Posts filed under: United States

Birmingham AL

Food Hall: Mo:Mo: Another of the dozen or so food stalls in the Pizitz Food Hall. This one is devoted to….you guessed it…Momos. They also have bánh mi and other...

Birmingham AL

Doughnuts anyone? Hero Doughnuts. Nice spot to pick up a local sugary concoction…..think of them as a mix of Krispy Cream with Top Pot. Not as light and calorie worthless...

Birmingham AL

Always up for more ice cream: Big Spoon. Nice small space offering small batch artisan ice creams that change seasonally. Story has it that the husband and wife team started...

Birmingham AL

Asian: Bamboo on 2nd. The restaurant scene is expanding on almost every visit to the historically quiet (previously deserted) downtown core. But just like many older cities, millennials are revitalizing...

Seattle

Very unique space in Ballard: Sawyer. Open since August, the story is that the original space was a sawmill…..looks non descript from the outside. Inside, it is open and modern...

Roslyn WA

Northern Exposure Fame: The Brick. Decided to stop in after a hike in the area. The history of this area of Washington is interesting and this place was originally a...

Woodinville WA

Finally got a chance to try: Twisted Cuban. I’ve passed this place numerous times riding my bike but hadn’t had a chance to try it despite recommendations from others. This...

Novato CA

Unique venue: Hilltop 1892. I was drawn to the space….a hilltop home built in 1892 but one that has been a restaurant for several decades. When I arrive things were...

San Rafael CA

Carbo load: La Toscana. Getting ready for a bike ride and pasta is always a good pre ride choice.  The restaurant is quite “local”…..Google Maps will have you turn the wrong way...

Novato CA

Needed breakfast: Toast. Getting ready for a long bike ride so looking for calories and protein before the ride. Nice space located in a small outdoor mall which made access...

San Diego

Breakfast in the Gaslamp Quarter: Cafe 222. It’s been a few years since my last visit to this small, unique place near the convention center. They have the usual staples...

San Diego

Tocos: Lola 55. Looking for a new place and this fit the bill…..open for about a month. The space is on the ground floor of a multi use building which...

San Diego

New American Fusion: Kettner Exchange. It’s a bit hard to find…in a nondescript building on a corner, it’s easy to miss. Walk down the outside hallway and you enter a very interesting...

San Diego

Italian with a twist: Herb & Wood. Located in the Little Italy area of San Diego, don’t be fooled by the Uber drop off at Herb & Eatery….the entry to...

Seattle

Beer by the Lake: Magnuson Cafe & Brewery. A nice spot for a bite in Magnuson Park if you’re in the neighborhood. It can be busy, especially on a nice...

Seattle

Funky little sandwich shop: HoneyHole. Busy spot on Cap Hill with a great space and sandwiches. The sandwich selection is extensive and burgers are available as well. Vegetarian, vegan and...

Mt Vernon WA

Get your ice cream fix: Snow Goose Produce. Simply said….I’ve never seen a portion size of ice cream like this. They have about 50 flavors and a dozen or so...

Mt Vernon WA

Bakery, espresso and charcuterie: C Squared. Interestingly, this and the companion Third Street Cafe are part of the Skagit Valley Food Co-op. They are located in the same building. It’s...

Woodinville WA

Food truck and wine: Taqueria los Chilangos. Wine pick up and tasting at Darby Wines which included food. Good tacos and service. Of course the wine was first rate…as expected....

Asheville NC

Pizza: Fresh. Classic pizza and pasta joint on the way out of town. They do a great job with a wood fired pizza oven and use locally sourced ingredients. The...

Kahului Maui HI

Looking for very local: Tinroof. The chef has won the Top Chef fan favorite award twice and is set to open a new restaurant called Lineage on Maui this fall....

Asheville NC

Spanish tapas: Cúrate. Located in a building that was built in 1927 and served as the bus station, the new space has two levels with a bar on the first...

Snohomish WA

Quick bite on our way north: Buzz Inn. One of 12 locations in Washington, this one is at the Harvey Airport in Snohomish. We were riding our bicycles from Seattle...

Kaanapali Maui HI

It’s a tree…It’s a restaurant: Monkeypod Kitchen. One of 3 locations, this is the newest one on Maui. Located in Whalers Village it’s central to the hotels and condominiums in...

