The Pelican club continues to be a GreatRestaurant.
When I was in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure to join with a group of friends to enjoy an outstanding dinner at the Pelican Club.
Chef Hughes, as he has many previous times, proved to be both an extraordinary chef and a very gracious host.
We had a fairly large group of about twenty or twenty-two and he, and his staff, were still able to provide our dinner with service that would have been special for a group of four to six.
Richard recommended a delicious wine, Arcturus, a cabernet blend from Astrale e Terra Vineyard. It was outstanding and we truly enjoyed it.
I continue my sincere recommendation that you try The Pelican Club, a GreatRestaurant in New Orleans.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Cafe' Vermilionville
A GreatRestaurant located in the heart of Lafayette, Louisiana.
I have been a huge fan of Cafe' Vermilionville for over fifteen years. It is without a doubt my favorite GreatRestaurant in Lafayette. There have been changes over the years as one would expect and while the menu has changed over time, it remains excellent.
It is located in a historic old inn that has been creatively turned into a world class restaurant. The ambiance is comfortable yet elegant (which is different from elegant yet comfortable) and I always enjoy walking through their doors every time I am lucky enough to be able to return for another visit.
Cafe' Vermilionville's outstanding menu never fails to make my diner selection difficult. Most of their appetizers are superb and and their soups and entrees leave nothing to be desired.
One of my favorite soups is their roasted corn and crab bisque. It has always been extraordinary. It wasn't always on the menu in the old days but when it was, I ordered it, always. It was so good that on several occasions I have had it at night with dinner and then gone back and had it for lunch the next day.
Needless to say I was stunned during dinner at Cafe' Vermilionville a couple of weeks ago when I was served a roasted corn and crab bisque that was not the soup I know and love. It was good, it was more than good, it was excellent and I will order it again. But it was a new recipe and I would like to see them serve the old recipe again sometime.
Dinner that night was as good as ever. I did not have a large group with me, just a couple of friends. It was a Tuesday evening and it was a very slow night. The service was gracious and attentive, and we had a great time and a great dinner.
The wine list at Cafe' Vermilionville has long been very reliable. It is not the largest wine list around but more than ample and they offer a wide selection from very reasonable, nice drinking wines to outstanding knockout wines targeted at the most discerning wine enthusiast.
I look forward to my visits to Lafayette because I know, that if I can make the time to stay for dinner, I won't be disappointed at Cafe' Vermilionville.
It is a Great Restaurant and if you give it a try I am confident that you will love it as much as I do.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Mr. B's Bistro
A GreatRestaurant located on the edge of the French Quarter (at the corner of Iberville and Royal Street) in New Orleans.
Mr. B’s Bistro has been a consistent favorite of mine in New Orleans for many, many years. I have been going there for so long that I can’t even remember my first time. As far back as I can remember; Mr. B’s has been a go-to place for me to have dinner when I am in New Orleans.
Creole inspiration is reflected in a wonderful bistro style menu. My favorite appetizer is their duck spring rolls that are served with the most incredible ginger dipping sauce. (I often find a way to have two servings of the Spring Rolls, they are that good).
My favorite dinner item has long been their Mississippi Rabbit. From time to time I try other things but while I always find them to be excellent, I always come back to the rabbit.
Their fish is always, I mean always, fresh and wonderful. I adore the Pork Osso Buco, and their Shrimp and Grits is among the best I have had. But my first love is their Mississippi Rabbit. Take a chance, forget that it is rabbit, and try it. My guess is that you will love it. (My son recently tried it and thought it was great)
The wine list is well rounded and always offers an interesting selection of outstanding wines. I have been to Mr. B’s just to sit at the bar, order appetizers, and share a bottle of wine or champagne with my wife or a friend.
While there are other New Orleans restaurants that are GreatRestaurants, this year I celebrated my birthday (with my wife and children) at Mr. B’s. It was my children’s first time to Mr. B’s and they loved it. As I mentioned above, my son loved the Rabbit. My daughter thought that the Shrimp and Grits were delicious.
Many restaurants in New Orleans cater to the tourist crowd. Some of them are not very good and only exist due to previous glories or slick marketing. One sure measure of a GreatRestuarant in New Orleans is if the people who live there choose it from among all the superb competition. My friends in New Orleans go to Mr. B’s.
An interesting note about Mr. B’s is that they only take a certain number of reservations each night. They seem to like being able to accommodate walk up patrons. It is always better to call ahead and have a reservation. But it you find yourself in New Orleans on the spur of the moment, try dropping by and seeing if they have a table available.
