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ATLANTA
BACCHANALIA -- Could be the best restaurant in a city not particularly known for great ones . . . Only way to describe the food is "American" (you'll understand once you are there) . . . prepare to spend $140 or a couple (or more if you even moderately splurge on wine) . . . you'll need reservations . . . 404-365-0410.
BONE'S -- This (and Chops) is Atlanta's famous and probably its best steak house . . . it's in the Buckhead area and it's an Atlanta institution . . . the steaks are huge, the side dishes are terrific . . . I was there last in October 2006, watched the Cardinals on TV in the World Series in the bar and had a terrific time . . . 404-237-2663.
LA GROTTA -- Atlanta's best Italian place . . . in the Crowne Plaza Ravinia Hotel . . . try one of the fancy sounding pasta dishes or veal . . . 770-395-9925.
PANO & PAUL'S -- Some people rate this as Atlanta's best . . . I think it's overrated . . . it's a tad stuffy (coats are required), it's also in the Buckhead area . . . if you go, you might try their famous dish, the fried lobster tail . . . 404-261-3662.
RITZ CARLTON -- 181 Peachtree Street (downtown) . . . 404-659-0400 -- Had dinner there in October '06 for the first time in many years . . . it was much, much better than the last time, although -- as you might expect -- it's very pricey . . . the appetizers are wonderful; I had a canteloupe & line soup (cold) with a tower of fresh lump crab meat in the middle and the mix was both interesting and wonderful . . . the service was good, but not great . . .
BIRMINGHAM
HIGHLANDS GRILL -- 205-939-1400 (In the Five Points Area) -- Gourmet Magazine rates this as one of the five best restaurants in the country. I don't think I'd rate it that high, but it's definitely in my top 25. The seafood dishes are fabulous, but so are some of the meat dishes. Get several appetizers and split them. If you can get in, go.
OCEANS -- A fabulous seafood place, as good as any you would find in, say, New York. Don't pass up a chance to go there.
BOTTEGA -- On Highland Avenue -- 205-939-1000. This is also a very special place, maybe not quite in the league with Highlands, but close. If you can't get in Highlands then make it a point to try Bottega. Be experimental when you order.
DREAMLAND -- A barbecue ribs place, but even if you think no place makes ribs like they do in Memphis, these are worth a try. The original DREAMLAND is in Tuscaloosa, but the Birmingham one is plenty good.
BRIGHT STAR -- In Bessemer, about 20 to 30 minutes south of Birmingham. It's famous, it's very, very casual and it's very, very good. Go for the seafood dishes.
JOHN'S -- There's just one way to describe this place. It's a downtown joint. It's never very crowded at night because downtown Birmingham is not exactly thriving after dark. Get an order of their slaw with the special house dressing as an appetizer. You read it right. Slaw as an appetizer. Then get a seafood dish because this is a seafood dish. Forget the meat dishes . . . you'll be disappointed if you order one. If they have the West Indies salad on the menu (sometimes they do, sometimes they don't), get it. The lump crab meat on it is in the league with crab meat served in some of the better New Orleans restaurants.
CHARLOTTE
Downtown Area -- CW FINN - a little pricey, but the chef is from New Orleans and apparently knows his stuff . . . RIRA -- Irish pub, sports bar . .. CAPITOL GRILLE -- an old standby and plenty good . . . CARPE' DIEM -- reports are that it's special . . . MORTON'S . . . part of the steak chain and there's another one in the South Park shopping mall area . . . Coco's . . . very casual, very good Italian place.
Near Downtown -- SULLIVAN'S -- good steakhouse on South Boulevard . . . MCINTOSH'S -- another good steakhouse, also on South Boulevard --- 131 MAIN - it's on East Boulevard and it has very good reviews.
Southpark Shopping Mall Area -- NOBLE'S -- One of Charlotte's best fine dining places . . .ROOSTER'S . . . same owner as Noble's, casual and you can 'craft' your own menu there . . . there's also t-v watching in their wine bar and two t-v's at the bar in the main part of the restaurant . . . ZEBRA'S -- a chef from one of Charlottle's better country clubs opened this place . . . it's fine dining and the word is that the food is very, very good.
Other Places -- FENWICK'S -- located between downtown and Southpark area . . . casual, very fresh food, great steak sandwiches, fried oyster salads . . . LUCE . . . Italian, same ownership as Coco's downtown . . . DEAN & DELUCCA'S . . . if you've been to the one in New York, then you know what it's all about here . . . part upscale grocery, part sandwich and salad place and really, really good . . . UPSTEAM -- near Dean & Delucca and it comes highly recommended . . . PALM -- part of the famous steak chain, but did you know it serves up a terrific crab cake apppetizer (that many get for a main course) and make sure you get an order of hash browns for the table (one order is plenty for the table unless your part numbers more than six people).
CINCINNATI
MAISONETTE -- (TERRIBLE NEWS: Maisonette has closed . . . it may be just temporary until a new location is found -- read the review anyway if you just want to read about a great restaurant that was.) Just go there because this is one of the top five to 10 restaurants in the country. Yes, it's a tad fancy, yes, it's a (just a little) pricey, yes, it's French, but it is absolutely wonderful . . . When the Tigers played in the 1985 Final Four at Rupp Arena, on the drive there four of us drove 75 miles past Lexington to Cincinnati just to have dinner at Maisonette, then drove the 75 miles back to Lexington and checked into our hotel . . . That's right, 150 miles out of our way just to have dinner, but it's that good . . . dined there once by myself when I was there on a business trip and there was another lone diner at the next table; Ernest Borgnine was all by himself, too and we talked and marveled about the place . . . it's downtown, near the arena . . . the phone number is 513-721-2260.
PALACE -- Also French, also wonderful, also pricey, also downtown, in the Cincinnatian Hotel on Vine Street. Save room for dessert because the pastries are fabulous . . . 513-381-6006.
PHOENIX -- Sort of an elegant bistro; it's moderately priced, but incredibly quite good with unreal service . . . also downtown . . . 513-721-8901.
JEAN -ROBERT AT PIGALL'S -- New, but the longtime chef from Maisonette is running the kitchen . . . understand I haven't been there, but early word is that it's quite good. It's also downtown (Cincinnati never lost its downtown) . . . it's French, too (Cincinnati always has had great French restaurants) and Pigall's used to be a near equal to Maisonette before it fell on hard times and eventually closed . . . 513-721-1345.
JEFF RUBY'S -- This is the great Cincinnati steak house, more or less the Palm, Morton's, Ruth's Chris and Folk's Folly all rolled into one . . . the menu is extensive and so is the wine list . . . not cheap, but neither are the other good steak places . . . this one is on the line of, say, Bone'e in Atlanta . . . in other words, it's worth it . . . it, too, is downtown, on 7th and Walnut . . . last time the C-USA tournament was in Cincy, dozens of Tiger fans enjoyed it . . . 513-784-1200.
