. The thing is she rarely eats beef and doesn't eat much of anything, girlish figure and all. She does like dessert.
So, off to Fogo de Chai we go, to pay a fairly high price for relatively little actual steak. Whatever. I'm not one for any all you can eat place.
As for cut of steak, I like ribeye but not messing around with all the fat. Filet is fine with me, but can be somewhat tasteless at times. For my nickel, I go for flatiron every time.
My wife orders them blu rare, I've started to go rare if the steak is higher quality. the "French" restaurant on the ship had pretty good filet.
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What in the HELL is wrong with you???
I agree with brad. I'll eat one if served to me, but I'm never actively choosing that over a ribeye.
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ribeyes are a bit too fatty for me
the T-bone - porterhouse - strip steaks are my sweet spot between the fillet (not as much marbling & flavor) and the ribeye (too much fat) ..... I wouldn't say I'm not a fan of a good ribeye or fillet - I enjoy them. Heck a good sirloin is a great cut for me, great flavor. I need to try more flatirons. I guess I'm just a fan of steaks. Rare to med-rare.
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Don't like ribeyes, too fatty.
Strip is my cut of choice.
The rest of the fam loves fillet.
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ribeyes are a bit too fatty for me
the T-bone - porterhouse - strip steaks are my sweet spot between the fillet (not as much marbling & flavor) and the ribeye (too much fat) ..... I wouldn't say I'm not a fan of a good ribeye or fillet - I enjoy them. Heck a good sirloin is a great cut for me, great flavor. I need to try more flatirons. I guess I'm just a fan of steaks. Rare to med-rare.
I agree. Oh, and flat iron is great.
USDA Choice Black Angus Flat Iron Steak (https://wildforkfoods.com/products/usda-choice-black-angus-flat-iron-steak/)
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The origin of flat iron steak began with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Beef Checkoff program in 1998, as an effort to reduce waste and promote beef, which was selling at a 25-50% discount in 1996 as compared to 1993.[3][4] Dwain Johnson at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Chris Calkins at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Just don't find them on menus around here
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Flatirons don't usually make restaurant menus. Kroger here has them, I get them if the wife wants steak, she loves them. I tenderize them with carbonate (baking powder). There can be some gristle on the back side I trim out.
It basically is chuck.
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Calkins and Johnson found that, while cutting out the tissue did result in a thin cut of beef, it plumped up well when cooked. The NCBA started promoting flat iron steak in 2001 and in the early 2000s Applebee's put it on the menu, and the Kroger grocery store chain started carrying the cut in 2006.
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nearest Krogers are in Colorado and Illinois - at least 7 hours
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What in the HELL is wrong with you???
Filet is too lean. Not that I don't eat filet, but it's not my steak of choice.
I find strip to be a little on the tough side for the cost, and also a little lean. Not that I won't eat it, but it's not my steak of choice.
Ribeye is my ideal steak. More tender than strip, and more marbled/fatty than filet.
T-bone or porterhouse, IMHO, is just great marketing. "Two steaks, in one!" But for me it's two steaks I wouldn't choose on my own, having to be cooked together at the same time so monitoring doneness of both is a little more difficult than cooking each individually. And OFTEN the filet side of the T-bone isn't even all that big. I suspect that maybe in the old days of T-bone, it was a way to use up portions of the cow where the filet side wouldn't be big enough for anything but medallions, whereas the portions where the tenderloin was larger they skipped cutting it into T-bone and just cut it into separate steaks.
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Occasionally I'll see flat iron on restaurant menus.
Great cut if you treat it right. For me it's just a hard sear and finish medium rare, but to get the best out of it you need to slice it thinly on the bias across the grain for serving, much like a tri tip. It can be too tough to eat in chunks "like a steak", but slicing it properly makes a big difference to it not eating tough.
Flank steak is good in that way as well, but it's a LOT more lean than flat iron. For flank you really need to boost the flavor with a good marinade or something. Flat iron is good on its own just seasoned, but can also benefit from a sauce, topping (we like chimichurri), or a marinade depending where you want to take it.
Dang... It's 7 AM and now I want steak.
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Yeah, I totally slice flatiron very thin after resting. It's very tasty.
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Any steak eats better when cut against the grain. Even filet/tenderloin.
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I find strip to be a little on the tough side for the cost, and also a little lean. Not that I won't eat it, but it's not my steak of choice.
you're not getting the right strips - a prime 60 day aged - cuts like butter
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Was really surprised to hear on the radio the other night that Texas Roadhouse is now the number one casual dining chain in the US - from Restaurant Business Online: "Texas Roadhouse, the 664-unit steakhouse chain that has been growing rapidly for years, pushed past longtime leader Olive Garden and into the top spot in terms of systemwide sales. Texas Roadhouse’s U.S. systemwide sales surged 14.7% last year, to $5.5 billion...It also opened 26 new locations, a 4.1% change."
I was surprised because on one hand, it seems like there's a lot more Chilis, Dennys, Applebees, Cracker Barrels, etc. But on the other hand, whenever I pass by a TR, it's always packed. TR also does not have the type of aggressive advertising campaign that might give Applebee's and Chili's their larger awareness.
Without meaning to sound elitist, my first reaction to TR was how well it fit the expectations of "flyover country dining." Spending much of my growing up years in the Midwest, TR is exactly the style of cuisine that would be a hit. For whoever else has trekked through cities and towns like Peoria IL (& AZ?), Springfield MO (& IL & OH), St. Charles MO, Evansville IN, Columbus GA, and...I could go on, a new TR likely becomes the busiest joint in town overnight.
https://twitter.com/RB_magazine/status/1907820795168174552
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My parents really like Texas Roadhouse and are always buying us gift cards there. I have to say, the steaks and other proteins aren't bad. Their sides are pretty trash but the steaks are decent. And when they're free, well, I'm okay with that.
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There can be Number One in outlets, or in diners, or in revenue, TR is probably the latter.
They probably get quite a bit more revenue per table than say Applebies.
I've dined there or Longhorn a few times, total maybe ten? They seem OK to me. I don't really like steak places much.
I read somewhere Costco sells more wine than any retail outlet,but it's on a dollar basis, not bottle.
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TR has good steaks, especially at that price point.
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My parents really like Texas Roadhouse and are always buying us gift cards there. I have to say, the steaks and other proteins aren't bad. Their sides are pretty trash but the steaks are decent. And when they're free, well, I'm okay with that.
When I first moved to Austin I was telling a friend back home that, oddly, I didn't see any Texas Roadhouses up north, at least not off the interstate where I'd expect to find them. He joked that I was looking for the wrong signs, because when you're in Texas you don't have to signal it, so they're probably just called "Roadhouse."
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Texas Roadhouse has the best steaks for a chain - I still don't go there
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Road House (2024 film) - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_House_(2024_film))
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Ed Zachery why you don't move to Texas
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Ed Zachery why you don't move to Texas
Amen brutha.
Although that one took place in Florida I think. And the original one was set in Missouri as I recall.
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I either go to a high-end steakhouse and order steak, or...
...go to a low-end steakhouse (Outback, Texas Roadhouse) and...
...order a burger.
Burgers at the low-end steakhouses tend to be pretty decent.
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I either go to a high-end steakhouse and order steak, or...
...go to a low-end steakhouse (Outback, Texas Roadhouse) and...
...order a burger.
Burgers at the low-end steakhouses tend to be pretty decent.
I normally get the chopped steak at those places.