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Post by Buckeye2b on Jun 19, 2017 17:57:28 GMT -5
OK..So in thread #1, we discussed big dollar meals (or in South's case...it was a job taking care of big dollar diners...) So let's get down to the real nitty gritty regarding food. Take any meal that is your favorite, give me a location and a price. Tell me why it's the best meal you've ever had...or if it's that damn good, have you had it multiple times. This is one I have to think about before I even post, because I have some things that are not full meals, but that I will make sure that I get from the menu no matter where I eat. For example, I LOVE onion rings. Bigger with beer batter are better. There are two places in this world that had the best onion rings ever and I both are closed now. Chal's, a little mid-50's type dive on a hill in Cambridge, Ohio...Great onion rings with hand made shakes in the old tyme glasses with a spoon. The other best rings ever were from a little dump of a restaurant called... The Unicorn, in Urichsville, Ohio. Decor was unicorns painted on black velvet canvas, sugar/sweetener holders were clear plastic cups, salt and pepper shakers didn't match nor did the silverware...but Good Lord, the onion rings were huge vidalias, beer battered with some sort of spices and they were half onion sized rings, meaning he cut the onion in half and started popping rings to deep fry. There were six in a basket and they were to die for. OK...so you got my onion ring story, but I will come back with more delectable tales of my gastric delights later. In the meantime, talk to me, because I love little diner dives with great food just waiting to give me a heart attack
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Post by picabo on Jun 20, 2017 23:58:12 GMT -5
Bishop's Drive In (closed 16 years ago) in Wooster, OH had the best beer-battered onion rings. You could buy them by the bucket (think KFC) and they were a meal in themselves. The Olde Jaol serves a similar onion ring (rumor is that they have Bishop's recipe) and while they are good - it just isn't the same.
I could eat steak & chicken fajitas from Casa Bravos in Norwalk any day! I've never had a bad serving there yet! We even order them for pick up and the drive home gives extra time to marinate in the juices. We order Fajitas for 2 for about $20. More than enough food for two - usually the kids finish up for us. In addition to the 3 fajitas apiece - you get lettuce & guac, rice, and beans! Not to mention all the chips & salsa we usually gorge on at first.
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Post by sportsjock on Jun 21, 2017 13:33:44 GMT -5
I know this topic is going to make me hungry.....lol
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Post by Buckeye2b on Jun 22, 2017 16:49:37 GMT -5
Phils Seafood, a restaurant in Zanesville, Ohio of all places. Scallops wrapped in bacon for an appetizer. Broiled Scallops in a pan in Scampi butter, baked potato with sour cream, Salad with Bleu Cheese dressing (which is really Ranch with Bleu Cheese sprinkled in it) and maybe- just maybe - another appetizer of Phil's special onion rings (not as good as the others I mentioned above, but greasy and crispy in their own right.) Place looks like a dive from the outside (It was at one time Monks Gridiron Bar and Grill) and appearance hasn't changed much over the last 30 or so years, but they opened their doors with me as a cook back in the late 80's, and the guy who taught me - Phil- he was a CIA (culinary institute of Americe) graduate, but he was more about simple and tasteful seafood without the BS that comes with the same meal in a higher priced restaurant. Great seafood is a simple thing to cook if done right... He used to also have coquilles st jacques and stuffed live lobster on the menu, and it was to die for. He did the fried seafood in a super light corn flour mixture that didn't wash away the flavor of the food with batter. To this day, I rate almost every restaurant I eat at by what I learned working for this man in this wonderful little seafood place although I wasn't paid peanuts working there. We used to turn the tables at Phil's 4-5 times on a weekend evening. We only had 85 seats in bar and dining area, but would put out around 300 seafood or steak dinners in a decent Friday or Saturday night. I was back there the last time I went through Z-ville, and Phil has sold the place to someone else, but they retained the menu for the most part and it hasn't changed much over the last 25+ years. Meal prices were still reasonable and the food was still very good even with the new owners. I gotta tell you, if you spend anytime in the Zanesville area, Phils is worth the stop. More to come about other places I love...
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Post by CEOSouth on Jun 22, 2017 17:01:09 GMT -5
8 year old CEO says the Pizza Burger at Lee's in Willard is the greatest food ever.