AIOLI -- Fairly inexpensive downtown place with some very unusual but very good dishes . . . 513-929-0525.
NICOLA'S -- Haven't been there, but some think this is the best place in the city for Italian food . . . 513-721-6200.
DALLAS
LOLA -- Some insist this is the best place in the Dallas-Forth Worth area . . . the menu is very, very creative . . . it also places special emphasis on wines . . . 214-855-0700 for reservations.
YORK STREET -- Maybe the best kept secret in the whole area . . . small, a little funky, a little out of the way, but definitely worth the trouble . . . 214-826-0968 . . . Prepare to spend about $50 to $60 per person.
NANA GRILL -- In the Wyndham Anatole Hotel, which means it's conveniently located . . . elegant, pricey and good . . . and the view is startling because the restaurant is on the top floor of the hotel . . . 214-761-7470.
FRENCH ROOM -- Classic, elegant French restaurant in the Adolphus Hotel . . . this is my favorite or co-favorite (with the one just below) restaurant in the city . . . great place to spend New Year's Eve if they have room for you.
JAVIER'S GOURMET MEXICANO -- 4912 Cole Avenue -- 214-521-4211 -- you would expect to find some good Mexican restaurants in Big D . . . this one not good; it's really good . . . but don't go expecting Tex-Mex type of stuff like tacos and enchiladas because they aren't served here . . . for an appetizer try the Garlic Shrimp Guaymas (also served as a main course) or the guacamole (which, unfortunately, is no longer prepared right at your table) . . . the main course menu is divided into categories (chicken, seafood, etc.), but look especially hard at the ones under the "House Specials" category and then go for the Red Snapper Mojo De Ajo (had it in March '06 when the U of M was in Big D for the NCAA tournament) . . . under the entrees, several are quite good, especially the veal that's stuffed with ham and cheese and the filet, which is sauteed with a fabulous sauce and served with black beans and vegetables . . . even though some say it's overrated, it's still worth a trip because it's also a fun place. . . . Another Mexican place with a terrific reputation (I haven't been there) is CIUDAD at Oak Lawn Boulevard . . . It's not Tex-Mex either.
CAFE PACIFIC -- 24 Highland Park Village -- 214-526-1170 --- went there (twice) when the U of M went to Big D for the NCAA basketball tournament and left both times thinking there's not a better restaurant in the city, in fact, there are not many better restaurants in any city . . . they serve a sole dish that's to die for, but there's nothing that's not terrific . . . you don't get anything that's not fresh . . . the place is a little dressy, but it's not terribly expensive . . . the service here is beyond outstanding . . . the other really good seafood place is OCEANAIRE, which is located in the Galleria area and features an extraordinary number fresh seafood selections.
THE MANSION ON TURTLE CREEK --- Probably the most famous restaurant in the city . . . Southwestern type food similar to some of the really good Southwestern restaurants in Sante Fe but much more expensive than the ones there . . . it's good, really good, but be prepared to go there with really big bucks . . . 2821 Turtle Creek . . . 214-599-2100 . . . I'd go to Javier's way before I'd go here, but if you want to say you've been to the Mansion, then have at it.
AVANTI RISTORANTE -- 2720 McKinley . . . 214-871-4955 . . . went there when the U of M was in the NCAA basketball tournament and found that it's dropped a notch since the last time I was there . . . it's darned good, but stay away from the lamb dish (so peppery it drowns out the real taste) . . . the linguini is unusual because it not only features clams, but it also includes mussels . . . not far away is another restaurant that has received good reviews, ABACUS at 3699 McKinley . . . haven't been there, but supposedly it somehow blends Asian and Southwestern dishes . . . sounds interesting, but don't blame me if you don't like it.
BIG D STEAK HOUSES
You'd expect countless steak restaurants in Dallas and they've got 'em, including all the chains -- Ruth's Chris, Morton's, the Palm, etc. But they've also got some dynamite local ones, including:
BOB'S STEAK AND CHOP HOUSE -- 4300 Lemmon Avenue -- 214-528-9446 . . . this is one of the local favorites, but don't get anything here except the beef . . . everything else is just so-so.
PAPPAS BROTHERS -- 10477 Lombardy Lane -- the locals swear by this place . . . I've only been once, it was good, but no better than the chains except that it has a fabulous wine list.
PERRY'S --- This might be the best of them all . . . not only are the steaks terrific, but so are the appetizers and the salads and just about everything else, including the ambience . . . 2911 Routh Street . . . 214-871-9991.
FLEMING'S PRIME STEAKHOUSE -- 18020 Dallas Parkway -- 972-267-3050 . . . about what you would expect, but like Fleming's everywhere, they offer an incredible number of wines by the glass . . . the problem with that is you have no way of knowing how long the bottle has been open.
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
There are a surprising number of really good places to eat in the area. Here are few suggestions:
THEO'S -- brand new, where Nick's used to be. Really good atmosphere, valet parking and an open kitchen sourrounded by banquettes. Don't pass up the scallop appetizer with bacon.
An area just outside of Fayetteville proper is called Tonitown. It's a true Italian community and there are two good places to eat there, both informal, both fun. One place is Mary Maestri's. The pasta there is homemade and it's the thing to order, along with steak. The other Tonitown restaurant is Venesian Inn. It's even more casual than Mary Maestri's and you take your own wine there. The steaks and pasta are quite good there, but save room for their homemade rolls.
One of the better restaurants in town is Nick's, which is in the process of changing its name to Chloe's. It is sort of upscale, it offers an excellent wine list and the steaks -- while we don't want to overdo them -- are very good, too.
There is a wonderful Italian restaurant in downtown Fayetteville called Bordino's. It's on Dickson, has a really good wine list and the steak with rissoto is quite good. But you had better call right now for reservations. A very upscale and very good restaurant is called James at the Mill. It's on the dressy casual side, but it's difficult to make menu recommendations because it changes almost daily.
My personal favorite place in Fayetteville is Herman's (it's Frank Broyles' favorite place, too). It's on College Street, the city's main drag. It's famous for ribs, and they are surprisingly good there, even if you're accustomed to ribs in the Memphis barbecue restaurants. They also cut their own steaks and at closing time at night, they grind up steaks they don't sell and make fabulous steak sandwiches the next day at lunch. They don't have them every day, but they almost always have them on football Saturdays.
Another interesting place on College Street is the Sweetwater Cafe. It even has a cigar/martini bar.
Ole Miss fans might be interested in knowing there's a Doe's in Fayetteville, but it's not as good as the one in Greenville.
HOUSTON
MARK'S AMERICAN CUISINE -- 1658 Westheimer Road, 713-523-3800 . . . this may be the best fine dining restaurant in the city and the prices reflect it . . . very creative menu . . . reservations can be very difficult.
