The Stew
Every place that cannot sustain its own page gets thrown into The Stew.
The North Woods of Minnesota
Those of you who know me know that I spend a lot of time up in the North Woods (aka The Iowan Riviera). Fire up the Big Green Egg, slam a few Grain Belts, spray a little deet, and enjoy the lake and relaxing life. Sometimes you want to experience the local cuisine and vibe, there are plenty of places serving pretty much the same menu. But there are a few delicious stand-outs:
The Treasury of Pine River: Obsession with perfection drives this place to make just one sandwich variety per day Monday thru Thursday; my first trip earned me the shaved beef; I will definitely be back to try the others! ($) [Pine River]
Hatch’s Burrito Truck: They are slowly moving south from Walker, MN with fantastic San Diego style burritos and New Mexico style chili (even though they are from Colorado!) ($) [Pine River and north]
Lakes Tavern: Eclectic North Woods menu with solid execution and a great pub vibe; had my first MN Martini here (Golden Light with a pickle spear) and wasted a lot on Pull-Tabs ($$) [Pequot Lakes]
The Smokehouse at The Preserve: Go for the meat and the view; try the 4-meat platter (the burnt ends, pork belly, brisket and chicken wings all rocked!) ($$$) [Pequot Lakes]
Lucky’s Tavern: I was surprised how much I loved this Minnesota style pub; great menu, happy diners, huge portions and delicious food! ($$) [Pequot Lakes]
Ganley’s: An excellent breakfast spot; great family owners, go for the hashed browns and the frosted cinnamon roll ($$) [Nisswa]
The A Pine: Classic spot is a must for breakfast, as well dinner if you love calves liver and onions in a cast iron skillet! ($$) [Jenkins]
Rafferty’s: There’s something about the pizza here that you fall in love with; it’s not a place for purists, but it definitely hits the mark ($$) [Nisswa]
Chocolate Ox: Candy and ice cream when you don’t feel like a Blizzard ($) [Nisswa]
Ye Old Pickle Factory: Forget the food; this local watering hole is great for pool, darts, cheap drinks, and good juke box ($$) [Nisswa]
Southeast Georgia
Sea Island and St. Simons Island have to be the two coolest places in Georgia. Golf? Yes. Beaches? Yes. The oldest live oaks draped in moss? YES. But also a sweet vibe and some delicious food.
Porch: Best fried chicken I’ve ever had; 4 levels of heat…choose a hot one; that’s really all you need to know ($$)
Southern Soul BBQ: Food Network gets one right; ribs, pulled pork, and, yes, turkey; those are the go-to items (slathered in spicy sauce of course!) ($$)
Seattle
It is been a really long time since I’ve been to this great Northwestern town. I hope these spots are still great:
Wild Ginger: amazing Pan-Asian; order half-entrees to try more ($$$)
Shiros: I think I have the name right; best sushi; no atmosphere ($$$)
The Metropolitan Grill: Seattle’s #1 steak house ($$$$)
El Gaucho: the scene is lively, the room is cool, and the steak is good ($$$)
Flying Fish: excellent preparation of fresh, fresh fish (pray for steelhead!) ($$$)
Kingfish: cool little neighborhood Southern ($$$)
I Love Sushi: great strip mall sushi joint in Bellvue (also downtown) ($$$)
The SPAR: If you find yourself in Tacoma, then get to this spot for beer battered cod or a patty melt ($)
Upstate NY
Quaker Street Store: head to Goshen (in the Black Dirt Region) for the finest charcuterie in the state; felt like a heuriger in some small town outside Vienna ($)
Riverside Cafe: further north on 17 in Roscoe, you will find the best lamb chops and trout in the state; and the nicest people ($$$)
Boston
A few spots:
Saltie Girl: super fun oyster bar vibe with amazing raw seafood, fried clams, and the best collection of tinned fish you’ve ever seen at a restaurant ($$$)
Sorellina: innovative modern Italian; the pastas are insane; try the maccheroncelli and the veal saltimboca ($$$$)
George Howell Coffee: my new fav coffee house; excellent pour-overs and try The Original ($)
The ‘Quin: I hate to put a private club on here, but it seems like everyone knows someone in Boston who belongs to the ‘Quin; make sure you pet/pull the bust to find the secret music room! ($$$)
Row 34: another fun, cool oyster bar vibe with great crudos, fried oysters and beer ($$$)
