My Favorite Restaurants
London:
Northbank – our all time favorite spot to meet John!
Baltic– for vodka, of course
Maggie Jones – Kensington – stilton mousse – YUM!
Ghent:
Dreupelkot – Pols Genever Bar
Waterhuis aan de Bierkant – Pols Beer Bar!
Cafe Leffe – Dan and i had a great salad here
‘t buikske Vol (eng) – this has a nickname from dan mcconnell 🙂 – and sadly has closed – I’m leaving the link as the owners have 3 other restaurants operating from this link
Pakhuis (eng) – good food and funky bathrooms … good for american tourists 🙂
In Becca Lupo (from Cindy!)
Allegro Moderato – yum! (in the center)
Korenlei Twee – always good (in the center too)
Cafe Theatre – good food & MORE funky bathrooms
Jan van den Bon – Peter Camps’ favorite special place!
Restaurant St. Georges – for awesome seafood …. just down the alley from the novotel centrum – looks like they have moved – will confirm with locals
Baan Thai – our favorite thai – in the patersol – try the Tom Kha Kai chicken soup
le petit restaurant – also in patersol
De Klokkeput – one of Patrick’s favorite’s in “Sint Martens Latem”
Keizershof – right on the “Vrijdagmarkt” (friday market) with a lovely terrace out back
Auberge du Pêcheur – fun hotel with very good restaurant (but DON’T ask david about salt on the dessert!)
Madrid:
Nihilprius – closed it seems ;-(
St James – for Paella!
outside of Stuttgart, Germany:
Restaurant Lamm Hepsisau – the first pictures posted to the (old) blog!
Italy:
Parma – La Filoma (from Ingela!)
Zibello – Cavallino Bianco (from Ingela!)
Pittsburgh, PA – 4 years of FAB FOOD! (you DO know it was Zagat’s #1 food city in 2015, right???)
Morcilla – OMG, one of the best i’ve tried yet – and Bon Appetit named it one of the top 10 in the country in their Oct. ’16 issue – read here
Vivo – is one of my favorite haunts in Sewickley – Sam and Josh do a fabulous job always!
Cure – was nominated for a James Beard (as was Rue Dumaine) the first year i worked there in 2013. – another one CLOSED per Jeff – but i’ll leave the link as apparently they are open for private parties (one of which Jeff has attended 🙂 )
Avenue B – is BYOB, but the food is worth the effort – really awesome! – NO! CLOSED 🙁
Gaucho Parrilla – in the strip – is the BEST argentinian steak sandwich i’ve ever had (homemade chimichurri to DIE for) .. be careful – weekend line down the sidewalk will take 30 mins to an hour sometimes!
Eleven – was my 2013 go-to when i stayed in the hotel across the street – can always count on them (and a fave of Davids 🙂 )
Nine on Nine – downtown – sit at the bar and chat with the bartender – he’s a hoot! – CLOSED but the link has some gorgeous food pics (why?)
Soba – have only been here once but the sushi was excellent!
Altius – on Mt. Washington is a favorite for out-of-town guests for the fabulous view, gourmet popcorn and great food!
Legume – Anna Marie and I tried this in 2017 and it was really good (as was the service) see blog post here!
Willow – Julie took me here first and it was good – ups and downs since then but most recent visit, current menu – the beef tartare is awesome!
Dayton, Ohio:
Rue Dumaine – local gal returns from James Beard award winning restaurant venues in NOLA to bring us something very special – the SADDEST closing of all – but Anne does have a new restaurant in Tampa
The Winds – always awesome! and has shared a recipe!
Meadowlark – now in new location (old madisons) – check out her signature brunch recipe!
the infamous Oakwood Club – need i say more? – ask for Shannon Berry to wait on you if she’s working!
Coco’s – has a patio to sit outside … need more of these!
Cafe Boulevard bar – gone – but i think Tom can still make the best Lemoncello martini ever at Coco’s
Mr Lee’s is now Shens – was good for the locale sushi – lettuce wraps-better than PF chang’s & great calamari w/garlic & jalapeños – UPDATE 2016 – the calamari is not as good since the management change as they no longer saute the garlic!
El Meson – eclectic south of the border style … hidden secret in dayton!
C’est tout – french bistro in oakwood – yet another closed ;-(
Cincinnati, Ohio:
Nicola’s – this is awesome – I used to drive from Dayton for this!