CAFE ANNIE --- 1728 Post Oak Boulevard, 713-840-1111 . . . not far from the Galleria (though not a walk) . . . I love this place and am going there Saturday night . . . Southwestern food and it's absolutely great.
BRENNAN'S OF HOUSTON -- 3300 Smith Street, 713-522-9711 . . . this is a real Brennan's, owned and operated by the New Orleans folks with a similar menu to the Brennan's on Rue Royal in the French Quarter . . . fabulous Sunday brunch . . . coat and tie are required.
CHEZ NOUS -- 2177 S. Avenue G in Humble, TX (Houston suburb), 281-446-6717 . . . if Mark's is not the best fine dining place, then this one is . . . French food (get the duck).
GOODE COMPANY SEAFOOD -- two locations, at 10211 Katy Freeway (713-464-1901) and 2621 Westpark Drive (713-523-7154) . . . probably the best seafood place in the city . . . try the mesquite grilled fishes . . . also the Goode Company owns two Texas barbecue places right by the seafood places and if you're into Texas barbecue these are the places to go.
MOCKINGBIRD BISTRO -- 1985 Welch Street, 713-553-0200 . . . near the fancy River Oaks shopping area . . . typical bistro food (and all the reviewers say the French fries are the best ever).
Los Tios -- across from Meyey Land Mall -- TexMex at its best.
Divino Italian Restaurant -- 713-807-1123 . . . the locals love it . . . and it's not very expensive.
Rickshaw Japense/Chinese -- 713-942-7272 . . . really good Asian fare (also Houston has a very large Vietnamese population and, therefore, has all kinds of really good Vietnamese places that are dumpy looking but terrific . . . just ask around for the names of a couple of them.
PASHA'S -- 713-592-0020 . . . if you're looking for something really unusual, this is your place . . . it's Turkish food here.
DA MARCO -- 1520 Westheimer Road, 713-807-8857 . . . really good Italian with an excellent wine list and a patio where you can eat outside on a good night.
QUATTRO -- 1300 Lamar Street in the Four Seasons Hotel downtown, 713-276-4700 . . . really, really good . . . sort of a combination American and Italian menu . . . specializes in game dishes.
PAPPAS BROTHERS STEAKHOUSE -- 5839 Westehiemer Road, 713-780-7352 . . . sister steak place to the one in Dallas and as good as, if not better, than any of the chain steak houses (except maybe the Ruth's Chris, which is one of the best of that chain anywhere).
SIMPOSIO -- 5591 Richmond Avenue, 713-532-0550 . . . wonderful Northern Italian. . . . hope to go there Thursday night.
TONY'S -- 1801 Post Oak Boulevard, 713-622-6778 . . . an old Houston standby and still one of the most popular restaurants in the city . . . in the Galleria area and expensive.
KANSAS CITY
PLAZA III -- In the Country Club Plaza shopping agrea. A lot of folks insist this is the best place for steaks but in a city known for the Kansas City strip, there really aren't that many steakhouses other than known ones (Ruth's Chris, etc.) This one is fine, but nothing to turn flips over.
LIDIA -- Went when the Tigers were in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Italian. Might be best place to go in the city. It has a sister restaurant -- Felidia -- in New York City that's also terrific.
CAFE SEBASTIENNE -- In the Kemper Museum of Art. Really good place for lumch -- and dinner but at nights it's only open on Fridays and Saturdays.
CAPITAL GRILLE -- Good place, good menu that focuses on steak. It's downtown.
LE FOU FROG -- French bistro in the River Market area and it's considered a terrific place, but always crowded.
STROUD'S -- They have two locations. This is down home food, but it's really, really good and there's usually lines outside the doors.
PEPPERCORN DUCK CLUB -- Known as one of KC's better restaurants, it's in the Hyatt Crown Plaza. And it's expensive.
SAVOY GRILL -- Downtown in the Savoy Hotel, but with its own entrance. It's heavy on seafood, it's reasonable and it's good.
THE BRISTOL -- Really good seafood in the Country Club Plaza area.
Arthur Bryant's -- 1727 Brooklyn Avenue in the Crown Center area . . . believe it or not, Kansas City also is known for barbecue and this is its most famous place . . . it's good, really good. . . Memphians who love their barbecue ought to try it, if for nothing else than for comparison purposes . . . lunch would be a good idea . . . it opens early, at 10 a.m . . . when you go through the line, somebody should get the rib tips.
AMERICAN -- 200 E. 25th Street in the Crown Center area . . . 816-426-1133 . . . some think this is the best place in a city not known for fine dining . . . the view is good here and the wine list is terrific . . . but as a whole, I think the place is a bit overrated.
STARKER'S RESERVE -- 201 W. 47th Street, 816-753-3565 . . . this is another of the best places in a city that really doesn't have great restaurants . . . but there are a number of good things here -- the sole florentine, the pork tenderloin, the duck and the appetizers, though limited in number, also are quite good, especially the seared foie gras . . . be prepared to spend 50 bucks a head, not counting wine or drinks.
JJ's -- 910 West 48th Street, 816-561-7136 (near the famous Country Club Plaza shopping center) . . . this is KC's other gourmet place with especially good appetizers, notably Oysters Santa Fe and the stuffed artichoke . . . again, it's not fabulous, just good.
CITY TAVERN -- 101 W. 22nd Street, 816-421-3696 . . . new (about a year old) and haven't been there, but the reports on it are quite good . . . one interesting recommendation is the seafood pot pie.
KNOXVILLE
Many fans flock to the places on the river along Neyland Drive, near the football stadium. Don't go to them. They just aren't worth it, unless you're really into sports bar grub.
Best place in the city is Chesapeake, downtown. It's probably the best seafood restaurant in the state.
Still around is the fancy French place, Le Orangery, in the western part of the city on Kingston Pike. It's a little like Justine's was in Memphis, but not as good.
Regas -- also on Gay Street -- was another Knoxville institution for years and years, but suddenly closed a couple of years ago. But the family has re-opened it in the same location. We haven't been there since the re-opening, but reports on it are positive.
The usual chain places -- Chili's, etc. -- are on and near Kingston Pike in the west part of the city.
LITTLE ROCK
RISTORANTE CAPEO -- 425 N. Main Street, North Little Rock . . . not far from Alltel Arena . . . I went there on Saturday night before the Memphis-Mississippi State game in the 2008 NCAA basketball tournament . . . got the lamb shank and it was only great; a friend had the Osso Bucco and he said it was the best he ever had anywhere and he's been around . . . the appetizers were terrific; in fact, everything was . . . there's also a very good Italian wine list . . . it's a don't miss place.
