What's your all time favorite restaurant outside TV land?

[Ben Franklin]

We might be doing a road trip this summer and we like to stop and sample the local cuisine. I hope everyone is open by that time. Tell us what your favorite restaurant is that is local, no chains or franchises, just local.

Sanibel Island. FL - Traders: TRADERS SANIBEL (https://traderssanibel.com/)
I'm somewhat biased here because I used to do their creative advertising when they owned three unique restaurants: Sunshine Cafe, Twilight Cafe and Moonlight Cafe, which they sold and then opened Traders.


Cape May, NJ - 410 Bank St. | Cape May, NJ (https://www.410bankstreet.com/index.html)

West Chester, PA - Limoncello Ristorante & Caterers | Catering | West Chester & Chester Springs, PA (https://www.limoncellorestaurant.com/)

Maine: Fresh Maine Lobster | Beal's Lobster Pier (https://www.bealslobster.com/) This is where we learned how to eat lobster, from two elderly (well, at the that time) Maine women who had fun watching us try to eat them. This restaurant is on the Southwest Harbour side of the island.

Share your favorites from around the country or beyond.

[Topspinmo]

Romeo’s. Omaha Nebraska. Abuelo’s In brick town OKC. County line barbecue, Austin Texas.

[dhsmith]

Berns Steak House
Tampa,Fl

[GrumpyOldMan]

There are restaurants outside TVLand?

Cool, I will have to look into that!

[Bogie Shooter]

Who was that guy in the past always told us about great restaurants? Also told how bad Village restaurant were.
Remember he was continuously getting SHORT pour on his drink orders.

[tophcfa]

Ms. Lucy’s in Coral Bay, St. John USVI. You didn’t ask how far outside the bubble?

[Ben Franklin]

Ms. Lucy’s in Coral Bay, St. John USVI. You didn’t ask how far outside the bubble?

True, but I did say road trip. Miss Lucy's looks like my kind of place, tight on the beach.

[Sensei]

Tark's- Dania Beach, Florida
Chick and Ruth's Deli- Annapolis, Maryland
Geronimo Restaurant Santa Fe, NM
Turners- Leesburg, Florida
Henry Social Club-Columbus, IN
Koishi Fine Chinese & Sushi Bar-Charlotte, NC
Vegetarian Palate- Brooklyn, NYC
Totonno Pizzeria Napolitano-Brooklyn, NYC
Gallo Nero- Portland, Oregon
Shari's Cafe and Pies-Portland, Oregon
River House Seafood-Savannah
The Soda Fountain at Woolworth Walk- Asheville, NC
The Dining Room at the Biltmore Estate-Asheville, NC

[Beyond The Wall]

Catherine’s in Goshen ,NY

Angelos in Monroe NY

Highbridge in Valley Central

[Annie66]

G&M Restaurant - Baltimore MD ---- best crab cakes in the world.

[birdawg]

Louie and Ernies pizza. Crosby Ave The Bronx. NY

[NoMo50]

Arthur Bryant's BBQ, 17th & Brooklyn, Kansas City, MO. Best (real) barbeque on the planet. Period.

[mrf6969]

Cafe Murano Altamonte Springs Cafe Murano | Altamonte Springs Italian Restaurant (https://www.cafemurano.com/)

[stadry]

Sandy springs guaranteedgakaiser's chop houseif you don'agree the cowboy steak's terrific, send me the bill!

[Ldogg21]

Hall’s Chop House - Charleston, SC

[DrRick614]

Ophelia’s on the Bay
Siesta Key FL
Great food, on the water
Worth the $$

[Sassxu]

Food Shack, Jupiter, Florida

[Rlheinz19@yahoo.com]

Daddy Jacks -Indianapolis - try the crispy Grouper
The Friendly- Zionsville IN

[JSR22]

:bigbow:Who was that guy in the past always told us about great restaurants? Also told how bad Village restaurant were.
Remember he was continuously getting SHORT pour on his drink orders.

chatbrat

[matandch]

If you like good old fashioned down home cooking, especially breakfasts try Mary’s Place in Belleview and Mary’s Kountry Kitchen near Tavares. Both are hole in the wall joints with excellent home style cooking. The are also not part of a chain. They just happen to have the similar names and aren’t related.

