My dear popa-sahn was here in town for business last week and we had dinner together at Il Fornaio. Yum. For some casual dinner convo, I asked him what his top 5 favorite restaurants are... My father knows food. He travels all over and it's his business, in a round about way, to know good food. My question led us into a smooth volley back and forth, and his top 5 grew into a long listing of our food and restaurant favorities. We enjoy food way, way, way too much to limit ourselves to a mere five faves...
In no particular order, here are just a few of my 'favorites' ~ and they really are some of my ultimate favorites:
Hires in Salt Lake City, UT - favorite drive-in hamburger joint [although I always get the very same thing I did when 3 years old; grilled cheese (hold pickle spear please) w/ onion rings and a frosty mug of root beer - n' please DO NOT forget the 'special sauce']
Market Street Grill and/or 'the Broiler' in SLC, UT - favorite clam chowder
Happy Chef in Cedar Rapids, IA - favorite french silk pie
Sarabeth's in NYC - best breakfast (they even have "Angeline's Hot Cocoa")
The Original Uno's in Chicago, IL - absolute favorite deep dish pizza
The Little Buddha at the Palms in LV - favoritie sushi bar +awesome atmosphere
Cafe Lago at Caesars Palace in LV - favorite Sunday brunch
Capriotti's, all over Vegas - favorite sandwich shop, droolin' over the "Capistrami"
Zio Johnos in Cedar Rapids, IA - out of this world garlic bread!
P.F. Changs anywhere - favorite chinese, always consistent
Benihana's anywhere - favorite Japanese cusine
Poquito Mas anywhere in LA - favorite taco shop
Ben & Jerry's anywhere - favorite ice cream shop
Memphis BBQ in LV - favorite barbeque -love the BBQ nachos!
Fatburger anywhere - best real ice cream milkshakes
Mortons anywhere - best steak I've ever had
Cozymel's anywhere - best margaritas and I love the 'flaming cheese'
Lotus of Siam in LV - favorite Thai food: mmmm, coconut ice cream over sticky rice
Donut Shop (don't know its name!), Corner of 3rd St & Cochran Ave. in LA - best croissants; buttery, flakey, the size of my head!- and their donuts? Krispy Kreme, eat your heart out.
Il Fornaio anywhere - favorite italian joint
Michael's Frozen Custard in Madison, WI - best frozen custard ever!
Roadrunner Cafe in Henderson, NV - best cheesesteak sandwiches -ooey gooey!
That's just a glimpse...the complete list would be enormous.
As for my father, he was naming off places in London and Rome.
Lucky bastard!
Well, that just made me hungry.
ReplyDeletePoquito Mas is pretty good. So's Chipotle...mmmm....Mexican food.
ReplyDeleteI'm hungry now, too, and I just ate. My sister used to be a chef at PF Chang's here in Houston, and they have the BEST lettuce wraps!
ReplyDelete