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Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Not my thread idea, but a good idea none the less. Every city has some amazing restaurants or places that wont show up in any guide books but are some of the best in the city. It would be good to have a directory of these places so when people travel they can really get the best of those unknown local eateries.
Montreal: The best breakfast in the city, without a doubt, is a small hole-in-the-wall countertop place called Cosmos. its pretty much only a breakfast place but the do have burgers which are awesoome. Its open from 7am till about 4 pm and you can order breakfast all day long. I normally get a regular breakfast which is just eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, coffee and potatoes, but they are the best potatoes you've ever eaten. Simply amazing. Tons of butter and grease, onions and salt, they are enough to fill you up. And its very cheap, only 5.50 for all that. Then there is the famous mis-mash, which consists of 6 eggs, tomatoes, bacon, sausage, onions and maybe something else all mixed together. About 1500 calories. The restaurant is kinda dirty and extremly small; there are only 12 stools at the counter. But in summer they open up tables outside on the sidewalk and its quite nice. The customers are interesting and very friendly (some are mentally ill) and you are always bound to have a totally random conversation. So if you are looking for the best breakfast that is cheap too, go to Cosmos. Its located on Sheerbrook w. and wilson (not sure about wilson, maybe a block over). |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
I have brought up this place before, but of the 50 or so steakhouses I have dined in over the last 20 years, this is hands down the best:
Berns Steak House Located in Tampa, Florida I have relatives that live down there and they treated me and a girl I was dating when I was a poor struggling college student. The place is outstanding. Included in dinner was a tour of the kitchen, tour of the wine cellar (I got to hold a $25k bottle of wine) and a separate room just for dessert (a reservation was needed for both the dinner table and the dessert room). The standard in all old school steakhouses. Probably one of 3 or 4 restaurants in my life where the experience was 10 out of 10. FYC |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Les Halles in New York
It's not really unknown, but it is definitely not a marquee place. Great food for very reasonable prices. And the patron saint of this forum was the one that introduced me to it. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
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And the patron saint of this forum was the one that introduced me to it. [/ QUOTE ] I didn't think Anacardo lived in NY. |
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20 Mott St/Sweet-n-Tart in Chinatown. Best dim sum around.
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The Bistro (Toronto, Avenue Rd./Lawrence area)
Best wings in town. They serve them with a dill sauce, which sounds weird, but tastes delicious. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
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I have brought up this place before, but of the 50 or so steakhouses I have dined in over the last 20 years, this is hands down the best: Berns Steak House Located in Tampa, Florida I have relatives that live down there and they treated me and a girl I was dating when I was a poor struggling college student. The place is outstanding. Included in dinner was a tour of the kitchen, tour of the wine cellar (I got to hold a $25k bottle of wine) and a separate room just for dessert (a reservation was needed for both the dinner table and the dessert room). The standard in all old school steakhouses. Probably one of 3 or 4 restaurants in my life where the experience was 10 out of 10. FYC [/ QUOTE ] I just ate here with my gf about a month ago. Truly unique experience. I feel like this place can't be unknown though,just the sheer size of the kitchen and wine cellars was amazing. Food was great, service was great (supposedly the servers all have to go to like some special bern's server college or something). All in all really enjoyed the place, everything is just slightly over the top though. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
i'd love some suggestions for Miami, espec the northern part as I am new here.
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Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Tomoe sushi in NYC...kicks Nobu's butt at half the price...its a hole in the wall tho, if you care about decor, go to Nobu or any of the other expensive places...
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Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Atlanta:
Kool Korner on 14th - best cuban sandwiches ever. lots of history, the same smiling cuban dude has been working there forever, he must be 80. real hole-in-the-wall place, it's locally famous, but gets 0% tourists. Milwaukee: Stoups - Strait up stews or soups, made with love, these things could fill a stomache, OR cure a hang-over. I miss this place. These are both $7 lunch places, so keep that in mind |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Wow, Joe's Stone Crab... that sounds like a cool idea. They specialize in some weird form of crab, huh? Must have just popped up in the last few years... Guess I'll have to check them out next time I'm in Miami, good to see these new places coming up.
I went with my grandfather 20+ years ago. The lines are out the door, for chrissakes EVERYONE knows Joe's Stone Crab. When you look up unknown in the dictionary, the definition says " the opposite of Joe's Stone Crab." I have heard of a place called Monty's Stone Crab, but never been- anyone know anything about that place? [ QUOTE ] Wake up. Call out of work. Go to the beach for awhile. Then go here: Joe's Stone Crab FYC [/ QUOTE ] |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
LOL owned.