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Post by DrTorch on Jun 22, 2017 20:30:37 GMT -5
the old A&W Carhop on the back way into Shelby, used to thrill me to death as a kid to eat food in a car with that big old tray thing cantilevering from my mom's window, and the best root beer floats i've ever had
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Post by sportsjock on Jun 22, 2017 21:44:43 GMT -5
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Post by Buckeye2b on Jun 23, 2017 8:50:34 GMT -5
Food is still pretty intense there. I get it Torch and South...my time there was many moons ago, but my point was that the food hasn't changed over the years. Phils is worth a meal if ever you are in Zanesville. Since Torch brought up A&W, it makes me think about hot dogs, and so I will see if I can thrill you with a tale of gourmet hot dogs in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (a nice trip regardless of food...) In Munising, Michigan, there is a tiny place called Johnny Dogs. I had the best hot dog and fries of my life there. It was called a "Piggy Dog" and "Piggy Fries." All beef 1/4 lb dog covered in BBQ pulled pork(i think they make their own sauce), Ranch dressing and Jack and Cheddar cheese. They do the same thing to the fries. Think of the best chili cheese fries x 10. There are multiple reviews online, but I'm telling you, there is nothing like standing in line and watching people eat there. Short video below to help understand what this place is about... By the way, when you are done, you can visit the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore or take a glass bottom boat tour and see some shipwrecked boats. Munising sits right on the southern shore of Lake Superior and I have done both.... both were very cool things to do with the family in the area... and www.picturedrocks.com/tour-highlights/ .
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Post by sportsjock on Jun 23, 2017 13:58:17 GMT -5
I love the yooper. Me and several of my fishing buddies pull our boats to Twin Pines Resort on Lake Gogebic in the western yooper. Great walleye, perch and pike fishing in God's country, where there are never any jet trails. Just you and the loons.
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Post by Buckeye2b on Jun 23, 2017 16:11:54 GMT -5
I love the yooper. Me and several of my fishing buddies pull our boats to Twin Pines Resort on Lake Gogebic in the western yooper. Great walleye, perch and pike fishing in God's country, where there are never any jet trails. Just you and the loons. Oh..you mean the loons as in birds.... I was thinking about those damn Michigan fans up here.......
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Post by deathfromabove on Jul 3, 2017 4:15:41 GMT -5
To me it's has been and always will be in the fall my dad and I would dig two pits. one to slowly turn either a whole hog or a half of beef and but foil wrapped taters in the coals and have homemade coleslaw, baked beans and strawberry shortcake. Then in the other pit we would put a big black kettle in it and put lots of Jamaican rum and brown sugar and a couple pounds of butter to make HOT BUTTER RUM. Nothing can beat that on a cool October night. We invite a lot of friends and relations over for a good old fashion HO DOWN. I just wish my dad and aunts and uncles were still around to enjoy it all over again. Now that's good country living and fun.
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Post by sportsjock on Jul 3, 2017 6:04:43 GMT -5
I love the yooper. Me and several of my fishing buddies pull our boats to Twin Pines Resort on Lake Gogebic in the western yooper. Great walleye, perch and pike fishing in God's country, where there are never any jet trails. Just you and the loons. Oh..you mean the loons as in birds.... I was thinking about those damn Michigan fans up here....... LOL...............
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Post by sportsjock on Jul 3, 2017 6:10:02 GMT -5
To me it's has been and always will be in the fall my dad and I would dig two pits. one to slowly turn either a whole hog or a half of beef and but foil wrapped taters in the coals and have homemade coleslaw, baked beans and strawberry shortcake. Then in the other pit we would put a big black kettle in it and put lots of Jamaican rum and brown sugar and a couple pounds of butter to make HOT BUTTER RUM. Nothing can beat that on a cool October night. We invite a lot of friends and relations over for a good old fashion HO DOWN. I just wish my dad and aunts and uncles were still around to enjoy it all over again. Now that's good country living and fun. Nice..... I've been to a few barbies like that, hog roast in dug pits. The home made, hot buttered rum sounds great.
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Post by clb6110 on Jul 3, 2017 10:05:13 GMT -5
CEO South wrote:8 year old CEO says the Pizza Burger at Lee's in Willard is the greatest food ever.
I have to disagree here......when you talk Lee's you have to go breaded veal,onion rings and throw in a 224 burger.That was good eating!