[JMintzer]

Tark's- Dania Beach, Florida
Chick and Ruth's Deli- Annapolis, Maryland
Geronimo Restaurant Santa Fe, NM
Turners- Leesburg, Florida
Henry Social Club-Columbus, IN
Koishi Fine Chinese & Sushi Bar-Charlotte, NC
Vegetarian Palate- Brooklyn, NYC
Totonno Pizzeria Napolitano-Brooklyn, NYC
Gallo Nero- Portland, Oregon
Shari's Cafe and Pies-Portland, Oregon
River House Seafood-Savannah
The Soda Fountain at Woolworth Walk- Asheville, NC
The Dining Room at the Biltmore Estate-Asheville, NC

Chick and Ruth's closed a few years ago...

[Davetayl1]

By far the best restaurant in the state is Oscar Penn’s in Inverness.

[itsaly]

We always enjoy Miz Kathi's Cotillion Southern Cafe in Wildwood

[alncon2]

Our favorite outside TV but somewhat local is The Goblin Market in Mt. Dora. As for one of our all time favorites in the country it has to be The Peking Gourmet Inn, 6029 Leesburg Pike, Fall Church, VA. This restaurant is just onside of Washington D.C. and is famous for their Peking duck. I have traveled to China, San Fransisco and grew up in New York visiting China Town frequently and have never had a better Peking duck. The Peking Gourmet Inn serves 200+ ducks a night and raise their own ducks and grow all of their own vegetables. It's a must if you're in the area.

[Paula]

Our favorite outside TV but somewhat local is The Goblin Market in Mt. Dora. As for one of our all time favorites in the country it has to be The Peking Gourmet Inn, 6029 Leesburg Pike, Fall Church, VA. This restaurant is just onside of Washington D.C. and is famous for their Peking duck. I have traveled to China, San Fransisco and grew up in New York visiting China Town frequently and have never had a better Peking duck. The Peking Gourmet Inn serves 200+ ducks a night and raise their own ducks and grow all of their own vegetables. It's a must if you're in the area.
We have been to Peking Gourmet several times, including for a wedding prenup dinner (in the back room!)! It is definitely one of our all time favorite best restaurants!!!

[Dot Rheinhardt]

Lazy Days, Islamorado, FL Keys, (at the beach), The Landings, Newburgh, IN (at water front) best key lime pie MM20 Mama's Fl Keys,-going outside the country Servicemen's Club, Nowra, Australia (best buffet I've ever had).

[Mac1996]

Roberts Dania Beach Florida.
Fish lips Port Canaveral.

[Two Bills]

Who was that guy in the past always told us about great restaurants? Also told how bad Village restaurant were.
Remember he was continuously getting SHORT pour on his drink orders.

The millionaire submariner.

[FT9508]

Sargent Recruiter's, Paris, Fr

[Graspher]

.....As for one of our all time favorites in the country it has to be The Peking Gourmet Inn, 6029 Leesburg Pike, Fall Church, VA. This restaurant is just onside of Washington D.C. and is famous for their Peking duck. I have traveled to China, San Fransisco and grew up in New York visiting China Town frequently and have never had a better Peking duck. The Peking Gourmet Inn serves 200+ ducks a night and raise their own ducks and grow all of their own vegetables. It's a must if you're in the area.

I have to jump in on this one!

My absolute favorite as well. Here’s a fun fact that not everyone will care about.

This is a small restaurant with lots of tight seating. The kitchen is tiny. On Chinese New Year - believe it or not - they prepare 1,500 Peking Duck meals on that one day of the year.

This is my number one restaurant of all time. If you love Chinese food and find yourself within a 2 hour drive from this restaurant - you must detour and stop in. You will not regret the experience.

[dtennent]

Hand and Foot in Corning, NY - A very different, interesting menu (no burgers) with beers from craft brewers from around the country.
The Boat House Bistro in Boothbay Harbor, Maine

[BumpaOompa]

Any Supper-club in Wisconsin! Stiff drinks, big juicy steaks and lake perch frys!! Yum ������

[Chitown]

Geo’s Italian restaurant located 1block north of 466 on 301. Only open for dinner on Thursday Friday and Saturday, open for lunch Monday thru Saturday. Old time Italian deli and deserts sold behind the counter. Good Sicilian style pizza. (You have to ask for the Sicilian style). Great lunch menu with great prices. Their meatballs and Marinara sauce are very good.

[donassaid]

I thought that Angelina's won tge best crab cakes in MD. award every year. They were the best I ever had.