Destino’s: head to the Gloucester for the finest sandwich around: the Steak Bomb (salami, cheesesteak, linguica, sweet/hot peppers on a sub) ($)
Trade: awesome Mediterranean place down by the harbor with a killer chopped salad that you can add steak to ($$$)
Casey’s Diner: If you’re ever in Natick… The oldest and smallest dinner ever; Good Morning Burger for breakfast and hot dog for lunch; where the elite meet to eat ($)
Sally’s Sandwiches: nestled in a Blackbird Doughnuts outpost in the South End, the Gallows breakfast sandwiches is one of the finest ($)
B&G Oysters Ltd.: wow…a little oyster bar that serves the best oysters and fried stuff you can get in New England; great lobster roll and a great wine list ($$$)
No. 9 Park: the best restaurant I have been to in Boston; this place is really good! The food (duck confit, trio of pork, cheese plate, beet salad), the wine list and the service (our waitress, Jenny, was one of the most passionate and knowledgeable servers I have encountered) were all top notch
The Beehive: Some of the best comfort food in New England…in an artsy place ($$$)
Mr. and Mrs. Bartley’s Burger Cottage: one awesome burger, served a variety of ways; great onion rings and lime rickeys! ($)
The Butcher Shop: For an awesome, simple cut of meat and a bunch of other great things ($$$)
New Orleans
Brigtsens: modern Louisianna cuisine; great duck and other dishes with a Creole influence ($$$$)
Mother’s: down n’ dirty po boy shack; go for the debris, the shrimp or Ferdi’s special ($)
Peristyle: The foie gras is legendary ($$$$)
Bayonna: Still churning it out after all these years ($$$$)
Galatoire’s: Hang with the tourists in the French Quarter but enjoy the food too ($$$)
Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone: for the pre-dinner drinks
The Old Absinthe House: for daytime drinking
Maine
Red’s Eats: the best lobster roll in the world. One more time: the best lobster roll in the world [Wicasset] ($$)
Fore Street: fantastic fresh food; great meats (pork tenderloin!); a tremendous experience! [Portland] ($$$)
The Clam Shack: best fried clams in Maine [Keenebunkport] ($$)
Street & Co: Every town needs a seafood place like this [Portland] ($$$)
Stripers: Awesome upscale fish shack with great seafood [Kennebunkport] ($$$)
The White Barn Inn: the grand dame of the gourmet scene; i thought the food was over-rated (but still good!) [Kennebunkport] ($$$$)
Mabel’s Lobster Claw: great lobster and chowder [Kennebunkport] ($$$)
Havana: Maine seafood with a Cuban flair [Bar Harbor] ($$$)
Geddy’s: TGI Friday’s of Bar Harbor; decent pizza and burgers [Bar harbor] ($$)
Los Angeles
Bestia: I don’t go to LA often, but when I do, I eat at Bestia every time; fun downtown scene, but the food and drinks just kill it ($$$$)
Osteria Mozza: All hail the first place in America to effective use breadcrumbs on pasta ($$$$)
Capo: If Rao’s moved to Santa Monica, this would be it ($$$$)
El Cholo: the best Mexican Combination Platter in the world ($$)
Minneapolis
112 Eatery: I thought BLG (below) was my favorite restaurant in the Midwest, but I know this place is; razor clams with hears of palm, asparagus with lardo, tagliatelle with foie gras meatballs, and the burger were all unreal ($$$)
Bar La Grassa (BLG): Might be my favorite restaurant in the Midwest; the Lobster & Soft Egg Bruschetta was unreal; the menu just doesn’t quit ($$$)
Manny’s Steak House: The most amazing cut of prime rib I’ve seen anywhere; and some great bourbons ($$$$)
The Burger Place: Try the TBP Special at this unassuming hole-in-the-wall somewhere in the SkyMall ($)
Ohio
Mabel’s BBQ (Cleveland): tremendous Bourbon selection, monster beef rib, the best crispy potatoes, and the birthplace of Cleveland-style BBQ sauce (worth ordering online); ($$$)
Ken Stewart’s Lodge (Akron): visually, you would expect this place to be in my Lake Superior category, but the food is incredible (freshest lettuce I’ve ever had in a salad) with an amazing wine list! ($$$$)
North Shore of Lake Superior (the lake they call Gitchigumi)
Tom’s Too Soup and Sandwiches: find amazing sandwiches at this hole-in-the-wall off Scenic MN 61 ($)
Betty’s Pies: forget the food; I’m not a big pie guy, but loved these; 5-Layer Chocolate was insane ($)
Lou’s Fish House: great smoked lake trout and jerky ($$)