Help a travelling foodie feed his addiction

[midwestyankee]

Of course. How stupid of me. It is Montemartre, 200 block of C Street SE.

Just spent some time at their website. Looks like a charming place. It's at the top of the list for my time in DC.

 

[Norajane]

These all sound great. I'll be staying in the Embarcadero area and I intend to do some exploring away from there. These all sound like great places to investigate. Thanks.

Shanghai 1930 at 133 Steuart (on the Embarcadero) is a fantastic Chinese place - entrees are about $20.

Ploy II at 1770 Haight St. is the best Thai I've had in the city. The restaurant is near the entrance to Golden Gate Park, right on Haight, but because it's on the second floor of the building, it's hard to find. Read: few tourists unless they're visiting a local who takes them there. It's cheap, the food is terrific, and if you get a table overlooking the street, you get to see a parade of Haight St. color yet are cozily above it. It's across the street from the Red Vic, so you could combine food with an art film, if you're so inclined. Oh, and the waitresses wear traditional Thai silks.


In Seattle, I'd recommend Assaggio Ristorante at 2010 4th Ave for Italian, and Wild Ginger at 1401 3rd Ave for pan Asian. Both are favorites that I try to go to each time I'm there.

 

[midwestyankee]

Shanghai 1930 at 133 Steuart (on the Embarcadero) is a fantastic Chinese place - entrees are about $20.

Ploy II at 1770 Haight St. is the best Thai I've had in the city. The restaurant is near the entrance to Golden Gate Park, right on Haight, but because it's on the second floor of the building, it's hard to find. Read: few tourists unless they're visiting a local who takes them there. It's cheap, the food is terrific, and if you get a table overlooking the street, you get to see a parade of Haight St. color yet are cozily above it. It's across the street from the Red Vic, so you could combine food with an art film, if you're so inclined. Oh, and the waitresses wear traditional Thai silks.


In Seattle, I'd recommend Assaggio Ristorante at 2010 4th Ave for Italian, and Wild Ginger at 1401 3rd Ave for pan Asian. Both are favorites that I try to go to each time I'm there.

Thank you so much. All of these have been duly noted. Your description of Ploy II sounds like exactly the sort of place that I delight in finding.

 

[DLL]

yank:

in NYC, i recommend tony bourdain's place highly. i've heard exceptional things re: mario batali (unsurprising) of course. if your trip took you to philly, you could have hit morimoto's.

ed

yank I will take care of you when you come to the big apple

 

[midwestyankee]

yank I will take care of you when you come to the big apple

This is very generous of you, DLL but all I need is a recommendation. Is there such a thing as an authentic restaurant in New York where I won't need a second mortgage in order to get a good meal? (Other than that cracker-and-ketchup concoction that you sadly mistake for pizza, that is)

 

[EJFan]

This is very generous of you, DLL but all I need is a recommendation. Is there such a thing as an authentic restaurant in New York where I won't need a second mortgage in order to get a good meal? (Other than that cracker-and-ketchup concoction that you sadly mistake for pizza, that is)

you're really on a mission with this aren't you MWY.

allow me to attempt some diplomacy here. neither chicago style NOR new york style pizza is superior. the absolute best pizza in all the world is ellio's. that's right. ellio's... those rectangular frozen delights. mmmmmmm. nothin' quite as good as a perforated slab o' pizza.

 

[dcraz]

Morning Yank.

I still owe you some more, but here are a few to get you started.

San Diego - What a beautiful town. Down in the Gas Light (jazz) District, you will find a restaurant called Croce's (sp?). This is a restaurant started by the widow of Jim Croce. Small, intimate and outstanding food. And the area is beautiful, especially in the evenings.

If you happen to be there over a weekend, then I HIGHLY recommend heading over to the Hotel Del Coronado over on Coronado island. Cannot beat the brunch out on the veranda overlooking the ocean.

LA - A short drive will get you over to Long Beach where you can dine on the old Queen Mary. They have an exceptional restaurant there. A little pricey and you have to wear a coat/jacket but the food outstanding and each dinner is finished off with a chocolate dipped strawberry tree.

Denver - A short drive west of town up into the mountain, you will find The Fort. This is an old converted fort built up in the low hills that specializes in wild game. You can have elk, buffalo, ostrich, quail, etc. Don't forget to try a glass of trade whiskey (whiskey, steeped tobacco juice, Tabasco and real gun powder if memory serves) when you are there. It will put some hair on your chest as they say.

More to follow...

 

[DLL]

This is very generous of you, DLL but all I need is a recommendation. Is there such a thing as an authentic restaurant in New York where I won't need a second mortgage in order to get a good meal? (Other than that cracker-and-ketchup concoction that you sadly mistake for pizza, that is)

ok the best steak ANYWHERE is here...

Thank God for Ben Benson's (212-581-8888). This unassuming 20-year-old mid-town-Manhattan steak house might just serve the greatest American meals in the U.S.A. Here's why.