FERNEAU'S -- located in the Heights area of Little Rock . . . many think it's the best restaurant in the city and it well may be . . . continental menu, good atmosphere.
BRAVE NEW RESTAURANT -- one of my favorite places; was there last in July '07 . . . not far from downtown, off of Cantrell in an office building . . . great view of the river and the Clinton museum . . . the menu is not particularly imaginative, but it's good enough and it's dependable.
ASHLEY'S -- very upscale and very, very good . . . in the newly remodeled Capital Hotel, across the street from the Peabody . . . the menu is somewhat limited, but it's quite creative . . . the Sunday brunch is outstanding.
ARGENTA SEAFOOD -- 521 Main Street in North Little Rock . . . also not far from the basketball arena . . . far and away the best place for seafood . . . the appetizers are terrific.
VELO ROUGE -- across the street from the Peabody . . . good for both lunch and dinner . . . homemade potato chips come with many items . . . the romaine lettuce salad (either with shrimp or chicken) is a healthy choice.
ITALIAN COUPLE -- on 3rd Street downtown . . . dumpy place, but the food is quite good and it's very inexpensive.
FLYING FISH -- on the other side of the street from the Peabody Hotel and toward the Clinton museum . . . a clone of the place by the same name on Second Street in Memphis and like the one in Memphis, it's inexpensive and it's not especially good, but it's also not bad. . . decent for a quickie lunch.
LOUISVILLE
(Note: Louisville is not known for its restaurants. And it shouldn't be.)
FERD GRISANTI -- That's right, "Grisanti." But, no, they're not related. This Grisanti's also has been around a long time. It's Italian, naturally. It's a little on the fancy side, but it's quite good. It's not Ronnie's, but it's well worth the visit.
RUTH'S CHRIS -- One of the best ones in the chain.
PORCINI -- Also Italian, also very good.
MORTON'S -- You've surely have been to one in other cities. This is another prime steak house chain, but it's good and it's expensive.
PAT'S STEAK HOUSE --- Many locals prefer this over Morton's. I do too.
JACK FRY'S -- Really good, really popular. Steaks and seafood.
LYNN'S PARADISE CAFE --- Go there for breakfast on your way to Freedom Hall. You won't see out of towners there, which ought to tell you something.
BUCKHEAD'S --- This is on the other side of the river in Indiana, but it's right on the over. Get off on the first I-65 exit once you cross the river. This is actually a sports bar with better than average sports bar food. Good place to go watch basketball on t-v. Also has a good view of the Louisville skyline.
MOBILE
OSMAN'S -- 2579 Hall's Mill Road -- 251-479-0006 . . . very small, a little off the beaten path, but a bistro with a very, very good reputation . . . limited menu, including limited wine list, but you can bring your own . . . the seafood catches of the day are usually the thing to get.
CAPTAIN'S TABLE -- 2701 Battleship Parkway -- 251-433-3790 . . . been around for quite a while . . . word is the oysters Rockefeller is a signature item here . . . so is the ribeye steak.
NAN SEAS -- 4170 Bayfront Road -- 251-479-9132 . . . an off-the-beaten path seafood joint that has really good gumbo and even better softshell crabs, excellent gumbo and fried shrimp.
DEW DROP INN -- 1808 Old Shell Road -- 251-473-7872 . . . only open at night until 8, but closed Sundays, open only from 11 to 3 on Mondays and Saturdays, but despite the odd hours this is an unusual place . . . try it for late breakfast or lunch . . . oyster crab omelette po boys are a speciality . . . the gumbo is good and word is the onion rings are among the best.
WINGS SPORTS GRILLE --- 3673 Airport Boulevard -- 251-344-2131 . . . this is a branch of Bob Baumhower's places in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa . . . you are likely to bump into former Alabama players who live in the Mobile area most anytime . . . the NY strip is really good, so are the onion rings and his grilled fish po boy is supposedly the thing to get (and speaking of branches, there's a branch of Tuscaloosa's DREAMLAND in Mobile, too, but why anyone from the Memphis area would go for ribs in Mobile would be one of life's great mysteries) . . . obviously, wings (Buffalo, not Alabama) also are the thing here.
THE PILLARS -- 1757 Government Street -- 251-471-3411 . . . from all accounts this is probably the best restaurant -- maybe by far -- in the area . . . it also has an interesting background . . . the owners Matt and Regina Shipp, former owner of the Justine's in Mobile, a fine dining place that had some sort of loose connection with the old Justine's in Memphis . . . like the Memphis Justine's, the Pillars is located in a two-story ante-bellum style home that is full of antiques . . . Matt Shipp is the chef; Regina takes care of the front . . . prime steaks are good, but seafood is better . . . the red snapper is said to be terrific . . . reservations are a must.
WINTZELL'S OYSTER HOUSE -- the good news is that there are four Wintzell's, including one downtown (which some swear is the best of the four and others say there's no reason to go anywhere else in the whole area than the downtown Wintzell's) . . . Wintzell's is the best of the oyster places, but there another good one (see below) . . . oysters? they got 'em . . . on the half shell, Rockefeller, Bienville, Alredo, Parmesan, steamed, fried, stewed and, yes, even Buffalo oysters, as in Buffalo wings . . . the seafood gumbo is consistently voted number one gumbo in the city . . . the fried green tomatoes are more interesting than usual because a creole crawfish sauce accompanies them . . . they accept reservations. here's a phone number for one of the four of them: 251-341-1111.
ORIGINAL OYSTER HOUSE -- 1775 Battleship Parkway -- 251-928-2620 . . . sort of like Wintzell's . . . plenty good and some really interesting stuff, such as crawfish (not hush) puppies, crab claws and good gumbo.
FELIX'S FISH CAMP -- 1530 Battleship Parkway in the Spanish Fort area . . . 251-626-6710 . . . good fried and broiled seafoods, including big platters . . . fun place.
BUD'S -- sort of like Felix's, but cheaper . . . also located on Battleship Parkway . . . good views of the bay.
BLUEGILL -- 3775 Battleship Parkway . . . burgers, fajitas, gumbo, Buffalo shrimp, sauteed shrimp, (fried) seafood platters.
ROUSSOS -- 30500 Highway 110 in the Spanish Fort area - 251-625-3386 . . . the oldest and the best of the area's seafood joints . . . celebrating its 50th anniversary this year . . . . this is the place to go if you don't go to Pillars or -- believe it or not -- Ruth's Chris . . . flounder is wonderful, fried, broiled, Greek style or stuffed . . . ditto for the grouper . . . soft shell crabs, crabmeat omelette, crak cakes, sauteed crabmeat (in wine and with mushrooms and green onions), baked crab, stuffed crab, crawfish cakes, fried oysters -- well, surely you have the hang of it by now.