[davem4616]

The Pink House - Savannah. GA
Alicante's Mediterranean Grille, Mendon, MA (a few towns outside Boston)
The Old Yarmouth Inn, Yarmouth, MA (Cape Cod)
The Peninsula - Charleston, SC
Opa's Taverna - Orlando
My Big Fat Greek Restaurant - Ft Lauderdale
Mark's Steakhouse - Ocala
Zeb's - Colorado Springs
Barnacle Billy's - Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, ME

happy trails!

[dyoder66@aol.com]

Blackwater, 45 minute drive to the river

[BlackhawksFan]

Frank Pepe's Pizza - New Haven Ct. Possibly the best pizza you'll ever have.

Ted's Restaurant - Meriden Ct. Get the steamed cheeseburgers and thank me later.

Patty' Pantry- Dorchester Ma. A take out counter in the back on a C-store. Lot of food for the price my go to's are the steak tips or the meatloaf.

Sullivan's - Castle Island, Boston Ma. A seasonal take out stand where you might just have to wait in line a bit.

[Grandmay]

Oakwood Smokehouse

[Grandmay]

Oakwood Smokehoue and Grill in Leesburg, family owned there are five different locations. Best ribs around!

[The VillageElder]

Since you will be in Cape May, NJ, try Charlie's Restaurant and Bar in Somers Point, NJ. It's up the Parkway, first exit after the Great Egg Harbor Bridge. You may also try The Anchorage and Gregory's. All three places make up the "Beer-muda Triangle" in Somers Point.

Charlie's is known for its wings and can get crowded on the weekends.

[FredJacobs]

Parrains - Baton Rouge, La
Gramercy Tavern - NYC
Jerome Ferrer, Europea - Montreal
Commander's Palace - New Orleans
Columbia Restaurant - Tampa (This location only - HQ)
Cappadocia Turkish Rest - Orlando
Hawkers (Asian Street Food) - Orlando
Charlie the Butcher - Buffalo. NY - Best Roast Beef Ever!

[thelegges]

Who was that guy in the past always told us about great restaurants? Also told how bad Village restaurant were.
Remember he was continuously getting SHORT pour on his drink orders.

Since that poster has been absent for many months, maybe their health got in the way of life, or something worse. I could never wish Ill will on a poster even if I thought they were a little out there

[Ben Franklin]

Thanks for everyone's contribution. We haven't mapped out our route yet, but when we do, I will definitely visit those restaurants, on-line first, to see if we can make any of them.

[armyguyot1]

Chophouse 47 Greenville SC
Grubstake Hamilton Montana


The Grubstake is definitely worth a major detour to experience it. It's 4 miles of gravel switchbacks to get to it but the view is spectacular looking over the Bitterroot Valley from 5500 ft.

[Taltarzac725]

La Roca Restaurant (http://www.larocarestaurant.com/)

We went here in the 1970s a few times. Thought it was fun. Place is in a cave in Nogales, Mexico.

The Basque restaurants in Reno, Nevada are also a unique experience. Louis Basque Corner | Home of the World Famous Picon Punch (https://louisbasquecorner.com/)

My first real job was a dishwasher at the Rapscallion Restaurant in Reno, Nevada when I was 18 or 19 or so. This is still going very strong after 40+ years.
About Us (https://rapscallion.com/about-us)

[Carla B]

Another vote for Commander's Palace in New Orleans.
The original Ninfa's on Navigation, Houston.

I miss Chatbrat and his unique reviews of food, drink, and everything else.

[Aloha]

Gondola Restaurant in Lebanon, Tennessee, near Nashville, has fabulous Pizza, and Greek and Italian cuisine.

[stebooo]

Everything is and has been open.for some time. Enjoy

[bilcon]

I think they meant day road trips not a 5 day ride for a dinner.

[Catwntrstn]

Giorgio’s Family Kitchen, Cumming, GA
Best Eggplant Parmigiana ever!

[GOLFER54]

McDonalds -everywhere.

[Betty Wagner]

Mimi's in Ocala, also Cinnamon Sticks in Inverness.

[HIgolfers]

Another vote for Commander's Palace in New Orleans.
The original Ninfa's on Navigation, Houston.

I miss Chatbrat and his unique reviews of food, drink, and everything else.

Another vote for Commander’s Palace. Lunch is a great value, especially the 25 cent martinis!