If you have to wait for a little while, grab a seat at the bar and have a glass of wine, or whatever, until they can seat you.
Mr. B’s Bistro is a GreatRestaurant that you should try the next time you are in New Orleans. You really can’t go wrong at Mr. B’s.
Check them out at http://www.mrbsbistro.com/
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Cracker P's
A GreatRestaurant located on Lubbers Quarters in the Sea of Abaco, Bahamas
Cracker P’s Bar and Grill is an incredible restaurant located on a hillside across the sound, and down a little, from Tahiti Beach. It is an extremely casual, very comfortable, place that you can pretty much get to only by boat. The food is very simple, and very good.
I have only been to Cracker P’s a couple of times and only for lunch. The food is a combination of local dishes and familiar favorites. My favorite side dish, a local dish that is very good and well worth trying, is the “Bahamian Peas 'n' Rice”.
It is advised to call ahead on your VHF radio, every boat has one (everybody monitors Channel 16), and check to see if they have a table open. When you pull up to their dock (its big), you stern anchor your boat and head up the stairs to the restaurant and an incredible view.
Cracker P’s looks east over the Lubbers channel towards Tilloo Cay and Tahiti Beach. You feel like you are in heaven, the view is more than picturesque, it is extraordinary.
The staff is very friendly and accommodating. You are welcome to eat, to drink, and to just hang out and relax.
While I have not been there for dinner, I understand the place can become very lively. They are famous for their “Full Moon Parties”. I am sad to say that I have never been to one of their Full Moon Parties but I have seen the place liven up on just a random weekday afternoon.
There is a reason that I have not had dinner at Cracker P’s, and that I am not likely to do so any time soon. When I am in the Abacos, I stay on a Cay (Key) about 8 or 9 miles north of Lubbers Quarters. I have never wanted to try the run home, by boat, after dark, and after a few toddies or glasses of wine.
On a special note, they make and bottle their own hot sauce. It is excellent. If you like spicy things, you should try it. I like a little on my Peas 'n' Rice. I brought a bottle home with me and whenever I bring it out it brings back very fond memories of Cracker P’s.
Tahiti Beach, mentioned above, is a great place to anchor your boat and hang out to enjoy the sun and water. It is a very popular place where you are likely to run into old friends or meet new ones. Cracker P’s is ideally located when you want to grab lunch or a refreshing beverage.
Cracker P’s is a GreatRestaurant that is very different from any of the GreatRestaurants that I have written about so far. It is a laidback, casual, fun, watering hole and restaurant that I think is a must “go to” if you are hanging around in the Abacos. If you are hanging around in the Abacos, and enjoying yourself, then I can almost guarantee that you will love Cracker P’s.
Check them out at http://www.crackerps.com/
Cracker P’s Bar and Grill is an incredible restaurant located on a hillside across the sound, and down a little, from Tahiti Beach. It is an extremely casual, very comfortable, place that you can pretty much get to only by boat. The food is very simple, and very good.
I have only been to Cracker P’s a couple of times and only for lunch. The food is a combination of local dishes and familiar favorites. My favorite side dish, a local dish that is very good and well worth trying, is the “Bahamian Peas 'n' Rice”.
It is advised to call ahead on your VHF radio, every boat has one (everybody monitors Channel 16), and check to see if they have a table open. When you pull up to their dock (its big), you stern anchor your boat and head up the stairs to the restaurant and an incredible view.
Cracker P’s looks east over the Lubbers channel towards Tilloo Cay and Tahiti Beach. You feel like you are in heaven, the view is more than picturesque, it is extraordinary.
The staff is very friendly and accommodating. You are welcome to eat, to drink, and to just hang out and relax.
While I have not been there for dinner, I understand the place can become very lively. They are famous for their “Full Moon Parties”. I am sad to say that I have never been to one of their Full Moon Parties but I have seen the place liven up on just a random weekday afternoon.
There is a reason that I have not had dinner at Cracker P’s, and that I am not likely to do so any time soon. When I am in the Abacos, I stay on a Cay (Key) about 8 or 9 miles north of Lubbers Quarters. I have never wanted to try the run home, by boat, after dark, and after a few toddies or glasses of wine.
On a special note, they make and bottle their own hot sauce. It is excellent. If you like spicy things, you should try it. I like a little on my Peas 'n' Rice. I brought a bottle home with me and whenever I bring it out it brings back very fond memories of Cracker P’s.
Tahiti Beach, mentioned above, is a great place to anchor your boat and hang out to enjoy the sun and water. It is a very popular place where you are likely to run into old friends or meet new ones. Cracker P’s is ideally located when you want to grab lunch or a refreshing beverage.