RUTH'S CHRIS -- Read on --- 2058 Airport Boulevard -- 251-476-0516 . . . yes, you read it right, Ruth's Chris, like the Ruth's Chris in Memphis and practically every place else . . . but not like any Ruth's Chris you've been to . . . steaks aren't the only specialty here; so is the seafood . . . all kinds of good seafood dishes, but the West Indies salad (crabmeat) is a special treat . . . most Mobile residents will tell you their Ruth's Chris and The Pillars are the best places in the whole area.
NASHVILLE
CAFE NONA -- Small Italian, not fancy, but good food, good wine list and good prices.
CAFE MARGOT- Not in a good area (go past the stadium), but this is really a top notch bistro.
FLEMINGS -- Best place for steak and red wine, better than Palm.
PARK CAFE -- fun, eclectic and good.
SUNSET GRILL-- Also fun, with a very diverse menu.
NEW ORLEANS
(More than 600 restaurants have re-opened since Katrina)
DEANIE'S SEAFOOD -- Residents who vote in the New Orleans Magazine poll in the best restaurant category named this as the best seafood place in the city . . . that may be a bit of reach, but it's not much of one . . . Deanie's used to be one of those seafood joints on the lakefront, and it still is, but they've also recently opened a huge place in the French Quarter on the corner of Iberville and Dauphene (one block from Bourbon Street) . . . some things to recommend: gumbo (could be best in the city or, at least, second best to Galatoire's), the Italian salad (split it) and fried oysters . . . oh, ask your server to bring you a little remoulade sauce in a bowl and get some crackers and spread the sauce on them and enjoy . . . they're open at night, fairly late, but it's really good for lunch.
BON TON CAFE -- 401 Magazine Street . . . an old standby, but they serve up what may be the best crawfish etouffe anywhere . . . take note, this place is only open Mondays through Fridays. It's closed on Saturdays.
MANDINA'S-- 3800 Canal -- typical New Orleans joint, which means it must be good . . . it is . . . wonderful lunch, but good for a very, very casual and very, very inexpensive dinner . . . soups are good, including the gumbo, the sandwiches are great and the daily specials are wonderful . . . you won't find tourists here.
JACQUES-IMO'S (pronounced Jockimo) -- okay, know from the start this place is sort of funky and the younger crowd (thirty to fortyish) hangs out here . . . but the food is real New Orleans . . . don't laugh, but for an appetizer try the shrimp and alligator sausage cheesecake; REALLY, it's an appetizer . . . the fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade is also a wonderful appetizer . . . for main courses, the potato crusted fish dish should be ordered, but my preference is the Cajun Bouillabaisse, which has oysters, shrimp, mussels and other seafood in it . . . you can ride the St. Charles trolley to get to it, just get off near Oak Street and walk to the restaurant . . . it's at 8234 Oak Street . . . one other thing, somebody at your table should order the fried chicken (trust me) . . . and, if somebody is really daring, try the smothered rabbit with Jalapeno cornbread dressing. The bar is good, too.
PERISTYLE -- 1041 Dumaine, phone 504-539-9535 -- honest-to-goodness real country French and honest-to-goodness good. It's very small, so you'll need to call for reservations. This place is a gem.
PETUNIA'S -- 817 St. Louis Street -- terrific place for breakfast. Don't pass on the French toast.
MOSCA'S --- 4137 U.S. Highway 90 --- if you're willing to go to some inconvenience, in other words, about a 30 minute drive from town, you'll be glad you did once you've tried Mosca's . . . it's fantastic . . . the baked oysters with artichoke is one of their more famous dishes, but I've never had anything there that's not wonderful . . . the Italian shrimp is another terrific dish . . . from downtown, take Clairborne to the Jefferson Highway, cross the Huey B. Long Bridge to Highway 90 and you'll be closing in on it . . . Be warned: it's closed on Sundays and Mondays and they don't take credit cards, but it's still worth it.
RESTAURANT AUGUST --- 301 Tchoupitoulas, across from the Windsor Court Hotel (in other words, near Canal Place) . . . was fabulous the only time I have been there . . . it's fancy, but not stuffy and not cheap either and it's also not Cajun or Creole or typical New Orleans fare, but it is very, very good . . . the chef, John Besh, has a great reputation and he deserves it . . . fish dishes are superb, so are the soft shell crabs, even though they're lightly fried instead of sauteed . . . I've met the owner and know he's a fan of Caymus wine, which means he has good taste . . . reservations are a must (504-299-9777).
GALATOIRE'S -- On Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. Not only does this remain the best restaurant in a city known for great restaurants, it always has been and still is my very favorite restaurant in the whole country, maybe the whole planet . . . it's changed some over the years . . . there's an upstairs now, even a bar on the second floor (with terrific Bloody Marys) . . . some years back they even started accepting credit cards and they take reservations upstairs, but there's something about being downstairs that's better . . . since Katrina, another Galatoire's has opened in Baton Rouge, where many who lived in New Orleans before the storm are now new B.R. citizens.
There even are some new waiters, and some are even females. But some things about it haven't changed. Sport coats are still required at night. Appetizers? Galatoire's shrimp remoulade is the best anywhere, mainly because the remoulade sauce is so wonderful. It's not on the menu but you can order crab meat remoulade and it may be better than the shrimp version . . . their oysters Rockefeller are even better than they are at Antoine's, where the dish was dreamed up. The snails are the best this side of Burgundy in France. The gumbo is wonderful. Get the green salad with garlic and tell them to pile some crab meat on top of it or just mix it into the salad. Then have at whatever strikes you as a main course. I could go on forever about Galatoire's. I bet I've had at least 25 of their main courses and I've loved every single one of them, but nobody -- but nobody -- makes soft shell crabs any better . . . the pompano is unbelieveable too, especially when you tell them to put some crab meat on top of it. . . finally, have a cup of coffee when you are done. It's the best coffee in the Big Easy, better even than the coffee at the French Market places. Enjoy.
ANTOINE'S -- This can be almost as good at Galatoire's. If. If they know you there. Or if you go with somebody they know. Otherwise, forget it. You might not get their best effort. But if the circumstances are right, then it's incredible. The crab meat dishes are superb. So is the trout. So are their steaks. So are the side dishes, especially the potato puffs. They take reservations. It's not cheap. If you are dying to go, but don't know anybody there, ask for Darryl (if he's back following Katrina, he's very helpful). Have some sympathy here . . . they lost two million dollars worth of wine because of flooding from Katrina.
IRENE'S -- A gem, but it's hard to get in, even post-Katrina . . . on St. Phillip in the Quarter, between Chartres and Decautur . . . standard New Orleans food, but it's very special . . . I've been there twice (but not since Katrina) and loved it both times . . . so did all those who were with me . . . the menu changes practically every day, but if they have the stuffed flounder, try it . . . or the duck, which they do have most every day.
