Three Best Meals

"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01) 06/08/2016 at 18:51 • Filed to: None

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On a recent trip to Japan, I had !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and I realized it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. What are yours? I’m leaving out my own cooking (my bolognese lasagna will make you weep) and including only restaurant meals. In no particular order:

1) !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (Tokyo) - the sukiyaki at a 100+ year old place in Ningyocho was astonishing. Wagyu beef cooked tableside by a kimono-clad server, and lots of sake. Our server, who had spoken no English, only Japanese w/ SigOther, told me as we exited in (near-perfect) English, not that she hoped I’d come back, but that she “expected” to see me there again;

2) !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (Manhattan) - the SigOther had a birthday divisible by 10, so I pulled out all the stops. Seven courses with a wine pairing for each, and the service was so seamless you barely even saw them - things appeared and disappeared without interrupting our conversation. Sure, it was 550 bucks with tip, but worth every penny;

3) !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (Rockville, MD) - a childhood favorite - get the Kung Pao chicken and the Far East shrimp (in ginger sauce). The staff has been there so long that when I visit, they still know my name. And the best mai tais on the planet.

Honorable mention: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (bolognese lasagna), !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! n (anything on the brunch menu, and Wellfleet oysters), !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (Korean BBQ), !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (soup dumplings), !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (another childhood delight - mmmm, bacon pizza).

PorkchoPlissken > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 18:58

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I have never had better than my southern mother’s chicken and dumplings, my Louisianan grandfather’s fried Perch, or my own brisket 3 bean, fart until you die chili. The family that eats together, stays together. Welcome to the south.

Steve in Manhattan > PorkchoPlissken 06/08/2016 at 19:02

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My cousin in TN makes probably the best fried chicken I’ve ever had. And post the chili recipe please - some say real chili has no beans, but I’ll eat it either way. I put corn, onions, and red peppers in mine.

mcseanerson > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 19:03

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1) Carl’s Townhouse Everyone should have a best burger place. This is mine.

2) Westshore Pizza I haven’t had a proper calzone with ricotta in years. This was my place.

3) I can’t find a name or a link but there was this Greek restaurant in North Charleston that made this amazing lasagna with so much cheese they had to serve it in a bowl. I don’t know if it was because I was a kid and I was obsessed with Garfield or what but no lasagna has come close to that one.

mcseanerson > PorkchoPlissken 06/08/2016 at 19:05

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That’s the hard part with all this is thinking of food that comes close to good home cooking. My burger place is my favorite burger place and it is the best I have found by far but it still has a way to go before topping Dad’s burgers.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 19:05

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1) Anything from The Rib Man near Upton Park, London, UK ( http://theribman.co.uk/ )

2) A Chicken and pasta dish I had in Trogir, Croatia... I think the place is called Konoba Trs.

3) Kebabpizza at Roma Pizzeria, Charlottenberg Sweden.

My citroen won't start > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 19:07

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My mother’s boeuf bourguignon.

Dinner at the Le Louis XV in the Hotel de Paris in Monte-Carlo

One Rösti I had for lunch with a Colombian friend when we got lost in Lucerne, I never found out the name of the restaurant but that was a divine Rösti.

PorkchoPlissken > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 19:09

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Real chili has goddamn beans. And I’ll post it next time I make. Complete with glutinous pictures.

Birddog > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 19:10

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Can’t compete with Japan but..

Jim’s Rib Haven in Rock Island Illinois has a mean Pulled Pork. They put on a heck of a good Car Show on the Mississippi too.

Ricobene’s in Chicago does a Breaded Steak sandwich that will make any Italian Mom happy.

Al’s Charhouse in Lagrange Illinois has a 56oz Steak dinner that will put you in a Coma.

Steve in Manhattan > My citroen won't start 06/08/2016 at 19:11

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I’ve cooked Julia Child’s boeuf bourguignon a lot, and it’s an excellent recipe that just always works. I use pearl onions, the whole 9 yards.

Steve in Manhattan > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 06/08/2016 at 19:13

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A long time ago, during a relationship I’d prefer to forget, we drove far into the Florida woods on the way to Key West for Cuban chicken and tomatoes over rice. No sign on the restaurant, elementary school green walls, a bunch of grandmas cooking in the back - zOMG how delicious was that?

Steve in Manhattan > PorkchoPlissken 06/08/2016 at 19:13

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Good.

Montalvo > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 19:15

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One of the best meals I ever had was at this real hole in the wall restaurant in Florence. The best pasta I ever had with a lobster and a seafood bisque all combined in a single dish. I will forever remember that place. Funny thing was is that they were playing some music from the states.

Steve in Manhattan > Birddog 06/08/2016 at 19:16

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Everyone here jumps up and down about Peter Lugar’s steakhouse, but I find Bobby Van’s to be just as good and cheaper. And I don’t have to drag my ass out to Brooklyn. And there’s a place on W. 49th that I can’t remember the name of, but delicious chicken and eggplant Parm subs. The best.

Birddog > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 19:23

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I love the basement finds.

I haven’t had a good Eggplant Parm in ages..

Most of the places in Chicago make up for mediocre food by giving too much. That’s why I keep a short list.

Mexican? Our best place burnt down recently. They’re rebuilding though. Nuevo Leon. Everything on their menu from Breakfast to Dinner was awesome.

My uncle has a decent Polish place too. But it’s hit and miss there.

just-a-scratch > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 19:24

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Limited to restaurants in Seattle

FINE DINING

Mistral: Seven courses, a wine flight, vegetables in foam form, the best fois gras I ever tasted, and an even better quail dish.

Le Gourmand: the best creamy mushroom soup (not to be confused with cream of mushroom you’re familiar with), excellent wine pairings, and careful explanations of all dishes served.

Chinoise Café: It’s really the seared Ahi salad that puts this on the list. It was a revelation.

CASUAL

Northlake Tavern: Do you like toppings? Do you like lots of toppings? Do like toppings so much you would have them so thick you must order a pizza two sizes smaller than you would elsewhere and still have leftovers? Yes. Yes. Yes.

Dick’s (on Holman Road): It’s a throwback drive in burger place that is not trying to be. It’s not the BEST burger in town, but it’s the burger place I like best. Gimme a Deluxe, a Special, fries, and a strawberry shake please.

El Sabor: The six taco plate, 3 lengua, 3 carnitas, add some sauces, and give me an horchata. That's good stuff. [Edit: this one is actually in Shoreline]

Steve in Manhattan > Birddog 06/08/2016 at 19:28

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There are a couple good places for good Mexican (i.e. real Mexican) in Manhattan, but I can’t recall the names. And really good Indian is easy to find - Chola, The Curry House, Indigo Indian Bistro (our go-to UWS delivery place).

Steve in Manhattan > just-a-scratch 06/08/2016 at 19:42

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I’ve heard great things about Dick’s - wish we had one here. I’ve also heard good things about Azteca - any thoughts?

Birddog > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 19:43

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Ooh.. You’d think Chicago would have good Indian. Not so.. My buddy Bob (an ex-pat Brit) tolerates one or two but he isn’t glowing about it.

“Real Mexican” we have in spades. But unless you’re in the right neighborhood (Little Village) it’s not “Real”. Some have gone to franchising already.

crowmolly > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 19:50

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No particular order:

Augustiner special of pig’s knuckle and chicken thigh with potato dumpling & litre of bock- Augustiner Bierhalle, Munich

Seafood Risotto- Simply Fish, Noord Aruba

Most of the menu- Rozmaryn, Trenton NJ

I’m with you on Peter Lugers. Very good but not other worldly.

Steve in Manhattan > Birddog 06/08/2016 at 20:02

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One of my favorite Indian restaurants in midtown has a section on the menu of British curries - interesting for me and more than a few expats.

