USA Restaurants

Our favorite restaurants in the US

Panchito’s, San Antonio

It's not worth the trip outside of downtown San Antonio to Panchito's, an inexpensive Mexican restaurant -- unless it's $2 margarita Thursday. Seriously, that was the best part of the adventure. The food was just mediocre. Nothing to go out of your way for. We tried the puffy taco with two flour tacos filled with meat, lettuce, tomato and cheese and served with rice and beans ($8.99); the chicken gorditas with thick hand pattie-corn tortillas with lettuce, tomato, cheese and guacamole also served with rice and refried beans ($7.99); and the shrimp fajita dinner ($11.99) of medium-sized shrimp with peppers and onions, served with flour tortillas, pico de gallo and [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:29-04:00November 27th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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The Optimist, Atlanta

The menu at the Optimist, one of Atlanta's hottest new restaurants, focuses on sustainable seafood prepared in a wood-burning oven. Its spacious vaulted building originally belonged to Talmadge Country Hams -- a space that designer Smith Hanes saved as much as possible while also modernizing it. We began with some fresh east coast ($2.75 each) and west coast oysters ($3.5 each) served on ice along with fresh horseradish. In addition, we tried their Maine mussels in a Thai green curry broth ($9) so flavorful that we asked for additional bread for sop it up. Don't miss the wood roasted beets in a smoky vinaigrette with horseradish and diced apple; or [...]

By |2017-08-31T14:08:46-04:00November 25th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Claire’s Moroccan Sweet Potatoes

Just in time for your holiday meal, this Moroccan recipe for sweet potatoes comes from Claire Criscuolo of Claire’s Corner Copia, a nationally acclaimed vegetarian restaurant in the heart of downtown New Haven. This healthful recipe is a great way to kick off the fall season as it's loaded with beta-carotine and fiber. Moroccan Sweet Potatoes Chef Claire Criscuolo, of Claire’s Corner Copia, New Haven 6 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes 3 medium carrots, cut on the diagonal into ½ inch slices 1 large yellow onion, slice into ¼-inch rings ¼ cup olive oil 1 teaspoon cinnamon ¼ cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla extract ¼ cup golden [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:40:23-04:00November 20th, 2012|Breads, Sides & Salads, Recipes, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Rosario’s Mexican Cafe y Cantina, San Antonio

Rosario's Mexican Cafe y Cantina is walking distance from most downtown San Antonio hotels, but is not on the Riverwalk. It's where locals go. Earlier this year, city folk chose Rosario's  salsa as the best in San Antonio. We nibbled the tortilla chips with that spicy fresh made salsa while sipping our margarita's and perusing the menu. We decided on the chicken chipotle with grilled chicken breast over sauteed spinach, topped with a creamy chipotle sauce, and served with poblano rice ($10.95);  the Griselda's tacos callejeros with three corn tortillas lightly grilled, spread with black beans and filled with shredded chicken, cabbage lime slaw, fresh avocado and queso fresco ($10.25); [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:30-04:00November 16th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Meatfest November 15, Mesa, AZ

Il Vinaio Restaurant, in its tradition of serving its guests an extensive array of cuisine seldom seen on local menus, continues with the 4th Annual Meatfest to be held Thursday November 15, 2012 at the restaurant 270 West Main Street, Mesa, AZ. The menu includes a variety of fowl, seafood and meats complimented with several side dishes. The meal is All You Can Eat and Dine In only, for only $48 per person,  including a glass of wine or pint of beer.  The Meatfest will include Ostrich Medallions Bernaise, Live Crawfish Boil, Slow Roasted Duck Legs, Grilled Kangaroo Brats, Braised Short Ribs, Garlic Snow Crab Clusters, and Herb Roasted Prime [...]

By |2017-09-01T15:04:49-04:00November 13th, 2012|USA Restaurants, USA Travel, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Rio Balsas Taqueria, Cumming, GA

I stopped by Rio Balasa small authentic Mexican taqueria in Cumming, Georgia last month. Having heard that their shrimp appetizer was recognized by the city of Cumming as the Best Appetizer of 2012,  I had to sample it. This award-winning fiesta shrimp ($7.75)  included 8 lightly fried shrimp and five different peppers bathed in a spicy sweet pineapple sauce all drizzled with chipotle mayo. It alone is worth the trip. Of course, don't forget to wash that down with their signature margarita! For dinner, we shared the incredible tender steak tacos (Three for $9.99) filled with marinated & grilled skirt steak, diced onions, cilantro and red salsa; and grilled fish [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:22:44-04:00November 13th, 2012|USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Marrakesh – A secret restaurant gem

Listed in a Zagat article as a “Hidden Restaurant” — a place that you may walk right by it — we decided to try Marrakesh (517 South Leithgow St in Philadelphia).  When the driver pulled up at the end of the block, we all looked down the narrow street like a scene out of Harry Potter.  We could see a light and an awning and walked towards it. At Marrakesh it is customary to knock or ring the doorbell instead of walking right in -- it's like being welcomed into a home.  Oh well, we’ll remember that for the next time. The photos of Mick Jagger, Cher, Elton John and [...]

