Dinner in Bed Stuy/Clinton Hill

Hi all,
In search of a place with good food for dinner (possibly also a lunch, or a post-dinner hangout for drinks) near Pratt Institute, but to the southeast of it, say along Franklin Av between Lafayette Av and Fulton St.
This would be for a Friday night.
Any cuisines. Hipster-y (but not hipsterer-than-thou) places welcomed. You know, cheap, unfancy, but good.
Apologies if I'm a little hazy on the neighborhood boundaries.
Or, do you think would it just be best to head out of the area on the G to Boerum Hill and eat over there? Judging from my last trip to the area, I would say yes, but it has been a while.

Dedicated Fresser in Outer Boroughs

Searching for a great Thanksgiving Dinner in Western Mass or Southern Vermont

Definitely concur with the Newfane Inn or the Putney Inn!

An added bonus would be if it snows. Newfane is just about the nicest looking snowy village around. (Putney, too, but the inn there is not so picturesquely positioned.)

Dedicated Fresser in General New England Archive

Saturday dinner near LACMA

Thanks, everyone. I did have fun reading the negative stories about Umami. I think I'll opt for Luna Park.

Dedicated Fresser in Los Angeles Area

Saturday dinner near LACMA

Seeking a casual and relatively cheap place for dinner on a Saturday night, either very near LACMA or east from it along Wilshire Blvd. (I'll be traveling by MTA bus, and will be trying to make a train after dinner, so I am reticent to stray far from Wilshire.)

I thought of Luna Park. Will it be mobbed?

Any other suggestions close by the museum or eastward from it along (or a block or two off) Wilshire?

Dedicated Fresser in Los Angeles Area

St. Louis: Chinese and other Asian/Indian ethnic restaurants

When I lived in St. Louis I always liked In Soo, on Olive Blvd in University City, east of I-170. It's a Chinese-Korean spot run by a Korean woman (by name of In Soo) and her children. Her husband cooks. Nice little place! I miss it!

Dedicated Fresser in General Midwest Archive

Opah, Houstons, Gulfstream, Bandera or other in Irvine/Newport Beach

Hi all,

I'm envisioning a couple semi-special occasion dinners with an out-of-town guest at either Opah or Houstons in Irvine, or Gulfstream or Bandera in Newport Beach. I have selected these four places because they appear to have a good general selection of different foods for a middle-of-the-road American palate -- the exact palate possessed by my guest.

I have been once to Gulfstream, but never to any of the other three restaurants, nor do I have any firsthand stories from friends. I have read of many pros and cons of all. Gulfstream I remember as rather expensive, extremely loud, and overly Newport scene-y. So maybe I'll eliminate that from the running. My guest is from a part of the world where he enjoys excellent food of high quality served to him at reasonable prices with no "scene" or BS in in all manner of upscale venues, and I do not wish to disappoint him when he is here in OC. (That part of the world is New Jersey.)

Can anyone recommend for or against any of these places, or provide any other useful information?

Or perhaps someone can suggest a similarly American-ish place that will be appropriate -- but not more expensive, please! From the looks of their menus online, they are already expensive enough. These dinners will be on weekdays, so please don't send me on the 405 -- we'll not be straying far from Irvine, preferably right in Irvine or Corona del Mar.

Thanks!!!

Dedicated Fresser in Los Angeles Area

Palo Alto weekday lunch near train station

Never been within 30 miles of Palo Alto in my life. I imagine a tranquil paradise of restaurants, shops, Ph.D.s, a great university, and sunny skies. Will I easily find an obviously pleasing assortment of places to eat around the train station, or will this be like other towns where one has to do some hunting on foot? If the latter, can you assist me with a trail of breadcrumbs to lead me to the promised land so I do not stagger around in the sunny skies for too long, becoming hungry and cranky in the meantime? Perhaps something quick and simple -- a sandwich place or a casual sit-down spot. Cuisine open but prefer no Indian. Why, thank you.

Dedicated Fresser in San Francisco Bay Area

Cheap, casual, and very good around Union Square?

I'm coming to San Francisco from out of town, staying near Union Square (Powell and Bush), and seek cheap, casual, nonchain, nontouristy, and very good places for lunch and dinner within a short walk. I'm well aware of such places that exist beyond a short walk, so no need to suggest other neighborhoods, which I will get to anyway.

I'd be eating alone, casually dressed, in my 20s, looking lonely (kidding). This is only my second trip -- on my first trip I noticed a plethora of pricey, not casual places in the area where it didn't look like I'd be so welcomed.

Or should I just give up before I start, and head straight to other neighborhoods like the Mission? (which I will do anyway, and I know where to head, but this post is an attempt to cover the waterfront (though not literally)).

Thanks in advance!

Dedicated Fresser in San Francisco Bay Area

Is there a decent NY style deli in OC?

Sure there is -- the Kosher Bite Deli in Laguna Hills.

