princsoreo's Profile
New Richmond BBQ question...
If you want to drive all the way to Charlottesville, Jinx's might be what you are looking for: http://www.jinxsbarbecue.com/
Looking for 6 layer chocolate cake in Richmond,Va.
There is also a cafe/tea room here called Feathernesters that makes Thalhimers 6-Layer Cake. Not sure if you can stop in and get a piece or if you would need to call and reserve one, but if I remember correctly the chef has some connection to Thalhimers, so it might be a close fit too. http://www.feathernesters.com/index.html
I never had the Thalhimers original, but do think the Ukrop's Bakery bar cake, sold at Martin's, is pretty tasty.
Nice dinner in Richmond Sunday before Valentine's
totally agree with AMFM here. Go for drinks and the view, maybe an app, but if you're looking for a super delicious meal, go elsewhere.
Review of Blue Goat in Richmond.
Totally agree that it's hit or miss. I thought the pork cheek with spaetzle was also amazing, but was also disappointed with the fries. No dust! Also, on my visit the service was awful. They brought 3 of our 4 dishes (a cheese plate, fries and the spaetzle) all at the same time, like 5 minutes after we placed our order, which in my opinion isn't how small plates should be served. Then we finally asked them to slow down and they waited forever before bringing out our last dish, which was tasty fois gras, but it wasn't portioned well for sharing at all. There was no chance to order additional drinks or to make an experience of the meal at all. I would also give it another shot but wasn't as blown away as I was hoping to be.
BBQ in Richmond!
Totally agree with you Janet. Don't know if I hit it wrong or what, but I wasn't impressed at all.
Best bites in the Quarter?
+1 on this Chris at Bar UnCommon. Loved meeting him on my last trip to NOLA and having him mix up some awesome concoctions! Don't order off the menu, just tell him what kind of drinks you like and let him make you something great.
Thanksgiving in Key West
1. I've got nothing for ya on Thanksgiving.
2. For food, my can't miss spot is Santiago's Bodega. Fantastic tapas!
For drinks, can't miss Schooner Wharf Bar for atmosphere and music. Food is pretty good too. Also, I love Virgilio's (behind La Trattoria) for martinis and live music.
Also can't miss hitting a Cuban coffee stand for light breakfast sandwiches or Cuban toast and cafe con leche. My favorites are Sandy's and Cuban Coffee Queen. I go to the one that's closer to my hotel, depending on where I'm staying.
3. Can' miss cuisines: try something Cuban; try grouper, if it's the season; try stone crab claws;try something key lime (my favorite pie is from Rooftop Cafe, favorite martini is from The White Tarpon, favorite candy are the key lime hard candies from Kermit's).
Have fun!
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Santiago's Bodega
207 Petronia St, Key West, FL 33040
La Trattoria Restaurant
524 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040
Best Buffet or Sampler.. a way to taste a little of several local dishes?
People on here give Gumbo Shop mixed reviews, but I have always enjoyed the combo plate there for lunch. It gives you a little taste of several down-home Cajun dishes.
Also, if you are okay with eating in a dive-bar atmosphere, Coop's does some combo plates that come with fried chicken and jambalaya I think!
Charlotte Hounds
Just to throw in my 2 cents, I think Good Food on Montford is the best food I've had in Charlotte thus far.
Maybe we caught Halcyon on a bad night, but I just wasn't impressed with the food there. Loved the apps and drinks and patio, but the entrees were so so, really overcooked.
We found Good Food on Montford to be inventive with an awesome atmosphere. My boyfriend moved to Charlotte a few months ago (he lives Uptown) and we've been exploring lots of restaurants. So far that's our best meal.
Anniversary dinner in Key West
My favorite for a romantic meal is Louie's Backyard. Awesome food, stellar service and beautiful water views...
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Louie's Backyard
700 Waddell Ave, Key West, FL 33040
Key West suggestions??
What kind of food do you like?
My faves are BO's fish wagon for fish sandwiches
Schooner Wharf Bar for atmosphere, live music, drinks and seafood
Half Shell for raw bar
Havana 1 and El Siboney for Cuban
Santiago's Bodega for tapas (check out their new happy hour with half-price sangria and $5 tapas)
I love eating at Louie's Backyard and have heard the tapas bar is great for a less expensive meal, but haven't tried it yet.
