All-Time Favorite Restaurant

[Dana49]

Of all of the restaurants that you've been to in your life, which one do you like the best and why?
My all-time favorite restaurant is "The Pillars" in upstate New York. They've always had great food, service, and a romantic atmosphere. Unfortunately they're closing their doors in December and entering the land of retirement. They'll be missed.

 

[perdidobay]

Francisco's Restaurant and Cantina in Durango Co. It is not a fine dining place, but it has my favorite chili rellenos and great maragritas. The fact that it is in one of my favorite places to go on vacation makes it tops on my list too
http://www.durango.com/franciscos/

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Phil Smidt's in Hammond, Indiana. Family loyalty - my aunt and uncle own it.

 

[theycallmered]

El Loro in Burnsville, MN. Great food! Mmmm chillis rellenos. Mmm

 

[anewvance]

My all time favorite was a Japanese Steakhouse that closed a few years ago. There are other good ones around, but this one was the best! Always great food, less expensive then the other ones, wonderful staff and it was never overly packed.

They lost their lease and a Goodwill moved in!

 

[sha_lyn]

I can't remember the name, but it is at a marine on South Padre Island (TX). They have the best seafood ever. Close second would have to be Tchoup Chop, Emeril's restaurant at the Royal Pacific (universal orlando)

 

[ransom]

All-time favorite, huh?

A couple of decades ago, I might have answered that it was The Potato Barge, a small, family-owned restaurant in my old home town. Nice atmosphere, friendly wait staff, and real cloth table cloths and napkins! I had so many good meals there. But, alas, it closed down nearly twenty years ago.

Even earlier, I might have answered that it was Straw Hat Pizza. Best pizza in the world! But I haven't been to one since the eighties, so it may very well be completely different now. Besides, I'm not a huge fan of pizza any more.

These days, my favorite place to have dinner is called The Backyard Steak Pit. It's another family-owned restaurant, with cloth tablecloths, cloth napkins, etc. But it's not fru-fru. They serve steak and seafood and not much else. If you want veggies (other than potato), you have to order it separately. It's strictly a meat and potatoes place.

Their steaks are the best I've had at a restaurant, and DW loves their Australian lobster tails. Plus, they encourage you to linger over your meal, enjoying every bite and the conversation going on with your dinner companion(s). And their margaritas are yummy!

 

[NMAmy]

Francisco's Restaurant and Cantina in Durango Co. It is not a fine dining place, but it has my favorite chili rellenos and great maragritas. The fact that it is in one of my favorite places to go on vacation makes it tops on my list too
http://www.durango.com/franciscos/

Hey! I used to live near Durango and we'd go to Francisco's from time to time. They have some great margaritas there!

My favorites are not too far from Durango--in Farmington, NM, oddly enough. There are a few small restaurants that have the best Mexican food ever--green chile chicken enchiladas, chile rellenos, sopapillas, green chile stew, posole. Mm...I've made myself really hungry. The Mexican food in Michigan is not the same and I've had to learn to make my own. We had enchiladas on Sunday but it's just not the same when I have to cook it myself, you know?

 

[Chattyaholic]

It was The Heritage House in Chesaning. It was in a huge mansion with many dining rooms so it always felt intimate. Lovely furniture, fireplaces in some of the rooms, chandeliers, a huge beautiful staircase leading to the second floor with more dining areas.

I especially loved going there at Christmas because they went all out with decorations, even wrapping the air conditioners to look like "presents."

But, they recently closed. Said they can't stay in business when people only go there for "special occasions", which is what we did because it was so expensive to eat there. But always a lovely experience. Will miss it.

 

[snowball22]

The Kahiki!!! It was a Polynesian themed restaurant in central Ohio. There was an 80 foot tiki god over a stone fireplace in the back. There were fish that swam in the walls and a rainforest wall. Genuine polynesian artifacts decorated the restaurant. Island music would play in the background.The food was so delicious. There was even a gift shop where you could buy grass skirts and coconut cup tops.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I can't remember the name, but it is at a marine on South Padre Island (TX).

That might have been Scampi's. DH eats out on the Island a lot and this one's really good. Since I haven't eaten at Scampi's in years, I can't count that. I'd have to say it's a toss up between Los Asados (best Mexican food) and Jiko's at AKL.

 

[JadenLayne]

Ours is a place called The Marketplace Grill in Conway Arkansas. They have the best food! Everything is consistently good from the bread to the salads to the steak and even the baked potato but the best is the Chocolate Mess which is a dessert with ice cream and melted fudge.......wow! Yum! To bad it's 3 hours away.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Ours is a place called The Marketplace Grill in Conway Arkansas.

Wow, I was just past there 6 weeks ago, while on vacation. I almost stoppped there but it was POURING out, so I drove on to Little Rock.

 

[sha_lyn]

That might have been Scampi's. DH eats out on the Island a lot and this one's really good. Since I haven't eaten at Scampi's in years, I can't count that. I'd have to say it's a toss up between Los Asados (best Mexican food) and Jiko's at AKL.

If you turn right once on the island, it is on the right. Seems like it is down a good ways, maybe right before the entrance into the park.

 

[MoniqueU]

Cafe Napoli, Mulberry Street, LIttle Italy NYC

 

[smilingmouse]

Cactus Cantina in Washington, DC. AMAZING food and the best 'ritas ever!

 

[AKL_Megs]

This is so, so, so boring, but I get really excited about going to Max & Erma's (it's a large chain restaurant, if you don't have one in your area). I always get one of the same two things, either a Santa Fe Salad or a Southern Chicken Salad, but it is so good! The Tortilla Soup isn't half bad either!

But as far as "unique" place goes, I go nuts for Subgum Chicken from Ocean City chinese restaurant which is down the road from my house. They do it right with four courses... Won Ton Soup, Eggroll, Subgum Chicken, and a Fortune Cookie!

... I'm hungry now.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

Here in Connecticut...for steak, Dakota, and for seafood, Oyster River Tavern.

 

[shortbun]

I think the Chantecler in the Hotel Negresco, Nice. I have had such a fun life travelling, I'm so lucky! I have a top 10 meals list and this one is at the very top. The service was amazing and the food was beyond words. We had lots of wonderful wine to go along with it.

 

[Ms Marigny]

Man, that is just too hard, I could never pick one place... I live in New Orleans, home of great food! So much food, so little time....