It's no Jack Cooper's, though -- sorry, Das.

Dedicated Fresser in Los Angeles Area

Midtown eats

I suggest Cellini, to which I've always walked from around the Omni. It's either on 52nd or 54th st. (I believe 54th) between Park and Madison. Great Italian food and a nice atmosphere to sit and talk.

Dedicated Fresser in Manhattan

Thai in Princeton/Trenton area?

Thanks, all! I'll try Tom Yum Goong in a couple weeks when in the area.

Dedicated Fresser in Mid-Atlantic

Thai in Princeton/Trenton area?

Seeking a *good* Thai restaurant rather close to Princeton or Trenton. Does such a thing exist? Older threads have mentioned good things about Bangkok Cuisine in Edison. I'll investigate it, but for now, maybe someplace closer to Princeton?

Perhaps in Bucks County? (although I have to admit, I'm laughing trying to envision a good Thai place there!)

Dedicated Fresser in Mid-Atlantic

Quick and good Saturday lunch in Pasadena or South Pasadena

I seek a quick and good lunch either in South Pasadena right by the Mission station OR a bit further north in the central area right by either of the two light rail stops. I will be a pied/en tren, so please don't give me suggestions that are "a little further away..." even though they might be really good, as I'll be unable to heed them.

I was thinking of either one of the Saladang twins, but am open to suggestions. Could be another cuisine, could be sandwiches. Informal, definitely. And rapid.

I'm familiar with the area, having eaten before at Saladang and Barcelona, but I am not very familiar with other dining options that may await me hidden among the large, chaotic, bustling chains on Colorado Blvd (which, needless to say, don't appeal too much for my current search).

Thanks in advance!

Dedicated Fresser in Los Angeles Area

Seven-Layer Cake in Mercer County?

The Americana Diner in East Windsor (on Route 130 just north of 571) serves seven-layer cake. They have redone (i.e. slimmed down) their baking operations recently, but they might still bake and sell a whole cake. You'd have to contact them to be sure.

Dedicated Fresser in Mid-Atlantic

At restaurants alone with bags/packages/belongings: bathroom trip?

This is an ongoing dilemma that has resurfaced in my mind after a solo trip of several days to a faraway city...

What do you do when you are out alone, need to eat, show up at a restaurant with bags in tow (if you are a tourist, say), and at some point during your meal have to use the bathroom? (I am male, and do not have a purse.) Do you leave your things at the table? Do you ask a neighboring table to "keep an eye on my stuff"? And what do you do if you have obvious valuables? (cameras, just-purchased clothing, etc.) Haul it all into the bathroom with you? I'm talking about restaurants that do not have coat- and bag-checks, of course.

And what do you do when you are out to eat alone, and have nothing with you, and need to get up from the table? I would think that a tabletop of half-eaten food would be a busboy magnet. Several times, I've had wait staff tell me (upon my return from the bathroom) that they thought I ran out on the check. They were nice about it, though.

Just wondering about your experiences with all this. I'm never quite sure what to do, as the things I have in tow are rarely very numerous or of any value. Although I worry about theft, I tend to leave them at the table. Is this glaringly inadvisable?

Dedicated Fresser in Not About Food

Breakfast near 4th and Market?

Hello,

I'm traveling to San Francisco for the first time, staying at 4th and Market streets. I seek a place to have breakfast (out of the hotel) that is very close, very cheap, very good, and ideally very quick. Not looking for fancy, not looking for a unique experience (although I welcome those if they arise), just good, cheap American food. Eggs, yogurt, granola, orange juice, that's about it.

I could walk a few minutes, I could take a bus a few minutes, but I would like it to be readily accessible.

Thanks very much in advance.

Dedicated Fresser in San Francisco Bay Area

Best Jewish Deli - Southern Orange County

The Kosher Bite in Laguna Hills is exactly what you are looking for.

Dedicated Fresser in Los Angeles Area

Dinner/breakfast at same meal along 405 from LAX to Costa Mesa?

A friend is coming in from overseas to LAX and I am in search of an appropriate dinner place that would be casual, would serve breakfast food at dinnertime (because of the jet lag, see), and would be located anywhere not too far from the 405, from LAX down to Costa Mesa.

I thought of Katella Deli in Los Alamitos. We're both aficionados of that type of place. (However, I haven't been there, so I don't know if it is any good. How's their lox and bagels?)

This would be for a Sunday around dinnertime.

Any suggestions of that kind? Thanks a lot in advance, as neither of us is familiar with the area.

Dedicated Fresser in Los Angeles Area

STL: NY/East Coast style pizza

Boy oh boy...entering the great St. Louis pizza debate from the Philly-New Jersey perspective.

For true East Coast pizza:
--Feraro's Jersey-Style Pizza in the Soulard neighborhood. Very good overall.

