What are your Restaurant Obsessions?

[cabanafrau]

Just an FYI about Texas Roadhouse, their steaks are cut fresh, not frozen. In my experience, all of their food is just as fresh as the independent restaurants that I've eaten at.

Don't eat a lot of beef, and when I do I'm picky about the quality. Texas Roadhouse doesn't measure up IMO. Aside from possibly cutting up fresh ingredients in their salads, the rest of their food seems processed to me and I don't like it. Judging by their parking lot plenty of other people do, and that's fine.

Sure, we've been in independent restaurants where you can tell the stuff was frozen or is just processed. We don't go back. My current favorite is eggplant siciliano at a local restaurant where the eggplant is sliced and cooked fresh because I placed the order. The sauce gets whisked up and the diced tomatoes are sprinkled on top. Soups should taste homemade, not like the same oversalted base with different ingredients tossed in according to the name they're writing on the board that day.

 

[Squirlz]

Went to a texas Roadhouse in Jackson, Michigan years ago. I remember the chili was pretty good. But when all the servers started line dancing that was more than I could take.

I'm always on the lookout for good grits and/or biscuits and gravy. Most recent find was Harpoon Harry's in Key West last month. They have a Lobster Po' Boy. English muffin with two eggs covered with lobster meat and sausage gravy. It was amazing! The grits merely average.

 

[MrJT]

Also in AZ, OR, WA .....just in case

OR and WA are both pretty far from TX. But I may have to stop in AZ on the trip next year. That way, I don't have to drag the CA family there...again!

 

[MIGrandma]

None that I can think of that I'm really obsessed with. We eat out 3-4 times a month, maybe more when DH isn't working long hours. Our favorite local restaurant is JJ Ruby's, owned by a former waitress. We also enjoy a bar/restaurant nearby called The Brickyard. As for chain type places we like Cracker Barrel, Lonestar, Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn steakhouse, Bennigan's, etc. A few nights ago we were out shopping and it was getting kind of late when we realized we hadn't had dinner, but most places would be closing soon and I don't like going anywhere unless we have at least an hour before closing, so we decided on Applebee's. Hadn't been there in awhile and didn't know about their late night half off appetizers and drinks. So we had some of those, and shared a dessert. We enjoyed it. The food was good (especially the pretzel bites with beer cheese sauce), drinks were good, and service was as well. The place was packed and everyone was having a good time. It was a nice way to unwind after a stressful day. We'll definitely go back, maybe take family or friends next time and try more of the appetizers...and drinks!

 

[cijay]

Southwestern eggrolls from Chilis! Ricki's three-cheese grilled cheese sandwiches, NY Fry Company's poutine. But you can usually please me with chicken wings.

 

[Cadiewampus]

None that I can think of that I'm really obsessed with. We eat out 3-4 times a month, maybe more when DH isn't working long hours. Our favorite local restaurant is JJ Ruby's, owned by a former waitress. We also enjoy a bar/restaurant nearby called The Brickyard. As for chain type places we like Cracker Barrel, Lonestar, Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn steakhouse, Bennigan's, etc. A few nights ago we were out shopping and it was getting kind of late when we realized we hadn't had dinner, but most places would be closing soon and I don't like going anywhere unless we have at least an hour before closing, so we decided on Applebee's. Hadn't been there in awhile and didn't know about their late night half off appetizers and drinks. So we had some of those, and shared a dessert. We enjoyed it. The food was good (especially the pretzel bites with beer cheese sauce), drinks were good, and service was as well. The place was packed and everyone was having a good time. It was a nice way to unwind after a stressful day. We'll definitely go back, maybe take family or friends next time and try more of the appetizers...and drinks!

I didn't know there were any Bennigans left. None around here anyway. I live in a small town (Acworth Ga.) Lots of good places to eat that aren't chains. Henrys Louisiana Grill, Gabriels (steaks and chicken and some fish) Center Street Tavern. The usual burgers, salads and chicken but all is good. About the only chain we go to with an regularity is Bahama Breeze.

 

[Luv2Run]

I'm not big on chain restaurants. The only chain that I actually crave their food is Carrabba's. I love their sausage & lentil soup, spinach & cheese cannaloni, and Tag Pic Pac pasta. A couple summers ago they had this linguine with clam sauce that was to-die-for, but it was a seasonal dish that they did away with once they rolled out their new menu.

I've been to Texas Roadhouse a couple of times since moving here, and it's not my "thing". My mom loves it, so we go whenever she visits, but I don't like restaurants that have a "gimmick", like the line-dancing waittresses at Texas Roadhouse.

