Diners, Drive Ins & Dives (Food Network) TV Show
Jan 11, 2010, 7:02 am
#16
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In Chicago, Paradise Pup and Hackney's on Harms have both been destinations for FT events before DDD recognition. Some of the best burgers, two different styles of place. Paradise Pup is basically carry-out only, and Hackney's is an old-style roadhouse with a summer patio. I've been going to Hackney's for over 40 years.
Also in Chicago:
- White Palace is basic diner food. If you're passing by, it is worth going to at about 4am on most days for an early breakfast. Otherwise nothing special.
- Vito and Nick's is great thin crust pizza. I go to the one in Lemont instead of the original on 87th/Pulaski because it's closer to my house. Plus it's in a bowling alley - can't beat that kind of ambiance.
- The Shanty is on US 41 near the Wisconsin border. I thought it was good enough but not outstanding. But it's definitely a dive roadhouse, which is why it made sense on DDD.
Also in Chicago:
- White Palace is basic diner food. If you're passing by, it is worth going to at about 4am on most days for an early breakfast. Otherwise nothing special.
- Vito and Nick's is great thin crust pizza. I go to the one in Lemont instead of the original on 87th/Pulaski because it's closer to my house. Plus it's in a bowling alley - can't beat that kind of ambiance.
- The Shanty is on US 41 near the Wisconsin border. I thought it was good enough but not outstanding. But it's definitely a dive roadhouse, which is why it made sense on DDD.
Thread for Hackney’s: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chica...icagoland.html
^ for Vito & Nick’s
--
Jan 12, 2010, 1:39 pm
#17
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I read that if you take a couple of capsules of Vitamin E just before a high fat meal that it can significantly reduce the negative impact of these foods. I don't think it works if you eat this kind of food on a regular basis.
Jan 14, 2010, 1:51 pm
#18
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Some good ones
Here's where my wife and I have been so far (some before & after DD&D), and never had a bad meal at any of them.
Dallas:
Avila's - Mexican, family run, the real deal in an old house. Two words: brisket tacos! Read blackboard behind bar, not just menu.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/avilas.aspx (no video)
Louie's - a hole in the wall bar that serves great food, ranging from good thin-crust pizza to breaded, sauted oysters, to Greek salad and Caesar salad (1 can feed 2), steak, pasta. Large selection of beer and drinks poured stiff!
http://www.flavortownusa.com/louies.aspx (has video)
Twisted Root Burger - Not bad, but just OK. Go to the others first.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/twisted...r-company.aspx (no video)
Santa Fe:
Bobcat Bite - Green chile cheeseburgers and no other reason! Do no know why it is not listed in DD&D map, but it was on it a good while back.
http://www.bobcatbite.com/
Tecolate Cafe - Breakfast and lunch only. Outstanding egg dishes and breakfast breads, esp. mini jalapeno corn muffins.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/tecolote-cafe.aspx (has video)
Zia's Diner: Old fashioned diner atmosphere with southwestern touches. Everything is good.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/zias-diner.aspx (no video)
New Orleans:
Casamentos - Oysters! fried in loaf, raw.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/casamentos.aspx (no video)
Joey K's - Been eating lunch here on family trips for years now. All the menu is good, but we love the shrimp or roast beef po'boys.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/joey-ks.aspx (pictures)
Parasol's - Great roast beef po'boy, as well as fried pickles. Order your drinks from bar on other side. A real hole in the wall.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/parasol...urant-bar.aspx (has video)
Dallas:
Avila's - Mexican, family run, the real deal in an old house. Two words: brisket tacos! Read blackboard behind bar, not just menu.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/avilas.aspx (no video)
Louie's - a hole in the wall bar that serves great food, ranging from good thin-crust pizza to breaded, sauted oysters, to Greek salad and Caesar salad (1 can feed 2), steak, pasta. Large selection of beer and drinks poured stiff!
http://www.flavortownusa.com/louies.aspx (has video)
Twisted Root Burger - Not bad, but just OK. Go to the others first.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/twisted...r-company.aspx (no video)
Santa Fe:
Bobcat Bite - Green chile cheeseburgers and no other reason! Do no know why it is not listed in DD&D map, but it was on it a good while back.
http://www.bobcatbite.com/
Tecolate Cafe - Breakfast and lunch only. Outstanding egg dishes and breakfast breads, esp. mini jalapeno corn muffins.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/tecolote-cafe.aspx (has video)
Zia's Diner: Old fashioned diner atmosphere with southwestern touches. Everything is good.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/zias-diner.aspx (no video)
New Orleans:
Casamentos - Oysters! fried in loaf, raw.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/casamentos.aspx (no video)
Joey K's - Been eating lunch here on family trips for years now. All the menu is good, but we love the shrimp or roast beef po'boys.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/joey-ks.aspx (pictures)
Parasol's - Great roast beef po'boy, as well as fried pickles. Order your drinks from bar on other side. A real hole in the wall.
http://www.flavortownusa.com/parasol...urant-bar.aspx (has video)
Jan 16, 2010, 10:59 pm
#19
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I have visited several in Houston, I helped the production company of the show with a few rec's here that I have found over the years.
Cafe Pita is an amazing Bosnian restaurant, great cevapi sausages.
Kenny & Ziggy's has some excellent deli sandwiches.
NikoNiko's is a classic Houston greek counter service Greek place.
Lankford Grocery does have some good burgers, but Christian's is better.
