|
|
|
UPDATED September 9, 1999
THE CONCESSION STAND
I've been lucky -- my travels have taken me to most of the major cities (and some of the non-major cities) in the United States. And I love a good meal. So here's some of my favorite US restaurants for you to visit if you are ever nearby. Most of the establishments have a story behind them (at least in my case) and in some of those cases, I've shared brief details. And the ones in boldface indicate my special favorites.
Philadelphia, PA
The Prime Rib, at the Warwick Hotel, 17th & Locust Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Take it from a long-time fan of Morton's: This place is the best. One of the best meals I've had in the Philadelphia region, and for sure the best meals I've had so far in 1999. The dining room and bar are styled after a 1930's New York supper club, with a live jazz combo in the main dining room for dinner. Go for their specialty, the prime rib, and be ready to be overwhelmed.
Old Original Bookbinders, 125 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-925-7027
Samuel's, Spread Eagle Village, Lancaster Avenue at Eagle Road, Wayne, PA, 610-687-2840
General Warren Inne, West Old Lancaster Highway, Malvern, PA, 610-296-3637
Big Fish (Conshohocken), 610-834-7224
Toscana (Bryn Mawr), 610-527-7700
New York, NY
*Johnnie's Italian, 45th Street between 7th Avenue & Broadway, 212-997-9315
[My all-time favorite New York headquarters restaurant, site of many an infamous dinner during Big East Tournaments past, and a few notorious dates with a certain Miss Wells back in the mid-80s.]
*Hurley's, 1240 Avenue of the Americas at 49th St., 212-765-8981
*Il Vagabondo, 351 East 62nd Street, 215-832-9221
Gramercy Tavern, 42 East 20th Street, New York, 212-477-0777
*Cafe Un Deux Trois, 123 W 44th St, (212) 354-4148
San Diego, California
*Charlie's by the Sea, 2526 South Coast Highway 101, Cardiff-by-Sea, CA 760-942-1300
I stopped at this restaurant on my drive down to San Diego from LA in August 1998, and was thrilled to have a mid-day lunch at a table on the beach. My table was approximately 50 feet from the Pacific surf, and my fried shrimp platter was almost as good as the view. Their slogan: any closer and you'd be wet. Not far from the Richard Nixon Museum, if you're interested!
*Top of the Market, 750 N. Harbor Drive, 619-232-3474
The best meal I had in 1998 - try their lobster, and don't overlook their wine list - try one of the Rombauer Vineyards specials.
*Croce's, Corner of Fifth & F, 619-233-4355
[Great jazz bar owned by Jim Croce's widow; look for his Villanova diploma near the men's room.]
Los Angeles, CA
*Gladstones 4 Fish, 17300 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, 310-454-3474
It's often considered too touristy - but if you don't live in LA, aren't interested in being trendy, and want to have a great seafood meal, you better go here. I first visited Gladstones late one evening in 1996, after a hard night at a tennis tournament at the Riviera Country Club. Do you know how hard it is too find an open restaurant in Brentwood after 11 p.m. - I mean, O.J. & Kato went to McDonald's, but I never could find it. Found this place, instead. Been back on three other occassions, most recently in November 1998. Go down onto the beach after dinner for a walk. It's not far from my favorite Malibu/LA spot, Paradise Cove, home of Jim Rockford's trailer (as well as Mel Gibson's from Lethal Weapon).
Canter's Delicatessen, 419 North Fairfax, LA
Open 24 hours. Not the greatest deli in the world, but it works for me!
LaVe Le, 12514 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 818-980-8158
I don't know about the food at this joint, all I know for sure is that one very late night in 1995, I stumbled across this place. Anytime you can find live jazz at 1 a.m. in LA, even if it was Latin fusion, count me in for a set.
Carmel, CA
Mission Ranch, 26270 Dolores Street, Carmel, CA 408-625-9040
This is the hotel and restaurant that Clint Eastwood restored a few years back. I had a great dinner there (June 22, 1996) and sat on the outdoor deck watching the sun set into the Pacific Ocean. Get there early.
La Dolce Vita, San Carlos between 7th & 8th, Carmel, CA 408-624-3667
One of the best Italian restaurants I've ever had the pleasure to dine in, I stumbled across this second-floor spot set back from a side street in little old Carmel. Ate dinner there on three occasions, including a memorable three-bottles-of-wine night entertaining some women that worked for a sponsor of the tennis tournament I was working at. I don't remember if Coopers & Lybrand ended up picking up the tab, but it was a great meal.
Rappa's Seafood, Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, CA 408-372-7562
Providence, RI
*The Capital Grille (521-5600)
Hartford, CT
*Frank's, City Place (across from the Civic Center) - 527-9291
[A little spot discovered a few years back when the Villanova Wildcat football squad was playing UCONN; a memorable first meal there included the outstanding company of Dan Unger and Bob Lambert, among others.]
