Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

[55]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

Dislimb, that place looks unreal.

Oh, trust me, it is! I only live about a mile or so from there so I eat lunch there about once a week. The only drag is, if you don't show up right when they open there is an hour or more wait. I've even seen the wait time as long as three hours! Good thing is that there are a few other cool restaurants within a couple of blocks because I never wait to eat.

[ScoobySnax]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

If you're in the Dallas area, BJ's brewery, Two Rows, Fogo De Chao, Houstons are just a few of the places to get some good grub. Lots of good eatin' out here.

BJ's deep dish pizzas are insanely good!

[Linuxx]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

Melt Bar & Grilled in Lakewood, Ohio.

Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and much more:

http://www.meltbarandgrilled.com/

They've been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives a few times in the past and they just appeared on Man vs. Food this past week too. Best casual dining spot in Northeast Ohio bar none.

I took this pic myself last year:



That is the Big Popper: Fresh jalapeno peppers, cheddar cheese and herbed cream cheese on beer battered bread. Served with mixed berry preserves on the side.

The fries are the Ultimate Fries: Fresh cut fries topped with 3 cheeses, the best vegetarian chili in the universe, grilled peppers and onions and sour cream.

OMG!! I WANT THAT!!!!!!!

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

Houston area:

Kenny and Ziggy's-Real NY deli

Bob's Taco Station (technically in Rosenburg/Richmond)-tacos (obviously), tamales, etc. LOVE their breakfast.

San Antonio:

BBQ Station-built in an old repair/gas station. Their Sausage, Turkey, and Brisket are awesome!

VA Beach:

Philly Cold Cuts-Little family owned sandwich shop...Great grinders/italians and Cheesesteaks.

Volcano-Sushi

[Unoriginal Name]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

I think that it would be a great idea for fellow OS'rs to weigh in on their can't miss restaurants in their towns/cities. This could come in handy for those of us that travel to see sports, or travel to get away.

I'm from Orlando, but have spent the past 5 years in Tallahassee at FSU. The places you must eat at if you're here in Tallahassee are:

Piggy's BBQ
Outstanding BBQ, mouthwatering brisket, pulled pork, ribs, etc... It's all great. If you want BBQ in Tally, go here.

Well's Brothers Bar and Grill
Formerlly Monk's, this place cooks some of the best burgers around, along with their burger challenge (7 9 oz patties smothered in cheese). Their specialty burgers include "The Lip Smacker" topped with smoked bacon and cheddar cheese and slathered with creamy peanut butter; served on a kaiser roll, "The California" smothered with fresh avocados, tomato sprouts, swiss, and cream cheese on a kaiser roll (I usually get this and add a fried egg), and "The Mulhauser" topped with Uncle Monk’s famous chili, house made coleslaw, red onions, cheddar cheese and yellow mustard on a kaiser roll. This is easily my favorite place to sit down, watch baseball, drink some beers and eat a gut busting burger.

Bird's Oyster Shack
Great oyster bar; karaoke, great beer specials, live music, trivia... Great place to go with a group of friends for happy hour.

Po' Boys
Great creole restaurant offering outstanding Po Boy sandwiches along with other Cajun cuisine. Live music, happy hours, etc... Great place to go to unwind and eat.

Gordo's
One of my favorite places to grab lunch or dinner in Tallahassee. Outstanding Cuban food, I could sit down and eat 40 of their Media Noche sandwiches.

There is also one place I've been dying to go after seeing it on Anthony Bourdain... The Silver Palm in Chicago to eat the Three Little Pigs Sandwich...
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I was in Tallahassee a couple months ago and ate at Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille and I thought it was pretty good.

I also ate at some place that I can't remember the name now. It was on Adams the same block that the Governor's Club is on but at the other end.

[Moojenowski]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

I was in Tallahassee a couple months ago and ate at Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille and I thought it was pretty good.

I also ate at some place that I can't remember the name now. It was on Adams the same block that the Governor's Club is on but at the other end.

Andrew's Steak House...

[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

Legal Sea Foods

[OSUFan_88]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

Dislimb, that place looks unreal.

Trust me when I say that it's the best bar food I have ever had in my entire life.

Also, Pier W in Cleveland has some of the best seafood I have ever had.

[Cyros]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

If you're in the Dallas area, BJ's brewery, Two Rows, Fogo De Chao, Houstons are just a few of the places to get some good grub. Lots of good eatin' out here.