Cracker P’s is a GreatRestaurant that is very different from any of the GreatRestaurants that I have written about so far. It is a laidback, casual, fun, watering hole and restaurant that I think is a must “go to” if you are hanging around in the Abacos. If you are hanging around in the Abacos, and enjoying yourself, then I can almost guarantee that you will love Cracker P’s.
Check them out at http://www.crackerps.com/
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Diamond Grill
A GreatRestaurant located in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana.
The food at the Diamond Grill is as spectacular as the décor and the décor is extraordinary. The Diamond Grill opened several years ago and it has been my favorite GreatRestaurant in Alexandria since that time.
The Diamond Grill is both elegant and comfortable. The atmosphere raises your expectations, and the food and service has always exceeded mine. The menu offers a great selection of choices while maintaining a focus that lets you know that every dish is freshly crafted.
The food is creative and delicious. It is what you would have to call upscale Creole-Continental. They offer appetizers ranging from fried green tomato to escargot. The dinners range from seafood (a Louisiana must have) to wonderful steaks. Duck, chicken and pork are also on the dinner menu. I have enjoyed every dish that I have ever tried at the Diamond Grill.
Many, if not all, nights they have off menu specials. I recommend serious consideration of their specials. While the menu is great, they don't call them specials for nothing.
I have had dinners there as both as a couple and as the host of host up to about twenty guests. Whether my group has been small or large, the service has always been extraordinary.
The last time I was there, the waiter who I knew from previous visits, recommended a merlot from Meeker Vineyards, their Handprint Merlot. I explained to him that I didn't drink merlot and asked if he had another recommendation, a syrah or a red zinfandel maybe.
He very politely suggested that I reconsider and made me an offer I couldn't refuse. He said that if I didn't like the Meeker, it would disappear and never show up on my bill. I again told him that I normally don't drink merlot but that if he was that confident in the wine then I would give it a try.
The result was a confirmation that you should always listen to your waiter when you are in a GreatRestaurant. I thanked him. The Meeker Handprint Merlot is wonderful, it is delicious, it isn't like any merlot I've ever had.
Of course in retrospect, I hadn't really tried a merlot since the 1980's when incredibly bad merlot was the fern-bar wine of choice. The wine was so good that I asked where they got it. The next morning I went out and bought a case of it before leaving town.
I have since purchased several more cases of this fantastic wine and enjoy it often. The Handprint Merlot is one of a very interesting selection of wines from Meeker. They only make about 3600 cases of it each year. It is a GreatWine. Thank you, Diamond Grill, for introducing me to it.
The Diamond Grill is a GreatRestaurant that I never miss when I am in Alexandria. You should try it if you are anywhere nearby.
Check them out at http://thediamondgrill.com
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Village Grille
A GreatRestaurant located on Louisiana Avenue in Shreveport, Louisiana.
The Village Grille has been one of my favorite restaurants longer than any other restaurant in Shreveport. I have been to the Village dozens of times over almost twenty years. The food is consistently superb, the service is always extraordinary, and the atmosphere is unique in Shreveport.
One of my favorite appetizers is their beef carpaccio which they list as a salad. This is an extraordinarily delicious dish that I almost always order at the Village (Its funny but I find that I don’t usually care for this dish anywhere else).
They have other fantastic appetizers including a venison tenderloin and a semi boneless quail. My favorite of a great selection of salads is their Caesar salad topped with a small soft-shell crab.
True excellence is demonstrated in their entrée menu. The fish is always fresh as benefits a true Louisiana restaurant and their meat is fantastic. Two of my favorite meat entrees are their lamb chops with a Madeira wine sauce and their beef tournedos with a green peppercorn sauce.
The Village does not have menus. The waiters quote the extensive menu to you and highlight the specials for the evening. The waiters tend to be professionals like you find in New Orleans and in New York. They are always helpful and very knowledgeable about how the various dishes are prepared. There are several who have been there for many years.
Shreveport has several exceptional restaurants. The Village Grille has its peers, but there are none that surpass it.
It is small and intimate, there are probably only twelve to fourteen tables seating no more than about forty people. The atmosphere is both somewhat eclectic and elegant. You could easily be in a restaurant in New York City. The place is very comfortable with a real sense of style.
It is a perfect place for a couple to have a quite, romantic dinner or for two couples to enjoy a good time together. It is not the kind of place that I would ever go to eat alone.
The Village has an excellent wine list and their bar is well known for serving an amazing variety of martinis. If you are a martini drinker, they have a great selection of olives to choose from among.
