Here is a starter list of my favorite restaurants ever!
In Memphis
Flight - for a birthday or anniversary Paul and I loved this place! Food served in trios is such a great idea!
Central BBQ - for the pulled pork nachos with hot BBQ sauce instead of regular. It is my favorite Memphis bbq. Period.
India Palace - the non-vegetarian meal is the best deal at night if you don't go for the buffet. India Palace is my favorite Indian restaurant in the universe.
Golden India - Their bhindi masala (okra) is the best I've ever had.
Mayuri - for the buffet on Friday and Saturday night, the dosas and sambar with rice, and onion pakoras dipped in carrot pickle, mint chutney, or raita
The Melting Pot - I know it's a chain but fondue is always so much fun and delicious. My favorite course is the cheese course. The Melting Pot in Memphis is closed.
Ryu Sushi - the cowboy roll has fried chicken in it. The shrimp fried rice is my favorite ever. Don't be put off by the neighborhood. It's delicious.
El Porton at Poplar and Highland - for the chicken nachos with a side of pico de gallo and pickled jalapeños. The margaritas taste slightly medicinal but with added lime juice they're perfect. The waiters gave me a nickname: "the lady who only orders one margarita."
Los Compadres at Holmes and Poplar - for Cuban food. The steak churrasco with grilled onions, plantains and white rice is a meal I'm always hungry for.
Bhan Thai - for the thom kha soup with shrimp and the massaman curry chicken with red chili sauce on the side. And everything else on the menu.
Cafe Ole in Cooper-Young - the menu has changed over the years but the margaritas are delicious and strong, the new crazy corn is delicious.
Shweinehaus - Housed in the old Paulette's that moved to Harbor Town, Shweinhaus is a delicious treat because it is grandmother food and I love all German food. The waiters and waitresses dress in German clothing.
In Nashville
Chuy's - It's a Texas chain that made its way to Tennessee and everywhere else. I love the dips, especially the ranchero sauce and the Elvis green chili fried chicken
Cheesecake Factory - Of course it's a chain but there wasn't one in Memphis until after we moved to Dodge City. Going there is a real treat! I would love to make my way through the whole menu someday. They used to have a drink called a French Kiss made from vanilla ice cream, cassis and champagne. Perfection. Now I usually have the Thai lettuce wraps, shepard's pie, and the banana cheesecake.
Burger Republic - I love the gourmet burgers and the adult milkshakes and the Gulch is a cool neighborhood in downtown Nashville.
In Mississippi
Ajax in Oxford, MS - for everything on the menu, but especially the cheese grits, sweet potato casserole and pot roast. Get there before it opens and stand in line. Trust me.
Two Stick in Oxford, MS- Even though it is gone, it was my favorite sushi restaurant in the South for a long time. Sadly, it's parent restaurant Ruby Chinese is gone too. Besides eating the homemade Chinese food from the family that owned Joe's Grocery in Sledge, MS, the first Chinese restaurant I ever tried was Ruby Chinese. It had delicious American favorites like moo goo gai pan and sweet and sour chicken.
In New Orleans
Rum House on Magazine Street - for ALL the tacos and the whole menu. Just order the whole menu. I think this is my favorite restaurant ever.
Central Grocery - for the best muffulettas in the world (and supposedly the original ones), Zapp's VooDoo chips and random Italian groceries
Huck Finn's on Decatur - for the Cajun sampler plate and a great Bloody Mary
Jagerhaus - a delicious German restaurant that I always hit for the yummiest and only Austrian coffee I've ever had and a breakfast menu worth getting up early for
In Chicago
Giordano's - for the most delicious pizza I've ever had and will probably ever have
Argo Tea - for the passion fruit bubble tea and the wide varieties of hot tea
Garrett Popcorn - I have no off-switch for eating this popcorn. For me it's the giant bag of "mixed" cheese and caramel popcorn. I eat all of it as soon as I pay for it.
Nuts on Clark - for popcorn and everything else they sell
The annual Spring Flours banquet
In NYC
The Indonesian Restaurant Bali Nusa Indah in Hell's Kitchen
The Waldorf Astoria for high tea back in the early aughts
L'Orange Bleu (now closed) for the French African food back in the early aughts. When I ate here I had never photographed such a pretty restaurant and it was the first time I tried bouillabaisse.