If you are there during the week, look into the many happy hours: Alonzo's, Turtle Kraals, SWB, Kelly's, Half Shell, etc.
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Louie's Backyard
700 Waddell Ave, Key West, FL 33040
Santiago's Bodega
207 Petronia St, Key West, FL 33040
Siboney
900 Catherine St, Key West, FL 33040
Turtle Kraals
1 Lands End Vlg, Key West, FL 33040
Half Shells
401 Reid Ave, Port Saint Joe, FL 32456
Friday Later Dinner in Nashville?
thanks again for the responses! to be honest, the menu at City House really isn't doing it for me, plus reservation times for Saturday are already scarce. I know I'm probably missing out on something great, but think we'll skip it this trip. I'm going to try and make a res somewhere tomorrow, and right now am leaning toward Watermark as I like the look of the menu.
1. How dressy is it? Is a suit required for guys?
2. Any other places I'm missing? I've been tooling around online and it seems like there are a ton of mixed opinions on most dining establishments, not a lot of alignment with the exception of casual, lunchier spots... We eat any type of food.
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City House
1222 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208
Friday Later Dinner in Nashville?
Any thoughts on Prime 108? It seems to have high reviews on yelp...
Friday Later Dinner in Nashville?
You are right, we are coming this Sunday. Went ahead and made reservations at CG for Sunday night. Sounds like that'll be just right in terms of atmosphere and food. So maybe it'll be CH on Saturday! Any other suggestions for places to hit on a Sunday evening?
Friday Later Dinner in Nashville?
Can you elaborate on Merchants?
I was thinking we'd save City House for Sunday night (we will be in town Fri-Mon). I thought the menu at Capitol Grille sounded pretty tasty since we both like Southern-style food, as well as farm-to-table concept. I must admit, I tend to be skeptical of restaurants in hotels, but this one sounds nice (please let me know if I'm wrong!). And, not that we want to do the tacky tourist stuff every night, but we've never been to Nashville so I figure we'll check out some of that one night at least.
City House pretty casual, right? It's sounding like maybe I can tell the bf he doesn't need a suit at all on this trip if you really think he'd feel fine at Capitol Grille in jeans/coat. Is there other stuff to do around Paterson House? Like I said, I was originally thinking of doing CH Sunday, but could move it to Saturday and plan to hit Music Row on the way back to our hotel...
Can someone give me a quick rundown on nightlife areas? I'm a little confused about what's downtown and what's not. Would love to know what areas are worth cabbing it to for good drinks and fun nightlife. Any suggestions to an area to hit on Sunday that won't be dead?
Thanks!
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City House
1222 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208
Music Row Cafe
99 Spring St, Nashville, TN 37207
Friday Later Dinner in Nashville?
We are arriving in Nashville around 7 ish I think. By the time we get from the airport to our hotel, freshen up, etc., I'm guessing we'll be heading to dinner around 8:45-9 ish. I'd love to go somewhere where my boyfriend can be comfortable in jeans/a nice button down shirt or jeans and a sport coat so we can head out for some music/drinks afterward without having to stop by the hotel. We're staying at the Renaissance and would also love somewhere we can walk to. We may taxi somewhere another night, but since we'll be arriving later this time, would love to stay in the area. Any suggestions? I was thinking about Capital Grille but suspect it might be a non-jeans place. Is this right? Thanks! I'd love to make a reservation so we aren't waiting for an hour to eat.
City House - Sunday or During the Week?
If we go to City House should we go on a weekend night or for the Sunday special menu?
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City House
1222 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208
FQ Pub Crawl recs, please
I thought about Sylvain, too, but it sounds a little upscale for a pub-crawlin' afternoon. Love the atmosphere and cocktail list there, too. What a great find in the French Quarter!
Key West in a few weeks
Loved Cuban Coffee Queen for Breakfast, and El Siboney. I also really liked the new restaurant Havana 1 for authentic Cuban Food. It's smaller and more mom and pop that El SIboney. Also, Sandy's is great for Cafe on Leche and Cuban toast in the a.m.
Other food recs:
Everyone has different takes on Key Lime Pie, but my favorite is at Rooftop Cafe. I didn't love their entrees on my visit, but also thought they had good cocktails an apps.