--Racanelli's (multiple locations; best is on Delmar Blvd. in University City) -- can be greasy. Good crust. Can be overloaded with cheese at times, but perfect at other times. Depends on who makes the pies.

--La Pizza (also on Delmar Blvd. in University City, about 2 miles west of Racanelli's) -- owned by ex-New Yorkers. Pretty solid.

Honorable mention might go to Il Vicino, in Clayton. Not terrible for a yuppie place that is convenient if you are nearby. Fresh ingredients, but they could work more on the sauce and crust.

As mentioned earlier, check out Sauce Magazine -- a free weekly newspaper devoted to the food scene.

Dedicated Fresser in General Midwest Archive

Princeton area italian, byo ?

All places mentioned above are excellent choices. You could also try Capuano on Clarksville Road in West Windsor twp. ALso an excellent choice.

Dedicated Fresser in Mid-Atlantic

Whole Foods BBQ

Along with an earlier poster I have also tried the expansive BBQ department at the Tustin CA location, which has a wide selection of lotsa meats, but I wanted to note that it's the quality that varies from day to day, and the prices vary widely depending on where in the store you buy the cue. There is a pulled meats in soup tureens station for what passes as dirt cheap (wholefoods-wise) -- sometimes it's fantastic, other days greasy and blah. Can't evaluate its wimpiness as I'm not a Texan, but it does the trick for superquick cue meals in a surprising location.

Dedicated Fresser in Chains

Worthy delis in OC?

Kosher Bite Deli in Laguna Hills, in the shopping center at the corner of Moulton Pkwy and Ridge Route. Proper Jewish sandwiches, soups, and sides. Very casual. Very high quality. Order at the counter. A great lunch place.

Dedicated Fresser in Los Angeles Area

Good food in the Wheeling, W.V. area?

Gee, Wheeling's a tough one for food. (Great architecture, though.) I usually like to blast on through at 70 mph. Jane and Michael Stern have written about a cafeteria in St. Clairsville that is, I believe, adjacent to one of your strip malls alongside I-70. It may be called Mehlman's Cafeteria, but please correct me if I'm wrong. In any case, I haven't tried it.

Dedicated Fresser in General Midwest Archive

Looking for Tart Yogurt in South Orange County

In the East, Bloomingdale's (incongruously!!) is known for its tart yogurt, which is very good. Maybe the one here has a place that serves it, too? Talk about your unlikely food finds...

Dedicated Fresser in Los Angeles Area

"Great" Restaurant Names

There is a Nachomama's in suburban St. Louis, too.

A good name for a Southern soul food and seafood restaurant in Plainfield, NJ is Freshwater's. Turns out the chef's last name is Freshwater. I always thought it was the perfect name.

A bit of topic, but a great restaurant sign is in Brattleboro, Vt. A steakhouse with a towering sign reading "STEAK" closed and became a Chinese restaurant. This restaurant, called Panda North, removed two of the letters and the sign now proclaims "TEA." (visible from Interstate 91)

Great food at all three places, by the way.

Dedicated Fresser in Not About Food

Authentic NY- or Italy-style pizza in central OC?

Thanks, everyone. I'll try Al's and the Pizza Bakery when I can get over thataways, sometime soon. Today I lunched at one of the Z Pizza locations. I have to admit, it was a little unorthodox but overall rather positive. The combination of cheese-sauce-crust worked. The crust was puffy and a bit sweet. I would have been chagrined if any fellow New Yorkers had seen me but the cost was clear and I was free to enjoy.

Dedicated Fresser in Los Angeles Area

Casual Dinner in Downtown Philly?

If you look online (or in a bookstore, if you're in the area) at Philadelphia Magazine's restaurant listings for Center City, west of Broad, and perhaps more specifically the Rittenhouse Square area, you'll have a good selection from which to choose. You don't say in which direction from Suburban Station you'll be walking. Honestly, it's been several years since I supped in Center City, so I can't recommend anyplace off the top of my head.

Dedicated Fresser in Pennsylvania

Authentic NY- or Italy-style pizza in central OC?

Comrades,

O.K., I give up, I'm hungry. Is there a joint in central OC that serves real, classic, New York style pizza by the slice -- OR -- a joint or restaurant that serves real, classic, Margherita pizzas? What I want is not too much to ask: crust nirvana, a nice mellow sauce, and a light to moderate amount of good cheese. It's simple, really.

I have been to a place in Irvine with New York in its name (I forget the exact name) and also to Ray's, both of which were puke-awful and, come to think of it, oddly similar.

Dedicated Fresser in Los Angeles Area

Mary's Fish Camp - Very Disappointing

Ed Debevic's! But Ed Debevic's was charming in its way. Mary's is not. Either they should be a proper restaurant or change to a storefront dispensing lobster rolls. (Come to think of it, that might be a significant improvement.) The same can be said for Pearl. And don't get me wrong, I really like their food.

Dedicated Fresser in Manhattan