Ellen's Stardust Diner - for the entertainment, the singing waiters and the fun atmosphere
Any Italian restaurant in Little Italy
Any deli in the city where I can eat fried chicken, kimchi, 20 other foods and wash it all down with a can of Coke.
You can read about my recent trip to NYC and all over New England HERE!
In San Francisco
Pica Pica - for everything on the menu because it is gluten-free fried deliciousness.
Café Gratitude - for the experience alone. The food is great too. I went there with my in-laws and we sat at a table right beside Edward Norton and his entourage. It was so exciting!
In Los Angeles
The Stinking Rose- garlic everything! I love the tee-shirt I bought in there and it was the single time I've tried garlic ice cream. It wasn't terrible.
In Paris
Le Loup Blanc - I know you're supposed to enjoy French food when you're in Paris but I love the American "smashed potatoes" in this restaurant. And everything else on the menu.
L'Estival - for the cassoulet. Try to sit outside if possible because Rue Montorgueil is the most amazing street in the world in my opinion. It's my favorite street in Paris, anyway.
Le Gai Moulin - for the kangaroo and the kir aperitif, the vibe, the neighborhood. It's a "real" French restaurant.
Angelina - for the beauty of this salon de the, not to mention the mind-bending poured chocolate or the hazelnut cream pastries. Angelina also has a beautiful website.
Paul - for my favorite macarons in the world
Any cafe or bakery in the city. I've never been disappointed. After all, it's Paris! My favorite city in the world!
In St. Louis
The Range - for the goat cheese and tomato jam burger with a banana caramel rum milkshake. St. Louis is a great city for shopping, eating, baseball and has really good record stores.
In Atlanta
Mary Mac's Tea Room - the whole menu is Southern food classics
In Kansas City
Chuy's on the Plaza - we always stay at a hotel near the Plaza and this Chuy's has a call-in pick-up. It's nice for picking up an order and chilling in the hotel between shopping excursions.
Minsky's
Café Aixois
Jack Stack Barbeque
The Roasterie
Foo's
In Oklahoma City
Whiskey Cake - order as much as you can on the menu and finish with the whiskey cake. It is unbelievable!
Elemental Coffee - this independent roaster makes delicious coffee that you can sip in a friendly, arty clean white space or sit on the patio.
In Memphis
Flight - for a birthday or anniversary Paul and I loved this place! Food served in trios is such a great idea!
Central BBQ - for the pulled pork nachos with hot BBQ sauce instead of regular. It is my favorite Memphis bbq. Period.
India Palace - the non-vegetarian meal is the best deal at night if you don't go for the buffet. India Palace is my favorite Indian restaurant in the universe.
Golden India - Their bhindi masala (okra) is the best I've ever had.
Mayuri - for the buffet on Friday and Saturday night, the dosas and sambar with rice, and onion pakoras dipped in carrot pickle, mint chutney, or raita
The Melting Pot - I know it's a chain but fondue is always so much fun and delicious. My favorite course is the cheese course. The Melting Pot in Memphis is closed.
Ryu Sushi - the cowboy roll has fried chicken in it. The shrimp fried rice is my favorite ever. Don't be put off by the neighborhood. It's delicious.
El Porton at Poplar and Highland - for the chicken nachos with a side of pico de gallo and pickled jalapeños. The margaritas taste slightly medicinal but with added lime juice they're perfect. The waiters gave me a nickname: "the lady who only orders one margarita."
Los Compadres at Holmes and Poplar - for Cuban food. The steak churrasco with grilled onions, plantains and white rice is a meal I'm always hungry for.
Bhan Thai - for the thom kha soup with shrimp and the massaman curry chicken with red chili sauce on the side. And everything else on the menu.
Cafe Ole in Cooper-Young - the menu has changed over the years but the margaritas are delicious and strong, the new crazy corn is delicious.
Shweinehaus - Housed in the old Paulette's that moved to Harbor Town, Shweinhaus is a delicious treat because it is grandmother food and I love all German food. The waiters and waitresses dress in German clothing.
In Nashville
Chuy's - It's a Texas chain that made its way to Tennessee and everywhere else. I love the dips, especially the ranchero sauce and the Elvis green chili fried chicken
Cheesecake Factory - Of course it's a chain but there wasn't one in Memphis until after we moved to Dodge City. Going there is a real treat! I would love to make my way through the whole menu someday. They used to have a drink called a French Kiss made from vanilla ice cream, cassis and champagne. Perfection. Now I usually have the Thai lettuce wraps, shepard's pie, and the banana cheesecake.
