Top 10 Best Meals

There are certain meals I've had in my life that have been truly life changing. They are the places that I can't wait to go back to again. The list below ranks in order my absolute favorite places to eat. All of these places hold a special place in my heart and have a certain quality, experience, and panache that separates them from all the rest.

10. Papaya Mexican Grill (Arlington, Texas)

Papaya is true Mexican food that has a taste like no other. Every item I've had on the menu is fantastic, but the Churros (pictured above) are one of the best desserts I've ever had. The place has a comfortable, bright, and festive look that does't scream generic Mexican restaurant.

9. Katz's Delicatessen (New York City)

This place has been around forever and is one of my favorites. Pastrami, matzo ball soup, and a chocolate egg cream is my standard order. I've never been here with anyone that didn't absolutely rave about this place. From the moment the guy behind the counter gives you a hot slice of pastrami to sample you'll be forever hooked.

8. Jim's Steaks (Philadelphia)

The Philly cheese steak is one of my favorite regional foods. Out of all the ones I tried in Philly Jim's on South Street was the best. A Wiz Wit and a cold can of Yuengling is the things dreams are made of. The long line, the smell of the grill and company of good friends make this one hell of a spot to go eat at.

7. Gino's East (Chicago)

Out of all the Chicago deep dish pizza places I went to Gino's left me with a twinkle in my eye and a skip in my step. I still remember when I was walking out after the meal and someone asked me if Gino's was any good. I couldn't help but laugh and say, "you have no idea". The sausage and pepperoni deep dish is worth the hour long wait and I can't wait to go back next time I'm in Chicago.

6. Mandalay SF (San Francisco)

I went from "what the hell is Burmese food?" to having a religious experience with everything on the menu, especially the Mandalay Special Noodle. Mandalay, I'm thinking about you. I miss you. I can't wait to savor your fresh spices again soon.

5. Montgomery Inn (Cincinnati)

How could it be that the best BBQ ribs are in Ohio? I initially laughed at the very thought of even eating here. Boy was I wrong. Ribs and Saratoga Chips are a life-changing experience that will leave all other BBQ rib dinners as inferior forever more.

4. Franklin Barbecue (Austin)

The four hour wait for a lunch I will never forget. Truly the best brisket I have ever had the honor of eating. This heaven sent meal is further crystallized in my mind now that Franklin's is currently closed because of a fire. 

3. Di Fara Pizza (Brooklyn)

This place is nothing pretty to look at. It was a hell of a long way out of my way to get down to Brooklyn to eat here. However, this is the holy grail of pizza. You can never know what truly great pizza is unless you've eat here. Don't even mention Sbarro, Domino's, or even (dare I say) Gino's East in the same sentence - blasphemy. I was truly not worthy of a pizza like this.

2. Brindle Room (New York City)

I could tell you that this is the best burger in America but this would still not do this burger justice. Everyone I've had the pleasure to take here has been absolutely floored by how f*****g delicious this burger is. Your life will never be the same after eating this thing. You will dream about it, you will crave it, you will never, ever, ever, forget it.

1. Spago (Beverly Hills)

This place in my mind is still the pinnacle of everything done perfectly in a restaurant. The atmosphere is perfect. The service is perfect. Every dish is the most flavorful and well though out presentation possible. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it is snobby. BUT, it's the best. I often say that the hole-in-the-wall places are the best, but when Wolfgang Puck personally hands you a dessert - game over.

Di Fara Pizza, the "Best of the Best"

I had been looking forward to going to Di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn (1424 avenue J, Brooklyn, New York 11230) for a very long time. It's not exactly the easiest place to get to for tourists visiting NYC. Far from the glitz of Manhattan it's a relatively long subway ride out into the depths of Brooklyn. It's the kind of place that you have to go out of your way to visit, but it is oh so worth the effort to get there.

Disembarking from the subway train I was completely among the Brooklyn natives. No double-decker red tour buses or naked cowboys anywhere in site. At this moment I'm starting to feel sorry for all the fanny pack wearing tourists stuffing their faces with Sbarro in Times Square.

I got there a little after 1:00pm during the week and there was no one lined up for pizza. I had read about the long lines at this place but today I was treated like a VIP. I had the whole place to myself. 