CLANCY'S -- On Webster Street near the River, away from downtown. Also standard New Orleans fare, also terrific . . . one dish is very unusual and very good, the smoked soft shell crab.
BRUNING'S -- One of two fish joints on the lakefront. If you're dying for crawfish and other boiled seafood, this is the place . . . the other place: Deanie's.
BON TON -- Great for lunch. They serve up the best etouffe in the city. Also a terrific, inexpensive place for dinner, but it's not open on Saturday nights. At 401 Magazine Street, on the other side of Canal . . . Reservations are necessary, so call 504-524-3386.
CASAMENTO'S -- On Magazine Street. A local favorite (Eli Manning heads there whenever he goes home) and if you go there, you'll see why . . . most everything is fried . . . fried oysters, fried shrimp, etc., but it's better, much better, than you'd expect.
MURIEL'S -- Sort of new, fancy, in the quarter, near the St. Louis Cathedral. Haven't been myself, but locals like it.
MOTHER'S -- On Poydras Street between the Quarter and the Dome. This is a lunch place. Everything is served cafeteria style, but this is not exactly the Picadilly. Go through the line and get what moves you. The gumbo. The po boy sandwiches. You might go a bit on the early side because even though the line moves fast, it can be long at times.
CAMELLIA GRILL -- A killer place for breakfast, especially a late breakfast. Take the St. Charles trolley. You sit on a stool at the counter. The hash browns are magnificent. It's hard to explain why their omlettes are so good. Trust me.
PASCAL MANALE'S -- On Napoleon Street (take a right off St. Charles). Famous for their barbecued shrimp, but other dishes are as good, if not better. Especially the oyster pan roast and the crab meat ravigotte. If you're willing to eat raw oysters (I'm not anymore), then have a few at the bar while you wait.
ACME -- In the Quarter. It, along with Casemento's, is the best oyster bar in the city.
COMMANDER'S PALACE -- This still might be the best of the fancier places. It's touristy, but good. Really good. The etouffe is to die for . . . so is the turtle soup.
TAKE OUT SEAFOOD MARKET (You provide the ice container, they'll pack it for you): SCHAFFER'S on Lake, off Veterans Highway, south of I-10 W, about 100to 200 yards from the levee . . . Easy to get to . . . Whatever you do, buy two or three quarts of their seafood gumbo because it's fabulous . . . When few other places have blue crabs, Shaffer's usually does . . . Their boiled crawfish is a little cheaper and better than at most places, about $1.75 a pound in season . . . Take home a couple of containers of their remoulade sauce, the white kind, because it's special, too.
PLACES TO AVOID -- French Quarter tourist traps . . . especially the Court of Two Sisters . . . Brennan's is not one of my favorites, but if you've never been try it once for brunch. Get a Bloody Mary or their milk punch and then try eggs sardou for the main meal. Just don't go to dinner there.
OKLAHOMA CITY (terrible restaurant city)
CATTLEMEN'S STEAKHOUSE, 130 S. Agnew, 405-236-0416. Founded in 1910, it's located in the Stockyards (called Stockyards City. Besides its steaks, it's also famous for lamb fries . . . try them. They pride themselves on their homemade desserts, but I can't vouch for them. The steaks are quite good, though.
BOULEVARD STEAKHOUSE -- 505 S. Boulevard, 405-715-2333. This is the best of Oklahoma City's many steak restaurants. You'll need reservations. In addition to the steaks, the lamb chops are excellent. There's also a good wine list.
MICKEY MANTLE'S STEAKHOUSE -- No. 7 (guess why?) Mickey Mantle Drive, in Bricktown across the street from the baseball park (yes, it's a terrific ballpark). The food here is a whole lot better than at Mickey Mantle's sports bar in New York, but that's not saying much.
NONNA'S BAKERY & CAFE -- It's a little inconvenient to get to (8601 S. Western inside the Painted Door Gallery), but it sure is unusual and it sure is good. The bakery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Sunday and Monday (and you won't be there those days anyway), lunch is Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner is Thursday, Friday and Saturday only from 6 to 9:30 p.m. It's wonderful.
BELLINI'S -- 6305 N. Waterford, 405-848-1065. One of the city's better Italian restaurants. It's not Ronnie Grisanti's, it's not fancy Italian, but it's good.
ABUELO'S MEXICAN FOOD EMBASSY -- 17 E. Sheridan in Bricktown, about two blocks from the ballpark, 405-235-1422. Also open lunch and dinner. Just a fun Mexican place. Not great, but decent enough.
IGUANA LOUNGE -- 6714 N. Western, 405-840-3474. Also Mexican, but not Tex-Mex. They serve up some very good and unusual dishes here.
ZIO'S ITALIAN KITCHEN -- 12 E. California in Bricktown, 405-278-8888. You won't spend much money here. The pizzas are good.
BRICKTOWN BREWERY -- One Oklahoma Avenue, 405-232-2739. Just a good brew pub, with standard brew pub fare.
BRICKTOWN BURGERS _- 300 E. Main Street, 405-232-4343. It is what its name implies.
PEARL'S CRABTOWN -- 303 E. Sheridan, 405-232-7227. Not a bad seafood joint.
ORLANDO
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House -- a really fabulous steak place . . . 729 Lee Road, 407-645-4443.
EMERIL'S ORLANDO --- yes, it's that Emeril, the New Orleans Emeril . . . he actually has two places in Orlando, but this is the better of the two (the other is sort of Asian) . . . the wine list is incredible . . . in the Universal City area . . . you'll need reservations . . . 407-224-2424.
LE COQ AU VIN -- fancy, classic French and wonderful, probably the best dining experience in the city . . . it's a just a little out of the way, but worth the slight inconvenience . . . call for reservations and directions, 407-851-6980.
VICTORIA & ALBERT'S -- maybe the second best known restaurant in the city . . . it's at Disneyland, it's ghastly expensive, nearly a 100 bucks a pop, but it's for a seven-course meal that's really, really good . . . 407-939-3463.
CAFE DE FRANCE -- I love this place . . . it's a French bistro, not all that expensive . . . the pate appetizers are wonderful, the fish main courses are outstanding . . . 407-647-1869.
CHRISTINI'S --- a really, really good Italian place, but it's on the expensive side . . . only been there once, the veal and pasta dishes were excellent . . . 407-345-8770.
FLYING FISH CAFE -- At Disney's BoardWalk Inn in Epcot, this is probably the city's best seafood place . . . 407-939-3463.
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI
CITY GROCERY -- the best place in the area for fine dining. This is a New Orleans type of restaurant, with an interesting menu, good wine list and excellent service. The atmosphere is very pleasant. Just a fun place. It's known for its shrimp and grits, but other items on the menu are better. It's located on the south side of the square, about three doors west of the Square Book Store.