Red Lion was the restaurant/bar that I was involved in the taping of, was a very fun experience at a British style pub.
There's alot more that goes into these shows than it seems, Guy works very hard and is actually very talented at what he's doing, he has to be able to roll with every impromput comment by everyone who's there and has comebacks for everything.
Cafe Pita is an amazing Bosnian restaurant, great cevapi sausages.
Kenny & Ziggy's has some excellent deli sandwiches.
NikoNiko's is a classic Houston greek counter service Greek place.
Lankford Grocery does have some good burgers, but Christian's is better.
Red Lion was the restaurant/bar that I was involved in the taping of, was a very fun experience at a British style pub.
There's alot more that goes into these shows than it seems, Guy works very hard and is actually very talented at what he's doing, he has to be able to roll with every impromput comment by everyone who's there and has comebacks for everything.
Jan 18, 2010, 4:23 pm
#20
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How did I forget Smoque in Chicago? I don't get there as often as I like, stopped in for carryout lunch on Friday and it was outstanding for Chicago BBQ (e.g. if you live in KC, Austin, Memphis, or Raleigh, it's not up to those standards.
Also, Del Rhea's in the SW suburbs of Chicago was very good the one time I was there.
Drove by Frank's Diner in Kenosha, it was a little too divey looking even for me. I will ask my nephew, who went to college up there, what he thinks of it.
A note on Hackney's - the original on Harms is what was on DDD. I do not think the other locations match up at all, except occasionally for the one on Lake St. in Glenview. The Palos Heights location is flat out bad.
Also, Del Rhea's in the SW suburbs of Chicago was very good the one time I was there.
Drove by Frank's Diner in Kenosha, it was a little too divey looking even for me. I will ask my nephew, who went to college up there, what he thinks of it.
A note on Hackney's - the original on Harms is what was on DDD. I do not think the other locations match up at all, except occasionally for the one on Lake St. in Glenview. The Palos Heights location is flat out bad.
Last edited by ElmhurstNick; Jan 18, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Mar 22, 2010, 12:20 am
#21
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Was in Pittsburgh over the weekend, and tried out Crystal on Penn cuz I saw it on Triple D.
Its a small place, and less diner-like than I was expecting. More like a neighborhood bar/bistro atmosphere.
I was underwhelmed with the grape leaves .. too much leaf, not enough filling. But I'd go back for the NorRae's salad, the tabbouli, and the amazing baklava. The bacon cheeseburger was mighty tasty too!
Its a small place, and less diner-like than I was expecting. More like a neighborhood bar/bistro atmosphere.
I was underwhelmed with the grape leaves .. too much leaf, not enough filling. But I'd go back for the NorRae's salad, the tabbouli, and the amazing baklava. The bacon cheeseburger was mighty tasty too!
Mar 22, 2010, 7:41 am
#22
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There's a memory jogging map of some of the locations visited here
http://find.mapmuse.com/interest/diners-guy
http://find.mapmuse.com/interest/diners-guy
Mar 22, 2010, 7:58 am
#23
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I had a quick lunch at the Alpine Steakhouse in Sarasota, Florida last month while picking up the turducken that I had ordered. Their bratwurst was very tasty and the saurkraut had just the right amount of bite. The folks working there were very friendly and proud of their mention on the Food Networks (Guy's books were on display and for sale).
Mar 24, 2010, 12:32 am
#24
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I've been to The Coffee Cup in Boulder City, NV a couple of times now. I was in town for business and stopped in there because of the show. The pork chile verde omelet is quite good. The place has a nice small-town diner vibe. If you are driving through and want a place to stop, it's great. But I wouldn't drive down there all the way from Las Vegas just to eat there.
Mar 24, 2010, 4:35 am
#25
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I don't have FN, but have seen the show when in hotels and have enjoyed it. A fast glance at the DVD lists showed Doumars, in Norfolk, VA. A client introduced me to Doumars bac in the mid-1990s, and I have many breakfasts there of an "Egg-o-Doumar" with an Orange Freeze 
http://www.doumars.com/news.html
I didn't see it in the list, but my go-to diner is Lester's in Ft. Lauderdale, a mile from my house and very close to FLL (good place to stop before returning your rental car). Ask to sit in Georgina's station if you go for breakfast or lunch (I'll be there tomorrow for "Split Pea Soup Thursday").
http://www.doumars.com/news.html
I didn't see it in the list, but my go-to diner is Lester's in Ft. Lauderdale, a mile from my house and very close to FLL (good place to stop before returning your rental car). Ask to sit in Georgina's station if you go for breakfast or lunch (I'll be there tomorrow for "Split Pea Soup Thursday").
Mar 26, 2010, 2:39 pm
#27
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I hesitate to even call this a diner, because it's so vastly superior to anything anyone calls a diner anywhere, but JoAnn's Cafe in South San Francisco is literally a gourmet breakfast and lunch joint with the ambiance of a hash house.
Mar 26, 2010, 9:30 pm
#28
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Haven't been to JoAnn's, but IME there is better food to be had in South SF, San Bruno, Burlingame, Millbrae, etc. than in the city itself.
Mar 30, 2010, 2:31 pm
#29
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Tried another DDD spot last week in Phoenix. Ricky's Big Philly on E. Indian School Rd is great. it's a tiny little place with a drive through but the Philly cheese sandwiches are first class. The meat is delicious with a nice spice. They also have very good seasoned french fries. It definitely lives up to its billing.
Mar 30, 2010, 2:42 pm
#30
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