BJ's deep dish pizzas are insanely good!

Fogo De Chao, so good, but it's only a special occasion place for me.

[ODogg]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

Columbus, OH:

Starliner Diner - Googled best restaurants in Columbus and got this place, went there last week and WOW! Fantastic Cuban food. The restaurant is a little hole in the wall place with lots of kitschy items on the wall and it took about 40 minutes to get our dinner but it was well worth the wait. Try their fried plantains if you go. My g/f had the chicken burrito and the chicken was incredible. I had the Jumbalaya and it was great, served with a big piece of thick bread. A bit spicy but not too much and they had huge portions with great prices.

Mellow Mushroom - I believe this is actually a chain but it's well worth mentioning if you love gourmet pizzas. There is a Mellow Mushroom right off of I-71 by Polaris and it's a great place to get pizza and drinks on a weekend. I'd highly recommend their Italian sub in addition to their pizzas. They have whole wheat crust and it just tastes incredible.

Rofini's Pizza - this is a Westerville mom and pops pizza place run by 2 guys from Italy. It's been in business since 1959 so you know it's got to be good as Ohioans have a crazy amount of pizza places to choose from. Their sausage pizza is unbelievable and once again, their sub, and they only have one, it comes in regular or double meat, is an Italian sub and it's very, very good.

Carfagna's Kitchen - again, a Westerville/Polaris restaurant that is fairly new. They are the best place to go to get Italian food IMO, I've had their spaghetti and lasagna and they're very, very good. I've not yet tried their pizza. All of their pasta is handmade and reasonably priced ($8 to $9) for HUGE portions. I'm not a real big fan of their seating, you sit on picnic tables with everyone mixed in together but the authentic italian food can't be beat.

El Vaquero - This is also a chain, not sure if it's regional to Ohio or not but it's by far the best Mexican place I've eaten at since I've lived in Texas (too many great places down there for Mexican). This is my girlfriends favorite place to eat and I can see why. The service is fast, the dishes are relatively cheap and their food is very much top notch. Not the healthiest place to eat though, heh, but then the best places to eat usually aren't. Try their fish tacos or steak soft tacos, very very good!

My next places I want to try here in Columbus are: Schmidts Sausage Haus, Ohio Deli and Thurmans Cafe. All three were on Man vs. Food.

Also, if anyone is in Charleston, SC they have got to check out Hymens Seafood, OMG they are the best seafood place I've ever eaten at. Expect a wait, but it's well worth it. Also, not cheap (about $30 for dinner) but again, you won't regret it and you will have enough to take home and have a second meal the next day out of it.

[ODogg]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

Oh and just a note - Rofinis is delivery or carryout only, not a restaurant.

And on a pizza note - the best pizza in Columbus IMO is Tommy's Pizza on campus. They have a very thin cracker-like crust that is just fantastic. They also have other spots as well if you want to check them out. No need to order extra cheese either, they put a lot on by default. I'm taking the g/f there tonight for dinner and she's never been there before so she's in for a surprise.

http://www.tommyspizza.com/

If you ever come up here for a Buckeye game they are right at the corner of Lane and High street and they have $10 Pepp & Cheese pizzas ready to go. So don't be intimidated by the huge throng of people there, thinking you'll have to wait hours for your pizza, last time we were at a game we got a pizza within a few minutes despite the hoard of people there. There's nothing like feeding a Buckeye victory and getting that alcohol under control with a big slice of cheesy Tommy's Pizza!!!

[sportsdude]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

Columbus, OH

Starliner Diner - not been there yet but have heard great things about it.

Mellow Mushroom - this is a chain, and if it's like I think it is, then it's just marginal pizza.

Rofini's Pizza - never heard of this place, want to go but Westerville is far away.

Carfagna's Kitchen - co-sign, this place is awesome.

El Vaquero - co-sign again. Really good Mexican with copious amounts of food and chips. I recommend the #141, chicken in ranchero sauce with cheese, rice and refried beans with tortillas to place it all on. Yummy.

Tommy's Pizza - hands down my favorite pizza in Columbus. And a bonus, their Dublin location delivers to where I live.

My next places I want to try here in Columbus are: Schmidts Sausage Haus, Ohio Deli and Thurmans Cafe. All three were on Man vs. Food.

