thakrza's Profile
Top 5 Memphis places to eat!
Just moved home after being gone for 8 years and so far, here are my faves:
Best Burger: Belmont Grill...sorry kicks Huey's in the butt.
BBQ Sandwich: Payne's Payne's Payne's!
Best "Small Plates" aka Huge Portion Apps: Tsunami
Most Original: Umai next door to...
Cheap Sandwiches: Kwik Shop on Madison
Mexican: Mariscos Mazatlan (haven't tried Deli Mexicana, but have heard that while great, it is like dealing with the Mexican food version of the Soup Nazi in there, plus it is in G'Town and I try to avoid that part of town at all costs)
Italian: Bari--just EXCELLENT. Great cheeses, wines and pastas. Have not dined in the dining room yet but have heard the fish dishes are insane(ly) fantastic. My fave is the sauteed calamari, olives and tomatoes.
Lunch Buffet: Pho Hoa Binh on Madison
Just really starting, but cannot wait to try Iris, Hunt-Phelan, Encore, A&R BBQ, Equestria and the later hours (ha!) at Cozy Corner.
Restaurants along Tamiami Trail?
I just found this place online--definitely going!!
Joanie's Blue Crab Cafe
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/12/Floridian/A_bite_of_Big_Cypress.shtml
REALLY GOOD Mexican food in Clearwater
VIP Lounge's Chile Rellenos are a great deal for the price. Cheesy, greasy goodness. I think you get two for $4.95. It is a total beach bar, but the food is a good version of Mexican-American.
Restaurants along Tamiami Trail?
We are taking the Trail from Bradenton to Miami tomorrow and are wondering if there are any interesting little joints to stop at to eat along the way. Who knows where we will actually get hungry and if my memory serves correct, there is hardly a thing but gators for a couple of hours on that road!
Cafe Cubano etc near airport on LeJeune?
We will be down there for a few days next week for a conference and the first two days staying at some boring airport hotel before we get to our South Beach room. I will need my husband to go out and fetch me good coffee so I can stay awake for the conference! Any recs for walk-up cafes etc that serve a good cafe con leche along 42nd approaching Coral Gables?
Any other recs desired as well. We are hitting Los Tres Amigos for lunch, Catch of the Day for lunch, and either Tap Tap or La Vraie Difference as well. Our big dinner will be at Joe's Stone Crab, as the husband has never been. We are looking mainly for small, authentic and relatively inexpensive spots for all types of food.
Sun City Center Hound Choices
So, any word on the Wimauma taquerias? Last time I was through I know I saw at least 4 on that one drag within a 3/4 mile. We are going to scout it soon, but would appreciate reccomendations first!
Where do the locals eat in the St. Pete area?
El Cap has the best burgers in St. Pete lately; Chattaways has the better ambience, however. Dockside Dave's St Pete Beach is grossly overrated, IMO, or perhaps we were there on a crappy night. The AC wasn't working and the food and service were just bleh. Mid Peninsula has much better grouper on a consistent basis.
We are kinda down on the eats here lately--anyone who can give any new tips would be greatly appreciated. Too many subpar meals for too much money. A few of these places need to truly step up the quality for the money, esp. Downtown. I could not believe Primi Urban was voted Best New Restaurant by someone fairly recently...nice people and service but just plain, skimpy pasta dishes that reminded me of the Michelina's frozen dishes I ate in college.
Crap Trap in Palmetto
I seriously had a Freudian slip in the title! CRAB TRAP is the name of the restaurant!
Crap Trap in Palmetto
I am not going to get into a total review of this place, but suffice to say, this was one of the worst dining experiences I have had since moving here. Absolutely disgusting, inedible, overpriced crap. I am still stinging from the expense. Should have know when I saw the 87 page menu that looked like it was printed in 1985. If you want good local crab/shellfish, go to Crab Shack on Gandy.
whole fried fish in Tampa Bay area--suggestions?
El Toro Negro in Kenneth CIty (Pinellas)--54th Ave and 58th St.
BEST PIZZA IN TAMPA BAY AREA?
Cappy's is FANTASTIC and has really good atmosphere. I believe they do a thick and a thin crust. I am not gonna get into to the NY vs CHI argument as they aren't doing either in my opinion, but what they do is great. Their Greek Salad is good too.
Best Cuban Restaurant in the St. Pete area?
We went to El Habanero in Sarasota (Burns Court) and it was FANTASTIC. Are there any comparable Cuban restaurants in St. Pete/South Pinellas? They (El Habanero) had a fantastic lunch special of Roast Chicken with plantains en tentacion and moros. Great great great. We love good Cubans too, but really want a place with more varied, authentic dishes.
Sardines in Tampa Bay area?
Thought I'd ask again. I really want to make a spaghetti with sardines recipe and would love to know if anyplace here sells them. Will travel!
If not does anyone have a recipe for using some packed in water or olive oil? THANKS!
Middle Eastern/Lebanese et al in St Pete?
Or anywhere in Pinellas that can be reccomended? I am craving some good hummus and falafel.
Who sells fresh sardines in St. Pete?
Thanks! I am shocked that Tarpon Springs isn't doing them! I will start asking too.