I walked in to what amounts to a rundown looking building with a few tables and a decor that looks decades old. The pizza smell in the air was like a siren's song calling me in. I knew I was in for a damn good meal. 

I went for the "Di Fara Classic Pie". I figured this was probably the crown jewel on their menu. I paid up the cash (they are cash only) and sat patiently while my pie was created from scratch.

I took the first bite and knew from that moment on that all other pizza would never compare to this one. There is a reason that hundreds, maybe thousands, of people go out of their way to make a pilgrimage here. It is simply head and shoulders far superior to any other pizza you'll ever try. The pictures or descriptions of the flavors will never do this pizza justice. You just have to trust me.

I've been to Lombardy's and John's in Manhattan. I've eaten all the deep dish places in Chicago, but they pale in comparison to Di Fara. It is truly a pizza I don't feel worthy enough to eat.

America's Best Burger - Brindle Room NYC

I was in New York for a day last week and there was only one thing I wanted to eat for sure while I was there, a burger from Brindle Room in East Village (www.brindleroom.com). Sure I'd been to New York many times before and eaten at many great places, but this burger is the best sleeper of a meal in the entire city. It's not only the best burger I've ever had it's also one of the best meals I've ever had. It's that good.

This is what I had been dreaming about for the last seven months since my first visit there:

You'd think that a $16 burger couldn't compete with a meal from a five star restaurant but you'd be dead wrong. Compare this to a $50 burger from the ultra-swank 21 Club in Midtown and it wins by a mile every time.

Here's a picture of this beautiful beast:

So for such a simple looking burger what makes this burger so badass? I think it is a couple of things. First, the cut of meat is different. It's makes the burger more flavorful. It tastes richer and more filling than other burgers. Second, the bread taste like donut bread. It allows the bite of the burger to be softer. It's like eating a heavenly cloud.

And let's not leave the fries out either. Those might be the best damn fries I've ever had also. They're crispy, crunchy, and taste fresh. Overall, I can't wait to go back again next time I'm in NYC. You can't ask for a better meal.

Here's a video of how the magic happens:

The Best BBQ in Dallas: Pecan Lodge

I've done many BBQ reviews on my site already but there is one place in Dallas worth mentioning: Pecan Lodge. Located in Dallas, Texas, Pecan Lodge has what I consider the best BBQ anywhere in the area. It is definitely worth a trip there, especially for a chance to try one of their giant beef ribs.

My first trip there and I was a little put off. There was a long line to wait in. I thought to myself, "I've waited in line at Franklin Barbecue for BBQ. There's no way that this will be as good. I can't believe I'm waiting in a long line for this."

The inside was not all that impressive to me either. Sure, it was nice and clean but it didn't feel like a BBQ mecca. It felt a bit like a polished yuppie hangout. 

Then we ordered food and I found out that this place is expensive. So at that point I was put off by the line, the decor, and the price. I was really expecting mediocre barbecue. 

Boy was I wrong! I ordered some brisket, sausage, jalapeno mac n' cheese, and burnt ends. It was all fantastic and on par or better than Franklin Barbecue (Which I considered the best BBQ until this point). However, the giant beef rib (pictured above and below) puts all the other meats they have to shame.

The giant beef rib always sells out. They open at 11:00 am and I've seen them sell out by 11:15 am. You have to get there early for one of these, but it is worth it. The giant beef rib takes BBQ to another level. Once you eat it you will forsake all other BBQ. We are talking life changing BBQ here. So if you are ever in the Dallas-Fort Worth area put Pecan Lodge on your to-do list. Any other BBQ place locally is a pale comparison to the food here.

Jungle Jim's International Market

There is a grocery store near Cincinnati, Ohio that is like no other. A huge, food-theme park that calls out to foodies from all over. It is called Jungle Jim's International Market.

With 200,000 square feet of nothing but foods, some pretty rare, this place is like a Super Wal-Mart without the non-perishable items.

But let's be clear, this place is far from your average big box retailer. It really is much more fun than that. Creative displays are all through the store.

The layout is scattered for the most part. So unless you come here often you probably won't know where to find everything. You just have to walk around and try to enjoy the ride. I was blown away from their four aisles of soft drinks.