By |2017-08-31T20:50:54-04:00November 12th, 2012|USA Restaurants|1 Comment
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New Haven November Restaurant Week

New Haven Restaurant Week runs from Sunday, November 11 to Friday, November 16, featuring a variety of restaurants offering prix-fixe menus for lunch  ($18) and/or dinner ($32.00). Prices are per person and do not include beverage, tax, or gratuity. For additional information or to see a full listing of participating restaurants and their menus, click here -guest contributor

By |2017-08-31T15:40:23-04:00November 9th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Kitchen Little, Mystic, Connecticut

I was passing through Mystic, Connecticut and decided to stop at Kitchen Little, a tiny stand-alone house that was just a few yards from the entrance to the Mystic Seaport.  Many years ago I had shared my love of the breakfast place by writing about it in both The New York Times and in Yankee Magazine. And whenever we were nearby when the boys were growing up, they insisted we stop for owner Flo Klewan's unusual and hearty breakfasts. Kitchen Little isn't so little anymore!  The restaurant relocated near the Mystic River Marina and some days offers three meals a day. You can even have wine and beer. At the [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:30-04:00November 9th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Parish Foods & Goods, Atlanta

Parish Foods & Goods in the Inman Park area had served the foods of New Orleans, but no longer. Don't go there wanting your basket of beignets, but do go for a pleasant atmosphere, attentive service and good food. In lieu of those New Orleans favorites, you'll get small madelines dusted with powdered sugar. I started with their "in cold blood screwdriver" ($9) made with Absolut and blood orange puree. Refreshing, but bit disappointing as the juice didn't have a true blood orange flavor. The staff brought me another one, made in a different fashion (without the splash of regular oj), sadly it was still not redolent of fresh blood [...]

By |2017-08-31T14:08:46-04:00November 7th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Victoria’s Bistro at the Spring House Hotel, Block Island

Victoria's Bistro was the most convenient place to dine on Block Island, as it was in the Spring House Hotel, a Victorian-style inn, where we stayed. We sampled their unusual fried eggplant "Napoleon," layered with herb ricotta cheese and garlic roasted tomatoes, topped with wilted spinach and drizzled with basil oil ($10). The tender grilled calamari sat atop a garlicky broccoli rabe and sausage saute and a chickpea puree, all drizzled with a smoked paprika oil ($11). Our spinach salad had thinly sliced pear, lots of walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese, in a light refreshing pomegranate vinaigrette ($9). Seared diver scallops were cooked just right, but — for the price of $27 [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:30-04:00November 1st, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse’s Forty-Six Diamonds 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Fleming’s has a new boutique private label wine – Forty-Six Diamonds 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Forty-Six Diamonds 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon will be available in each of Fleming’s 64 restaurants across the U.S. starting November 1. This limited edition premium boutique wine is produced exclusively with Hall’s estate grown grapes from its vineyards in Napa Valley. Quantities are extremely limited and prior allotments have sold out quickly. The wine is a Bordeaux-style blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot, sourced from the Hardester Ranch Vineyard in Napa’s Pope Valley, with 12% each of Merlot and Syrah come from Hall’s Napa River Ranch Vineyard. Beginning with the 2004 vintage, [...]

By |2017-08-31T14:08:46-04:00October 30th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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NoMa Social, New Rochelle

NoMa Social (One Radisson Plaza, New Rochelle, 914-576-4141) has recently received numerous awards including "Best of Westchester 2012," "New and Noteworthy 2012" by Zagat, "Best Wood Oven Pizza" by Journal News in June 2012, "One of Westchester's 50 Hot Spots" by Westchester Magazine in May 2012, and "Top 5 New Comers" by Journal News in August 2012. And a recent New York Times  review called their Farm Egg in Purgatory "deliriously good."  The restaurant is currently celebrating it's six month anniversary.    