1. As opposed to even the most admirable steak-house chains, like the Palm and Smith & Wollensky, BB's is one unit, owned by the man whose name is on the awning.

2. The beef is USDA Prime from the highest end of a much abused grade, not the inferior stuff found at many chains.

3. Unlike the century-old Peter Luger in Brooklyn, where the only thing you'd want to eat is the nonpareil porterhouse, BB's menu has range: fabulous shrimp, terrific salads, great soup, superb fish, massive stone crabs.

4. The kitchen doesn't make mistakes. There's no overpaid celebrity chef back there, just heat-hardened pros who know how to work an 800-degree grill.

5. The wine list abounds with perfectly suited American cabernets and chardonnays. Who the hell needs gewürztraminer and viognier with a menu like BB's?

6. There are no puny one- and two-pound lobsters here. They start at three and go up from there: five, seven, sometimes ten.

7. The waiters are amiable and can shell those big lobsters in less than 40 seconds.

8. You can spot America's best red-meat-loving jocks. Former Yankee David Wells put away a double porterhouse after pitching his perfect game. George Steinbrenner's a fan, as is lovably gruff sports junkie Bryant Gumbel.

9. The outdoor patio lets you ogle New York women as they stroll by.

10. The leak proof doggie bags, which sport a picture of BB's mascot, Rocky the bulldog.

 

[midwestyankee]

ok the best steak ANYWHERE is here...

Thank God for Ben Benson's (212-581-8888). This unassuming 20-year-old mid-town-Manhattan steak house might just serve the greatest American meals in the U.S.A. Here's why.

1. As opposed to even the most admirable steak-house chains, like the Palm and Smith & Wollensky, BB's is one unit, owned by the man whose name is on the awning.

2. The beef is USDA Prime from the highest end of a much abused grade, not the inferior stuff found at many chains.

3. Unlike the century-old Peter Luger in Brooklyn, where the only thing you'd want to eat is the nonpareil porterhouse, BB's menu has range: fabulous shrimp, terrific salads, great soup, superb fish, massive stone crabs.

4. The kitchen doesn't make mistakes. There's no overpaid celebrity chef back there, just heat-hardened pros who know how to work an 800-degree grill.

5. The wine list abounds with perfectly suited American cabernets and chardonnays. Who the hell needs gewürztraminer and viognier with a menu like BB's?

6. There are no puny one- and two-pound lobsters here. They start at three and go up from there: five, seven, sometimes ten.

7. The waiters are amiable and can shell those big lobsters in less than 40 seconds.

8. You can spot America's best red-meat-loving jocks. Former Yankee David Wells put away a double porterhouse after pitching his perfect game. George Steinbrenner's a fan, as is lovably gruff sports junkie Bryant Gumbel.

9. The outdoor patio lets you ogle New York women as they stroll by.

10. The leak proof doggie bags, which sport a picture of BB's mascot, Rocky the bulldog.

Proof that law school does not include training in how to read carefully.

Please see my original posts about not eating red meat and also that my client has me on a limited expense account. Perhaps you might know a good Thai or Indian place?

 

[DLL]

Proof that law school does not include training in how to read carefully.

Please see my original posts about not eating red meat and also that my client has me on a limited expense account. Perhaps you might know a good Thai or Indian place?

just go Yank....Ben Bensons is a landmark...ok heres a few fun places to go....

Sardis- about 30 bucks for lunch 234 W 44th
Russian tea Room..if you are in NYC this is a must see...150 W 57 ST about 25 bucks for a good lunch
Le Cirque 455 Madison Ave this has delicious french crusine
Lutece another yummy french rest with a lunch about 40 bucks... 249 E 50 st
Tavern on the green ...a fav place of mine since I was a little girl I would have sunday brunch here, its located by central park and the setting is pretty..cheap lunch too about 20 bucks
Toms restaurant..this is the place seen in all the seinfeld episodes..cheap food shitty service...but quality food...
hmmmm i would say other places but they are expensive...

 

[midwestyankee]

Morning Yank.

I still owe you some more, but here are a few to get you started.

San Diego - What a beautiful town. Down in the Gas Light (jazz) District, you will find a restaurant called Croce's (sp?). This is a restaurant started by the widow of Jim Croce. Small, intimate and outstanding food. And the area is beautiful, especially in the evenings.

If you happen to be there over a weekend, then I HIGHLY recommend heading over to the Hotel Del Coronado over on Coronado island. Cannot beat the brunch out on the veranda overlooking the ocean.

LA - A short drive will get you over to Long Beach where you can dine on the old Queen Mary. They have an exceptional restaurant there. A little pricey and you have to wear a coat/jacket but the food outstanding and each dinner is finished off with a chocolate dipped strawberry tree.

