Wakeley Bridge's Profile
Bearded Dogg - Gaylord
On the strength of a recent recommendation on this board, my wife and I tried the Bearded Dogg in Gaylord last night. This place rocks! Easily the best meal I've ever had in Gaylord and up there with the whole of Northern Michigan. Neat interior, interesting menu, good service. We will be adding this to our list of "up north" favorites along with Cafe Sante, Pearls, Phil's on Front, Lulu's, Siren Hall, Esperance, and the dining room at Gates Au Sable Lodge.
Bagels in N. Michigan
Any recommendations for bagels in the Gaylord, Grayling area for bagels? I'll even try grocery store brands if you have a good source. I'm looking for something along the lines of Brueggers.
Gates Au Sable Lodge - Grayling
You are right - reservations for dinner are a must - especially for non-guests. They can usually accomidate drop ins for breakfast and dinner with little problem. The dining room is small - probably only seats about 30. Also, it's Greenberg not Greenbberg. Typings not my best skill.
Gates Au Sable Lodge - Grayling
New owners Josh and Katy Greenbberg have really put their own mark on this legendary flyfishing lodge located on the banks of the Au Sable River at Stephan Bridge east of Grayling. This year the dining room features the addition of an accomplished chef fresh from the Ritz Carlton in Naples. The chef's wife also specializes in baked goods and pastries. The menu has been updated while retaining some of the items that are well known and dear to the lodge guests, some of whom have been staying their for many years during the fishing season. I've had breakfast, lunch, and dinner there so far this spring and have yet to hit a sour note. The daily specials have all been well worth trying. Grayling now may well become another destination just for the food at Gates along with the wonderful fly fishing.
Clancy's Mid Town Dogs - New Smyrna Beach
The hot dog place is on the mainland on US1 on west side just north of Washington. Don't confuse it with the Clancy's Cantina on Flagler on the beachside.
Clancy's Mid Town Dogs - New Smyrna Beach
Being from suburban Detroit and a real coney dog fan for years, I've been looking forward to Steve Clancy's Mid Town Dogs opening in New Smyrna Beach. A friend whose opinion I trust reported that the Chicago Dog was true to the original so I was anticipating the coney (chili) dog offerings. Here's what I found - the dog was good, larger than the traditional Detroit size or type but very acceptable, the chili was spicier that most found at my "home" coney islands but actually quite good. Now for the bad part - the dog is bigger than usual, and with a load of chili on it, the bun used isn't up to the task. My dog bun split even before I could pick it up and it ended up being the single messiest food offering I've ever tried to eat. I needed a knife and fork to eat it and unfortunately, none were to be seen.
Maybe I was hoping for too much but I don't think I should be expected to need a hosing down after trying to eat a hot dog.
DTW - Where to get shad roe
Not to hijack this thread but, a waiter at the old Joe Muers once described shad roe to me as -
take a banana to the beach, drop it in the sand, and then try to eat it.
looking for good pizza in Oakland county help [DTW]
A very loud second to this recommendation. Fresco is wonderful.
100% Italian - Port Orange - anybody tried it?
Have heard a couple good reviews of this place on Dunlawton. Any hounds been there?
Floridian - St. Augustine
We were there for dinner. But, I think they may have the same menu for lunch and dinner.
Floridian - St. Augustine
Drove up to St. Augustine from New Smyrna Beach Friday aft. to try the Floridian restaurant on the recommendation of a friend whose judgement I trust. If anything, the food was better than described. Liked their take on some old classics such as chicken and dumplings and my favorite, shrimp and grits that is served with crispy polenta and a remoulade with a hint of dijon in it.
Prices are reasonable and wine selection while quirky, was good.
We'll be back.
The River Runs Dry
Had a hankering for smoked Brisket and while Cecil's in Orlando is our favorite, we thought the trip from our place in New Smyrna Beach to Longwood would be quicker, so we decided to try the new location for the 4Rivers Smokehouse in Longwood.
We arrived about 1:45 Saturday afternoon to find a pretty long line still there for the lunch crowd. We decided to stick it out and after about a 30 minute wait we finally made it to the order counter. My wife and I both ordered sliced brisket and were pleased to see a brand new portion delivered to the slicing station just as we ordered. Got 3 sides (all just ok) and proceeded to the indoor seating area. By the time we started eating, the meat had dried out to the point that it was the consistancy of cardboard. If this was a freshly sliced serving I hate to think what a portion that had been sitting there for a while would have been like. Meat was also way over salted (and this is from a guy who loves salty foods).
We won't be back. Cecil's is much, much better.
Your most memorable first-time restaurant hits of 2011
De La Vega - Deland
www.delavegart.com
Wild blueberries in MI?
I have wild blueberries at my cabin east of Grayling on the Au Sable and many of the trails I walk while fly fishing have blueberries and raspberries along them.
Need Daytona Beach Recs
Been years since I was at either of them so I can't really comment on them. You might want to do a search for "Daytona" and see what other threads there are.