The international food sections are laid out by country. They have the best selection of rare and hard-to-find food items I have ever seen. I was very impressed. 

If you're in the area you have to check it out. I just wish there was a store like this where I live.

Louisville's Hot Brown

Driving through Louisville, Kentucky I had to stop and try a Hot Brown. It is a regional "sandwich" that most people outside of Northern Kentucky don't know about. I called my foodie friend James that lives in Louisville and asked him where the best place to eat a hot brown was. He said The Village Anchor was the place to go.

The hot brown was invented at the Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville. When I was driving through town it was too late for me to stop there so I was putting all my faith that The Village Anchor would live up to the hype.

The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. Great date spot for any of you locals reading this. I wish the restaurants here in Texas had that much charm. Everything looked delicious on the menu. I started off with the fried bologna sandwich appetizer that my friend recommended I try also.

   
It was really great. I wasn't expecting it to be very good and I was pleasantly surprised that it was possible to make a bologna sandwich taste classy.

Then came the hot brown, which they call The Hotter Brown:

It tasted different than I had imagined. Somewhat like chicken & dumplings, or chicken pot pie, or maybe a casserole is the closest thing I can compare it to. It was really amazing. What you can't see is that there is bread hidden in this thing. I guess that is why they call it a hot brown "sandwich".

It was sad to think that there is no way I could duplicate something like this at home. If you want the real deal you'll have to go to Louisville, and The Village Anchor is the place to go.

Irn Bru - Scotland's #1 Selling Soft Drink

In my first ever video review (above) I tell you everything you need to know about Scotland's delicious #1 selling soft drink that is almost unheard of here in the USA.

Ben's Chili Bowl - Half Smokes at Home

I've never been to Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington D.C. but have always wanted to go there. They are famous for their chili dogs and now you can buy them online shipped right to your door.

I bought their Original Chili Half Smokes, which cost me almost $90 shipped to my house. Ouch! Quite an expensive experience for (8) sausages and (1) pint of chili (buns not included). It's not really Ben's fault since the shipping costs really account for much of that price.

Preparation was easy. The half smokes needed to be cooked so I whipped out the skillet and sizzled them to perfection. The chili is already cooked so I just heated it up in the microwave.

So how was the taste?

I was surprised. These were pretty damn tasty. They have a very unique and smokey flavor to them. By themselves the chili and the smokes leave something to be desired, but together they are magic. Overall, I would give them a 7.5 out of 10 on taste.

One side note: These things are a lot bigger than the pictures make them appear. Two of these will fill you up. If you get the smallest package of (8) smokes invite a few friends over to enjoy them with you.

Final Thoughts: These were tasty, but pricey. I wouldn't order again, but I'm dying to try the real thing on my next trip to D.C. If you are a foodie or an expat from D.C. then this may be worth a purchase.

How to Cook Half Smokes at Home

Fort Worth Food Insider (Tex-Mex) - Dos Molina's

I've traveled around this great county and eaten at many of the famous local restaurants. Now I think its time that I should turn my attention back to my hometown - Fort Worth, Texas. I'm writing a new series of blog posts called the, "Fort Worth Food Insider." Whether you're a tourist visiting the area, or a longtime local looking for the best food Fort Worth has to offer, you've come to the right place. I'm going to share with you my local Fort Worth favorites that aren't getting the attention that they deserve.

Today I am going to cover Fort Worth's Best Tex-Mex

If you were a tourist visiting Fort Worth and you asked a local, "Hey, where's the best Tex-Mex in town?" chances they would point you to Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Restaurant (2201 North Commerce Street, Fort Worth, TX 76164). Joe T's has been great place to drink margaritas and eat enchiladas since it opened in 1935. It is always packed and their patio is beautiful.

However, if you were a tourist and asked me, "Shawn, where's the best Tex-Mex in town?" I would answer without hesitation Dos Molina's (404 NW 25th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76106).

Dos Molina's sits in the shadows of the Fort Worth Stockyards just a few blocks away from Joe T's. However, Dos Molina's is Fort Worth's best kept Tex-Mex secret. It really is hidden unless you know it is there.