By |2017-08-31T16:19:30-04:00October 28th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Waterhouse Oyster Bar and Bistro

They did it again; this time the Franco-Camachos opened their newest hot spot — Waterhouse Oyster Bar and Bistro — on Main Street in Branford adjacent to Tacuba. (That's their taco bar serving Mexican street food.)  If you live in the New Haven area, you know this creative pair -- they're the one's who I credit for elevating the New Haven dining scene when — in 1999 — they opened the now-defunct Roomba. Love the simplicity of the bright white walls and sliding glass windows of this nautically themed restaurant where you'll find a raw bar and lots of fresh seafood entrees. You'll start your meal with their freshly made [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:30-04:00October 26th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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A Trip to Montérégie

Consider a trip to Montérégie, the agricultural territory on the south side of the St. Lawrence lowland, just outside of Montreal, midway between Quebec and Ottawa. I toured the area recently, as a guest of the Department of Tourism of Quebec. Montérégie is an interesting blend of culture, heritage and agricultural tourism with lots outdoor activities, including hundreds of miles of bikeways. Consider touring — as we did — the cider mills, orchards and vineyards for tastings and to discover the owners’ passion for their libations and terrior. Each stop described below is unique in its facility and beverage making, and is welcoming in their own way. We began our [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:31-04:00October 15th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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The Stone Hearth to open in Westville, CT

The owners of Delaney’s, the popular Westville spot known for their specialty beer selection, will be opening Stone Hearth this fall  about a block away from Delaney’s. The neighborhood restaurant will be using farm to table ingredients, cooked in a wood-fired oven and served in a bistro environment. Stone Hearth will be located on the corner of Whalley Ave. & West Rock Road, across from Edgewood Park with a window-wrapped dining room providing on-the-park and on-the-avenue views. The lunch and dinner menus, although not yet finalized, will feature a mix of classic dishes and seasonal specialties. Offerings may include a Soup of the Day ($6.99); Crab Cakes (Eastern seaboard caught, freshly prepared $9.99); [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:40:23-04:00October 9th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|1 Comment
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Morsel’s Opened in Lobby of the OMNI Hotel at Yale

I've always enjoyed hanging out in hotel lobbies and doing a bit of people watching.  And now, I can do that with a drink in hand! Morsel's has opened in the lobby of the OMNI Hotel at Yale. It's a coffee shop by day and wine and beer bar by night that's open to the public.  From  6 am – 10 am Monday through Friday,  and 7 am – 11 am  Saturday and Sunday, purchase freshly brewed Starbucks coffee - yes, authentic Starbucks Coffee!, a selection of snacks,  gifts and Yale merchandise. Then, from 4 pm - 7 pm, Morsel’s offers  gourmet cheeses ($6-$14); charcuterie ($12), Mediterranean hummus with pitas [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:40:24-04:00October 7th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Resto Le Comptoir, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada

At Resto Le Comptoir, chef  Jean-Mathieu Bouchard prepares small plates using local ingredients. We sampled most of his rich menu as we each ordered three or four of his offerings. The chef chooses to bring out dishes as they are ready — good for the kitchen, not so for the table as some people are eating while others have nothing in front of them. Thank goodness the group I was with  shared, so that we all ate at the same time. We started with delicious D'Iberville cheese with caramelized onions, cranberries and an almond crisp($8). The fattiness of the Ardennes pork belly with leeks was cut a bit by the [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:32-04:00October 6th, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Yolande’s Bistro & Creperie to Open This Month, New Haven

I was invited to a special sneak peek tasting of Yolande’s Bistro & Creperie, the new French bistro that will open on Orange St., in the spot formerly occupied by Central Steakhouse. Owner Yolande Lacan, who jokingly refers to her life growing up as, "“kind of like Eloise at the Plaza," lived at hotels and inns throughout the East Coast operated by her family. We enjoyed a cup of French onion soup, with bubbling cheese on top of a thick slice of bread, while we watched Stephanie — her cook — create crepes at a communal table adjacent to the kitchen. We sampled savory crepes, made with naturally gluten free buckwheat [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:40:24-04:00October 2nd, 2012|USA Restaurants, xyz misc|1 Comment
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Miami Grovetoberfest October 2012

Miami Grovetoberfest takes place on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at Peacock Park in Coconut Grove, Florida from 3:00-7:00 p.m. with unlimited beer from around the world. Grovetoberfest will hold a “Miami’s Best Homebrew Contest” presented by BX Beer Depot. The winner’s beer will be available at a local restaurant/bar for the rest of the year. Contest is only open to home brewers. Grovetoberfest will offer by  a  sweepstakes in conjunction with Beer Magazine and Draft that will give one lucky winner and a guest the VIP treatment, including roundtrip airfare, 2-night hotel accommodations at Sonesta Bayfront Hotel Coconut Grove, VIP tickets to the event, a Jet-Ski tour and a Deep-Sea [...]

By |2017-09-01T15:06:30-04:00September 30th, 2012|USA Restaurants, USA Travel, xyz misc|0 Comments
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