But that does raise a decent enough question: is this place supposed to be unknown by locals, or just not a place a tourist would normally find? If it's the latter, I'll say Kincaid's Hamburgers for Fort Worth. Old-timey grocery store where you stand up to a counter to eat your burger. Best damn burgers ever, but almost every local knows the place so I don't know if that's what we're looking for. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
[ QUOTE ]
Wow, Joe's Stone Crab... that sounds like a cool idea. They specialize in some weird form of crab, huh? Must have just popped up in the last few years... Guess I'll have to check them out next time I'm in Miami, good to see these new places coming up. I went with my grandfather 20+ years ago. The lines are out the door, for chrissakes EVERYONE knows Joe's Stone Crab. When you look up unknown in the dictionary, the definition says " the opposite of Joe's Stone Crab." I have heard of a place called Monty's Stone Crab, but never been- anyone know anything about that place? [ QUOTE ] Wake up. Call out of work. Go to the beach for awhile. Then go here: Joe's Stone Crab FYC [/ QUOTE ] [/ QUOTE ] I was replying to "bakes" question. Do you read between the lines all the time? FYC |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
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If it's the latter, I'll say Kincaid's Hamburgers for Fort Worth. Old-timey grocery store where you stand up to a counter to eat your burger. Best damn burgers ever, but almost every local knows the place so I don't know if that's what we're looking for. [/ QUOTE ] This is exactly the type of place we are looking for. Next time I'm in Dallas, I'm taking a trip. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Driving near the capital in Des Moines, Iowa, Tasty Tacos looks to be a dingy, crappy place, but this is very misleading. Though it is in essence a fast food restaurant, the flour tacos are simply amazing.
Downtown, business travelers are seriously missing out if they don't stop by South Union Bread Co, which is only open during the lunch hour. Most people haven't heard of South Union, but the sandwhiches are the best in town. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Seattle
Flying Pie Pizzeria in Issaquah Gyrocery in the UDistrict Portland Escape From NY Pizza on 23rd Not sure if it's unknown or not but Papa Hayden's on 23rd Sweet Oregon Grill out by Cornelius Pass Vegas Viva Mercado's on Flamingo and Jones Amigos Tacos on Durango and Warm Springs |
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Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
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Portland Escape From NY Pizza on 23rd [/ QUOTE ] Go visit the Pizza Nazi at Apizza Scholls on Hawthorne. Los Tres Hermanos is a taco truck that can be found parked near the corner of Killingworth & Denver (across the street from Di Prima Dolce, which also rocks). I'm very partial to Ken's Place, also on Hawthorne. Casual atmosphere, serious attention to the food. Turns into a barbeque place one day a week, and it's the best BBQ in the Pacific Northwest. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Toronto here,
North York (Dufferin and Steels area) has an Israeli restaurant called "Me Va Me". Bar-none the best Israeli food in Toronto. Great value proposition too as the meals are $12-$20 and you get HUGE portions. Be wary of lineups though as they can go around the block for dinner time. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
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[ QUOTE ] Portland Escape From NY Pizza on 23rd [/ QUOTE ] Go visit the Pizza Nazi at Apizza Scholls on Hawthorne. Los Tres Hermanos is a taco truck that can be found parked near the corner of Killingworth & Denver (across the street from Di Prima Dolce, which also rocks). I'm very partial to Ken's Place, also on Hawthorne. Casual atmosphere, serious attention to the food. Turns into a barbeque place one day a week, and it's the best BBQ in the Pacific Northwest. [/ QUOTE ] I second Apizza Scholls > Escape from NY.. I'll add Pok Pok Thai/Whiskey Soda Lounge on 32nd and Division. Dude sets up a little shed with a window and gas heater in his front yard. The kai yaang rotisserie chicken is insane. Don't go there if you want phad thai or phad kee mao...you won't find them on the menu. He's now opened up the Whiskey Soda Lounge in his basement....more of the same. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Minneapolis,
"Al's Breakfast" Its a hole in the wall breakfast joint that is located in Dinkytown, by the University of Minnesota campus. only open in the morning until about 1pm. |
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Boston
Parish Cafe at Boylston and Arlington Great beer selection. Menu consists of favorite sandwiches of all the top name chefs around the city. Behold |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Lafayette, LA: Pretty much no one would ever come here, but if you're just passing through for some reason, you have to stop at the Blue Dog Cafe for the best Cajun food you can get. It's also an art gallery for George Rodrigue's Blue Dog Paintings.
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Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Les Halles is unknown? Gee, the executive chef there only has his own TV show and a couple of best sellers. And Joe's Stone Crab? OOT is known for it's impossible standards on women, but your standards for unknown mean that anything short of Chipotle is unknown.
