Local Fare

Oooooh, I like this idea!

If you ever find yourself in Springfield, Illinois, you have to try D'Arcy's Pint and eat a horseshoe.  It's been on Food Network before, and it is absolutely always busy, but they are seriously worth it.

Also, after studying in Florence, Italy for a while, my favorite place to eat was Coquinarius.  The pear and cheese ravioli is to die for, to the point where I've seriously contemplated flying back there just for dinner.  Yummmmmm.

Lastly, when I was living in Portland, Oregon, my favorite place for breakfast was Tasty n Sons.  But seriously, if you're visiting here, you can't go wrong with most local restaurants!

This might be easy if you're from Omaha (where there are six decent restaurants and all are steakhouses) but this is south Louisiana! Where do I start? Here are my local favorites here in the Lafayette area:

Olde Tyme Grocery: right off the Universily of Louisiana campus, easily the best value if not the best po-boys in Louisiana. On Fridays in Lent you'll typically find 50+ people in line at this place.

Deano's Pizza: pizza with a Cajun flair. Shrimp, crawfish, crabmeat, andouille are among the unique ingredients you'll find on their specialty pizzas.

Prejean's: Cajun restaurant serving traditional and more innovative fare. Probably the most recognized in the area.

I could write volumes about New Orleans, 140 miles to the east, where we lived before coming here.

Charleston SC has alot of great options

Husk, named best new restaurant by bon Apetite, go to the bar and get the burger it's fantastic.

SNOB (Slightly North of Broad)-  Great southern food with an upscale flare

Hank's Seafood- Probably best seafood place in the area, sit at the communal table for an interesting dinning experience.

I could keep going for awhile

Atlanta--so many choices.  I'll just mention one but you better go soon because we got an email saying they are closing in March--Tierra on Piedmont Ave.  The owner's are husband and wife and are both chefs.  They alternate nights cooking.  Very elegant, South American food.  We have reservations for Feb 4. 

TW

Should you happen, for whatever reason, to find yourself in Salem Va. at lunch time. Go to Xinachtli it's a little mom and pop lunch counter on the corner of Main St. and College Ave. Serves really, really good Mexican food. It's not a chips-n-salsa and giant unnaturally green margarita kind of place (they don't even serve alcohol), but the food and the horchata are top-notch. My favorite is their enchiladas rojas.

Haven't eaten at Figlio (don't eat much Italian due to gluten issues), but I'd point people to the BBQ for my local Kansas City recommendations.

- Oklahoma Joe's is my personal favorite, the Z-Man is perfection on a bun (dang gluten).

- Jackstack is a little more upscale (don't have to stand in a line to order), wide variety. Get the fire kissed wings as an appetizer.

- Arthur Bryant's not a big fan of their sauce, but a local landmark

- LC's if you can get past the bars on the windows and grease on the floor, the burnt ends are the best in KC

- Gate's "Hi, may I help you!!?" - You'll be asked what you want to order before you are halfway through the door

I've eaten there! I didn't get a horseshoe (I'm a vegetarian) but my husband did. Definitely a Springfield thing.

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it's not all seafood either. Andouille, which i mentioned as a pizza topping, is Cajun smoke sausage. And Prejean's does wild game including a great mixed grill with elk, venison, and buffalo chops, and has an award winning duck and andouille gumbo.

MMmmmmmm this makes me hungry!  Growing up there, we ate at D'Arcy's on a very regular basis (almost after every high school soccer game).  My favorite is the chili cheeseburger horseshoe, but their other food on the menu is good, too.  I'm thinking of heading back to visit my parents next weekend so I can convince them to buy me a meal there.

Up here in Canada theres this restaurant called The Local Kitchen. Everything used is local, including only local beers on tap.

Very good range of food, and it's all very good. Burgers, wraps, seafood, ribs, prime rib etc.

Baltimore, MD

*Bad Decisions-Bacon and Beer Happy Hour, its truly amazing

*By the Docks-Crab Cakes

*Anywhere-Steamed Crabs

*Cannella's Deli-Best Italian Cold Cut in the State

*Ostroski's-Polish Sausage

*Brick Oven Pizza-well the name says it all

*Koopers Tavern Food Truck-Great burgers

San Luis Obispo, CA 

Breakfast:  No doubt go to The Apple Farm  Anything there is amazing

Lunch/Dinner: Firestones.  Would definitely reccomend a tri-tip or Pulled Pork "The Pig" sandwich with fries (perfectly seasoned!)

Lunch/dinner: Mo's Get a tri Tip Sandwich with home-made chips

If you ever find yourself driving East from San Diego through the desert in the Imperial Valley for some reason, stop at Camachos Diner.  Do yourself a favor and get a Special Quesidilla.  Its a heart-attack on a plate, but well worth it.  They are only made in the Imperial Valley

Not really my hometown, but when I go to the Miami airport I always try to stop at the Palacio de los Jugos- The Juice Palace.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-palacio-de-los-jugos-miami

Amazing place. I never thought you could have a place that serves so many things be so good. It has a bakery, a butcher shop, a seafood market and a produce section, with each selling the respective type of hot or cold food. They even have a guy with a machete cutting up coconuts for fresh coconut milk.

The only thing is: if you speak english they will pretend they don't understand. If you try to speak spanish, no matter how bad (mine is horrible even after all these years) they are extremely patient and helpful.

There is only 1 restaurant in my town - The Wagon Wheel. I hear the fried chicken is good.

Wait, 2 restaurants if you count pizza from the gas station .

Several years ago I flew into San Diego to drive to El Centro. Wish I would've known about it then.

I'll be in that area in March. Thanks for the tip! I love me some steak...especially when the company is buying.