This is a breakfast and lunch spot only. They close early and the neighborhood is very sketchy even though it borders the tourist spots in town. Lunchtime is always packed with a good mix of local blue and white collar people.

The prices are amazingly cheap. Here's what their $5.95 taco dinner lunch looks like:

The chips and salsa they serve are the best in Fort Worth. The salsa is amazing. The closest thing I have had that rivals their salsa is Joe T's. 

However, the one "must" eat item for any of you that go here are the bean and cheese nachos. Get them as an appetizer and split them among friends. They are greasy, tasty, and one of my favorite things in Fort Worth to eat.

If you have a chance to swing by here for lunch you won't regret it.

Fort Worth Food Insider (Burgers) - Rodeo Goat

I've traveled around this great county and eaten at many of the famous local restaurants. Now I think its time that I should turn my attention back to my hometown - Fort Worth, Texas. I'm writing a new series of blog posts called the, "Fort Worth Food Insider." Whether your a tourist visiting the area, or a longtime local looking for the best food Fort Worth has to offer, you've come to the right place. I'm going to share with you my local Fort Worth favorites that aren't getting the attention that they deserve.

Today I am going to cover Fort Worth's Best Burger

If you were a tourist visiting Fort Worth and you asked a local, "Hey, where's the best burger in town?" chances are they would point you to Kincaid's Hamburgers (4901 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107). Kincaid's is a great place to have a quality burger for lunch in a spot that has been serving burgers since 1964.

However, if you were a tourist and asked me, "Shawn, where's the best burger in town?" I would answer without hesitation Rodeo Goat (2836 Bledsoe St, Fort Worth, TX 76107).

Rodeo Goat is a newcomer to the Fort Worth burger scene. It is just now getting the recognition it deserves after winning DFW.com's Best Burger in DFW. Rodeo Goat is located in the new, hip and trendy 7th Street corridor just west of downtown. This place is a good lunch or dinner spot that always has a crowd. Expect to circle the block a few times in order to finally find a parking spot.

Although the place is packed with locals, this is a great spot for people visiting Fort Worth. The restaurant has a distinctly modern Texas country feel to it. The decor, music, and local draught beers all add up to a uniquely Fort Worth experience.

This isn't a boring burger place. You won't find anyone eating a regular cheeseburger here. All the burgers here are truly one-of-a-kind. My personal favorite is the Caca Oaxaca (beef and chorizo, avocado, pico de gallo, fried egg, queso fresco, and tabasco mayo).

The picture doesn't do this burger justice. It is the best burger I have ever had (either the Caca Oaxaca, or Sugar Burger) and that is saying a lot.

The fries or goat chips (homemade potato chips) are excellent as well. It really is hard to go wrong in this truly original Texas burger place. If you have a chance it is definitely worth a stop.

One final word of advice: If you go there with someone else and you can't decide what to order consider ordering different burgers and having them cut in half. That way you can share and try a couple of these amazing burgers.

Fort Worth Food Insider (BBQ) - Smokeys Barbeque

Now that I've traveled around this great county and eaten at many famous restaurants I think its time that I should turn my attention back to my hometown - Fort Worth, Texas. I'm writing a new series of blog posts called the, "Fort Worth Food Insider." No matter if you're a tourist visiting the area or a longtime local looking for the best food Fort Worth has to offer you've come to the right place. I'm going to share with you my local Fort Worth favorites that aren't getting the attention that they deserve.

Today I am going to cover Fort Worth's Best BBQ...

If you were a tourist visiting Fort Worth and you asked a local, "Hey, where's the best BBQ in town?" chances are they would point you to Angelo's Bar-B-Que (2533 White Settlement Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76107). Angelo's is a great place to grab a great dinner with locals and drink a few schooners of beer in a place that has been a local legend for over 50 years.

However, if you were a tourist and asked me, "Shawn, where's the best BBQ in town?" I would answer without hesitation Smokeys Barbeque (5300 East Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76112).

Smokeys is a great place to have lunch at the best BBQ joint in Fort Worth. Although for tourists I would not recommend having dinner there too late since the neighborhood is a little questionable. (That being said Smokeys is right by the local police station and is a favorite lunch spot for local cops.)

