meljohns's Profile
Where to eat in Jekyll Island
We probably crossed paths at Latitudes and the Rah Bar! Glad you got to enjoy the Sunday Brunch at the Club, it's pretty good.
Where to eat in Jekyll Island
Actually, I like both Latitudes and the Rah Bar a lot. I stay on Jekyll at least twice a year and it's a pain to drive to St. Simons, especially if you like having a drink with dinner. It takes a half hour to get over there when all is said and done.
Latitudes has revamped their menu so there's interesting dishes besides fried seafood (which they do well). The fried green caprese app is yummy. The Rah Bar has the best peel and eat shrimp with buffalo sauce- so good.
I've tried the Driftwood Bistro once right after it opened. I liked what I had- stuffed collard greens- but that was about 2 years ago. Fins opened recently and friends of mine on the island like it; I thought what I had was just ok.
The Club is good but expensive and to eat in the dining room, you have to dress nice (men wear jackets). The Crane Cottage is more casual and basically the same food, still pricey.
Darien is a haul. We eat at Skippers probably every time we come down because they do such a great job with fried seafood. B&J's has good food but honestly, to me, the dining room is just icky. I want to leave almost as soon as I sit down.
Need a Dinner Rec or Two for a First Time Visitor
For your stay close to the airport, I'd also recommend south Minneapolis (It's very easy to drive into downtown but you then have to park, navigate one-ways, etc -not saying don't do it, just keep that in mind). From the airport, get on 62 West, take the Penn exit and try either In Season (54h and Penn, res. a must) or Broders (Italian, at 50th and Penn). Broders has a great wrap around bar with views of the kitchen that I actually prefer to sit at when eating there.
If you take 35W north and get off at 36th/35th street exit, you'll be close to several good places- Blackbird (already mentioned), Pat's Tap and Grand Cafe all of which have nice bars to sit at- I like the one at Grand Cafe in particular, it's nice and cosy, not too loud. You'll get more of a variety to choose from at Blackbird though. The restos around this area all have street parking, no parking lots.
Heidi's is another great spot, if you took 35W up one more exit to Lake Street. The bar there is an outstanding place to eat, since you get to look into the kitchen. I actually like it better than eating in the restaurant space. And they also have a nice patio area.
Traveling to Florence and Rome with my mother- suggestions?
I've been reading all the threads about dining in Florence and Rome and they're really informative. However, I'll be traveling with my mom who has never been to Europe. We'll be spending 3 nights in both cities. I know she won't be comfortable in anything too high end, and I think she might like places where at least one person speaks some english (I speak a very limited amount of Italian). I don't mind "touristy" if the food is good.
We'll be staying at a hotel next to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Any recommendations for a restaurant close to the hotel, especially for dinner the first night we're there?
In Rome, We'll be staying close to Trevi fountain. Any recommendations for places in that area would be appreciated. Is Colline Emiliane a good restaurant?
And one last question; over here, I almost always have the concierge make reservations for dinner because we seem to get in more places (plus, that's what they're there for). Is it better to get reservations through the hotels in Florence and Rome or try to do it before you actually travel?
Thanks for the advice.
Flying into Jacksonville-driving up to Savannah
Skippers in Darien is also good. And I like Zachary's off 95, where you get off to head to Jekyll Island.
Twin Cities visit (MSP)
You could always take a bus to the restaurants, they really aren't that far with the exception of Piccolo, which isn't downtown.
I personally love 112, which is a super easy walk from your hotel.
Twin Cities visit (MSP)
And it looks like the new owner is posting the menu, something that didn't get done as much as it should have when everything was in flux.
http://www.cornertablerestaurant.com/blog/?cat=18
Downtown MPLS - mid priced for government travelers
I think 112 is one of the most reasonable, delicious places in town. I usually get a salad (around $8) and a half pasta ($12/13) and am stuffed.
Ike's is good for burgers. The bar menu at Vincent is good and affordable. I like Keiran's and the Local for less expensive (but less creative), solid options.
savannah lunch restaurants
SoHo South is a really fun, funky space with good salads and sandwiches.
Butcher and the Boar
I was there last night and had a fabulous experience. Good bourbon drink (bourbon, lemon, simple syrup), nice list of wines by the glass (a good Claret, which is uncommon on in a glass selection).
Tequila cured salmon- delicious. Apple and tomato water cubes, some jalapeno and cilantro.
Venison summer sausage- good, with cheese whiz, which made me laugh but was tasty.
Pork sausage and the Texas beef sausage, both great but I preferred the pork.
Great sides- mushrooms, simply roasted with rosemary; grits, had a kick to them; and the smothered greens which we insanely good.
Looks like they're building a huge patio out back, which will be a terrific space since it's fairly private and not on the sidewalk like most "outdoor" areas at restaurants here.
Savannah private dining for 40-50 people, wedding party in Historic district. Any ideas?
It's super fun!
I'd still recommend checking out that upstairs room at Garibaldi's it's very french country elegant, not as formal as the lower level- and not as formal as the website makes it look, haha. At the time we had our reception, their requirements were a $4000 minimum including booze and food- that was it- which is really reasonable for a reception of that quality (I think the Pink House is fairly similar pricing wise from what I remember). We ended up going over but it still wasn't a crazy amount, and like I said, we had about the same number of people as you're thinking.
