Try Daisho of Japan in Huntington. Ramen is their specialty. So good, the ramen soup with roast pork. Wish I had some now!

I would definitely check out Market Bistro in Jericho for well-conceived farm-to-table fare.

Thanks for the tips! I was too early for lunch in Portland; I wound up eating in Lowell, MA, at a place called La Boniche. Well worth the 5-minute detour off Rte. 495. Fab grilled pork with roasted potatoes and squash for a mere $12.

Looking for somewhere quick but chow-worthy off I-95, mid-Maine to Massachusetts. A great lobster roll would be especially fine. Thanks in advance.

Definitely Corn Exchange in Rapid City. Locavore, sophisticated and well-executed. For breakfast or lunch, try Talley's Silver Spoon. I've also heard good things about Delmonico, although I didn't eat there.

-----
Corn Exchange
727 Main Street, Rapid City, SD 57701

Try the Cuban sandwich at Classic American in West Babylon. There's also a good one at Sapsuckers in Huntington.

-----
Classic American
691 Route 109, West Babylon, NY 11704

1014 Coffee House is in Northport, not East Northport. Check their Facebook page for a map.

Will be spending two nights in Rapid City and need some suggestions. The main requirement: delicousness. Corn Exchange? Enigma? Delmonico's? Something else? Any insight appreciated.

-----
Corn Exchange
727 Main Street, Rapid City, SD 57701

Check out Messina Market, which is in nearby East Norwich.
http://www.messinamarket.com/trays-pl...

Definitely North Fork Table & Inn. Nothing else even comes close.
Happy anniversary!

It's hard to go wrong with the panini at La Bottega. Or else you could get a sandwich from Sapsuckers - messy but good!

-----
La Bottega
3216 Long Beach Rd, Oceanside, NY 11572

Try Uncle Guiseppe's in Smithtown. It's a big market with lots of prepared salads.
http://www.uncleg.com/contact/locations/

Bistro 25 in Sayville is a real winner (try the lamb porterhouse). For sushi, there's Onsen in Oakdale. And I really like Thai Angel in Islandia.

If you don't have a car and you're staying at the Hilton Garden Inn, Mama Mia's is walking distance and not bad.

-----
Thai Angel Restaurant
1812 Veterans Hwy, Islandia, NY 11749

Try Red Fish in Plainview, which is usually reliable, seems very "Long Island-y" and has a midweek price fixed deal.

-----
Red Fish
430 Woodbury Rd, Plainview, NY 11803

In Locust Valley, lunch doesn't have to be overpriced. Try The Brass Rail, a fine gastro pub where you can get small plates, salads and sandwiches. Amazing burger.

-----
Brass Rail
5 S Main St, Oneonta, NY 13820

You probably won't find better Indian food than at New Chilli & Curry in Hicksville, which also has some Chinese, Thai and Malaysian dishes. Not fancy but very friendly. Amazing food that's not dumbed down.

Mumon, Sushi Ya and Jin East are all in Garden City, all very good.

-----
Jin
990 Franklin Ave, Garden City, NY 11530

I don't know anyplace in Nassau serving a bacon cheeseburger on a doughnut. That doesn't mean such a place doesn't exist,. From the small bit of online research I did, it seems the nearest place is Crave Shack in Astoria.

You might want to try Gourmet Burger Bistro, located in what looks like an alleyway. Very good fries.

http://gourmetburgerbistro.com/

Good idea! If some other idea comes to you, do let me know. And thanks!

Plans somewhat revised. We may very well book a block of rooms at the Dana Hotel in River North. The restaurant has capacity for only 70, which may present a problem. Any ideas for anything nearby?

I checked on the Lettuce Entertain You website, and Brasserie Jo looks as though it might be a possibility, at least in terms of size. Any thoughts on that choice?

Thanks, all!

-----
Lettuce Entertain You
2171 Northbrook Ct, Northbrook, IL 60062

So far, we don't have a hotel; the mother of the bride is working on that. One possibility is the Palmer House, where we can hold a dinner (and brunch) in one of their ballrooms. They have an astronomical minimum, though, and to me, a hotel ballroom seems like another wedding before the wedding.

Any restaurant ideas in the vicinity of the Palmer House?

I'm a New Yorker about to plan a rehearsal dinner for 100 or so (wish I knew exactly how many) in downtown Chicago for next July. I don't know whether the kind of place I envision even exists, but I want a room that can accommodate everyone and yet still feel intimate. Great food is a must.

Any suggestions?

Actually, Fat Fish is in Bay Shore; CoolFish (which I think has a dinner prix-fixe) is in Syosset.

Brasserie Cassis in Plainview is a very good bet and only a couple of exits east on the Northern State, off South Oyster Bay Rd. There's also Chez Noelle in Port Washington, but that may be a bit more out of the way. Wherever you go, bon appetit!

I haven't been there in awhile, but, as I recall, Nanatori in Valley Stream is pretty good.

There's a new-ish place called Mama Mia's that's on Vets Hwy. in an office building less than a mile from the airport entrance, near the Hilton Garden Inn. Years ago, it was Courtyard Cafe and then it became a steakhouse. Just noticed it the other day. Anyway, here's a link: www.mamamiasristorante.com

Sad to say, Tupelo Honey is closed. At least it was last time I looked.

West East Bistro in Hicksville. Great prix-fixe options during the week. Super food and gracious service.

A kosher Chinese vegetarian place that's about 25 minutes away is Green Melody in Jericho.