ODogg, I have been to Schmidts and Thurmans, still need to try the Ohio Deli. Schmidts is just incredible if you like German food. Just about anything on the menu is great, make sure to get the sauerkraut balls for an appetizer. As for Thurmans, bring your appetite. Even the smallest burgers are huge. Here's a pic I found (but did not take) of one of their sandwiches:



Also, you want a tip for a dive that's got great burgers? Try Johnnie's Tavern aka Johnnie's on the tracks, located on Trabue Road. It's called that because it's literally next to railroad tracks. You walk in and the place is a ****-hole but trust me their burgers are incredible. I go there at least once a month and it would be more often if I didn't live so far away.

[auburntigersfan]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

Melt Bar & Grilled in Lakewood, Ohio.

Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and much more:

http://www.meltbarandgrilled.com/

They've been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives a few times in the past and they just appeared on Man vs. Food this past week too. Best casual dining spot in Northeast Ohio bar none.

I took this pic myself last year:



That is the Big Popper: Fresh jalapeno peppers, cheddar cheese and herbed cream cheese on beer battered bread. Served with mixed berry preserves on the side.

The fries are the Ultimate Fries: Fresh cut fries topped with 3 cheeses, the best vegetarian chili in the universe, grilled peppers and onions and sour cream.

I saw the Man vs. Food episode of this place recently, it looked heavenly. If I'm ever in Cleveland I know where I'm going.

Tulsa

Queenies - They have excellent sandwiches and an awesome bakery, not to mention a very good breakfast.

Stonehorse Cafe - One of my favorite restaurants, American Style food, and very good oven fired pizzas.

Brookside By Day - Probably the best breakfast in Tulsa, definitely a Tulsa food staple.

Claud's Hamburgers - Just a small, old school burger joint with tasty burgers.

[PVarck31]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

Columbus, OH:

Starliner Diner - Googled best restaurants in Columbus and got this place, went there last week and WOW! Fantastic Cuban food. The restaurant is a little hole in the wall place with lots of kitschy items on the wall and it took about 40 minutes to get our dinner but it was well worth the wait. Try their fried plantains if you go. My g/f had the chicken burrito and the chicken was incredible. I had the Jumbalaya and it was great, served with a big piece of thick bread. A bit spicy but not too much and they had huge portions with great prices.

Mellow Mushroom - I believe this is actually a chain but it's well worth mentioning if you love gourmet pizzas. There is a Mellow Mushroom right off of I-71 by Polaris and it's a great place to get pizza and drinks on a weekend. I'd highly recommend their Italian sub in addition to their pizzas. They have whole wheat crust and it just tastes incredible.

Rofini's Pizza - this is a Westerville mom and pops pizza place run by 2 guys from Italy. It's been in business since 1959 so you know it's got to be good as Ohioans have a crazy amount of pizza places to choose from. Their sausage pizza is unbelievable and once again, their sub, and they only have one, it comes in regular or double meat, is an Italian sub and it's very, very good.

Carfagna's Kitchen - again, a Westerville/Polaris restaurant that is fairly new. They are the best place to go to get Italian food IMO, I've had their spaghetti and lasagna and they're very, very good. I've not yet tried their pizza. All of their pasta is handmade and reasonably priced ($8 to $9) for HUGE portions. I'm not a real big fan of their seating, you sit on picnic tables with everyone mixed in together but the authentic italian food can't be beat.

El Vaquero - This is also a chain, not sure if it's regional to Ohio or not but it's by far the best Mexican place I've eaten at since I've lived in Texas (too many great places down there for Mexican). This is my girlfriends favorite place to eat and I can see why. The service is fast, the dishes are relatively cheap and their food is very much top notch. Not the healthiest place to eat though, heh, but then the best places to eat usually aren't. Try their fish tacos or steak soft tacos, very very good!

My next places I want to try here in Columbus are: Schmidts Sausage Haus, Ohio Deli and Thurmans Cafe. All three were on Man vs. Food.

Also, if anyone is in Charleston, SC they have got to check out Hymens Seafood, OMG they are the best seafood place I've ever eaten at. Expect a wait, but it's well worth it. Also, not cheap (about $30 for dinner) but again, you won't regret it and you will have enough to take home and have a second meal the next day out of it.

Have you ever been to the Flying Pizza? Its pretty damn good. I used to work at the one on Bethel Rd.

[Moojenowski]

Re: Must-Eat, Can't Miss Restaurants/Diners/Dives

We have a Mellow Mushroom here in Tallahassee, pretty solid pizza.