Help a travelling foodie feed his addiction

[midwestyankee]

Hello, my name is midwestyankee and I am a foodie.

It all started when I was a mere 7 years old and I discovered that some fried clam shacks served clams that tasted like motor oil (please don't ask how I knew this at such a tender age; let's just say that I was precocious and leave it at that) and others made me feel all tingly in my you-know-what. Since then my life has been an obsessive search for orgasmic foods of all varieties.

Later this month I will begin a period of travelling for business during which I'll hit over a dozen different cities in the U.S. I know a few of these cities well and others not at all. While my stated aim on these trips is to conduct business on behalf of my client, my true aim is to discover new and better places to eat - all without endangering my cholesterol level (not too much, anyway) or my expense account. Therefore, fellow Litizens, I ask for your help in locating some great places to eat while I'm on the road.

My preference is for restaurants that are local and not part of any chain (unless it's a local chain), that serve uniquely fine food, and where the quality of the kitchen matters far more to the regular diners than the amount of trendy caché displayed in the décor. Also, please save your pixels and skip mention of any steak joints. I don't eat red meat. That is, however, my only limitation when it comes to dining on the road.

My itinerary includes Austin, Denver, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Washington DC, New York City, Atlanta, and Boston. I know tons of places to eat in Boston but am always interested in hearing about places that ring others' chimes.

So...can you help me out? What are the best eating places in any of the these cities?

 

[bobsgirl]

You've obviously forgotten to add southwest Ohio to your itinerary. I'm sure it was an oversight, but it's just as well. Around these parts, PizzaHut and Red Lobster qualify as haute cuisine.

 

[midwestyankee]

You've obviously forgotten to add southwest Ohio to your itinerary. I'm sure it was an oversight, but it's just as well. Around these parts, PizzaHut and Red Lobster qualify as haute cuisine.

Actually, I once had a terrific sprouts and cheese sandwich in Oxford, OH.

 

[bobsgirl]

Actually, I once had a terrific sprouts and cheese sandwich in Oxford, OH.

Mmmm. I remember going to a few of those restaurants when I was in college. What can I say, we were young and radical in our beliefs. And it was in Yellow Springs, which is a community of aging hippies.

 

[dcraz]

Excellent!!!

As a fellow world traveler, I used to follow another thread with a similar focus. Give me a day or two to 'recall' but I KNOW I can help you in many of these places.

Like you, I prefer the 'local' eaterys and can recall a few off the top of my head.

 

[midwestyankee]

Excellent!!!

As a fellow world traveler, I used to follow another thread with a similar focus. Give me a day or two to 'recall' but I KNOW I can help you in many of these places.

Like you, I prefer the 'local' eaterys and can recall a few off the top of my head.

Thanks much, dc. As an example of the sort of place that I like best: in Dallas one of my favorites is Monica's Aca y Alla. Any place that can execute a fusion between French and Mexican food is going to get my business on a very regular basis. That the owner and host is such an intrigueing individual is the salt on the margarita.

 

[OutshinedOne]

What's your budget look like? It'd be a bit easier to recommend places if you gave us a price range.

 

[silverwhisper]

yank:

in NYC, i recommend tony bourdain's place highly. i've heard exceptional things re: mario batali (unsurprising) of course. if your trip took you to philly, you could have hit morimoto's.

ed

 

[Straight-8]

In San Francisco (one of my favourite cities) there are so many great restaurants. I like PJ's Oyster Bar out on Irving Street. There is also the Cliff House which has been redone near the end of Geary over-looking the ocean. Downtown the Buena Vista is a great bar and not a bad casual place to eat right at the end of the Filmore cable-car line...try the irish coffee. There is a restaurant up at the top of Knob Hill where the Filmore line makes a right angle turn but now I forget the name. It is a small seafood house and very good.

Jeez, now you've got me wanting to go back to San Francisco!

 

[Denae]

Denver

P.F. Changs. It's a franchise that started here in Arizona and they've begun branching out to other states. I don't think that it's been open long in Denver.