The Village Grille is a GreatRestaurant that is a very comfortable place for me. I enjoy being there and always love the food. It is one of those rare places where they welcome you in such a way that you always want to return. I recommend it without reservations to anyone who finds themselves in Shreveport.
I don’t know of a web site for the Village Grille.
Their address is 1313 Louisiana Ave, Shreveport, LA 71101-4623 and the phone number is 318- 424-2874.
The Village Grille has been one of my favorite restaurants longer than any other restaurant in Shreveport. I have been to the Village dozens of times over almost twenty years. The food is consistently superb, the service is always extraordinary, and the atmosphere is unique in Shreveport.
One of my favorite appetizers is their beef carpaccio which they list as a salad. This is an extraordinarily delicious dish that I almost always order at the Village (Its funny but I find that I don’t usually care for this dish anywhere else).
They have other fantastic appetizers including a venison tenderloin and a semi boneless quail. My favorite of a great selection of salads is their Caesar salad topped with a small soft-shell crab.
True excellence is demonstrated in their entrée menu. The fish is always fresh as benefits a true Louisiana restaurant and their meat is fantastic. Two of my favorite meat entrees are their lamb chops with a Madeira wine sauce and their beef tournedos with a green peppercorn sauce.
The Village does not have menus. The waiters quote the extensive menu to you and highlight the specials for the evening. The waiters tend to be professionals like you find in New Orleans and in New York. They are always helpful and very knowledgeable about how the various dishes are prepared. There are several who have been there for many years.
Shreveport has several exceptional restaurants. The Village Grille has its peers, but there are none that surpass it.
It is small and intimate, there are probably only twelve to fourteen tables seating no more than about forty people. The atmosphere is both somewhat eclectic and elegant. You could easily be in a restaurant in New York City. The place is very comfortable with a real sense of style.
It is a perfect place for a couple to have a quite, romantic dinner or for two couples to enjoy a good time together. It is not the kind of place that I would ever go to eat alone.
The Village has an excellent wine list and their bar is well known for serving an amazing variety of martinis. If you are a martini drinker, they have a great selection of olives to choose from among.
The Village Grille is a GreatRestaurant that is a very comfortable place for me. I enjoy being there and always love the food. It is one of those rare places where they welcome you in such a way that you always want to return. I recommend it without reservations to anyone who finds themselves in Shreveport.
I don’t know of a web site for the Village Grille.
Their address is 1313 Louisiana Ave, Shreveport, LA 71101-4623 and the phone number is 318- 424-2874.
La Choza
A GreatRestaurant located near the main square in Cozemel, Mexico.
One of the local SCUBA dive masters told me that her favorite place to eat was La Choza. I sincerely appreciate her recommendation. I only had lunch there but the food was delicious and the service was great. The dishes I tried were well seasoned with a delicious combination of spices but were not "hot".
Every day they offer specials. They usually have several selections. If you order one of the specials, it comes with several courses. This is a great deal and is how most of the locals order. The specials change from day to day so you should ask about them when you are there. The ones we tried were great and very reasonably priced.
I don't know if it was part of the special or part of every meal but they served a wonderful appetizer dish while we were waiting for our lunch. I guess it was the equivalent of the chips and salsa that is often served in Mexican restaurants in the U.S. but it was much better than chips and salsa. It was really good.
If you want the best deals price wise you must convert your dollars to pesos before you eat at a restaurant, and then pay in pesos. A lot of the stores will take dollars at a reasonable exchange rate but both the restaurants I tried in Mexico converted the bills from pesos into dollars at a very unfavorable rate. I had pesos one time and didn't have them the other time so I learned the hard way.
La Choza is a GreatRestaurant that is a must go if you are in Cozemel.
Check them out at http://www.lachozarestaurant.com/
Mazen's Reastaurant
A GreatRestaurant, actually two GreatRestaurants, located in Lake Charles, and Lafayette, Louisiana.
Mazen's was recommended to me by a friend who knew of my love for great food and thought that I would love it. She was right and I have been eaten at Mazen's many times since then. They call themselves a Mediterranean & Continental Restaurant. What I can tell you is that there is a clear Louisiana influence on the food.
Mazen's has an amazing menu that offers an incredible selection. Everything that I have ever had at Mazen's has been at least very good and most things have been wonderful. They offer fresh fish served several different ways and a nice selection of beef, lamb, duck, quail, and veal dishes. Many of their appetizers reflect their Mediterranean heritage. It's not on the menu, but regulars often request the fried asparagus appetizer that many find to be irresistible.
Their wine list done the way I like to see a wine list done. They offer plenty of very reasonably priced yet very drinkable wines while also offering a decent selection of higher end wines for those who desire them. They are very open to you bringing your own special bottle(s).
