Your favorite restaurants?

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

And the dearly departed "Meaty Meat Burger" on Pico and Faifax, rest it's soul. There was never a better burger made, IMHO. There were literally lines around the block.

Oh my god, is it the Mo Better Meaty Meat Burger? It CLOSED?! That was our favorite LA restaurant name! (We've never eaten there, though.)

Los Angeles:
Inn of the Seventh Ray, in Topanga Canyon. Delectable upscale organic food in a setting that smells like the woods. Actual frogs croaking. Tom says it out-Blue-Bayous Blue Bayou. The breakfast buffet is amazing, try the vegan duck!

Akbar, in Pasadena. The best Indian naan I've had, and also some excellent coconut eggplant.

Geisha House, in Hollywood. Sushi is excellent, atmosphere is even better. Come earlier in the evening before the velvet rope goes up.

Miceli's, in Hollywood. Best. Caprese. Ever. Love the opera-singing waiters.

Porto's Bakery, in Glendale. A cuban establishment offering a delightful array of wee mousse cakes and other delightful sweets. Back when I ate of the meat, their potato balls stuffed with spiced meat was a favorite of mine.

Figaro, in Los Feliz. Organic French cuisine. A fondant chocolate cake that Audra fondly refers to as "easy-bake oven for grownups" and our friend Matt calls "sex cake."

Santa Barbara:

Bouchon. Wine-country fare with no vegetarian items on the menu. They take vegetarians' preferences in flavor and food, and they create something that is completely unique for you. Our stuff always looks even prettier (and tastier) than the carnivores' menu items do (and they're not shabby either.)

Soujourner Cafe. Excellent vegetarian fare and a mean iced mocha.

Natural Cafe. Air atmosphere, tasty guac, and a carrot shake (like carrot cake through a straw) to die for.

Ann Arbor, Michigan:

Zingermann's. The best deli west of Manhattan. Excellent array of fine cheeses, meats, and olive oils. A whitefish salad that is so mellow you could go into a coma. Wickedly clever sandwich names (like Frank's French Kiss, which is a tongue sandwich.) Their bakery might be making our wedding cake.

The Gandy Dancer. Built in an old railway station, this is some of the finest of cuisine in the midwest.

Seva. My first foray into vegetarian restaurants. Tastiest sweet potato pommes fritas anywhere.

Orlando:
Victoria and Albert's. This is the best meal I've eaten. Ever. Worth the expense for a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience.

Cape May Cafe. If you're starving after your plane flight, they offer delightful comfort clambake/fish fry fare. I prefer their oreo truffles over Boma zebra domes. (Gasp.)

And Boma. That's a no-brainer. Three kinds of hummus at one restaurant outside of Los Angeles? Count me in.

(edited to add Figaro.)

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

Oh my god, is it the Mo Better Meaty Meat Burger? It CLOSED?! That was our favorite LA restaurant name! (We've never eaten there, though.)

Yes, same place, although I believe the "Mo Better" part was added when they tried opening a second place on Melrose, which was financed by the Wayans Bros. who were huge fans of the original. Unfortunately, the Melrose location was short lived. It just wasn't the same and was substantially more expensive. It closed, leaving only the original location on Pico (which was far better). Sadly, the original burned down a few years ago and as far as I know, there aren't any plans to replace it. Why? I do not know but it is a cryin' shame, I tell ya.

[Snowflake]

Boulevard (#2 vote for this fabulous eatery) and I can't wait to dine there again
Angkor Borei (SF, Cambodian)
The Red Crane (SF, vegetarian chinese place, very tasty)
Chez Panisse (Berkeley)
Wahib's Middle Eastern Cuisine (South Pasadena/Alhambra)
India Sweet House (Pico Blvd, West LA)
Miyagi (VA, sushi)
Taste of Saigon (VA, Vietnamese)
Jing Jing (Palo Alto, Hunan)
Pasand (Sunnyvale, South Indian)
Le Cheval (Oakland, Vietnamese)
Estrellita (Mountain View, in May & September for the mole)
can't remember the name, but there is a great sushi place in Encinitas (very near k street & the main drag) they do a chinese dynamite roll that is to die for
and when I want to be just awful, McD's french fries

Looking forward to adding the heroin chicken place to my list o favorites

[Stan4dSteph]

NYC

• Peanut Butter & Co.
• burger joint in Le Parker Meridian
• craftbar

Stanford

• Hobee's
• Pollo Rey

New Zealand

• Fidel's (Wellington)
• Misceo (ChCh)
• Cafe Terra Viva (ChCh)

[Gemini Cricket]

LA:
Poquito Mas
The Stinking Rose

OC:
Claim Jumper
In-N-Out

Monterey:
New Tokyo

Boston:
Regina's Pizzeria
Giacamo's
Izzy's
The Clam Box

Hawai'i:
Wailana Coffee House
Liliha Bakery
Kua'Aina
Ono Hawaiian Food
Legend Seafood Restaurant
Hee Hing
Rainbow Drive-In
Cafe Sistina

[Prudence]

More I forgot the first time:

Hickory Park - Ames, IA (BBQ)
Magdalina's European Cuisine - Issaquah, WA (Bulgarian)
Periklis - Victoria, BC (Greek)
Theno's Dairy - Redmond, WA (Ice Cream)

[mousepod]

This thread is nice, but it makes me sad. Having been an ex-pat from NYC for the past ten years, I am reminded that many of my favorite restaurants there (Le Madri & Second Ave Deli, for example) no longer exist or are a shadow of their former selves. When I do get home, I always hit at least one hip place, but I haven't found magic yet. A few months ago, we dropped 2 weeks rent at Tabla for a dinner for 4, and while it was a fine meal, I'm not hurrying back...

Having said that, I constantly look forward to visiting the following WDW restaurants:
- Boma
- Flying Fish
- Artists Point

Here in San Francisco, I still enjoy
- Foreign Cinema
- Gary Danko

And, of course my perennial NYC faves remain
- Smith & Wollensky Steak House
- Joe's Pizza (once on the corner of Bleeker and Carmine - now moved half a block down)
- Yonah Schimmel's Knishes
- Gray's Papaya (any location - preferably after midnight - 2 hot dogs with a medium papaya drink - heaven)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

When not dining at Hometown Buffet, I've been known to enjoy the culinary creations of:

• A Little Slice of Cuba (now closed, sadly)
• Velma & Eddie's Everflowing Foodbag
• Big Bang Burger Bar
• Bilgewater's (seafood)
• The Gilded Truffle
• L'Idiot's
• New Leviathan
• Raisins
• Tchotchke's

[Ponine]

San Diego:

• Old Town Mexican Cafe
• Casa De Pico
• Point Loma Sea Food
• Georges on the Cove - For Ambience more than food.
• Cafe 222
• Bread & Cie
• Corvette's

And I know... go ahead and shudder now...
Rice King and KFC.
I also have an affinity for the Whole Foods Food bars

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by Ponine

I also have an affinity for the Whole Foods Food bars

Yes! The best place for a quick meal (we have taken some to the cemetary screenings before, too.)