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Post by CEOSouth on Jul 3, 2017 10:08:07 GMT -5
CEO South wrote:8 year old CEO says the Pizza Burger at Lee's in Willard is the greatest food ever. I have to disagree here......when you talk Lee's you have to go breaded veal,onion rings and throw in a 224 burger.That was good eating! You know, now that you wrote that, I think I do remember the breaded mushrooms. 8 year old CEO can't see past the pizza burger tho
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Post by clb6110 on Jul 3, 2017 11:54:19 GMT -5
I'd like to see a thread for food that you would like to have one more time but for one reason or another you can't. Went out of business or moved or whatever. For me it would be breaded veal and onion rings at Lees Pizza Shack pizza pie Big Bob sandwich at Hartenstiens Cowboy platter at HiHo I think I'd give $50 for one more shot at any of those.
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Post by sportsjock on Jul 3, 2017 17:54:06 GMT -5
I know it hasn't been but a couple weeks, but I sadly miss 'The Anderson's' in Maumee. They had a great deli, great bakery, outstanding butcher shop, great wine department, great beer selection from around the world.
Heinie's restaurant in Fostoria was known far and wide for their spaghetti.
Eppes (pronounced Eppie's) Essen on N. Superior St. Toledo, very Jewish, very kosher and very, very good. The son's inherited the business, ran it a while and sold it. The new owners ran their restaurant, where lunch time was reserved for 'men only'. Eventually, a ruling by the U.S. District Supreme Court put a stop to this practice....lol......strange...........
Bud & Brutus Chinese restaurant Fremont.
Black Angus Steakhouse Kalida. Miss those great steaks!
Frank Unkles Toledo......it had a scenic view of the Maumee and located across the street (Broadway) from the Toledo Zoo......great food.
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Post by deathfromabove on Jul 4, 2017 2:55:16 GMT -5
Sportsjock, Boy I remember the Black Angus also. When we went to visit my grandparents in Continental we went there always on the weekend of Easter. We would either cram are self's in grandpa's big Buick or into dad's station wagon and head down there on a Saturday late evenly to give grandma and mom the night off from cooking before they get up early to start cooking for Easter late lunch when every aunt and uncles would come over with their whole tribe of kids. Lucky my grandparents had a Hugh house to hold everybody.
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Post by clb6110 on Jul 4, 2017 7:36:22 GMT -5
1 more from me. Steak for 2 at the Huddle in Crestline.Complete dive restaurant with duct tape on the seats,100 year old lady playing the organ,enough garlic on the steak to knock out a horse....man that place was a fun adventure.
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Post by BellevueBuckeye on Aug 2, 2017 13:21:51 GMT -5
Mine would be the ribeye steak at the Scioto Ribber in Portsmouth, Ohio
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Post by fredgarvin on Aug 3, 2017 10:17:24 GMT -5
Restaurants that I miss:
Showboat in Huron. Loved going there as a teenager. Twine House in Huron. Good food, great views. Fanny Baer's in Sandusky. The house salad there was made at the table. It had mandarin oranges, shrimp, and green goddess dressing. Lee's in Willard. Loved the onion rings and walleye sandwich. McClain's in Bellevue. Good food and great lemonade (you could get it spiked with either gin or vodka). Cedar Villa in Sandusky. 22 oz porterhouse with a side of spaghetti. Awesome. Mountain Jack's in Elyria. Yes, it was a chain, but the steaks and prime rib were really good.
And I agree with clb6110, the Huddle was a "unique" place.
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Post by deathfromabove on Aug 4, 2017 19:25:44 GMT -5
Buckeye2Be, I wished you would of said something about Phil's Seafood sooner. We always went through Zanesville every time we went to Muskingum University to visit or get son #1. Now he graduate from there so we won't be going through there much anymore.
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Post by Whittaker on Aug 4, 2017 23:49:57 GMT -5
Grassies Wayside Inn, Elyria. Closed now.
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Post by Buckeye2b on Aug 6, 2017 21:56:15 GMT -5
Buckeye2Be, I wished you would of said something about Phil's Seafood sooner. We always went through Zanesville every time we went to Muskingum University to visit or get son #1. Now he graduate from there so we won't be going through there much anymore. If you go through again, it's worth the stop to eat. Red Lobster is right off I70, but I would forego that in a heartbeat to eat at Phils.
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Post by deathfromabove on Aug 10, 2017 12:15:01 GMT -5
i will do that the next time when i go through Zanesville. It might be a year or two. Hopefully they will still be there. Thanks Buckeye2be.
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Post by Buckeye2b on Aug 11, 2017 10:14:57 GMT -5
Think that they will be Deathfromabove... They opened their doors in 1987 with me as the primary cook while I finished my degree. I only worked there a year, but I learned a ton about the restaurant business from Phil.
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