10. Standard Diner (American)
Phone: (505) 243-1440
Website: www.standarddiner.com
This place is like a roadside diner turned upscale. They take traditional American cuisine and bring it up just a notch. From their burgers and fries to their mashed potatoes & gravy with meatloaf you are sure to leave here a happy camper. That’s not even mentioning their lobster Caesar salad, country fried tuna with a wasabi guacamole, green chile turkey melt or mac & cheese with a Guinness and Irish cheddar sauce. One of their specialties is their butter bourbon burger that will be one of the best burgers you’ll ever eat. The meat is of the highest quality and seasoned perfectly. Topped with a generous dab of bourbon infused butter and sandwiched between a delicious bun, you’ll be wanting to come back here every day for lunch. The added bonus to the burger are their amazing sweet potato fries. You may just have to come back later in the day though for home-made desserts, from five flavors of ice cream, four of sorbet, a Tiramisu cheesecake, a chocolate cake, an apple pie with butterscotch and fig, amongst others.
9. Arcaro & Genell’s (Italian)
Phone: (570) 457-4262
Website: www.arcaroandgenell.com
They serve a very nontraditional version of pizza here known as Old Forge-Style but rest assured you won’t be disappointed. You can get it with red sauce or white sauce and single layered or double layered (almost like a gourmet Hot Pocket) with the perfect amount of Parmesan and rosemary sprinkled on top. Any way you decide to get it will leave your tastebuds singing. They have all of your traditional Italian options as well starting with their antipasti (they serve everyone a delicious bean salad) and fabulous versions of veal parmigiano to linguine with a White Clams sauce. Make sure to stick around for their home-made cannoli.
8. Mary Mac’s Tea Room (Mom’s Home-made)
Phone: (404) 876-1800
Website: www.marymacs.com
The moment you sit down you’ll be in heaven from their bread basket of cornbread, yeast rolls & cinnamon rolls. You literally could eat these all night long and be fully satisfied. That is unless the rest of their food wasn’t equally impressive. From their fried chicken to their chicken fried steaks and their mashed potatoes or mac & cheese, there is not a single person that won’t be able to find something they truly love here. You’ll need to pace yourself though as they also bring it home in the dessert category. The home-made pecan pie and peach cobbler are absolutely to die for.
7. Harry’s Roadhouse (All-Around)
Phone: 505-989-4629
Website: N/A
They have several dining areas and they’ll let you choose where you’d like to sit. Chose the front room near a window and you’ll have a nice breeze coming in. They have all of your New Mexican breakfast staples (Huevos Rancheros, Chile Omelets, etc) but also delicious pancakes including their Lemon Ricotta pancakes. They are also known for their barbecue, burgers and steaks. There is not any time of day that is not a good time to eat at Harry’s Roadhouse. Just make sure you save room for their chocolate peanut butter ice cream sandwich.
6. Blue Moon Cafe (Breakfast)
Phone: (410) 522-3940
Website: N/A
If you’re looking for a delicious and filling breakfast this place will do you good. Serving all of your typical breakfast items you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. But the real secret is what’s off the menu. You’ll have to ask the fantastic staff what their secret menu consists of but I’ll let you in on the best item. It’s Cap’n Crunch French Toast. It looks like a piece or art and tastes as good. The Cap’n Crunch “breading” is the perfect amount of sweetness and the fruit adds a nice touch (bananas, strawberries and blueberries) with the whipped cream being home-made and extremely fresh. This is the perfect way to start the day.
5. Iggy’s Doughboys & Chowder House (Chowder)
Phone: (401) 737-9459
Website: www.iggysdoughboys.com
This place is absolutely phenomenal. From the view, to the food, to the prices. They’re known for their doughboys (basically fried dough with sugar), clam cakes & clam chowder. The clam cakes are delicious, not overly greasy and not too heavy. The doughboys are amazing too (sugar, cinnamon sugar & powdered sugar). But if that weren’t enough, where they really shine is their chowder. It is so simple, cream, potatoes and clams but my goodness is it delicious. It will be the best bowl of chowder you’ve ever experienced.
4. Juan in a Million (Breakfast Taco)
Phone: (512) 472-3872
Website: www.juaninamillion.com
You may have to wait a little to get a seat but it will be worth it. Make sure to order the Juan in a Million breakfast taco. It is loaded with the perfect blend of eggs, cheese, bacon and potatoes all piled high on a warm flour tortilla. The quality and freshness is unrivaled. Word to the wise, order a few extra tortillas as the filling from one taco can actually make three. The chips and salsa served beforehand are extremely delicious as well. Be sure to come here with an empty stomach as you will leave with it filled to the brim.
3. Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles (Southern Food)
Phone: (602) 340-1304
Website: www.loloschickenandwaffles.com
Lo-Lo’s is a Phoenix institution. It was started by Mrs. White and is currently run by her son Larry White. They are known mainly for their chicken & waffles and this is what you should be going there for. Their list of sides is daunting but you can’t go wrong with anything here, whether it be the mac & cheese, the fried okra, the mashed potatoes & gravy or their cornbread. And the same goes for the desserts especially the red velvet cake (if they’re still got any left for the day). Don’t forget to get a glass of their endless Red Kool-Aid too.
2. Al’s Place (Burger & Fries)
Phone: (916) 776-1800
Website: N/A
Walking in here you’ll have to let your eyes adjust, it’s dark and dingy, almost like a cave but don’t let that stop you. They’re known for a few things here, their steak, burgers, peanut butter & marmalade. The menu doesn’t stretch much beyond that but that’s all you need at Al’s as they make those few items as good as anyone. The portions are huge and the tasty as all get out. Each table is set with a jar of peanut butter & marmalade to be applied to the thick slab of gridded toast they’ll serve you. This is a treat you won’t find anywhere else and something that sets Al’s apart.
1. Hoover’s Cooking & Catering (Comfort Food)
Phone: (512) 479-0889
Website: www.hooverscooking.com
From the Cajun coleslaw to the garlic grits, home-made French fries and mac & cheese to the fried catfish or the pulled pork sandwiches, not to mention the jalapeno cornbread or sweet potato rolls served at every table, there is something here to please everyone. The only thing you’ll wish for here is that you had a bigger stomach, because they give you so much food you’ll be bringing home a doggy bag. Be sure to ask for their home-made Jerk BBQ sauce and try it on all their delicious entrees.