When I was first introduced to Mazen's there was only the one restaurant in Lake Charles. A couple of years ago the owner sent one of his head chefs to Lafayette with instructions to recreate their Lake Charles masterpiece there. I have been to both and while I probably still prefer the Lake Charles location, the Lafayette location is just as good.
Mazen's is a GreatRestaurant. Every time I am in Lake Charles, I make an effort to eat there. I recommend that you try it if you are near either Lake Charles or Lafayette.
Check them out at http://www.mazens.com/home.html
Mazen's was recommended to me by a friend who knew of my love for great food and thought that I would love it. She was right and I have been eaten at Mazen's many times since then. They call themselves a Mediterranean & Continental Restaurant. What I can tell you is that there is a clear Louisiana influence on the food.
Mazen's has an amazing menu that offers an incredible selection. Everything that I have ever had at Mazen's has been at least very good and most things have been wonderful. They offer fresh fish served several different ways and a nice selection of beef, lamb, duck, quail, and veal dishes. Many of their appetizers reflect their Mediterranean heritage. It's not on the menu, but regulars often request the fried asparagus appetizer that many find to be irresistible.
Their wine list done the way I like to see a wine list done. They offer plenty of very reasonably priced yet very drinkable wines while also offering a decent selection of higher end wines for those who desire them. They are very open to you bringing your own special bottle(s).
When I was first introduced to Mazen's there was only the one restaurant in Lake Charles. A couple of years ago the owner sent one of his head chefs to Lafayette with instructions to recreate their Lake Charles masterpiece there. I have been to both and while I probably still prefer the Lake Charles location, the Lafayette location is just as good.
Mazen's is a GreatRestaurant. Every time I am in Lake Charles, I make an effort to eat there. I recommend that you try it if you are near either Lake Charles or Lafayette.
Check them out at http://www.mazens.com/home.html
Cinema Cafe
A GreatRestaurant located at 45 East 60th Street just a few blocks from the south end of Central Park in New York City.
I have only been to the Cinema Café once, for lunch. I was returning from a visit on the floor of the NYSE. It was my second time on the floor. My first visit had been at least twenty years ago. The NYSE had really changed since my previous visit but one thing that remained the same is the sense of awe one feels at walking on that hallowed floor of capitalism.
But back to the point, I gotten off a subway and was walking back to my hotel. It was past lunch time and I was looking for some neighborhood place to grab a bite. I noticed this little café filled with sort of cheesy looking old film posters and I almost walked on past. What got my attention was that it was still full of people at about 2:00 in the afternoon. I checked out the menu and it looked interesting so I decided to try it. Unknowingly, I had made a great choice.
I shared one of their "slider" dishes, two Kobe beef Burgers with crimini mushrooms, melted brie and truffle aioli. It was absolutely delicious, no, beyond delicious, it was wonderful. Without a doubt, it was the best "hamburger" kind of a dish I have ever had. My only regret was that I had shared it and only got to have one of the two sliders that came with the order.
Their Wild Mushroom Pizza with crimini, shiitake, oyster and button mushrooms tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella was very good. (I shared that too) But on a do-over, I would have an order, or maybe two orders, of the Kobe beef Burger sliders and I wouldn't share them with anyone. They could get their own orders. They are that good.
I am not sure of the story but I believe that the Cinema Café on 60th Street was once part a group of three or four restaurants, all called the Cinema Café. I understand that this one is now an independent, stand alone, restaurant. There appear to be three other "Cinema Café's" in the City. I have not been to them and I can't vouch for them.
You may ask why I have only been to the Cinema Café once. It was the last day of my trip when I stumbled upon it. I fully intended to go back for dinner and have several of those wonderful Kobe beef Burger sliders for dinner but I waited a little too late and they were closed by the time I got back. Oh well, I thought that all the restaurants in NYC stayed open late, this one didn't.
I will go back again, next time I am in NYC.
The Cinema Café on 60th is a GreatRestaurant if for nothing else than their Kobe beef Burger sliders. I would like to try some of their other dishes but I would have to get tired of their sliders before I ventured out to try new things.
I don't know of a web site that is exclusively theirs. If you google "The Cimena Café" you will get the web site for the other three restaurants. I did find an indirect link for the restaurant and it is
http://www.menuism.com/links/show/b7M8GMjW0r3BqKaby-t3N_
If that doesn't work, their address is 45 East 60th Street and their phone number is 212-750-7500. Check them out next time you are in the NYC.