Kaanapali Maui HI

Raw fish: Japengo. Another restaurant in the Hyatt Regency; this one is focused on seafood. The sushi is surprisingly good…..even for raw fish served up in a hotel restaurant. It’s...

Kaanapali Maui HI

Old favorite: Duke’s. One of several restaurants by this name and others throughout the Islands and California by the same restaurant group. It’s a bit touristy but you need to...

Kahakuloa Maui HI

Just what I needed: Braddah Chic’s Off the beaten path….way off. Discovered this place while doing the West Maui loop on my bike and since I badly needed something cold...

Kaanapali Maui HI

Hyatt Hotel: ‘Ūmalu. Fairly typical hotel food but give the spicy ahi bowl a try…..ahi, lettuce, mango, edamame, avocado, tomato and pecans with wasabi aioli and ginger vinaigrette……very tasty! Service...

Kaanapali Maui HI

Hawaiian Shave Ice: Ululani’s. It gets 5 stars from almost all who rate and they don’t disappoint. The ice is like light snow and the flavor choices are multiple and outstanding....

Lahaina Maui HI

What a view: Kimo’s. We’ve been here before and returned because the food is solid and the views just can’t be beat. This time we had a table on the...

Bozeman MT

Not just any breakfast: Jam! Bright, busy and open space. We were initially told it would be about a 30 to 40 minute wait but following a correction of a...

Lahaina, Maui HI

Road side stop south of Lahaina: Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop Doesn’t look like much but you can tell by the number of cars in the parking lot that this...

Bozeman MT

Sushi anyone? Dave’s Sushi. We visited a few years ago so expect an update in the future but this is the best known place for raw fish in the city....

Bozeman MT

Looking for sushi? Seven. Located in the Cannery District along with Lot 5 this is one of the 2 main places to get your fill of raw fish…nigiri or sashimi. They...

Bozeman MT

More ice cream: Sweet Peaks. One of several locations in Montana this one is a bit away from the downtown core but work a visit. Very similar to Genuine Ice...

Bozeman MT

Ice cream in an Airstream: Genuine Ice Cream Co. Located right next to the hotel Lark so give them a try if you are in the area. While you are...

Bozeman MT

In the Cannery District: Lot G. Serves breakfast and lunch all day and we experienced breakfast this visit. The space is in and updated old warehouse in the north part...

Bozeman MT

Cider anyone? Lockhorn Hard Cider. Located just off Main Street in the eastern part of town we had visited before but stopped by one afternoon for a quick repeat sampling....

Bozeman MT

Interesting spot for coffee: Treeline Coffee Roasters. Upscale coffee house right on Main Street. This place is mostly about coffee but they also have tea and a limited selection of...

Bozeman MT

Excellent bakery: Wild Crumb. Come here after that great cup of joe at Treeline. This is one of those places with an endless line up of breads and pastries so...

Bozeman MT

Another place for drinks: Bozeman Spirits Distillery. Get ready for too many choices and if you can’t decide on which vodka, rum, or whiskey cocktail suits your fancy just amble...

Bozeman MT

Brew pub: Montana Ale Works. First visited in 2016. Nice brew pub…liked it better than the Bridger Brewery. Good wagyu burger and mocha pot de creme. On another, more recent visit,...

San Diego

French in SoCal: Parc Bistro. In the Banker’s Hill area of the city….basically just east of the airport. Thought we should go in a French direction rather than Italian……..although this...

San Diego

Dinner for 20: Top of the Market. Back in SD for a meeting and this was the choice for the group. I always hesitate a bit in reviewing spots where...

San Diego

Animals anyone: The Lion’s Share. One of those places that would be off most people’s radar unless you are a local. I’ve walked by in the past without realizing exactly...

Woodinville WA

Former Biker Bar: Hollywood Tavern. Started out as a service station in 1922 then became a roadside tavern in the 1940s. Completely renovated a few years ago and has now...

Hood River OR

Top 10 tasting room: Mt Hood Winery. The wines are acceptable but the views……outrageous! Very large tasting room with vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows but the place to...

Parkdale OR

BBQ in Oregon? Apple Valley BBQ. Unexpected but solid BBQ so, if you are doing the Fruit Loop, keep it in mind. They advertise themselves as NW style BBQ but...

Portland

Dinner with amazing views: Departure. Go here if for no other reason but the views from this restaurant located on the 15th floor of the Nines Hotel in downtown Portland....