 

[Planogirl]

I wouldn't call it an obsession but we go to Texas Roadhouse quite often. I don't care if the servers line dance as long as the service is good.

 

[littleblackegg]

There is a cute Greek man named Sandy who owns a little diner here in town, very much like those we remember from the Northeast. I love the souvlaki platter, and he loves chatting with my husband (also Greek) and hearing about my FIL's boat (a Greek thing). That souvlaki is divine. There have been weeks when I had it THREE times. There is also a traditional Cuban sit-down place that makes the most divine tostones you have ever had. Light and crispy. Now I want a souvlaki platter.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Where I live a new restaurant opened up called the Texas Roadhouse. They're all over the country, but this is the first one i've seen in the state of Michigan.
I had eaten there in the past in Iowa and dismissed it, but attending recently i've become infatuated with their Fresh bread and chili.
It's so good!

So what are your recent food obsessions?

/hangs head

Tijuana Flats
Bangin' Chicken Tostadas fully loaded
Harbor City hot sauce
http://eatmoreheat.com/2013/05/harbor-city-hot-sauce-original-2/

ETA
Also, this little Greek place about 10 minutes from my house. They make the best chicken soup (seriously--it's all lemony).
There's an Indian place that's about an hour away now, and their food is amaze-balls. They are very snotty (the waiter spilled hot soup on DH. He was trying to hold a tray on his shoulder, and put plates down on the table next to ours, and dumped the bowl off the tray on the side next to DH. didn't apologize or anything, and the manager just went "ah" and walked away. we haven't been back since then, but I really miss eating there).

 

[piglet too]

I've been to a dozen plus different Texas Roadhouse locations, and only saw the line dancing at two of them. Obviously we're fans, when we travel we tend to end up there because we know it's decent food for a resonance price.

My restaurant obsession is a local deli called Peppo's. It's about 40 minutes from here, so we don't get it as often as we'd like.

 

[ashley0139]

I'm obsessed with Moe's. Not sure why, but I absolutely love it. We don't have them in California, so any time I go to a place that has them, I have to go multiple times. Moe's nachos are delicious.

 

[NewRVLady]

Veal and scallops are two things I just cant k perfectly
so anywhere that does these well

don't like chains
I live in one of the Food Meccas I the USA-too many great hometown places

 

[Simba's Mom]

We're obsesssed with the Salad bar at Jason's Deli. I would love to agree with Texas Roadhouse. I really love their meals, but DH eats very little red meat, and whenever we go there (not often) it's usually so crowded!

 

[Kitty 34]

fries with ranch at Red Robin's or nachos at Chili's

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Teppanyaki. Way back when I was 5 years old I had teppanyaki for the first time at Japan in Epcot. I have loved it ever since. I have to pace myself so as not to request teppanyaki too often. DH likes it okay, but I could eat there every week!

 

[tennvalgirl]

None that I can think of that I'm really obsessed with. We eat out 3-4 times a month, maybe more when DH isn't working long hours. Our favorite local restaurant is JJ Ruby's, owned by a former waitress. We also enjoy a bar/restaurant nearby called The Brickyard. As for chain type places we like Cracker Barrel, Lonestar, Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn steakhouse, Bennigan's, etc. A few nights ago we were out shopping and it was getting kind of late when we realized we hadn't had dinner, but most places would be closing soon and I don't like going anywhere unless we have at least an hour before closing, so we decided on Applebee's. Hadn't been there in awhile and didn't know about their late night half off appetizers and drinks. So we had some of those, and shared a dessert. We enjoyed it. The food was good (especially the pretzel bites with beer cheese sauce), drinks were good, and service was as well. The place was packed and everyone was having a good time. It was a nice way to unwind after a stressful day. We'll definitely go back, maybe take family or friends next time and try more of the appetizers...and drinks!

You have a Bennigan's?!

So totes jelly here.

 

[JWhitson]

Liberty Tree is by far my favorite. Delicious food and plenty to eat! I am so that they will not be opened while I am WDW (Nov. 8th -12th).

 

[Kitty 34]

You have a Bennigan's?!

So totes jelly here.

I'm not MIGrandma but just want to chime in to say we have a Bennigan's here in the Lansing area.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We seem to wind up at Barberito's every couple of weeks. It's kind of like a Moe's but we like it better. Seems fresher.

We had a Bennigan's for about 9-12 months last year. It didn't last. The food wasn't like what I remembered from my college days (1990s). Don't miss it.