My absolute favorite restaurant in all of Key West is Santiago's Bodega, a tapas joint. They recently added an afternoon happy hour from 4-6 with a few $5 small plates and half-priced sangria pitchers. Their small plates are all awesome, as is the atmosphere. I think this is probably my favorite tapas joint anywhere. Get the bacon-wrapped dates.
If you want a pull-out-the-stops upscale meal, do Louie's Backyard. The patio is gorgeous, the service is awesome and the food is delicious. It's very romantic. If there's only two of you, request a one-sided booth facing the ocean. So nice!
I've never tried Latitudes on Sunset Key, but it's another favorite for a romantic meal. From what I've read about it, it sounds like it's more about the atmosphere than inventive cuisine, but it is supposed to be nice.
I don't love conch, but you can get conch fritters along with an awesome grouper sandwich at BO's. I would definitely suggest that. I also once got conch cevice at the half shell raw bar, perhaps a better way to taste the actual conch than chopped up in a fritter.
Another dinner spot I suggest is 915. Try the soul mama seafood soup. When I was there in July, most of the bottles of wine were half off, too, which was great. They are also known for a tuna dome appetizer, which was pretty darn good.
Make sure you also check out happy hours if you like eating and drinking. There are lots of really good deals to be had a various restaurants. Places to stop for hh snacks: Half Shell Raw Bar, Alonzo's, Turtle Kraals (50 cent oysters all the time!), Schooner Wharf Bar (great for drinks in the afternoon, and for blackened fish sandwiches), Kelly's.
You also need to try a Key Lime Martini, the White Tarpon has great ones. The Tiki Bar on the water has great mojitos.
Other places I've heard good things about but haven't made it to you: Moe's (haitian), Colombian Grace (Colombian).
People will also tell you you need to go to Blue Heaven. I think their desserts are awesome, but the rest of the food is overrated. This is one of those tourist spots you referenced that used to be really good, but is now just more of an attraction. They even point it out as an "example of old key west" on the trolley tours. Not good!
I've been to key west several times, and like you, most of my vacations are usually centered around food (and drinks, for me!). If you've got any specific questions, let me know.
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Louie's Backyard
700 Waddell Ave, Key West, FL 33040
Blue Heaven Restaurant
729 Thomas St, Key West, FL 33040
Santiago's Bodega
207 Petronia St, Key West, FL 33040
Half Shell Raw Bar
231 Margaret St, Key West, FL 33040
Siboney
900 Catherine St, Key West, FL 33040
Key Lime Cafe
211 Colorado Ave, Stuart, FL 34994
Turtle Kraals
1 Lands End Vlg, Key West, FL 33040
Colombian Grace Restaurant
223 Petronia Street, Key West, FL 33040
Lower Keys Dinner Rec, Great Fried Seafood Under $15 pp??
I also love the Half Shell Raw Bar, but it might be be a little more than your price point.
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Half Shell Raw Bar
231 Margaret St, Key West, FL 33040
Lower Keys Dinner Rec, Great Fried Seafood Under $15 pp??
BO's was going to be my first suggestion... have you tried Schooner Wharf Bar? I think it would fall around this price and has good fish sandwiches. Also possibly Turtle Kraals? I had a tasty grouper sandwich there on a recent trip, and if you're there early enough, the Tower Bar is an awesome place to catch the sunset.
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Turtle Kraals
1 Lands End Vlg, Key West, FL 33040
FQ Pub Crawl recs, please
Interesting/Crawl-able... this is what I would do...
Start at the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone
Next, head over to Bourbon and check out the Old Absinthe House
Then, head over to the French 75 bar on Bienville Street
Maybe grab a drink to-go, then walk toward Pirate's Alley Cafe & Absinthe House in Pirate's Alley.
Swing over to Decatur and stop in Tujague's, notice the trowels along the floor that men use to make use of when ladies weren't allowed in the bar
Finish at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. Then, grab a cab back to the hotel, or make your way back along Bourbon, stopping at Pat O'Brien's if you really want to compare hurricanes...