208 -- the newest place, just south of square, but practically next to the Square Books. Had been warned that it wasn't quite as good as City Grocery. That's wrong. It's as good. Very interesting menu. Try the wasabi tuna over stir fry . . . or the (very lightly battered) oysters, or the lamb or . . . well, take your pick because probably everything they've got is pretty darn good. The she-crab soup is the real thing, like what you'd get in the Low Country of South Carolina. The bar is a hopping place, too. Fun and very good.
DOWNTOWN GRILL -- always dependable. Catfish Lafayette is my favorite dish. On the north side of the square, about opposite from City Grocery. The bar upstairs is fun. On basketball game nights it's also fun to order appetizers only in the bar upstairs. Try stuffed mushrooms, a duck egg roll and chicken tenders. Light dinner, but tasty.
AJAX DINER -- best lunch place in town. On the west side of the square. Not bad for dinner either.
OLD VENICE PIZZA -- On the square, next door to the City Grocery. Very good pizza, plus some other Italian dishes. If you're hurrying to a game, the service won't be quick because they don't rush the pizzas here. A website reader also suggests calzone.
BOURE --- Still haven't tried it yet, but reports continue to be good. It's on Lamar, north of the square and is owned by the same folks who own City Grocery. Tell you more about it if we ever get there.
PHOENIX-SCOTTSDALE AREA
T-COOKS --- In the Royal Palms Hotel . . . this is the epitome of fine dining in the Phoenix area and it’s only about a 10 minute drive or cab ride from the Ritz-Carlton where many U of Memphis fans stayed for the 2009 NCAA Sweet 16. . . elegant, beautiful place with fabulous Mediterranean style food.
TOMASOS – Wonderful pastas and other Italian food, about five minutes by cab from the Ritz-Carlton.
LON’S AT THE HERMOSA INN – Southwestern food at its best. Great environment . . . about 10 minutes from the Ritz-Carlton.
CHRISTOPHER’S – Absolutely wonderful French food . . . a walk from the Ritz-Carlton hotel . . . if they are serving lobster pot pie when you are there, get it . . . a fantastic and reasonable wine list.
PINNACLE PEAK STEAK PATIO --- In Scottsdale, about 20-30 minutes from the Ritz-Carlton . . . wonderful steaks and terrific country and western music.
MACAYO’S – Local Mexican and Southwestern chain, but it’s really good . . . closest one to the Ritz is on Scottsdale Road at Shea.
MONTE’S STEAK HOUSE – In Tempe, a good bit away (20-25 minutes), reasonable prices, but it’s outstanding . . . go early or go late because they don’t take reservations and it’s always crowded.
HAPA – Usually voted No. 1 restaurant in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area . . . American food with an Asian influence . . . on Scottsdale Road, about 20 minutes from the
Ritz-Carlton.
EL CHORRO – Excellent atmosphere, really good menu . . . after dinner it’s a good place to sit by the open fireplace and have a glass of wine or an after dinner drink. It’s near the Camelback Inn (about 15 minutes away from the Ritz-Carlton).
BREAKFAST, BRUNCH & LUNCH
PARADISE BAKERY & CAFÉ – Across the street from the Ritz . .. good place to sit outside for a nice, but light lunch.
VINCENT’S – Just down the street from the Ritz . . . great for breakfast, brunch or lunch, especially brunch.
THE GOOD EGG – Terrific for breakfast . .. about 10 minutes from the Ritz-Carlton.
ST. LOUIS
TRATTORIA MARCELLA - Contrary to what anybody tells you, this -- not Tony's -- is the best Italian restaurant in a city that has dozens of them . . . it's at 3600 Watson, on the edge of the Hill, and it's fabulous . . . if you can imagine an Italian bistro, this is it . . . the pasta dishes are terrific, so is the veal and make certain you get the flash fried spinach as one of the appetizers or as a side dish . . . be warned, the place is a bit loud and at times it's hard to get into, but it's worth the wait.
SIDNEY STREET CAFE -- St. Louisans know about this place, but many visitors don't . . . it's located at 2000 Sidney Street (what did you expect?) on the corner of Salena Street, it's not Italian, the soft beignet type of rolls they bring to your table before your meal are hard to stop eating (but don't overdo it because you'll be full by the time your meal arrives) . . . the salads are special and so is most everything else . . . you'll need a reservation (314-771-5777).
CHARLIE GITTO'S -- The one on Shaw Street on the Hill, not the one near the ballpark . . . it's definitely Italian, it's definitely wonderful (it always was Tommy Lasorda's favorite spot) and the veal chop is the best you'll find just about anywhere . . . they're open early and they're open late . . . if it's a quick ball game, you can make it for a late dinner, but call them first . . . the one downtown near the ballpark is good enough, especially for a quick before-the-game meal with the kids.
PORTABELLA -- really good neighborhood Italian restaurant in Clayton, on Central, between Forsyth and Maryland . . . you can eat fairly fast, especially if you settle for a salad and a pasta main course and both are worth settling for . . . 314-725-6953.
CARDWELL'S -- Also in Clayton . . . it's sort of an upscale Houston's, more expensive but not hard on your wallet . . . salads and appetizers are good here, too and so are the crab cakes.
GIOVANNI'S -- 5201 Shaw Street . . . maybe the best Italian restaurant on The Hill . . . it's actually a romantic place, so you don't want to go there after a ball game.
DOMINIC'S -- 5101 Wilson on the Hill . . . probably the dressiest of the Hill restaurants . . . the food is wonderful, but the portions are small and the tabs are high.
KEMOLL'S -- Downton in the Metroplian Square Building . . . a lot of folks will tell you how good this place is . . . don't pay any attention to them.
REMY'S KITCHEN & WINE BAR -- 222 S. Bemiston in Clayton . . . Mediterrean type food and a great bar for late night ball game discussions
MIKE SHANNON'S -- If you've ever been to a Cardinals game then you know where this is . . . not gourmet by any standards, but the steaks are as good as any in town, including the name steak places such as Morton's . . . the toasted ravioli appetizer is good, too . . . also a good place to go with kids.
RIGAZZI'S -- a fun Italian joint on The Hill . . . go there for lunch and either go through the cafeteria line or order off the menu . . . it's a good place to go with the kids because they'll love it . . . it's also a good place for the coldest beer fishbowl in the city.
TONY'S -- 410 Market, in the office building just east of the ballpark . . . this used to be as good as any Italian restaurant in the country when it was located at the other end of downtown, but since they went fancy in their new surroundings (they moved to make way for the domed football stadium), the food is not quite as good as it used to be and the prices are much, much higher than they ever were . . . but don't be misled, Tony's is still a great restaurant even if it's way overpriced . . . 314-231-7007.