Denver - A short drive west of town up into the mountain, you will find The Fort. This is an old converted fort built up in the low hills that specializes in wild game. You can have elk, buffalo, ostrich, quail, etc. Don't forget to try a glass of trade whiskey (whiskey, steeped tobacco juice, Tabasco and real gun powder if memory serves) when you are there. It will put some hair on your chest as they say.

More to follow...

DC, these are all wonderful suggestions. Thanks. I won't have much time in any of these places and I will not be carrying a sport jacket on this trip but I appreciate the idea of dining on the QM. Another short drive I might take from LA is to eat on the pier at Santa Monica. The Fort sounds like an interesting place. I'll look it up and see if it might fit into my plans.

 

[Ezzy]

Here are five from Austin, I was down there on a contract for 10 days and we ate at a different restaurant each night, the others we went to were not up to the standard of these four with the exception of the Driskil hotel and grill, but the grill I thought was a little pricy for the portion size.

Baxter's on Main
919 Main St Bastrop

Steaks and seafood.

Kenichi
419 Colorado St

Sushi

Manuel's
310 Congress Ave

TexMex Strongly Mexican

Ms. B's
8105 Mesa Drive

Authentic Cajun Texas

 

[Guest]

Best place to eat in Boston:

 

[midwestyankee]

Here are five from Austin, I was down there on a contract for 10 days and we ate at a different restaurant each night, the others we went to were not up to the standard of these four with the exception of the Driskil hotel and grill, but the grill I thought was a little pricy for the portion size.

Baxter's on Main
919 Main St Bastrop

Steaks and seafood.

Kenichi
419 Colorado St

Sushi

Manuel's
310 Congress Ave

TexMex Strongly Mexican

Ms. B's
8105 Mesa Drive

Authentic Cajun Texas

Thanks, Ezzy. I'd heard about Manuel's from another source and now it's definitely on the list. Wondering if Kenichi has anything to do with the Iron Chef by the same name....hmmm.

 

[midwestyankee]

Fenway Park. What you choose to eat doesn't really matter.

Absolutely true. And there is also the bonus that the wait staff is less surly than at that other park, Durgin.

 

[silverwhisper]

i doubt it: my last understanding is that chen kenichi is happy with his restaurants in japan.

ed

 

[midwestyankee]

i doubt it: my last understanding is that chen kenichi is happy with his restaurants in japan.

ed

Well, ya can't blame a guy for doing some wishful thinking.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

http://www.ivars.net/Acres_Home/acres.html


If you like seafood, Ivar's in downtown Seattle is pretty good. I'm not a seafood fan myself, but I do take all of my out of town guests there that do like seafood. Everything is really fresh there and tastes wonderful (even the non-seafood stuff).

 

[midwestyankee]

http://www.ivars.net/Acres_Home/acres.html


If you like seafood, Ivar's in downtown Seattle is pretty good. I'm not a seafood fan myself, but I do take all of my out of town guests there that do like seafood. Everything is really fresh there and tastes wonderful (even the non-seafood stuff).

OH....MY.....GOD....I may not get a stitch of work done in Seattle unless I put off visiting Ivar's until I am don with my project.

Two pounds of clams....I've died and gone to heaven (and I'm still 2,000 miles away) .

 

[Willing and Unsure]

OH....MY.....GOD....I may not get a stitch of work done in Seattle unless I put off visiting Ivar's until I am don with my project.

Two pounds of clams....I've died and gone to heaven (and I'm still 2,000 miles away) .

*smiles* glad to know that you'll enjoy this place. My mom is coming to visit this weekend and she's been asking me if I made reservations for us yet. The neat thing about the one downtown, is that if you sit near one of the windows, you can watch the ferries dock and undock for awhile. It's pretty neat.

 

[pleasteasme]

The Tower Cafe in Sacramento is very good - the french toast is fabulous!

 

[ccnyman]

In NYC I like:

Cabana Carioca (Brazilian) on 45th Street between Broadway and 6th (I think, I'm living in the MidWest now and only go back once a year or so)

Sevilla (Spanish) in the Village.

Number of restaurants in Chinatown.

 

[midwestyankee]

The Tower Cafe in Sacramento is very good - the french toast is fabulous!

Thanks, PTM.

As I look at the menus from restaurants that my friends here have recommended, I can't escape the concern that I will gain 100 pounds over the next two months.

 

[midwestyankee]

In NYC I like:

Cabana Carioca (Brazilian) on 45th Street between Broadway and 6th (I think, I'm living in the MidWest now and only go back once a year or so)

Sevilla (Spanish) in the Village.

Number of restaurants in Chinatown.

Thanks. Sevilla looks especially interesting.

 

[ccnyman]

In NYC I also thought of a couple of Italian restaurants:

Forlini's on Baxter St. (near Chinatown)

Puglia (they have singing - I believe it's on Hester St.)

For dessert, expresso, or cappucino don't forget:

Ferrara's (on Grand St.) or
Venieros (on 11th St. between 1st and 2nd Aves. - East Village).