Here's a map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Hotel+Monteleone,+Royal+Street,+New+Orleans,+LA&daddr=Old+Absinthe+House,+Bourbon+Street,+New+Orleans,+LA+to:813+Bienville+Street,+New+Orleans,+LA+70112+(French+75+Bar)+to:pirate%27s+alley,+new+orleans,+la+to:Tujague%27s,+Decatur+Street,+New+Orleans,+LA+to:Lafitte%27s+Blacksmith+Shop,+Bourbon+Street,+New+Orleans,+LA&hl=en&ll=29.957463,-90.065274&spn=0.012196,0.019913&sll=29.957225,-90.065265&sspn=0.012307,0.01605&geocode=FUQRyQEdEayh-iEqvqUOuonkhim30KRQDKYghjHWVPu1dqjkuw%3BFcgUyQEd1qmh-iENkqbVwSzHHQ%3BFYcWyQEd3aih-iHWGo5-DgURxSlbnTMWDKYghjG69dTvfVBuzw%3BFVYfyQEdhruh-iFJ8jmqam1ViykhUr6WEaYghjEMT5M8yAttbA%3BFZYfyQEdG8Sh-iGKe_AGb_FP2Ckd2CJAEaYghjFCeyXTYlavBg%3BFVYryQEd5byh-iFqIc3nzWgtZilRwAlEEKYghjFkxzqmzNH5MQ&gl=us&mra=ls&dirflg=w&vpsrc=0&z=15
Have fun!
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Old Absinthe House
240 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Tujague's
823 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116
Good Chow at Todd Jurich's Burger Bar in Va. Beach
I loved it too on a recent visit! Was with a group who wasn't big seafood fans, so we ended up here. Had a burger topped with truffle mayo, pork belly lardons, frisee and egg.. so good. Thinking of that truffle mayo right now is making me hungry... As were the duck fat french fries. Also, they had an awesome cocktail menu! I got a drink that was like an alcoholic orange julius. Fantastic! Service was friendly, atmosphere was nice. We ate on the patio. I'll totally return here!
Charlotte - 2-3 pull-out-the-stops meals?
Thanks! Thinking about Halcyon and Blue for the two nicer dinners...
Richmond Recs Needed for Next Week
I really like Bistro Bobette, which isn't too far from Berkeley. It is French with a twist. I think you'd feel okay eating at the bar there, but not sure how much of a taste of Richmond-style food it is, but I like it.
I might also consider the bar at Julep's. It's a short cab ride away. You might want to call, but I'm pretty sure you can eat at the bar there. You'll be close on the budget, but I'm pretty sure you'll stay under. I also think Millie's is really good. I ate dinner there for the first time recently and was very impressed with my food.
If you are from the south, I doubt you'll be impressed by Comfort. I think it's traditional southern food and a kind of high price point.
For lounging with wine and inventive small plates, you might want to check out Secco. The bartenders are extremely friendly and I'd feel totally comfortable hanging at the bar there and snacking until I got my fill.
Also, if you want cuban fusion-ish food, I do like Kuba Kuba. Yes, it is small, but there is a counter for eating at, and if you go mid-week I doubt you'll have to wait. Edo's would be tough for eating at as a solo diner, but there is 8 1/2 for Italian takeout. I think you can find the menu on Facebook...
Just a few thoughts!
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Kuba Kuba
1601 Park Ave, Richmond, VA 23220
Edo
22299 Exploration Dr Ste 402, Lexington Park, MD 20653
Charlotte - 2-3 pull-out-the-stops meals?
Thank you so much! I'll check out these places and pass the list along to the bf. He needs some more places to visit.
Charlotte - 2-3 pull-out-the-stops meals?
Hello Charlotte hounds.
So, my boyfriend just moved to Charlotte and I'm going to visit him this weekend. He told me to research and pick 2-3 places where I want to go eat dinner. Budget isn't much of a concern, but good food is. We like inventive, well-done classics, or pretty much anything GOOD. Ethnic is fine, we eat anything. We'll dress up, or go somewhere casual and delicious. Open to whatever.
He lives Uptown, but since he's still getting to know the area, we're open to exploring. After a bit of looking online, some of the places I'm considering (to give you an idea) are Halcyon, Soul Gastrolounge and Savannah Red. Also have Vietnam Grille and The Liberty down as lunch maybes. Also to give you an idea, he lives near and loves Dandelion Market, so we probably will be looking for new places. Anything along those lines is cool, though. Or, fancy, pull-out-stops awesomeness is great! Basically we want something tasty!
Any ideas?