I have only been to the Cinema Café once, for lunch. I was returning from a visit on the floor of the NYSE. It was my second time on the floor. My first visit had been at least twenty years ago. The NYSE had really changed since my previous visit but one thing that remained the same is the sense of awe one feels at walking on that hallowed floor of capitalism.
But back to the point, I gotten off a subway and was walking back to my hotel. It was past lunch time and I was looking for some neighborhood place to grab a bite. I noticed this little café filled with sort of cheesy looking old film posters and I almost walked on past. What got my attention was that it was still full of people at about 2:00 in the afternoon. I checked out the menu and it looked interesting so I decided to try it. Unknowingly, I had made a great choice.
I shared one of their "slider" dishes, two Kobe beef Burgers with crimini mushrooms, melted brie and truffle aioli. It was absolutely delicious, no, beyond delicious, it was wonderful. Without a doubt, it was the best "hamburger" kind of a dish I have ever had. My only regret was that I had shared it and only got to have one of the two sliders that came with the order.
Their Wild Mushroom Pizza with crimini, shiitake, oyster and button mushrooms tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella was very good. (I shared that too) But on a do-over, I would have an order, or maybe two orders, of the Kobe beef Burger sliders and I wouldn't share them with anyone. They could get their own orders. They are that good.
I am not sure of the story but I believe that the Cinema Café on 60th Street was once part a group of three or four restaurants, all called the Cinema Café. I understand that this one is now an independent, stand alone, restaurant. There appear to be three other "Cinema Café's" in the City. I have not been to them and I can't vouch for them.
You may ask why I have only been to the Cinema Café once. It was the last day of my trip when I stumbled upon it. I fully intended to go back for dinner and have several of those wonderful Kobe beef Burger sliders for dinner but I waited a little too late and they were closed by the time I got back. Oh well, I thought that all the restaurants in NYC stayed open late, this one didn't.
I will go back again, next time I am in NYC.
The Cinema Café on 60th is a GreatRestaurant if for nothing else than their Kobe beef Burger sliders. I would like to try some of their other dishes but I would have to get tired of their sliders before I ventured out to try new things.
I don't know of a web site that is exclusively theirs. If you google "The Cimena Café" you will get the web site for the other three restaurants. I did find an indirect link for the restaurant and it is
http://www.menuism.com/links/show/b7M8GMjW0r3BqKaby-t3N_
If that doesn't work, their address is 45 East 60th Street and their phone number is 212-750-7500. Check them out next time you are in the NYC.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Silver Fork Lodge and Restaurant
A GreatRestaurant located most of the way up Big Cottonwood Canyon, just a little way down from Solitude Ski Resort, near Salt Lake City in Utah.
I have enjoyed the Silver Fork for many years. The food is great and it is a comfortable place to relax after a long day skiing. I have eaten at the Silver Fork at least a dozen times and always have dinner there during my stays in the area.
The menu offers a great selection that is far better than you would expect to find eleven miles up a narrow canyon road. (The menu is suited more to the adults than to the children but they do have a children’s menu and they don’t mind working with you to find something the kids will like.)
The place can be busy but they never rush you and don’t seem to mind if you take your time and visit with your friends. The wine list is a little brief for true connoisseurs but has a great selection of reasonably priced wines that include some very drinkable bottles.
The Silver Fork serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is really known for their breakfasts. I have always gone there mainly for dinner and occasionally for lunch. It is part of a lodge and while I have never stayed at the Silver Fork, it does seem like it would be a nice place to stay.
The Silver Fork is a GreatRestaurant that you should try if you are in the Salt Lake area.
Check them out at http://www.silverforklodge.com/restaurant.html
Juban’s Restaurant
A GreatRestaurant located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
When I first started going to Baton Rouge, many years ago, Juban’s was the second restaurant that I fell in love with. I will tell you about the first in another post. I have loved Juban’s since the first time I had dinner there and I make a serious effort to go to Juban’s every time I am in Baton Rouge.
The food at Juban’s is an extraordinary example of Louisiana cooking (See the soft-shell crab above). I have never had anything that I didn’t consider very good and almost everything I have ever had there was wonderful. I love both lunch and dinner at Juban’s. You really can’t go wrong eating at Juban’s.
Juban’s wine list is somewhat extraordinary. They have a wide selection that should satisfy the most discerning palette. If the wine list has a weakness it would be in the lower price ranges although I have always been able to find very drinkable wines that didn’t completely break the bank.
