An odd statement for a goth... :D

Well some things in life are better dead, but not me :D Did I ever tell you about my ex :mad:

My rundown of Montreal's finest:

Bouchonne, www.bouchonne.com, on Fairmount and Parc. Fantastic, my absolute favourite spot in the city. They just opened in December and I was one of their first customers. Reserve in advance because this tiny spot is getting very popular. The staff's super friendly, the food tasty, and meant to complement their wine cellar, all of which is available by the glass. If Steve's working, he'll take great care of you, and is always spot on with wine recommendations. Oh, and their cheese plate? Definitely fits the definition of "to die for!"

Au Cinquième Pêché, www.aucinquiemepeche.com on Mont-Royal and Henri Julien. It really lives up to its name, The Fifth Sin (gluttony). Fantastic food, great atmosphere. A hidden gem that doesn't get mentioned very often.

Au Pied de Cochon, www.restaurantaupieddecochon.ca, on Duluth near St. Denis. This spot is world-famous for its massive portions of Quebec peasant food turned into an art form. Very friendly staff, and the foie gras menu is off the charts. Go hungry, and don't order too much: the portions are HUGE.

Le Club Chasse et Peche, www.leclubchasseetpeche.com, on St. Claude and St. Paul in the old port. This is the most unique high end restaurant in town, and I think beats both La Chronique and Toque in terms of creativity and bang for the buck. A little snooty, but great food. If you go, avoid their lacklustre desserts and try the cheese plate.

There are many, many others I'd gladly recommend, but those are my very top picks, and all embody the Montreal spirit, albeit in different ways.

Some of these are a bit dated but they were excellent

Austin

Threadgills. Meat and two sides in an old gas station. Always packed.

Dos Hermanos. In East Austin. No place to sit, counter carry out only but stunning Tex Mex.

Near Austin - Lockhart Texas
Blacks BBQ

Tulsa
Goldies Patio Grill. Possibly an illegal addicting compound added to the burgers to make them taste like that.

Ann Arbor
Angelos near the med school.

In South Bend

Fiddlers Hearth for good British/Irish comfort food. Particularly good in winter.

Cambodian Thai...some of the best Thai I've ever had.


FYI, when I was there in July, the food was not as good as it used to be. A real bummer.

My favorite in Nashville http://restaurantzola.com/

:-::-::-::-::-:

Do make a reservation though.

My friends took me to a very motown inspired place during the Woodward Dream Cruise in Michigan, called the Packard Grill

The location of the restaurant/sports bar is right next door to the old Packard facility thats a historic site in Shelby Township Michigan, the walls of the place are decorated in Packard memorabilia and pictures of old Packards.


The menu is probably the coolest thing, take a look for yourself: http://www.packardgrill.com/menu.html


I had the Speedster... the set of wheels sounded good to for an appetizer but I'm glad we didn't get it cause the main dish was huge.

So next time you're in Suburban Detroit check it out for yourself especially if you're a automotive enthusiast:


Packard Grill‎
50055 Van Dyke Ave,
Shelby Twp, MI
(586) 726-6060‎

http://www.packardgrill.com


enjoy!

--Russ

SEA area
 

We've eaten at Grazie Ristorante at the edge of the SouthCenter Mall near SEA on a number of occasions, most recently hosting fellow FTer serfty and Mrs. serfty from Oz for dinner during a quick stopover and have never been disappointed:

http://www.grazierestaurant.com/index.htm

And while you're in Midtown BNA...don't fail to check out Mambù on Hayes St. Really kewl and eclectic menu. Friends that have visited that place have raved about it.

Does anyone remember the restaurant that used to be at that location in the 80's, called "B. Palola"? I used to love that place with a passion, in fact I helped with the conversion of that building to a restaurant, back in the day.

Not in the same class, but IMHO the most distinctive non-chain restos in BNA are "meat'n'three", a genre one could argue was invented in BNA a century ago. The original Sylvan Park on Murphy Rd, Wendell Smith's, Elliston Place Soda Shop and Swett's come to mind right now as outstanding non-chain examples.

Larry's
 

Larry's, near St. Josephs university, makes a cheesesteak not to be missed!!!

Atlanta: Dante's Down the Hatch
Salzburg: St. Peter Stifte
Trier: Aom Eck
Minneapolis: Gasthaus zur Gemuetlichkeit

Have a couple I have sent some to in my time:

Abacus, Dallas - ask for a lobster shooter

Gewinner's Market & Deli, St. Louis - for ribs

The General's Daughter, Sonoma - great decor & french/californian menu


I'll edit more later

Saw this one on the Travel Channel... jumped in the car and went over to get a Grandma Style Italian Hot Dog from Jimmy Buff's

The original place was in Newark, NJ... then moved to West Orange, and now in addition to that one they got an East Hanover and a Scotch Plains location.


The hot dog is unique in that they use "pizza bread" which they split open and put two hot dogs, or a hot dog and sausage, and load it up with mustard, fried onions and fried potato chips which is then sprayed with ketchup. You get a lot for your money, and its very filling... but its a hot dog and even though they cook it in soy oil if I'm not mistaken its still fried, heh


Anyway... don't go to the West Orange location its run down, I would give the new East Hanover a try instead.

--Russ


http://www.jimmybuff.com/

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Voodoo Doughnut in Portland, Oregon.

Now, just a forewarning...if you're not prepared to see the most outrageous doughnut creations, then you're not prepared to go to Voodoo. LOL

My personal favorite is the one with Fruit Loops on it. :D

Larry's! Home of the BELLY FILLER!