Best Place for Fresh Fish in Pinellas Co. or Tampa?
We had a GREAT dinner at Mid Peninsula one night. I have to mention this because it is so memorable. It was packed with neighborhood folks and the kitchen etc were just slammed. Everything that could go wrong for them was but NEVER have I seen such calm under pressure. The man who was obviously managing had the best smile; that smile and his totally gracious Southern demeanor made the painfully long wait and missed order items all OK. When the dinner of blackened grouper (husband) and fried oysters (me) was laid out, well, all was forgotten . It was an incredible; one of those meals where you are so enveloped in the deliciousness that you don't speak to your dining partner for a good 3-4 minutes cos your are amazed at the good food. It wasn't the best down home seafood place we've ever been too, but it was close. There is something about it, that is for sure. And their seafood spread, though spendier, beats Ted Peters' (though I LOVE Ted Peters)!!!!
Best Place for Fresh Fish in Pinellas Co. or Tampa?
My husband and I have two very rare nights off together tomorrow and Monday! Sunday--we are doing up real Shrimp n Grits, but Monday we wanna cook up a good "Florida" fish. Anyone have suggestions for such a fish, best place for fresh fish (preferably in St. Pete or no further north than Clearwater) and even maybe a prep idea? We have no grill access at this time, so inside recipes only.
Thanks for all of your help with my weird queries over the last few weeks! It has been hard being new sometimes.
Food Gifts From Florida?
Thank you all!
We'll send em Stone Crabs at the holiday season...that will be a special treat...though we are getting $65 worth of coffee on a regular basis!!!
Best Fresh Roasted Coffee Beans in Tampa Bay?
Not every blend is $22/lb--that is pretty special. Hairbender is usally around $12/$13 a lb.
TOP BURGERS IN FLA
I am glad to walk right in--their burger is just fine; sure, it could be better, but when it is that good and that cheap? I ain't one to complain!
Food Gifts From Florida?
Thanks!
They would scoff at the wine to drink, but would get a kick out of it I think (at they could always regift!) as a novelty--they know their wines.
BUT, other ideas sound good. They do love Southern food and I think the Datil stuff, Tupelo honey, etc etc sounds great. Do you know if anyone ships fresh stone crabs? I'd love to do that for them when in season.
Food Gifts From Florida?
We have friends who work for Stumptown Roasters in Portland, OR who are being so kind to send us beans in exchange for other gifts so we don't have to risk drinking subpar coffee. We'd love to send them food gifts that are exclusive to or familiar with Florida that can ship easily and that aren't, well, too gimmicky. These people are very familiar with fine foods, but they aren't snobs, i.e. they love grits etc etc etc; they love "good" food period.
We live in St. Pete, but can shop anywhere in Florida if they do online sales.
Any ideas? Please list links to places who ship food also, thanks!!!!
Best Indian in Pinellas County?
Thanks!
Guess what? Order the Palak Paneer at India Grill. Don't eat most of it, but save and refrigerate for awhile. Make some ghee. Heat up some leftover basmati rice and the palak paneer mixed together with the ghee. What happens?
It is suddenly good.
TOP BURGERS IN FLA
If it hasn't been said...
El Cap on 4th Street N in St. Pete.
Awesome.
El Habanero Sarasota es MUY BUENO!!!
We went for lunch a couple of weeks back and got the roasted chicken special with maduros and moros. Increcible. Very simple, but the plaintains and the chicken were easily some of the best I have had. The service and the atmosphere was also excellent. It is in a little hidden out of the way area called Burns Square with adorable Spanish Revival homes and shops. There were all sorts of nationalities and types of people there, I almost forgot we were in Florida for a second!
Best Indian in Pinellas County?
I am very new here, so I have only tried India Grill. I like my Palak Paneer with the "red tinge" you are talking about. I like it smooth also, but theirs reminds me of baby food spinach...or like I said chopped frozen spinach and less of a creamy spinach. Their paneer is good, however as is their basmati rice. Perhaps I should just order something different from their menu, but Palak Paneer is "my" Indian dish.
I agree re: the samomas at India Grill, as well as the Naan. Very good.
We will check out Laziz when they open again. Any suggestions for another menu item from India Grill for someone who prefers Indian vegetarian?
Dockside Daves or Woody's Waterfront
Both made the Travel Section of the New York Times today!
http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/us/27grouper.html
Best Fresh Roasted Coffee Beans in Tampa Bay?
Well, the Stumptown Hairbender roast is great for espresso. We got 2 lbs of Hairbender, a lb of Rwanda Musasa for espresso and a lb of Brasil Coe #3 Pedra Preta. Our friend is the head roaster there and we trust him to send us the other lbs on top of our usual Hairbender order--he never lets us down! www.stumptowncoffee.com
Best Fresh Roasted Coffee Beans in Tampa Bay?
Little T--what did you think?
We got 4 lbs from Stumptown Roasters in Portland a few days ago, thank the lawd! I gave up after driving to New Harmony and it was closed.
But--as an aside--I drove up to Cabana del Tio and ordered a lb of tortillas and a couple of carnitas tacos----DELICIOUS! They are now tied with the Taco Bus in fantastic tastes of Mexico.