Via Vite – this is the same Italian trained chef/owners, yummy but more casual
Iron Horse – north of Cinci (west on sharon road) and really good! drat! closed too, but Jackson has a new restaurant! wait that’s closed too!
Boca – sit at the table “in the kitchen” and have the caramelized brussel sprouts
Sotto – great Itlaina under Boca to the right – sit at the bar (if you can find a spot! YUMMY!
Mita’s – YUMMY TAPA’S!!
Alfio’s Buon Cibo – in Hype Park Square – award winning veal short rib ravioli with creamy mushroom truffle sauce is NOT to be missed!
E+0 – Hyde Park (yes, walking distance from me!) – they are opening a 2nd location this year – you MUST have the smoked salmon tartare!
Bombay Brazier – some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had (thanks Lisa!) run by a sweet couple (who taught me how to pronounce Makhani properly 🙂
Columbus, Ohio:
Hyde Park – Jen’s favorite birthday place – steaks named after OSU coaches?
New York, NY:
there are so many!!! i’ll try to start a collection of those i know well
Gotham Bar & Grill – one of my all time favorites in the village! tall food 🙂
Il Cantinori – great italian in the village – Alan would go twice in one week if it were his BD!
Babbo – Batali at his finest!
Aureole – excellent!
Pomaire – OMG – hate to see this closed – great little chilean restaurant for Pisco Sours and Pastel de Choclo
Tamarind – for awesome Indian – met Richard Gere while there several years ago!
Aquaviht – for swedish (best with Ingela guiding me – but herring for brunch?? 🙂
craft – Kin highly recommends!
Union Square Cafe – Wiley recommends!
Vong – sadly gone – Sue and i had much fun at the bar here! tho I’ve heard some of the other Jean Georges’ sites are even better
Esca – Batali for seafood!
Gaustavinos – one of Grants favorites!
Noche – for mex
Molyvos – excellent greek!
44 x X hells kitchen – really good small restaurant Ingela & I discovered on our first “girls weekend” – walking distance from theater district
Daniel – upscale Boulad – like Batali – any of the Boulad’s are good!
La Bernadin – excellent!
Sushi Yasuda – YUM 🙂
Red Eye Grill – Gina’s favorite – try the Clay-Pot Roasted Chilean Sea Bass tomato, fennel, olives, capers & fingerling potatoes
Blue Smoke – for fun BBQ, Belgian beers and live Jazz!
Boston:
Townsman – ok, this is a cute trendy place with unique food but really, really good! see blog post – CLOSED (I can only guess that’s what “thank you for everything, stay tuned” means
Stephanie’s on Newbury – is very good – see pic of ahi tuna tartar at lunch!
San Diego, CA:
The Beach House – yummy Ahi appetizer – actually in Cardiff by the Sea near Dan – another one bites the dust!
Ft Lauderdale, FL:
Yolos – You Only Live Once! all of the beautiful people live here! (and we are next door) 🙂
Galanga Thai – in wilton manors – excellent! – another CLOSURE!
the “Lion Bar” “memories” 🙂
Big City Tavern – always a good standby
Mango’s – the snow crab bisque is awesome! – closed, reopened, CLOSED – after 25 years!
Casa d’Angelo – didn’t make it there :-(, but supposed to be excellent!
Gianni’s – don’t kiss anyone for days — but worth it!
Sarasota/Siesta Key, FL:
Claytons – what fun to have here with Mike and Vera – the owner and chef are awesome!
Hyde Park – another one like columbus, but with “perfect gimlets” here
Tampa:
Oak and Ola – haven’t been there yet but if it’s Anne Kearney, it’s fabulous!
South Beach (Miami), FL:
Ola – fabulous restaurant in a not so great hotel … ceviche and fish tacos are great!
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico:
El Mole de Jovita – really great! awesome green mole, chili relleno and interesting soup – check out the blog post! no website but check pages on FB, TripAdvisor, Yelp
La Palapa – amazing breakfast on the beach – try the Chilaquiles! see blog post!
B&B’s (both run by couples originally from dayton :-):
Adams County, OH – Murphin Ridge Inn – OMG, the food here is to DIE for!
Caseville, MI – The Lodge at Oak Pointe – ok, i’m cheating, i’ve not actually eaten (nor slept) here, but i know the cook and it must be good!