Hood River OR

Have some ice cream: Apple Valley Country Store. On the Fruit Loop and their claim to fame are their milkshakes. You know they will be good……Tillamook ice cream makes up...

Portland

Coffee and a pastry: Pearl Bakery. Very nice open space with typical offerings. Somewhat limited pastry choices but it is all very good…..give the pain aux raisin a try….delicious. Visit...

Hood River OR

Cider in Hood River: Fox Tail Cider. Looked interesting so we stopped by while doing the Fruit Loop. Nice cidery with a friendly staff. Try the tasting flight to get...

Portland

French in the Pearl: MÃ¥urice. This is a small place and an interesting dining experience….described as a pastry luncheonette. So, you should expect a mix of sweet and savory pastries...

Seattle

“BBQ” in Seattle: Brileys. Hard to find great BBQ in this town but finally visited this place after it was suggested to me by a friend some months ago. It...

San Francisco

Coffee fix: Blue Bottle Coffee. One of several locations in the Bay Area this one is in the Ferry Building. They have espresso down to an art but also offer, not only...

San Francisco

Frenetic Mexican: La Taqueria. You need to visit this place just to watch what goes on at lunch or dinner. The line is out the door and the seating is...

San Francisco

In the Ferry Building: Fog Hollow Farm. Need a quick fix…..pastry, soup, sandwich, coffee or farm to table fruits?…..then this is a good option. It’s basically a take away place...

San Francisco

At Hotel Griffon: Perry’s. One of 2 locations in the city, this one fronts the Embarcadero. The alfresco area on a nice day would be a show stopper. Just had...

San Francisco

Vietnamese in the Ferry Terminal: The Slanted Door. I tried this place a few years ago and don’t remember coming away impressed despite its renown. This visit was more to...

San Francisco

Drinks anyone? Wayfare Tavern. Stopped by for a drink and some light appetizers before dinner. This is a very popular spot for…….you didn’t guess it…..fried chicken! We’ll have to try...

Seattle

Return visit: Bar Cantinetta. Our prior visit was for a wine tasting menu and I wasn’t that impressed with the food but I thought we should give it another try……I...

Seattle

Meeting at SeaTac: The Conference Center at SEA. I gotta quit eating like this….at another meeting. Nice space for a smaller meeting and convenient via the Link Light Rail. Otherwise,...

Bellevue WA

Bakery near the convention center: The French Bakery. Had a meeting at the Bellevue Convention Center and needed a quick bite to eat before sitting in a room all day...

Seattle

Thai in Maple Leaf: Ban Hua Sai. Decided to give this place a try based on reviews indicating it was the best Thai in the area and we needed a quick...

Seattle

Late night cookies: Midnight Cookie Co. Have a craving for cookies in the middle of the night?……they deliver until 3 am! Just choose your delivery service…..Uber Eats, Grubhub, etc. Note...

Seattle

Interesting experience: Manolin. Had an opportunity to have early dinner and this seemed like a good place for the experience since they opened for happy hour early in the afternoon...

Seattle

Street party: Off the Rez. Invited by friends to a Saturday night block party……with a food truck. Their claim to fame is that it’s the only Native American food truck...

Seattle

Georgetown vibe: Ciudad. Not sure how to describe this place…..Spanish……Middle Eastern…..or? They describe themselves as “flavors from the East, vibes from the West” and I think they are spot on...

Chelan WA

Bakery option: Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery. Nice option for a coffee and pastries besides the ubiquitous Starbucks…..which is essentially next door to this strip mall location. The croissants were quite...

Chelan WA

BBQ in Chelan, Really? BBQ in the Vineyard. Highlight of this trip to Chelan. It just reopened the week we were there……note as of the date of this posting it...

Seattle

On my list: Flintcreek Cattle Co. This is the sister restaurant to Rockcreek and, as expected, it’s the turf version although they do have a vegetarian and seafood option on...

Gulfport MS

Unique experience: Tamale Shak. It’s all about the space….cinder block and funky…..and the food is very good too! It’s small…really small but you’ll want to spend some time looking at...

Gulfport MS

Lunch spot: Courtside Café. Local knowledge required: at the Bayou Bluff Tennis Club and while all the signage states members only, non members are allowed to visit the cafe. The...

Pass Christian MS

Great spot for a coffee or latte…and a book: Cat Island Coffeehouse. Great coffee and views from this quaint spot on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Excellent alfresco experience on the...