No matter where you end up Savannah is a lovely place to get married. Good luck!
Savannah private dining for 40-50 people, wedding party in Historic district. Any ideas?
And both are run by the same management, at least when we got married they were (we considered having the rehearsal dinner at the PH house but decided the food was too similar).
Savannah private dining for 40-50 people, wedding party in Historic district. Any ideas?
I got married in the Davenport House Museum garden. We had about 50 guests and the venue was perfect- beautiful and romantic, sheltered from the street. One reason we chose it was that it offered privacy unlike getting married in a park or square which, while gorgeous, is completely out in the open. The DH is very reasonable cost-wise and it's across the street from the Keyhoe House, a great B&B- my fiance and I stayed there so I was able to just walk across the street when the ceremony started. You can have a reception at the Davenport but we chose to have our guests be taken by trolly to Garibaldi's. Our reception was upstairs, which is a gorgeous, gorgeous room. I'd definitely recommend you check it out. They were extremely reasonable and accommodating- we had passed hors d'oeuvres and then a seated dinner. Because of how they do things, we picked a menu with 3 options and then guests got to decide what they wanted at the reception rather than weeks earlier as most places do. The food was delicious. They also have a bar that's in the back, which is beautiful in and of itself. There's no outdoor part to the restaurant but that room has giant windows that overlook the street- it's a terrific space.
Our guests were at either the Doubetree or the Avia, both of which were a short walk from the reception so no one had to drive. Perfect.
Good Food in or around Tifton , Georgia
Ha, the Cracker Barrel, been there plenty of times too. There are also a few decent Mexican places but I don't know the names. I personally like Pit Stop for BBQ and Wishbone for general "southern food." But I usually just do take out from both.
Good Food in or around Tifton , Georgia
3 Graces at the Langford Manor, beautiful building, great food. Mi Lady bakery and a place downtown called Giggles Cafe for sandwiches/salads (Giggles makes really good pimento cheese). Charles Seafood for good fried seafood (very very very casual, I mean paper plates style casual). I live in Minneapolis but am from Tifton and these places are where I eat when I'm home. Hope that helps.
Restaurant Week! [February 26 - March 2, 2012]
I was at D'Amico in the Chambers Hotel for dinner last night and did the restaurant week menu. The food was outstanding (lamb meatballs, pork osso buco with saffron risotto and chocolate panna cotta). I mean, seriously delicious. All regular portion size. It was a really great deal as to get that at normal prices it would have been at least $20 more.
Romantic, but not snobby?
Grand Cafe and Cave Vin in south Minneapolis; both have great food and are very friendly. I personally think the space at GC is more intimate- very french country. Cave Vin has a big room with a large table in the middle, more open than Grand.
112 Eatery is always delicious and lovely, great space, really terrific service.
Need Reco's for St Simmons
Frederica House is ok, not fantastic. I prefer Bennie's but that could be a nostalgia thing for me since I've eaten there for forever every year when we visit JI.
Need Reco's for St Simmons
I'd also add Skippers in Darien if you travel that way. Terrific fried seafood, an oyster bar, nice deck and really good peach cobbler.
There's a cute wine shop right up the street from Skippers that's a fun stop on the way.
Informal Catering
My husband had Chowgirls do my 40th. They brought everything including wine glasses. The food was delicious and we just left all the dishes for them to pick up in the morning. Super easy. You can also hire someone to serve but we didn't.
THIS Saturday Night - Group Res - Foodie Restaurant
I've had the same experience there. Don't love, just ok.
What Not To Miss - A Weekend in MSP
I work over in NE and really like Wilde Roast for breakfast (gouda hashbrowns!). Another place in that riverwalk area that serves breakfast is the Astor cafe. Sweet spot, more limited menu, but a nice vibe. If you wander a little father up along Hennepin, definitely hit up the deli at Surdyks. Great soups, sandwiches and cheese. Oh, the cheese.
Has anyone tried Jacks in South Minneapolis (used to be Java Jacks)
Since Kevin Kathmann took over? It's in the neighborhood and I wanted to know what the food is like, particularly the portion sizes.
Thanks.
Beautiful, Romantic Downtowner with great food?
I second the lounge and the booths in back. Also, their lounge tasting menu is $40.
Dinner Friday night near Aloft MSP
Sea Change at the Guthrie is about a block away.
112 Eatery is open late and delicious, a short cab ride.
Masu is across the river, great sushi/japanese.
Red Stag Supper Club is also across the river, fun and open late.
Need Dinner Recommendation
Grand Cafe
I've never been able to actually reserve a table at In Season and I'd love to since I've heard such great things about it.
Heidis, but you'll easily get to $100, probably more.
I also like Broders, which gets mixed reviews on this board, but it's always good to me.
And Cafe Ena, which can sometimes miss.
One of my favs is Cave Vin but it's french, as noted earlier.
Best Chinese fried/steamed dumplings?
Rainbow. Their wontons are delicious and not thick.
Best tres leches cake
I'd still recommend Cave Vin if it's on the menu (call first). My husband and I go there just as much for that as for the rest of the food.
