Question du jour
Apr. 28th, 2012 08:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vanillafluffyYou're having guests for the weekend -- what one local restaurant is at the top of the list for your visitors, and what dishes will you be recommending? (Links to the restaurant's website always welcome, in case readers are ever in your area!)
I had to stop and think about this one for a little while. Because the honest truth is, I tend to go to chain places, and while there are a few non-franchise restaurants in my repertoire, I'm not sure I'd claim any of them as exceptional dining experiences. Furthermore, I tend to stay within my comfort zone---driving 20 minutes or more for food doesn't entice me, either.
Since the demise of Fat Boy's BBQ---and I really miss them, they were GOOD---there's Kay's Place, which is okay, but not spectacular. My fav is the Monday lunch special of beef-tips and gravy over noodles. That's sentimental, I confess; I used to meet Kat there for lunch on my days off and have the beef-tips. Other BBW joints are Woody's and Sonny's---I prefer Sonny's for brisket, cornbread and OMG-corn-fritters!!!---which I was chagrinned to find are both franchises.
That doesn't leave a lot. There's a Chinese buffet called New Century on Merritt Island (no website, sorry) that's not bad for economical face-stuffing. I'm partial to their peanut chicken or the duck, when they have it. They do a bacon-wrapped chicken that I'm always up for. And, when the machine is working, there's soft-serve ice cream for dessert!
I can think of a few Mexican places: Chaparral, La Bamba and El Charro. El Charro has been around the longest---at least 20 years in the same location, and they're pretty good. (They're also the priciest.) La Bamba's been around for a few years; I've been there a couple times and always left happy. Chaparral is fairly new, about a year, and I'm not overwhelmed. I'd recommend La Bamba as tasty, clean and affordable.
If you want something with a little atmosphere, you might enjoy Ashley's, which has been a restaurant for as long as I can remember. The building is formerly a train depot---and downstairs tends to be crowded. Sit upstairs, though, and enjoy its funky charm. They have a bare-bones website: http://www.ashleysofrockledge.com/ They're a little on the pricey side, but the appetizers will make a meal if you're on a budget. I'm fond of the Irish nachos (made with thin-sliced potatoes instead of tortillas), the southwestern eggrolls, the teriyaki wings or if I'm feeling particularly affluent, the smothered steak.
What can I say? I don't get out much, and when I do, I tend to stick to known qualities so I feel sure I'll get my money's worth. It doesn't help that a number of places that were good have closed due to the economy. Theoretically, the ones that are left ought to be the best, but they tend to price accordingly.
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I had to stop and think about this one for a little while. Because the honest truth is, I tend to go to chain places, and while there are a few non-franchise restaurants in my repertoire, I'm not sure I'd claim any of them as exceptional dining experiences. Furthermore, I tend to stay within my comfort zone---driving 20 minutes or more for food doesn't entice me, either.
Since the demise of Fat Boy's BBQ---and I really miss them, they were GOOD---there's Kay's Place, which is okay, but not spectacular. My fav is the Monday lunch special of beef-tips and gravy over noodles. That's sentimental, I confess; I used to meet Kat there for lunch on my days off and have the beef-tips. Other BBW joints are Woody's and Sonny's---I prefer Sonny's for brisket, cornbread and OMG-corn-fritters!!!---which I was chagrinned to find are both franchises.
That doesn't leave a lot. There's a Chinese buffet called New Century on Merritt Island (no website, sorry) that's not bad for economical face-stuffing. I'm partial to their peanut chicken or the duck, when they have it. They do a bacon-wrapped chicken that I'm always up for. And, when the machine is working, there's soft-serve ice cream for dessert!
I can think of a few Mexican places: Chaparral, La Bamba and El Charro. El Charro has been around the longest---at least 20 years in the same location, and they're pretty good. (They're also the priciest.) La Bamba's been around for a few years; I've been there a couple times and always left happy. Chaparral is fairly new, about a year, and I'm not overwhelmed. I'd recommend La Bamba as tasty, clean and affordable.
If you want something with a little atmosphere, you might enjoy Ashley's, which has been a restaurant for as long as I can remember. The building is formerly a train depot---and downstairs tends to be crowded. Sit upstairs, though, and enjoy its funky charm. They have a bare-bones website: http://www.ashleysofrockledge.com/ They're a little on the pricey side, but the appetizers will make a meal if you're on a budget. I'm fond of the Irish nachos (made with thin-sliced potatoes instead of tortillas), the southwestern eggrolls, the teriyaki wings or if I'm feeling particularly affluent, the smothered steak.
What can I say? I don't get out much, and when I do, I tend to stick to known qualities so I feel sure I'll get my money's worth. It doesn't help that a number of places that were good have closed due to the economy. Theoretically, the ones that are left ought to be the best, but they tend to price accordingly.
.