Boston, MA
*Turner Fisheries, Copley Place - 262-9600
[Many a night spent sampling the outstanding Clam Chowder before a Villanova-BC basketball clash, and a great dinner with one Mike Trainor a few years back.]
Miami, FL
*Joe's Stone Crab, 227 Biscayne, Miami Beach, 305-673-0365
[Site of a memorable solo dinner back in '92, along with a memorable "business" meal with Steve Emory in '98.]
*Shula's Steak House, Miami Lakes, 305-822-2324
[A '92 stay at Shula's Hotel complex also included a "private screening" of "The Last Boy Scout" after an excellent meal here.]
*Caffe Milano, 850 Ocean Drive, 305-532-0707
[Another memorable spot, recommended to me originally by Mike Chaney of US Interactive. I had dinner here with Steve Emory in '98 -- try to get a table on the sidewalk, and watch the passing South Beach parade.]
Portland, OR
*McCormick & Schmick's, 235 SW First, 224-7522
*Jake's, 401 SW 12th, 226-1419
San Francisco, CA
[First of all, you have to be an idiot to get a bad meal in San Francisco. It's probably the best restaurant city in America (in my humble view). Maybe not cutting-edge cuisine, but I was never disappointed. Both of these picks are among my all-time top-10; John's can be somewhat touristy, but the food is damn good (and if it was good enough for Dashiell Hammett...]
*John's Grill, 63 Ellis St., 986-3274
*I first visited John's in 1991, and again in 1992. It took me until this past April (1999) to get back, but the two dinners I had there were outstanding. Ask to be seated in the main dining room, and try their seafood specials.
*A. Sabella's, Fisherman's Wharf, 771-6775
Scott's Seafood Grill and Bar, 3 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, 415-981-0622
Indianapolis, IN
*St. Elmo's Steak House, 127 S. Illinois, 637-1811
[If you go, you MUST start with the Shrimp cocktail before getting the Porterhouse steak.]
Chicago, IL
I've been to many restaurants in Chicago, including Morton's, Gene & Georgetti, Michael Jordan's, and Harry Caray's. Unfortunately, only Morton's was truly memorable, and that's 'cause the evening included a reception at the Playboy offices where I had my photo taken with Jenny McCarthy. And Harry Caray's -- let's just say I'm still bitter 'cause someone stiffed me in the group I had dinner with and my share of the bill was over $100.
Pittsburgh, PA
*Tessaro's, 4601 Liberty Avenue, 682-6809
Cooperstown, NY
*Hickory Grove Inn, Lake Road, 607-547-8100
East Rutherford, NJ
*Park & Orchard, 240 Hackensack St., 201-929-9292
Cape Cod/Hyannis, MA
*The Roadhouse Cafe, 488 South Street, 508-775-2386
Seattle, WA
*13 Coins, 125 Boren North, 206-682-2513
*McCormick & Schmick's, 1103 First Avenue, 206-623-5500
Syracuse, NY
*Saratoga Steak House, 200 Waring Rd., 315-445-1976
Anchorage, Alaska
The one night I had free, I wandered through a blizzard the day before Thanksgiving, 1994, and stumbled (almost quite literally) through more than three feet of snow to find a little oasis. If you are ever in town, check out Simon & Seafort's (steak & seafood), phone 904-274-3502. I'd give you a street address, only the signs were buried.
Dearborn, MI
*Big Fish Dearborn, 313-336-6350
Washington, D.C.
Otello Osteria, 1329 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C., 202-429-0209
Cape May, NJ
Watson's Merion Inn, 106 Decatur Street, Cape May, NJ, 609-884-8363
AND NOW, SOME HOTELS I RECOMMEND:
Los Angeles, CA
Summit Hotel Bel-Air, 11461 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049, (310) 476-6571
The Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, 714-956-6425
Miami Beach, FL
Fontainebleu Hilton Resort & Towers, 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, 395-538-2000
Hilton Head Island, SC
Crystal Sands, 130 Shipyard Drive, Shipyard Plantation, 803-842-2400
New York, NY
Grand Hyatt New York, Park Avenue at Grand Central, 212-883-1234
The Paramount, 235 W. 46th Street, 212-764-5500
New York Marriott Marquis, 212-398-1900
Providence, RI
The Biltmore Plaza, Kennedy Plaza, 401-421-0700
AND FOR A SHAVE, HAIRCUT, MANICURE, SHOE SHINE, ETC. WHILE IN NYC, DON'T MISS:
Graybar Hairstyling, The Graybar Building/Grand Central Station, 212-682-4430
|
|
|
|