[golfing eagles]

Mark's prime----Ocala
Spoto's Oyster Bar----Palm Beach Gardens
Milleridge Inn----Jericho, Long Island
456------authentic Chinese, East Broadway
Ray's Pizza-----78th St, Manhattan
Blake Street Vault----Denver, CO
Fuji Steakhouse and Sushi Bar------North Dallas, TX
Swan Court----- Lahaina, Maui
Nikolai's Roof----Atlanta
Five Flies-----Amsterdam

[Al2014]

Titusville, Fl. Dixie Crossroads.

[Ecuadog]

Peter Luger in Brooklyn, but I haven't been there in years.

[Aloha1]

Who was that guy in the past always told us about great restaurants? Also told how bad Village restaurant were.
Remember he was continuously getting SHORT pour on his drink orders.

That was Chatbrat. A little over the top sometimes but he appreciated good food and good service and knew what he was talking about. Haven't seen a post by him over a year. Hope he made it through this pandemic.

[Aloha1]

Another vote for Commander's Palace in New Orleans.
The original Ninfa's on Navigation, Houston.

I miss Chatbrat and his unique reviews of food, drink, and everything else.

I remember Ninfa's. Excellent Tex-Mex in the barrio. Muy autentico including la cucarahchas running up the walls.

[Harleyman]

Our cottage at Port George Nova Scotia, lobster caught today, just finished eating. Best lobster in the world.

[Chi-Town]

Gibson's Bar and Steakhouse - Chicago

[Taltarzac725]

Mark's prime----Ocala
Spoto's Oyster Bar----Palm Beach Gardens
Milleridge Inn----Jericho, Long Island
456------authentic Chinese, East Broadway
Ray's Pizza-----78th St, Manhattan
Blake Street Vault----Denver, CO
Fuji Steakhouse and Sushi Bar------North Dallas, TX
Swan Court----- Lahaina, Maui
Nikolai's Roof----Atlanta
Five Flies-----Amsterdam

A culinary museum in the heart of Amsterdam | Restaurant The Five Flies (https://www.vijffvlieghen.nl/en/)

Was curious about Five Flies.

[Sensei]

G&M delicious.....surprisingly Chick and Ruth's in Annapolis is on par

[RICH1]

SCOTCH & SIRLOIN, Wichita Kansas .....

[Ben Franklin]

I think they meant day road trips not a 5 day ride for a dinner.
Actually, it will be a month road trip. Maybe up tp Maine, or Colorado, or maybe even Canada. We're not in a hurry, so if we saw something that looked good, from all of these restaurants, we could plan our route around them.

[Ben Franklin]

Our cottage at Port George Nova Scotia, lobster caught today, just finished eating. Best lobster in the world.

Nova Scotia is on our list, so we may stop to eat at your house ;-) Send menu ;-)

What's Yarmouth and Truro like?

[Harleyman]

Yarmouth is like a New England Town. Hundreds of fishing boats, lobster and scollop mainly. Truro is in the center of the Province, population around 12,000. Nova Scotia is one of the most scenic places in North America. Our cottage is on the Bay of Fundy, right on the 45th parallel. Highest tides in the world, 53 feet, twice a day. The lobster is considered the best because of the very cold water.

[tophcfa]

Nova Scotia is on our list, so we may stop to eat at your house ;-) Send menu ;-)

What's Yarmouth and Truro like?

Truro is the best town on Cape Cod in my opinion. It is far out on the cape, between Wellfleet and Provincetown. It is large geographically but probably the least densely populated town on the cape. We don’t like crowds and built up areas. A good restaurant near Truro is the Pearl in Wellfleet. Avoid going further out the Cape to the freak show in Provincetown, unless you go out to the beautiful beaches on Race Point.

[HIgolfers]

Mark's prime----Ocala
Spoto's Oyster Bar----Palm Beach Gardens
Milleridge Inn----Jericho, Long Island
456------authentic Chinese, East Broadway
Ray's Pizza-----78th St, Manhattan
Blake Street Vault----Denver, CO
Fuji Steakhouse and Sushi Bar------North Dallas, TX
Swan Court----- Lahaina, Maui
Nikolai's Roof----Atlanta
Five Flies-----Amsterdam

Milleridge Inn was the go to place for birthdays, graduations, etc., for our family when I was growing up! Great food and service in a neat atmosphere. Thanks for reminding me of some great times.

[fishon]

Salt Lick
Driftwood, TX

[Topspinmo]

McDonalds -everywhere.


LOL, made my day! I’m be laughing all day long! Thanks :1rotfl: