Diners, Drive-in's and Dives: The Ledge version
 

I thought this would be a really fun cool thread to start modeled on one of my favorite tv shows of all time. So here's the concept. Think of some cool funky really good places to eat wherever you are from. Maybe when I or other ledgies come to your city we might partake in one of the establishments reccomended. There are no real limitations on this list. The resturants cam be expensive or cheap, as long as you find the food to be exceptional and the ambiance good too. I'll start off with some in the Minneapolis-St Paul area that I really enjoy.


Boca Chica: This is a resturant in St Paul's hispanic neighborhood that has been rated the #1 Mexican resturant in the Twin Cities for almost 30 years. They make a F**KIN KILLER Enchilada Suiza.


The Nook: This is one of those hole in the wall places that was actually featured on the real Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and they are known for theier AMAZING hamburgers. You wanna talk about a heart attack on a plate, this is the place for you. My favorite item on the menu is a Nookie supreme a double burger with Thousand Island dressing, Lettuce, Tomatoes, and whatever else you might want. The meat is of course alwaysf resh never frozen here. It is right next to Cretin-Derham hall highschool in St Paul


Emily's Lebanese Deli: A true gem on Minneapolis' northeast side that has been a staple of the Neighborhood for almost 40 years. my reccomendations here are the Meat Pies and Stuffed Grape leaves MMMMMMMM:nod:



Stella's Fish Cafe: this is moer of an upscale place in Minneapolis Uptown area near the corner of Lake street and Hennepin Avenue. my favorite dish here is an item called Scallops benedict. Sea Scallops, which I have to confess are my favorite food on the face of this earth, are placed on top of small pieces of Brioche bread and aplle smoked bacon and topped with Hollandaise sauce. The only way I can describe this dish is beyond heavenly.


Ok there's a few from my area. Lets hear of some from where my fellow Ledgies are.:nod:

If anyone is ever in Pittsburgh, you need to check out an Eat N Park. Don't worry, you won't have to drive more than five minutes to run into one wherever you are. It's basically a Denny's, but with much better food, and, of course, the famous smiley cookie.

http://partiallypedantic.files.wordp...ey-cookies.jpg

If you want real authentic Buffalo Wings, Anchor Bar is where the tourists go because they "invented" them. They're OK I hear (never been there - like I said, it's for tourists.) But locals usually go to Duff's or order takeout from LaNova.

Also worth mentioning are Milton's in Cheektowaga or Pete & Paul's in South Buffalo for their homemade pita wraps. Delicious. I highly recommend the chicken philly.

In Evansville, we have a place called the Hilltop Inn. I think Alton Brown from the Food Network did a thing on it before. It was also recently voted the "Manliest Restaurant in America"....I don't know what that says about me loving to eat there, but I'll move on...

they have the BEST fried chicken livers...EVER.
they also have burgoo, brain sandwiches, fried chicken, dumplings, etc.

so friggin' good.

In little ole' Athens, Tennessee there is a great pizza place called The Gondolier. It's right across the street from my high school.

Best Mexican food in Orlando, Florida... Maria Bonitas.

Oh, & favorite places to eat in Wellington... Indus (Curry place), Monsoon Poon, and Flying Burrito Brothers ;)

Ho ****, hillbilly!
The only thing I like better than fried chicken livers,.........





is fried chicken GIZZARDS!!!!:blob2:

The Buffalo Brew Pub doesn't even get an honorable mention??


Really? :laugh:

maybe they haven't recovered yet ...

better than tsunami punani, i guess :shrug:

Poon is best at high tide.

A Canadian girl who lives behind us said she "loved the Poon as well" and I nearly spit out my drink. :laugh:

why do i sense a blondie song parody coming on?

i didn't know you lived near lisa.

Btw, here are the steps outside Monsoon Poon... :laugh:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/4...ab66d434_o.jpg

Of course they haven't. All the more reason they should be recognized.

Please?


where is the water-spitting smilie i hope someone who knows will answer my question.

i agree also.

please do not rush me an artist cannot be rushed.

it is actually diet coke i do not thank you for posting.

I love watching Triple 'D' its such a fun show to watch. I did get to go to one of the resturants in LV last yr that was on the program. It was ok. The 3 Kegs. We had there stromboli that Guy had also. It is a really small place though. They had a board on the wall of the whole world and all these pins were people have come from all over the world to visit this place. Theres tons of places on that show I wish I could visit. Really its all a matter of taste....sometimes you love it sometimes you don't. Theres another place that the show Man Vs Food went to in LV that I hope to visit also....another one that has way too much food....anyway, just some thoughts......:D

Let's be clear. Is this a restaurant? Or is it dessert only, so to speak?

What's on the menu?

hairy beaver a la mode?

meat curtain pie?

excuse me this is a little rude. i shall withhold my parody as punishment i hope that is okay.

don't get the blood sausage with the happy ending, whatever you do. :distress:

it is not okay this thread was supposed to be about diners and now it is about everything else.

It is a restaurant. I'm not making it up. ;)

http://www.monsoonpoon.co.nz/welcome.htm

cammie was the one who started talking beef curtains!

I don't think I will. Do you know if it is raw or cooked?



uem i think we are discussing mylittledemon's favorite restaurant.

i still blame you because you are canadian.

it comes out raw but then they cook it at the table.

ah yes, the cyclone dyklone.

:shocked:

:lol:

not beef. meat. generic meat. like lunchmeat.

iawta.



do you know where it is raised and whether it is organic?



trattoria clitoria

(clap clap) but wetter!

free range. it's organic, but trust me, it doesn't make a difference.

I LOVE YOU.

HAHAHAHAHA.

i'd use "carpeteria" but that's sparky's line.

nah, too chewy, no taste.
I'll take the hillbilly as a compliment. ;)

:shocked:



If you ever get to my neck of the woods and you're a meat eater (Hello, if you eat BRAINS, you probably eat MEAT :p) you can find some great barbecue. And that's a noun, not an adjective.

For the best vegetarian fare around, Boba House in downtown Greensboro is amazing.

I met a kid once while doing an install for Geek Squad. He went around muttering various things and "human soup" and "brain sandwich" was among them. Not even kidding. :shocked:

pretty sure the brains for the sandwiches are of the bovine variety.
you never know though...

partially true lol. I eat meat, I draw the line at brains.
but my dad raves about them.

Falafel's Drive-In in San Jose is amazing. It's been on the Food Network and a bunch of other random shows. It's been around since the 50s and feels like it-- neon light-up signs, the full deal. The best $7.50 you can ever spend: large falafel sandwich and a banana shake, their famous special.

Also in San Jose/suburbs:
Straits (http://www.straitsrestaurants.com/in...p?section=13): I usually go to the Santana Row location. I seriously think that you can order anything off of this menu and leave super happy.
Dio Deka (http://www.diodeka.com): awesome Greek food in my home town. :)

In San Francisco, EVERYWHERE is good. But if you want some awesome Cuban food and a fantastic atmosphere, go to Cha Cha Cha. Their fried plantains are magic. But expect a RIDICULOUS wait at either location (even on any given weekday-- I was there tonight and the wait was an hour and a half for a table for two when we walked in at 8) so reservations are a must. So delicious.
http://www.cha3.com/

I drove by the Buffalo Bew Pub last night & realized that I was remiss in leaving it off my list. :( Then I see that Cammie yelled at me for it. So yes, great wings as well as burgers & sandwiches & salads & stuff. It's in the 'burbs, in Williamsville/Amherst area.

Also, Seabar downtown for great Asian fusion/sushi place.

Thai food? Saigon Bangkok or Thai Orchid Cafe.

Steakhouse? Fiamma. Hands down.

Burgers? Grover's, a littel dive bar/restaurant that was just recently featured on some Food Network show, can't recalll which.


I don't know why I'm listing so many, it's not like anyone visits Buffalo unless they have family here or they are coming in for a show or sporting event. :laugh:

i beg to differ.

buffalo: come for the wings, stay for the gourds.

Evansville = Kintucky's kissin' cousin!:D


Gizzards ARE chewy, but you're SO WRONG in the no taste comment. They have wonderful flavor!

Hillbilly - takes one, to know one!:wavey:

I love gizzards.... must be a Hoosier thing.

The ambiance sucks, the people there are rednecks, but damn I love me some Mann's Grill. This place is a **** hole if I've ever seen one, but the portions are huge and they serve everything that screams mamma's cookin'. Turkey Manhattans are awesome. I love their omlettes. They have to use 5 eggs and a pound of bacon.

And Grey's Cafeteria. Now, I absolutely hate cafeterias, but this place has a line all the way out the door, and sometimes, halfway wrapped outside. Every.Damn.Night. Best food ever.

ooh.... LaNova... sounds so good....:D

I remember when I saw Lindsey in Indianapolis in 2008 my friend and I went to a plce I think it was celled the Red Eye in downtown. Excellent food. U familiar with that place?

Gizzards must be a Hoosier thing! I love em!


Is Grey's the one in Mooresville? I think so, anyway. They opened one down here, 5-6 years ago. It only lasted about 2 years, though. I remember hearing that their rent was astronomical.
I never ate there....I'm not much on "home cooking". While I like it, my food dollars almost always go to Mexican, Chinese, or steakhouses(love me some Texas Roadhouse).

I wouldn't call Cha Cha Cha a Cuban restaurant, but more Caribbean style food. Their Sangria puts Spain to shame. Their Jamaican Jerk Chicken rules my world.

Also, the Haight Street location (original location) does not take reservations at all. Get drunk and wait. It's all about the experience, rather than the food at Cha Cha Cha's in the Haight-Ashbury district.

Can't say that I am, David. I'll have to check that out. I'm a total foodie when I have the money to be.