I am looking to buy a boneless leg of lamb or a butterflied leg of lamb. Is my best spot whole foods, or are there other butcher shops that I should seek out? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi Folks,

I am a Texas transplant, and there, most grocery stores have someone making homemade tortillas on site everyday. I haven't seen that in Birmingham, so I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for store bought tortillas (I usually shop at Publix or Whole Foods since I live in Cahaba Heights).

Thanks!

Thanks Eric...Lamb has a special place in my heart, so I will be on the lookout for the porterhouse.

Here is another question for the board.

Based on my list...are there any 'must have' dishes that I need to make sure to get? I know about the coconut cake at PG and the mac & cheese at Cru Cafe. Anything else? I realize that some places are going to have menus that constantly change...but if there are any standouts, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks Sue. We are going in a couple of months, so it should be quite hot. Does the restaurant sit people outside in the dead of summer?

Thanks for the quick replies!

Including the 3 dinners, we have a Saturday lunch and a Sunday brunch. Magnolia's does both, but it is my understanding that SNOB does not do either.

So right now, I was thinking of doing:

Friday Dinner: Fig
Saturday lunch: Cru Cafe
Saturday Dinner: Peninsula
Sunday Brunch: Magnolia's
Sunday Dinner: McCrady's

I have also heard very good things about 39 Rue de jean...but I think it will have to wait for another trip.

Does the itinerary sound like I am hitting the right spots?

-----
McCrady's Restaurant
2 Unity Alley, Charleston, SC 29401

Hi fellow Chowhounders,

I know there have been plenty of posts on some of the better restaurants in Charleston. I have read most of them, and am still having trouble deciding on where to eat.

We have three dinners while we are in town, and I have narrowed it down to 5 choices. Any help picking would be greatly appreciate. Recent positive of negative experiences would be very helpful.

The choices:

SNOB
Peninsula Grill
McCrady's
Fig
Magnolia's

Thanks!

-----
McCrady's Restaurant
2 Unity Alley, Charleston, SC 29401

Peninsula Grill
112 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401

cure -- I had that cheese recently and it is good. I prefer the aged stuff, but my wife said it was her favorite cheese I had bought in the last few months.

What have yall ordered from Jinsei? I have been twice and thought it was good but not great.

Sheilal --

First....the key is finding a good cheese shop. If you surround yourself with good cheeses, your chances of finding stuff you love goes way up. I know some have complained about Whole Foods precutting their cheese, but I haven't ever had a bad experience to date.

Second...don't be afraid to talk to the people working at the cheese counter. Tell them some of the things you like or don't like and see if they recommend anything. Also, they will probably be more than willing to give you a sample or two.

Most of my favorite cheeses have either been found because three ways:

1. Cheese counter worker gives me a sample or recommendation
2. Whole Foods has samples out for anyone to try
3. Having cheese with friends and seeing what they like

I'll have to give the 3 year gouda a try.

I am also thinking about trying the delice de bourgogne and Lagrein. Can anyone try and describe either?

At whole foods:

UniKasse Reserve Gouda (sweet but delicious)

I had the Butcher Block Burger the other night (carmelized onions, red wine jam, blue cheese) and it was excellent. I was torn between that and the Chorizo Burger which I have also been told by friends is excellent.

My wife had the Tuna TarTar Burger and she liked it but didn't love it. I had a bite and I think I liked it better than she did. The Tuna was incredibly fresh and there was a nice amount of heat to go with the other flavors. I would be excited to go back if the wait wasn't so bad (we went at 6 on a Thurs and sat down within 10 minutes, but there had to be at least a 45 minute wait by 6:30).

Thanks Bayou...i appreciate the feedback.

I know the menu's change often, so I was wondering if anyone had been to either restaurant recently? If so, I would appreciate any dishes that were outstanding or ones that were disappointments.

Thanks!

Thanks for the great links Big Daddy. I have read a lot of the Bham discussion on the board but I have definitely missed some of the topics. Thats part of the reason I wanted to start this thread, I felt like most of the other ones discussed restaurants in general without going into the more specific dishes about what people love, but you have pointed out some great reading on that topic.

Thanks for the reply.

I should have included Hot & Hot the first time, it is probably our favorite restaurant in the city. My wife loves the shrimp and grits and I always seem to be drawn to their quail appetizer and whatever pasta they have going that day. Good to know about the gnocchi at Bettola. I love gnocchi and havent seen it on many menus around town. It will be tough for me to not get the Filetto though.