I have eaten at Juban’s so many times that I can’t remember how many times I have eaten there. I have sat at the bar alone and had my dinner served on a white cloth napkin. And I have had as many as twentyfour guests there for dinner. (Every time I have had dinner at the bar, I have ended up meeting someone or several people that were fun and interesting. One time I met the speaker of the Louisiana Senate, it turned out that we had a friend in common)
I once took about a dozen guests there after a conference we were all attending was canceled because a hurricane was rushing towards Baton Rouge. We decided that trying to fight the interstate traffic would be less obnoxious at 5 am the next morning than at 6 pm that evening. (The storm was forecast to hit around 11 am the next morning) So we went to Juban’s and had a fantastic dinner. It worked; there was almost no traffic early the next morning and we all made it out before the storm really hit.
Juban’s is a white tablecloth restaurant located in what seems to be a bizarrely typical Louisiana location, an old, rundown, strip mall. Once you get past the vast expanse of the parking lot and into the restaurant itself, you find yourself in a whole nother world. The décor is fantastic yet warm. The bar area is a great place to sit and visit with friends. There are private rooms for groups ranging from twelve to a bunch (ask them). The dining rooms can be a little noisy but are never to loud to visit with your friends.
I have met the owner who is friendly and outgoing. The staff is considerate and has always gone out of their way to do a great job.
Juban’s is a GreatRestaurant that is a must go to if you are ever in Baton Rouge. In fact if you are ever near Baton Rouge, you should make an effort to be at Juban's for dinner.
Check them out at http://www.jubans.com/
Equestria Restaurant
A GreatRestaurant located in Germantown Tennessee near Memphis.
Equestria has been a favorite restaurant of mine for a number of years. The food is outstanding and the menu, while not extensive, provides a wonderful selection of choices. The ingredients are fresh and the chef is creative in a way that is refreshing but not outlandish. Their specials are almost always worth trying
The wine list at Equestria is more than ample with a great selection of wines. They offer almost a dozen wines by the glass and have one of the largest selections of half bottles I have seen recently. Not only do they have a wonderful wine list, I have found that they are very accommodating if you want to bring a special wine from home.
It was at Equestria that I first tried an absolutely superb Syrah from Turnbull Vineyards. This wine is a GreatWine from a small bottling, about 650 cases each year, that is very reasonably priced. It has become a favorite wine of mine and I buy several cases each year. Thank you Equestria.
This is a GreatRestaurant that is very comfortable. The service is attentive while being relaxed; the staff is there when you need them but does not hover. The sommelier is helpful if you would like assistance with your wine choice, I have never found him to be snooty like some.
Equestria has been through a couple of different chefs but the owners (a husband and wife team) have been diligent in maintaining the quality of the food ever since I have been going there.
The owners are there frequently and are extraordinarily gracious. If you are lucky, as I have been, you may be asked to join their table after dinner to enjoy a glass of wine with them. I don’t mention their name here because they do not have it listed on their web site.
At times they have live music that is worth listening too as you have another glass of wine after dinner and visit with your friends.
Equestria is a GreatRestaurant that I whole heartedly recommend and where I hope to see you sometime.
Check them out at http://www.equestriacuisine.com/main.htm
Criallo's Bistro and Bar
A GreatRestaurant located in the Cool Springs area of Tennessee just outside of Nashville.
Recently, I had dinner at Criallo’s two nights in a row. There are lots of other GreatRestaurants in the Nashville area, some of which I will be mentioning in future posts. It says a lot that I went back to Criallo’s for a second night in a row.
The food at Criallo’s is truly wonderful. They offer an interesting menu that provides a real choice of outstanding meals. In fact it was so good the first night that I took about 15 guests back the second night. Their feedback was a resounding vote that Criallo’s is a GreaatRestaurant.
The wine list at Criallo’s is very well put together. It offers a great selection of reasonably priced wines that provide ample opportunity to try new names without breaking the bank. To top it off, for several months, Criallo’s has been running a special on Tuesday through Thursday nights where their wine is priced 50% off the already reasonable price list. (Check to see if they are still running this special before going and assuming that it is still going on.)
Criallo’s is a wonderful neighborhood restaurant that serves truly great food in a very comfortable atmosphere. It can take a little looking for since it is tucked away behind a wine shop near a sporting goods store but it is worth searching for.
If you like live music, Criallo’s offers that as well. On the nights that I was there the music was a lot of fun. It wasn’t so loud as to interfere with our conversations but it provided a great background.
I did not meet the owner but the staff was friendly and accommodating. They worked with me when I told them that I wanted to bring a group of guests the next night and helped make the evening a success.
Criallo’s Bistro and Bar is a GreatRestaurant well worth trying.
Check them out at http://www.criallos.com/index.html
The Pelican Club
A GreatRestaurant located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The food at the Pelican Club is outstanding. I have been to the Pelican Club several times over the years and have always found it to be wonderful.