I have a friend who could also be considered a foodie. She comes to visit me every year from Fort Collins, CO, and we always stop at one of the P.F. Changs restaurants here. She was very excited that one opened "near" her.

 

[Cathleen]

Yank, when are you coming to Boston? I'm wondering if it would coincide with bg's trip and we can all have some good food and laughter together. I think the No Name wouldn't kick us out for being loud and somewhat raucous.

 

[Succulent-one]

Portland Oregon

One of my favorite places in downtown Portland is Jakes. It is a seafood restaurant. Very wonderful. And another place is the Union Oyster Bar. Really tastey oysters on the half shell.

 

[midwestyankee]

What's your budget look like? It'd be a bit easier to recommend places if you gave us a price range.

This is a fair question and I have to say that I was of two minds about budget when making my original post. I do have a per diem spending limit so I plan to spend no more than $50 on an evening meal. That said, I love to talk about restaurants and hear what others like about them so I didn't want to restrict the conversation. Because I don't eat red meat, my meals tend to cost a little less than someone else's might. Also, when I travel I prefer to pay for my scotch in cash at the bar so that it doesn't have an impact on my meal tab. Most of the time I will have a glass of wine or beer with my meal. The math of tax and tip works out such that my target for an expense-account meal is about $35 for the meal itself.

 

[midwestyankee]

yank:

in NYC, i recommend tony bourdain's place highly. i've heard exceptional things re: mario batali (unsurprising) of course. if your trip took you to philly, you could have hit morimoto's.

ed

Hey, ed. I've looked at Batali's restaurant website and have to admit that his prices will keep me away any time that I have to rely on a client to pick up the tab. HOWEVER, I do plan to try his restaurant when I am there on my own some time. Philly is not on the itinerary this time but I'll definitely keep Morimoto's in mind. Time now to look up Tony Bourdain's. Thanks.

 

[midwestyankee]

In San Francisco (one of my favourite cities) there are so many great restaurants. I like PJ's Oyster Bar out on Irving Street. There is also the Cliff House which has been redone near the end of Geary over-looking the ocean. Downtown the Buena Vista is a great bar and not a bad casual place to eat right at the end of the Filmore cable-car line...try the irish coffee. There is a restaurant up at the top of Knob Hill where the Filmore line makes a right angle turn but now I forget the name. It is a small seafood house and very good.

Jeez, now you've got me wanting to go back to San Francisco!

These all sound great. I'll be staying in the Embarcadero area and I intend to do some exploring away from there. These all sound like great places to investigate. Thanks.

 

[midwestyankee]

P.F. Changs. It's a franchise that started here in Arizona and they've begun branching out to other states. I don't think that it's been open long in Denver.

I have a friend who could also be considered a foodie. She comes to visit me every year from Fort Collins, CO, and we always stop at one of the P.F. Changs restaurants here. She was very excited that one opened "near" her.

I first went to a PF Chang's in Denver, in fact. They have an excellent list of single malt scotches, btw.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[midwestyankee]

Yank, when are you coming to Boston? I'm wondering if it would coincide with bg's trip and we can all have some good food and laughter together. I think the No Name wouldn't kick us out for being loud and somewhat raucous.

Cate, my Boston date is still somewhat up in the air. It's at the end of the itinerary so may not happen until quite late in May. As you well know, the No Name is one of my all-time favorites. It's a bear to find (what with there being no name on the door and no sign to go by) but oh, the food! My favorite memory of the No Name is the ffish chowder - it was filled with so many large pieces that the fish extended upward out of the chowder.

 

[midwestyankee]

One of my favorite places in downtown Portland is Jakes. It is a seafood restaurant. Very wonderful. And another place is the Union Oyster Bar. Really tastey oysters on the half shell.

Hi, S-O. I've read about Jakes. It's definitely on my list. What could be better than to knock down a few oysters with a cold beer? I wonder if the Union Oyster House there is related to the one in Boston? Hmmm....time for more research.