Let me note that BBQ in North Texas is usually not taken quite as seriously as it is down south in the hill country of Texas. However, this is NOT the case at Smokeys. They take a lot of pride and care into their food that most other Fort Worth BBQ restaurants do not. My first time into Smokeys I was wearing a Black's BBQ shirt - bad move! I was quickly harassed by the staff and forced to wear a Smokeys shirt while I was in there. 

The food is absolutely incredible. Their ribs are hands down the best in Fort Worth. The brisket is well flavored and doesn't really need sauce. The sausage is spicy and juicy. Best of all is you can get a combo plate to try all their fantastic meats in one meal.

Great care has been put into the side dishes. You can always tell a good restaurant from a great restaurant from how the side dishes taste. They chop up brisket in put in into their beans. This makes a huge difference in taste and Franklin BBQ in Austin (Rated #1 in Texas Monthly) is the only other place I know of that does this.

My favorite are the buns that come with the meal. They spread on a generous amount of butter and then toast them to perfection. By the way, don't forget to finish it all off with a piece of their homemade buttermilk pie.

So if you truly want to eat the best BBQ in Fort Worth then you'll have to venture off the beaten trail to East Fort Worth to visit Smokeys. You won't regret it, and chances are you'll run into me eating there.

Cincinnati Chili: Skyline versus Gold Star

Cincinnati Chili is a regional food delicacy that is almost completely unknown outside of Southern Ohio. It consists of thin greek-style chili that is served over spaghetti noodles or hot dogs. The spaghetti version is called 'ways'. I asked around and most people there get 3-way or 4-way. (You can look at the menus below for a breakdown).

There are two fast food chains in the Cincinnati area that specialize in this local food favorite: Gold Star Chili and Skyline Chili. I went to both to find out which one is better.

First up was Gold Star:

I ordered a cheese coney and a regular 3-way:

I thought both were delicious and quickly cleaned my plate. Their chili had a sweet taste to it that blended well with everything. I was expecting everything to taste really greasy and I was pleasantly surprised it did not. Gold Star was a winner. The only thing left was to hit up Skyline the next night and see how it compared.

  

I ordered the same combo as before - a cheese coney and a regular 3-way:

The place was packed so I had high hopes, but I was disappointed. I did not like the taste of their chili. It was not sweet like Gold Star's was. I didn't finish my food and would not eat there again.

That being said it seemed like most locals prefer Skyline. Their restaurants seemed more packed and they have more locations around town.

Maybe I'm the odd man out, but for me, Gold Star has the best Cincinnati chili. It's not something I'll probably be craving now that I'm back home, but I'll definitely be stopping by Gold Star next time I'm in Cincy. 

Montgomery Inn Ribs Review

The best ribs I've ever eaten were in Cincinnati.... that's right Cincinnati.

I am a native Texan that has eaten my fair share of ribs.... and until a visit to Montgomery Inn I probably would have told you that Corky's in Memphis was the ribs king.

In fact, above is a picture of me eating at Corky's just a few days prior to my visit to Montgomery Inn. At the time the thought of any ribs being better than Corky's was laughable. I was wrong, and you're looking at a delusional man in that picture that had not yet seen the light of Montgomery Inn.  

I chuckled to myself as I read Montgomery Inn's menu for the first time... "you will forsake all other ribs after just one bite."

Those are big claims. Very big claims.

The restaurant was started by the Gregory family (no relation). I ate at the original location and the atmosphere was quite roomy and enjoyable. The place is actually pretty big for a restaurant. 

I ordered the ribs and Saratoga chips (potato chips made in house), and was fitted with a bib. Everyone eating ribs gets a bib to wear, and you'll probably feel out of place if you don't wear the bib.

But the main question is - How good were the ribs, really?

They were amazing! The sauce was sweet and had a great flavor, but the meat was what truly made these ribs better than the rest. Every single rib was cooked to perfection. They were fall-off-the-bone tender and consistent. Consistency was something that Corky's and the other places lacked. With the other guys you may eat a few really amazing ribs and then hit a few tough ribs, or bone fragments, or fat. This was not the issue with Montgomery Inn's ribs.

So that is why the rib mecca is in east Cincinnati at Montgomery Inn, and if you tell yourself otherwise you're living a lie.