Chef Richard Hughes combines wonderful ingredients in creative ways that are delicious but not extreme. There are none of those silly combinations that just don't make sense; everything that I have ever had at the Pelican Club has been worth having again. My dining companions have always raved about their meals.
The Pelican Club's wine list is a serious but considerate wine list. What I mean by that is that the list is extensive, well rounded, and provides selections that should satisfy anyone from a wine connoisseur to a wine kind-of-a-sewer. There is a good selection of very drinkable wines at reasonable prices and higher priced wines for those who have the budget and the palate to truly be able to appreciate them.
Richard Hughes, the chef and owner, is an extremely talented individual who is a gracious and friendly host.
The Pelican Club has been around since at least the early 90's, survived hurricane Katrina, and is as great now as it ever was.
Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the Pelican Club welcomes you into a cozy bar area that is warm and relaxing. The main dining room is elegant. It has numerous architectural features, high ceilings, and interesting art. There are several other dining rooms, each of which is has its own charms.
The Pelican Club is a GreatRestaurant worth visiting. It is a must go-to in you are in New Orleans. I can pretty much guarantee that you will love it. I always do.
Check them out at http://www.pelicanclub.com/
Introduction
Some people eat to live. I live to eat. I have been accused of planning my trips based on where I want to have lunch and dinner. There may be an element of truth to that accusation. I love great food and I adore GreatRestaurants. I go out of my way to find and try new restaurants, new foods and new wines.
This blog will share GreatRestaurants, outstanding recipes, and wonderful wines.
GreatRestaurants may be simple or fancy, they may be cheap or they may not be. In some cases they may be more expensive than many would choose but in most cases they are not breathtakingly expensive.
Some are dives, pretty much just holes in the wall; others are real showplaces. Many are just very comfortable places that make you feel good about being there.
Almost all offer at least good service, many provide great service, and a few provide no service. None of them tolerate bad service.
What all GreatRestaurants have in common is that I like them, I like them a lot, actually I adore them. I have been to every GreatRestaurant that I will list and discuss. And if given a chance, I will go back to them again, and again, and again.
The Not-So-GreatRestaurants are the ones that don't meet my standards or who slip from being a GreatRestaurant to being a Not-So-GreatRestaurant. I will occasionally discus these Not-So-GreatRestaurants but my emphasis will always be on GreatRestaurants.
The reason that I have decided to start this blog to share my restaurant experiences with my friends. If you are not a friend of mine, well, that’s ok. Try a few of the restaurants that I have declared to be a GreatRestaurant and decide for yourself if our taste in food and restaurants is similar or not. If so, then great, you will have a new source of restaurant recommendations, if not, then simply find another blog to read.
I will also share recipes that I enjoy and wines that I find to be both delicious and a good value. With any luck you will find these recommendations to be useful too.
I will try to post my thoughts on at least a couple of dozen GreatRestaurants fairly quickly. After that, I will try to add new GreatRestaurants as I am able to do so. We will see how it goes.
This blog will share GreatRestaurants, outstanding recipes, and wonderful wines.
GreatRestaurants may be simple or fancy, they may be cheap or they may not be. In some cases they may be more expensive than many would choose but in most cases they are not breathtakingly expensive.
Some are dives, pretty much just holes in the wall; others are real showplaces. Many are just very comfortable places that make you feel good about being there.
Almost all offer at least good service, many provide great service, and a few provide no service. None of them tolerate bad service.
What all GreatRestaurants have in common is that I like them, I like them a lot, actually I adore them. I have been to every GreatRestaurant that I will list and discuss. And if given a chance, I will go back to them again, and again, and again.
The Not-So-GreatRestaurants are the ones that don't meet my standards or who slip from being a GreatRestaurant to being a Not-So-GreatRestaurant. I will occasionally discus these Not-So-GreatRestaurants but my emphasis will always be on GreatRestaurants.
The reason that I have decided to start this blog to share my restaurant experiences with my friends. If you are not a friend of mine, well, that’s ok. Try a few of the restaurants that I have declared to be a GreatRestaurant and decide for yourself if our taste in food and restaurants is similar or not. If so, then great, you will have a new source of restaurant recommendations, if not, then simply find another blog to read.
I will also share recipes that I enjoy and wines that I find to be both delicious and a good value. With any luck you will find these recommendations to be useful too.
I will try to post my thoughts on at least a couple of dozen GreatRestaurants fairly quickly. After that, I will try to add new GreatRestaurants as I am able to do so. We will see how it goes.
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