Burger Republic - I love the gourmet burgers and the adult milkshakes and the Gulch is a cool neighborhood in downtown Nashville.
In Mississippi
Ajax in Oxford, MS - for everything on the menu, but especially the cheese grits, sweet potato casserole and pot roast. Get there before it opens and stand in line. Trust me.
Two Stick in Oxford, MS- Even though it is gone, it was my favorite sushi restaurant in the South for a long time. Sadly, it's parent restaurant Ruby Chinese is gone too. Besides eating the homemade Chinese food from the family that owned Joe's Grocery in Sledge, MS, the first Chinese restaurant I ever tried was Ruby Chinese. It had delicious American favorites like moo goo gai pan and sweet and sour chicken.
In New Orleans
Rum House on Magazine Street - for ALL the tacos and the whole menu. Just order the whole menu. I think this is my favorite restaurant ever.
Central Grocery - for the best muffulettas in the world (and supposedly the original ones), Zapp's VooDoo chips and random Italian groceries
Huck Finn's on Decatur - for the Cajun sampler plate and a great Bloody Mary
Jagerhaus - a delicious German restaurant that I always hit for the yummiest and only Austrian coffee I've ever had and a breakfast menu worth getting up early for
In Chicago
Giordano's - for the most delicious pizza I've ever had and will probably ever have
Argo Tea - for the passion fruit bubble tea and the wide varieties of hot tea
Garrett Popcorn - I have no off-switch for eating this popcorn. For me it's the giant bag of "mixed" cheese and caramel popcorn. I eat all of it as soon as I pay for it.
Nuts on Clark - for popcorn and everything else they sell
The annual Spring Flours banquet
In NYC
The Indonesian Restaurant Bali Nusa Indah in Hell's Kitchen
The Waldorf Astoria for high tea back in the early aughts
L'Orange Bleu (now closed) for the French African food back in the early aughts. When I ate here I had never photographed such a pretty restaurant and it was the first time I tried bouillabaisse.
Ellen's Stardust Diner - for the entertainment, the singing waiters and the fun atmosphere
Any Italian restaurant in Little Italy
Any deli in the city where I can eat fried chicken, kimchi, 20 other foods and wash it all down with a can of Coke.
You can read about my recent trip to NYC and all over New England HERE!
In San Francisco
Pica Pica - for everything on the menu because it is gluten-free fried deliciousness.
Café Gratitude - for the experience alone. The food is great too. I went there with my in-laws and we sat at a table right beside Edward Norton and his entourage. It was so exciting!
In Los Angeles
The Stinking Rose- garlic everything! I love the tee-shirt I bought in there and it was the single time I've tried garlic ice cream. It wasn't terrible.
In Paris
Le Loup Blanc - I know you're supposed to enjoy French food when you're in Paris but I love the American "smashed potatoes" in this restaurant. And everything else on the menu.
L'Estival - for the cassoulet. Try to sit outside if possible because Rue Montorgueil is the most amazing street in the world in my opinion. It's my favorite street in Paris, anyway.
Le Gai Moulin - for the kangaroo and the kir aperitif, the vibe, the neighborhood. It's a "real" French restaurant.
Angelina - for the beauty of this salon de the, not to mention the mind-bending poured chocolate or the hazelnut cream pastries. Angelina also has a beautiful website.
Paul - for my favorite macarons in the world
Any cafe or bakery in the city. I've never been disappointed. After all, it's Paris! My favorite city in the world!
In St. Louis
The Range - for the goat cheese and tomato jam burger with a banana caramel rum milkshake. St. Louis is a great city for shopping, eating, baseball and has really good record stores.
In Atlanta
Mary Mac's Tea Room - the whole menu is Southern food classics
In Kansas City
Chuy's on the Plaza - we always stay at a hotel near the Plaza and this Chuy's has a call-in pick-up. It's nice for picking up an order and chilling in the hotel between shopping excursions.
Minsky's
Café Aixois
Jack Stack Barbeque
The Roasterie
Foo's
In Oklahoma City
Whiskey Cake - order as much as you can on the menu and finish with the whiskey cake. It is unbelievable!
Elemental Coffee - this independent roaster makes delicious coffee that you can sip in a friendly, arty clean white space or sit on the patio.