Gulfport MS

A classic: The Chimneys. Beautiful setting under live oaks on the beach. This is the second iteration of this well known restaurant…the first, like much of this area, was destroyed...

United States

The Eating Places: James Beard Award Winners 2018. Best new restaurant: JuneBaby, Seattle. Outstanding restaurant: Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham. Rising star chef of the year: Camille Cogswell, Zahav, Philly. Outstanding pastry...

Seattle

An old favorite: Boat Street Kitchen (Cafe). It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been to this little jewel but my first experience was when it was in the...

San Diego

Captive audience: Urban Crave. Located at the Alaska gates in terminal 1 of the San Diego airport this is an option…especially if your flight is delayed an hour…..due to the...

San Diego

A pleasant surprise: Puesto. One of several locations of this small chain; this location was across the street from the Grand Hyatt and therefore very convenient for a quick lunch....

San Diego

Dinner for 30: Salvatore’s. Always hard to evaluate a restaurant when it is a large party experience with a limited, a fixed menu. I think that may be the case...

San Diego

Eclectic: Juniper & Ivy. The space is very modern and the crowd is on the younger side. It’s high ceiling and a bit loud but the experience was very good....

Seattle

Italian near UW: Mamma Melina. I’ve been here several times……including when it was located in the U District but it’s been a while since my last visit. The special part...

Paso Robles CA

Coffee anyone? Kreuzberg Coffee Company. Nice small shop….you guessed it….on 13th Street. Space is rustic but comfortable. Give the Mexican Mocha a try…. Visit website  ...

Paso Robles CA

Northern Italian: Buona Tavola. A choice not in the13th Street restaurant core but worth worth a few blocks walk. The space is relatively small and intimate with a small area...

Paso Robles CA

Lunch option not on 13th Street: Niner Wine Estates. Decided to take a day off from riding and noticed this place as I was driving others to the ride start...

Paso Robles CA

Breakfast to start a new day: Cowgirl Cafe. One of many dining options in the downtown area near 13th Street. Specializes in breakfast with a western theme…..with portion sizes to...

Paso Robles CA

Looking for a place to eat: Thomas Hill Organics. We thought we had our dining experience all picked out…..but it wasn’t quite what we thought it was, so we started...

Paso Robles CA

Another breakfast: Vic’s Cafe. It has been around since 1942 and we needed fueling for our ride so this seemed like a good choice. Classic options of eggs, scrambles, omelets...

Paso Robles CA

Wines on tap: The Hatch. Located in the downtown 13th Street area of the city which has multiple options to choose from, this option looked interesting: offering wines, whiskeys…….extensive offerings….and...

Santa Barbara CA

Hyatt Centric: Marbella. Quick bite before we were off to our next bike ride up the coast. The space is nice and the views, basically located on the beach, are...

Santa Barbara CA

Finally found one open: Los Agaves. One of 3 locations in the area…..and the first one we tried was closed for renovations. But never give up….the location in Da La Vina...

Santa Barbara CA

Since 1958: Farmer Boy. Diner like space with a breakfast made to be had before a long bike ride. They serve large portions…and lunch as well. The Santa Barbara Local...

Santa Barbara CA

Carbo loading, again: Via Maestra 42. Located nearby the hotel and known for regional Italian fare so off we went. It’s located in a strip mall….but most everything seems that...

Seattle

Another coffee option: Gretchen’s Place. It’s been a while since I have been here and apparently it has new ownership……I knew the original owner who passed away a few years...

Seattle

The Truck: El Camión. There are several locations and we have visited the one located in a parking lot near Home Depot in north Seattle and we now have one...

Philadelphia

Old City: FARMiCiA. Another option for a locally sourced meal with a lively atmosphere. This was a group dinner but there were several selections from the regular menu which makes...

Philadelphia

It’s on everyone’s list: Zahav. I’ve tried several times to get a reservation here but they are hard to come by. Visited as part of a larger group but this...

Philadelphia

Another good Philly option: Helm. This is a small place north of the old city in the Olde Kensington area. I’ve seen it described as French but it is decidedly...

Philadelphia

BYOB source: Pinot Boutique. In the Old City and sells locally sourced wines so don’t go looking for that French Bordeaux. Interesting wines from the area with tasings available. Somewhat...

Chicago

Passing through: Chili’s Too. Needed a quick bite and it had been a while since I last visited. Located in the B Concourse at O’Hare and near my outbound gate...