Birddog > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 20:07

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I may have to hit NY at some point in my life.

I haven’t experienced half of the Midwest in my travels though and I'm 40.

Steve in Manhattan > crowmolly 06/08/2016 at 20:15

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Buddy of mine goes zOMG! Hard to get a reservation unless you know someone! My date dropped out - best steak you’ve ever had!

OK, but the best steak I’ve ever had is a ribeye I’ve pan seared and thrown in the oven. And Bobby Van’s is very very good.

Steve in Manhattan > Birddog 06/08/2016 at 20:17

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Let me know when you’re coming ... I have a few - OK, more than a few - recommendations.

Matt Nichelson > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 20:20

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1) Komex Fusion (Las Vegas) - My wife and I tried this place while we were on our honeymoon and loved it so much we ended up going 3 times. Who would have thought blending Asian and Mexican would work out so well? The fusion enchiladas are epic and the bulgogi is very tasty.

2.) McGuire’s Irish Pub (Destin, FL) - The inside of the building is covered with dollar bills, which is a sight to behold. This place has a little bit of everything and they also brew their own beer. More than just a novelty, this restaurant has some really great food. Also, they have an old British double decker bus parked out front. How cool is that?

3.) Crescent City Grill (Hattiesburg, MS) - I couldn’t make this list without having a place crom where I live. If you like food with a Cajun flair, this is the place to go. One of the best restaurants in our city. Start with the corn and crab bisque and end your meal with white chocolate bread pudding. The owner once competed on a Food Network show as well and is a really good guy.

Steve in Manhattan > Matt Nichelson 06/08/2016 at 20:35

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As a boy that grew up in MD/DC, you had me at crab. Bring on the Old Bay.

Birddog > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 20:44

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It’ll be a year or so. I’m just restarting things.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 20:44

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My best meal in recent memory:

Ten, in the Northern Hotel. Billings, Montana. I wasn’t expecting much, being the house restaurant in the hotel I was staying in on a work trip, but wow it blew me away. I had the fresh local Wagyu beef cooked over a salt block, and a pear and endive salad with bacon. The food was simply prepared, but fresh and done to a turn. The menu is seasonal new American cuisine; I highly recommend it if your travels ever take you to the area, best food in town.

Steve in Manhattan > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 06/08/2016 at 21:14

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That all sounds so good ....

Matt Nichelson > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 21:51

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Haha! Hardly anybody knows what Old Bay is down here, but I love it.

One day I really want to go up north and try a lobster roll. Are they as good as people make them out to be?

Steve in Manhattan > Matt Nichelson 06/08/2016 at 22:07

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It so depends on where you go. Mermaid Inn good, other places better, other places shit.

Matt Nichelson > Steve in Manhattan 06/08/2016 at 22:29

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Yeah I can imagine. It’s like that with anything. That’s Mexican food for us here.

just-a-scratch > Steve in Manhattan 06/09/2016 at 11:04

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Dick’s is a chain of burger places that serves decent burgers made with real meat at a low price. I’ve had a lot of good memories at these places. I often compare the affinity of Californians for In-n-Out. In-n-Out does not serve the most high class burgers, but the locals swear by it. Dick’s has a similar thing where people from elsewhere sometimes don’t understand locals love it so much.

Azteca is one of those Mexican restaurant chains that serves food that isn’t bad, just isn’t very interesting to me.

Another idea for Mexican in Seattle, that isn’t really exotic, but I love; Gorditos. Large, or really way too big burritos are what they do.

...and since you seem interested, Le Gourmand and Mistral (the one I wrote about) have closed a while back. Don't bother looking for them if you're in town.

Steve in Manhattan > just-a-scratch 06/09/2016 at 16:38

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Dick’s is your Ledo’s Pizza - it’s not the best pizza I’ve ever had, but it loomed large in my childhood - raised in a kosher home, I didn’t find out about bacon pizza until I was 11 years old. After that, I knew I wasn’t going back.