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Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Unknown mostly because it's brand spanking new:
Jibarra, modern Mexican cuisine and Tequila lounge. If you ever have to pass through Raleigh and you don't go to the Angus Barn (mentioned in the other thread), then definitely head to Jibarra. 10/10. Flat out amazing, from the complementary appetizers through the unbelievable entres (the last time I went I had a hanger steak that I would kill 5 random OOTiots for) to their one-of-a-kind desserts. Not to mention their huge assortment of Tequilas. They do Tequila tastings like other places do wine tastings. My advice, sit at the bar at shoot the [censored] with the bartender while you eat, if there's room. Great guy. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
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[ QUOTE ] And the patron saint of this forum was the one that introduced me to it. [/ QUOTE ] I didn't think Anacardo lived in NY. [/ QUOTE ] Saint not Martyr |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
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Seattle Gyrocery in the UDistrict [/ QUOTE ] I've walked by this place 100s of times and never been, I'll have to check it out. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Bay Area 2p2ers:
If you are getting dragged to the south end to hit the outlets or whatever, go early and get breakfast at OD's Kitchen in Gilroy. They're in a converted house just off of Monterey Street, across Martin Street from the pool hall. Get the Kitchen Sink...potatoes, sausage, peppers, onions, all diced up and cooked on the griddle, finished with a couple of eggs on top. There's also a half-sink - don't be a pussy. Order "Rosebud" and they chop up a biscuit into a Kitchen Sink, and then add gravy. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Toronto:
There is this sushi place that opened up around the corner from my apartment building (on Church street in the Gay Village below Bloor) called Asahi. It is amazing sushi and it is practically empty; I make a point to go there at least twice a week. We know the owners by now and they give regular customers tons of comps; every time I go in I get free miso soup and salad, a free appetizer and free desert and sometimes an extra roll if it's a big group of people. Best sushi in Toronto, great atmosphere, friendly staff and is not in any guidebook. I also find that a lot of the places that are typically the best sushi in Toronto are popular because they are cheap and fast. Usually they are minimal on presentation, ambience, and inventiveness which I think are super important for dining out. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
NYC - Not sure how known or unknown, but they're definitely not considered "top" restaurants in the city.
Rocking Horse Cafe Excellent, excellent Mexican restaurant. It's in Chelsea on 8th avenue between 19th/20th. The Neptune Room - I've mentioned this restaurant before on 2+2...IMO, the best seafood in NYC. On Amsterdam around 84th Mama's Food Shop - Great home-cooked food. You get a huge meal for very cheap and the sides are awesome (especially mashed potatoes). On 3rd street between A+B San Loco - Cheap mexican food, but sooo great, especially after a night of drinking. I recommend the Guaco Loco, which is a two-layered taco. It has a hard-shelled inside and has a soft tortilla wrapped around it. It has guacamole smothered in-between layers. There are a few in the city (and I think one in South Beach), but the only one I have ever been to is on Ave. A around 10th street. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
[ QUOTE ]
But that does raise a decent enough question: is this place supposed to be unknown by locals, or just not a place a tourist would normally find? If it's the latter, I'll say Kincaid's Hamburgers for Fort Worth. Old-timey grocery store where you stand up to a counter to eat your burger. Best damn burgers ever, but almost every local knows the place so I don't know if that's what we're looking for. [/ QUOTE ] I grew up in Mansfield and have never heard of this place. I will have to check it out the next time i am in town. I live in Oklahoma City and about 30 mile northwest of town there is a little bar called Eischens that has the best fried chicken/fried okra. It is well known in the state. No silverware you get chicken, okra, bread, pickles and onions. I love this place. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Minneapolis/St. Paul:
Al's Breakfast... tiny little hole in the wall, just a bar with seats at it, they can probably sit like ~15 people at a time but they make the best pancakes and amazing other breakfast food. I love their hashbrowns... Mickey's Diner... its moderately famous and super classic. Their food is really good in that unhealthy greasy diner sort of way. Plus they are open 24/7. Town Hall Brewery - Best brewpub in town imo... although I haven't been to Barley John's yet, I think Town Hall edges them out on the brewing side of things anyway. I think this place is literally in an old Town Hall building... |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
We need a thread for each city to do this right, and then just have them archived so that when you are going on a random trip you can look it up and go.
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Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Couldn't you just pull up this thread in flat/show all mode and do a find for whatever city you are going to?
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Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Off the top of my head my unknown favorites for San Diego would be:
El Cuervo - Good, cheap Mexican Sushi Deli - Good, cheap sushi Emerald or Jasmine - Good, cheap dim sum K's Sandwiches - Good, cheap, Vietnamese sub sandwiches Tajima - Authentic Japanese teishoku dining |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Guys, make sure you list the city and some sort of address when you list these restaurants. If its not in the guidebooks, its going to be har to find them by name!
but some good suggestions so far, keep them coming. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
on the off chance any of you are ever in norwich vt, you must go to the pub in the norwich inn. balanced english-style beers brewed in small batches (in some cases with hops grown in the inn yard), new american-style food, meats smoked by the brewmaster, menu changes often.
i think my favorite individual item i've had there was pulled pork johnnycakes with firecracker slaw. |
Re: Unknown must visit restaurants in your city
Omaha, NE:
Mahogany - 140th and Dodge Omaha Prime - Old Market, 11th and Howard/Harney |
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