BIGA ON THE BANKS -- Also upscale, fine dining with a very interesting menu that includes several wild game main courses . . . If you go for those big Sunday brunch buffets (I don't), Biga's has a good one . . . Also in the Riverwalk area, but not the main part of it. . . 210-225-0722.
MI TIERRA -- You might hear a lot about it, but skip it . . . way too touristy.
SAN ANTONIO
There are some good eats in San Antonio, maybe not quite as good as neighboring Austin, but still plenty good. It'll be difficult getting reservations for any place on the Riverwalk, but --with a few exceptions -- that's not a disaster because many of the places there are touristy and not so hot. Here are some suggestions:
RESTAURANT LE REVE -- 152 E. Pecan Street -- 210-212-2221 -- many consider this the best fine dining restaurant in the entire state, which is saying quite a lot because Texas is a big place and there are some terrific places to eat, especially in Dallas . . . it's French, it's pricey, it's dressy and it is fabulous.
BOUDRO'S -- This is at 421 E. Commerce, it's a Riverwalk place and it is good . . . actually, it's great, my very favorite place in the city . . . many U of Memphis fans discovered it last year at the Sweet 16 . . . I went there twice during the 2008 Final Four and left convinced there's no place more fun in the whole city . . . met the owner, went to the wine bar (Zinc) he and his partners own (great wine selection and good pizza and appetizers . . . Boudro's is what some might call Tex-Mex, but there's nothing ordinary about it . . . and whatever you do, order the guacamole for your first course -- they bring the avocados out whole, then make the guacamole right in front of you. . . 210-224-8484. . . Reservations can be dicey when there's something big going on in the city, but the good thing is that they do hold some table for walk-ups, although the wait could be up to two hours . . . if it is, stroll along the Riverwalk and come back about 30 minutes early.
ROSARIO'S -- 910 S. Alamo Street -- 210-233-1806 -- TexMex at its best and it's open for lunch and for dinner . . . a San Antonio favorite for many years . . . hard to go wrong with anything on the menu.
PALAMO BLANCA --- 5800 Broadway (in Alamo Heights neighborhood north of downtown) . . . 210-822-6151 --- TexMex and a whole lot more (like red snapper) according to those who go there regularly . . . it's open for lunch, dinner and even after hours in the bar . . . best way to describe it is upscale Mexican . . . weather during the Final Four should be perfect for dining outside on the patio . . . and guess what? Owner Richard Peacock's wife is from Germantown.
LIBERTY BAR & GRILL --328 E. Josephine -- 210-227-1187 . . . haven't been there, but it's received great reviews, especially from Zagat but also in Texas Monthly and some San Antonio publications . . . the menu varies from continental to French and it's been called the best place in the city to take an out-of-towner.
MARTY'S NEW YORK DELI -- 18360 Blanco in the Blanco Market Shopping Center . . . 210-496-2789 . . . a just-opened New York kosher style deli that includes those huge pastrami and corned beef sandwiches and even matzoh ball soup . . . opens at 6 AM for breakfast (including lox and bagels) and stays open for lunch and dinner every day except Sunday night . . . also has items to go, including all types of bagels and other items you'd expect at one of those famous delis in the New York area (Carnegie, Stage, Artie's etc.) . . . some folks say they really like this place, others are not nearly as enthusiastic.
EL MIRADOR --- 722 S. St. Mary's . . . wonderful Tex-Mex breakfasts at this place and they open early, about 6:30 . . . get the machacado with your eggs (it's beef) . . . good lunch place, too . . . 210-224-9444 . . . Panchito's at 4100 McCullough is another terrific place for Tex-Mex breakfasts . . . 210-821-5338.
LA FOGATA - In the league with Boudro's and you may have a better chance to get in because it's not a Riverwalk place . . . 2427 Vance Jackson (near downtown) . . . Yes, they've got the standard Tex-Mex fare (tacos, etc.) but try the Mexican sausage . . . 210-340-0636.
LITTLE RHEIN STEAK HOUSE -- They've got the familiar steak places in the city (Palm, Morton's, Ruth's Chris), but this one is locally owned and it's quite good . . . Also a Riverwalk place but it's much better than the touristy spots . . . 210-225-2111.
GLADYS -- Upscale, fine dining place . .. the pepper crusted steak is very good . . . 210-697-9004.
BIGA ON THE BANKS -- Also upscale, fine dining with a very interesting menu that includes several wild game main courses . . . If you go for those big Sunday brunch buffets (I don't), Biga's has a good one . . . Also in the Riverwalk area, but not the main part of it. . . 210-225-0722.
SOLUNA -- 7959 Broadway . . . 210-930-8070 . . . extensive Mexican menu that includes some unusual dishes . . . haven't been there, but know people who have and it gets terrific reviews . . . open for lunch and for dinner with really lovely outside dining area.
MI TIERRA -- You might hear a lot about it, but skip it . . . way too touristy.
SHREVEPORT
HORSESHOE CASINO -- The steakhouse here really is the best place for dinner.
SUPERIOR STEAK HOUSE -- Reviews of this place have been incredible . . . a friend from Shreveport and someone else whose wife is from there say Superior "blows away" most of the well known steak houses with national reputations.
CHIANTI'S -- Classy Italian place . . . dressy casual is the accepted attire . . . recommendations on this place also are quite good.
MONJUNI'S -- Also Italian, also supposed to be very good, but not as dressy as Chianti's.
BELLA FRESCA --- Bistro style food with a good atmosphere.
JACQUELYN'S -- Word on this is that it's an excellent place for lunch, with terrific sandwiches, gumbo and other soups.
SUPERIOR GRILLE -- Owned by the same people who operate the steak house, but this has been around a whole lot longer . . . it's Mexican and it's very, very popular.
TUSCALOOSA
Surely you've heard about Dreamland in Tuscaloosa -- it's a famous ribs place (the one in Birmingham is a spin-off from this one), and the ribs there are really quite good. But are they any better than those at places in and around Memphis, such as those at the Germantown Commissary? No. Here's a better suggestion: On your way to Saturday football or basketball game, go to the Waysider for either breakfast or lunch. I prefer the breakfasts there . . . the ham, eggs, home fries, grits and especially the biscuits. But the fried chicken at lunch is spectacular. Better yet, the restaurant is not all that far from the football stadium and the basketball arena. But understand you'll have to wait for a table anyway, so be sure to bring your patience with you.
Another suggestion: If you don't want to drive back home after a game, spend the night in Birmingham. It's only an hour away. And enjoy dinner at the Highlands Bar & Grill in the Five-Points area. Gourmet Magazine rates it among the top five restaurants in the country. That's a bit high, but it's definitely in the top 50 to 100. If they're already booked up, Bodega would be my second choice. Bombay Bicycle Club (not to be confused with the one that once was in Overton Square in Memphis) is another good choice. The seafood dishes there are quite good.
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