Need Daytona Beach Recs
Asian - Leannhs on Nova Rd just south of Beville - great Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese
Steakhouse - Stonewood on Dunlawton just west of Nova
Seafood - most everything is fried everywhere you go in the Daytona area but there are some good shrimp and downeast dishes at the Boston Fish House in New Smyrna Beach and for an old fashioned waterfront seafood shack there's JB's in New Smyrna Beach.
A good breakfast/lunch joint can be found in the Cracked Egg in Daytona Beach Shores. (just don't be surprised if you're asked to join in the chicken dance!)
Cracked Egg - Daytona Beach
Tried the Cracked Egg in S. Daytona Beach for breakfast. Great eggs benedict, very good home fries. Attentive even though extremely busy wait staff. Family owned with a lot of attention to the details. Looked over the lunch and dinner menu and saw many home style cooking dishes on the menu. I've been craving a hot beef open faced sandwich with gravy and mashed potatoes and they had it on their offerings. Can't wait to get back to try it.
Was very busy on Sunday - just hope their traffic stays good through the week too.
Located on A1A just north of Dunlawton.
Just noticed that the map that showed up is for a place in Big Pine Key. That's obviously not the map for the restaurant in S. Daytona.
Orlando: How bad is Boston Lobster Feast? What would you suggest instead?
Funny true story #2. Several years ago my wife (5'2" and 110 lbs) and I decided to try the Boston Lobster Fest. We arrived a few minutes before the place opened and we waited at the door with a few other early arrivals. While waiting in line we struck up a conversation with a man who was in town for a convention and had never been to the restaurant. After the place opened, we were seated and noticed that the gentleman we had been talking with was near us. We proceeded to eat like there was no tomorrow - I had 7 lobsters and my wife ate 9 of them. As we were leaving the restaurant I ran into the man we had met earlier and he said he was astounded by my wife's capacity for lobster and asked "does she have a hollow leg?" I have been teasing my wife about that meal for years now.
Tried Burgrz in Rochester Hills, MI...
I'll admit, the prices are high at Knapps. The key is that they have discount coupons in the local advertising/newspapers that get you a free second burger. So, if there's more than one diner (which in my case is always true) it makes the cost more manageable. My wife and I also usually split a milkshake.
Tried Burgrz in Rochester Hills, MI...
Boagman,
Since you mentioned your preference for hand dipped shakes, have you tried the burgers and shakes at Knapp's Dairy Bar in downtown Rochester? The burgers are sort of an acquired taste but their seasoned fries and malts/shakes are the real deal. I've been frequenting Knapps for about 40 years and really miss the place when I'm out of state for long periods of time.
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Knapp's Dairy Bar
304 S Main St, Rochester, MI 48307
Daytona area - Looking for thin crust pizza
Our favoritie pizza was Pepinos in New Smyrna Beach and we followed the owners to their various stops in Edgewater and S. Daytona but they closed for good a couple of years ago and we have struck out in finding a good New York style thin crust pizza joint.
Any suggestions?
If you HAD to eat at a fast food chain...
Firehouse Subs - puts Subway to shame
Popeyes
Steak and Shake
Help a Foodie out! Weekend in Daytona Beach and need some impressive grub!
Of the three you've listed, Leanhs is far and away the best. We've eaten there for several years and were worried that their new location might not be as good as the old one. Not to worry! The new place is wonderfully done and the food is as good, or better than the old site.
Daytona Beach/Port Orange Tacos?
Yep, mea culpa. Got the road wrong. Mariachi is on Beville.
Daytona Beach/Port Orange Tacos?
Mariacha on Dunlawton, La Fiesta on Nova Rd., Maria Bonita on Ridgewood - all are in or very near Daytona - Port Orange. For my money El Palenque or Mi Mexico (both in New Smyrna Beach) are worth the drive.
The Give Thanks Bakery in Rochester, MI
I have tried many of the offerings at The Give Thanks Bakery. Breads, croissants, tarts, pies, cookies, etc. Every thing there is wonderful. They truly care about their products and their clientele.
I live in Rochester and I must say I find your " the automotive executive/family clientele doesn't add much of an artisan/organic vibe to the place" comment a bit elitist. Rochester is a fairly diverse community with many different cultures present. It has world class grocers (Papa Joes, Whole Foods, Buschs), fine dining and great hotels (Royal Park). It has a university nearby and many cultural offerings.
Chow-worthy in Titusville?
Try El Leoncito on south end of town on US 1 for good mexican and great cuban sandwiches.
Dante's - Edgewater
Saw a review of Dantes on another site and gave it a try last night.
I've been looking for an Italian place near New Smyrna Beach and haven't been too impressed with any I've tried.
I had chicken francaise and my wife had lasagna. Both were very good. Nice enough house salads and very good bread. I had linguini with my meal and the sauce from the chicken was excellent on the pasta.
The restaurant is a little hard to find. It's at the south end of Edgewater on the west side of US 1 in a strip mall behind Peggy's restaurant.
Not "killer" but well worth a return trip.
Cheap eats Daytona Beach Florida
Try the Daily Grind in Port Orange. On Dunlawton just north of Clyde Morris. A new place but already my favorite burger joint in the Daytona area.
DTW: Cheese Shop?
Try one of the Papa Joe's gourmet groceries in Birmingham or Rochester Hills.