If you are a fan of crab cakes, you should try Oceans if you haven't already. Excellent.

My wife and I are fairly new to Birmingham, but here is a list with of some of my favorite restaurants and also some that seem to be enjoyed by a lot of the regulars people on Chowhound that we want to try soon. I was wondering what dishes people get at these places that are 'must haves'.

(Note...I realize a lot of these places change their menu)

1. Ocean
2. Highlands
3. Bottega Cafe
4. Chez Fon Fon
5. Gianmarcos
6. Iguana Grill
7. Bettola
8. Mr Chens
9. Jinsei

For me:

1. Ocean -- Haven't perfected this order. Last time I went I got crab cakes which were some of the best I have ever had and the Nori Tuna which was very good but not amazing.

2. Highlands -- never been

3. Bottega Cafe -- Mac & Cheese is probably the best thing I have had here

4. Chez Fon Fon -- We usually get the Burger and an omelette, but I have heard the trout with brown butter is also delicious.

5. Gianmarcos -- We have never been

6. Iguana Grill -- We have only been once and got the Stone plate with Pork Chops, Steak and Chorizo. It was was good and definitely a unique dish (came with cactus). Next time I go, I would like to try the tamales and chile relleno.

7. Bettola -- The filleto might be the best pizza I have ever had (Buff Mozzarella, basil, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, sliced garlic and sea salt). We usually start with an antipasti platter with our favorite part being the canellini bean puree.

8. Mr. Chens -- never been, but I love potstickers and heard they are very good here.

9. Jinsei -- Never been but I have heard good things about the Kadoma Tuna and the Yellowtail Serrano

agreed. Bobs in Houston isnt the same as the dallas one. I would go to Pappas Bros...its excellent (and I am a dallas resident)

Thanks. Not sure I will be getting dessert, we might split one for the table, but that sounds delicious...I do like lemon desserts

Also....we are going tomorrow night for anyone else reading this...so please feel free to respond.

I have eaten at the Chef's room and really enjoyed the food. Tonight a larger group of us are eating in the main dining room.

I was wondering if anyone had any dishes that were particularly wonderful or things to avoid?

Thanks so much

Here is my list. Broken down into two parts. The first five are expensive. The next 5 are more casual.

Pricier:

1. The French Room. I feel this is by far the best restaurant in Dallas. Just an amazing meal with really excellent wine pairings.

2. Suze. Great food...the chef keeps things simple but is very talented. The fish of the day is always wonderful and the venison is one of my favorite dishes in dallas.

3. Mercury Grill. Another under-stated yet wonderful restaurant. I always leave thinking how good everything was. I am partial to their carbonara and crab taco.

4. Nonna. By far the best pure italian food in dallas. Every wine we have ever had there is really good too.

5. Fearings. Been twice...liked it the first time and loved it the second time. The bbq shrimp taco followed by the buffalo is pretty solid. Abacus with lobster shooters and buffalo is equally is good.

Casual:

1. Cafe San Miguel. My favorite mexican food in dallas. Great margaritas...great tacos (the snapper and al pastor)...great guacamole...great chips/salsa. Everything is just good to very good. I ate at pepe and mitos last night and it is also excellent mexican food.

2. Flying fish. Amazing gumbo. Love the po-boys. Great okra. High Quality oysters. I dont love the grilled fish, but everything else is just really good cheap seafood.

3. Twisted root. Best burger in dallas. I personally get the buffalo burger with grilled onions and jalapenos.

4. Campagnia/Olivellas. Really like the pizzas at both places but havent been to Grimaldis yet. Olivellas sometimes burns the crust, but I still enjoy it better than most other things I have had in dallas. Roccos is good for delivery.

5. Taco diner. Just a comforting place for me. Really love their nachos, tacos, and the "cobb" salad.

My wife and I are planning a special dinner for us and I wanted to get suggestions.

We have been to Abacus multiple times...we have been to Fearings, Nana, Al Biernats, Stephen Pyels

Some places we havent tried are Local, Bijoux, Lola Tasting Room. Can someone give me opinions on these or other places we might not have looked at but should have.

Thanks

Hi Folks,

I have been reading the board for a while but never posted. I was in San Fran last weekend and had some wonderful Spaghetti Carbonara. I realized there arent any places where I order this dish (one of my favorites) in Dallas because I really dont see it on many menu's of Italian places I normally frequent (Taverna, Arcodoro, Patrizios, etc).

Any good recommendations?