 

[Denae]

I first went to a PF Chang's in Denver, in fact. They have an excellent list of single malt scotches, btw.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Now if you were coming to the Phoenix area, I'd recommend my favorite place: The House of Tricks in Tempe. I've yet to have good luck with any wines there, but my friend has good luck.

 

[Denae]

I have no idea if the place is still in busines because when I ate there it was so many years ago, but the meal was good enough for me to pick up a business card.

Latitude 47 in Seattle. Can't think of the chain there that has cheap eats for clam strips & chowder, seems like it starts with an O. We ate at the one at the waterfront.

I'd love to visit Seattle again now that I'm older and not in a hurry (not meaning I'm crippled, but when you're young & in your 20s the same things don't necessarily interest you).

 

[Peteslaw2]

Yank: When you get out dc way (the city), there are tons of places as you probably know. Lots of asian, latin and ethiopian kind of places if you are into ethnic.

Now if you are in my neighborhood, which is Capitol Hill, there are some special treats. If you have time during the day, get to Eastern Market (closed Monday) and look at the great retail stalls and if it's breakfast or lunch time eat at the Market Lunch. You stand in line but the fish and crab stuff is worth it and the least expensive anywhere. But the real treat is just down 7th street a half block. There you will find a real French Bistro owned by the French Chef who does all of the cooking and overseen by his lovely French wife. Most of the wait staff is also French. It is small, unpretensious and friendly. Duck or Guinney (sp) Fowl confit will knock your socks off it they are on the menu that day (the birds, not your socks). Prices are very reasonable and you will be within your budget unless you go for a pricey wine (which is uneccessary given the down to earth wine list). Hope you haven't become a "Freedom Fry" jerk and pass up this gem on philosophical reasons. Viva la france.

If you would like other suggestions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[EJFan]

Duck or Guinney (sp) Fowl confit will knock your socks off it they are on the menu that day (the birds, not your socks).

LMAO!

 

[midwestyankee]

I have no idea if the place is still in busines because when I ate there it was so many years ago, but the meal was good enough for me to pick up a business card.

Latitute 47 in Seattle. Can't think of the chain there that has cheap eats for clam strips & chowder, seems like it starts with an O. We ate at the one at the waterfront.

I'd love to visit Seattle again now that I'm older and not in a hurry (not meaning I'm crippled, but when you're young & in your 20s the same things don't necessarily interest you).

I know what you mean about the difference between travelling in your twenties and then again a little later on. Back then I cared far more about doing a dozen things every day. Now I relax a lot more and savor the locale at a pace that allows me to absorb my surroundings.

 

[midwestyankee]

Yank: When you get out dc way (the city), there are tons of places as you probably know. Lots of asian, latin and ethiopian kind of places if you are into ethnic.

Now if you are in my neighborhood, which is Capitol Hill, there are some special treats. If you have time during the day, get to Eastern Market (closed Monday) and look at the great retail stalls and if it's breakfast or lunch time eat at the Market Lunch. You stand in line but the fish and crab stuff is worth it and the least expensive anywhere. But the real treat is just down 7th street a half block. There you will find a real French Bistro owned by the French Chef who does all of the cooking and overseen by his lovely French wife. Most of the wait staff is also French. It is small, unpretensious and friendly. Duck or Guinney (sp) Fowl confit will knock your socks off it they are on the menu that day (the birds, not your socks). Prices are very reasonable and you will be within your budget unless you go for a pricey wine (which is uneccessary given the down to earth wine list). Hope you haven't become a "Freedom Fry" jerk and pass up this gem on philosophical reasons. Viva la france.

If you would like other suggestions, don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks...these are exactly the kinds of places that I prefer. And I am hardly a "freedom fry" type as doing so would repudiate my family's heritage. A little duck confit could make the longest business day worthwhile. Do you happen to recall the name of the place you described here?

 

[Peteslaw2]

Thanks...these are exactly the kinds of places that I prefer. And I am hardly a "freedom fry" type as doing so would repudiate my family's heritage. A little duck confit could make the longest business day worthwhile. Do you happen to recall the name of the place you described here?

Of course. How stupid of me. It is Montemartre, 200 block of C Street SE.