Reviews- Restaurants, foodie shops, bars, etc.

[Divemaster]

If this topic is of interest, I propose we post positive reviews. Meaning, let's tell of places we would recommend our fellow members visit for food and drink. I bet most of us know of at least a few places worthy of mention. I'll try to get the ball rolling in the next post.

[Divemaster]

No visit to Wisconsin is complete without sampling the state’s famous cheeses. When you’re in Madison, the capital of the cheese capital, the best place to do just that is Fromagination. Located on Capitol Square facing the huge state capitol building, Fromagination is perfectly situated to make its presence felt. A natural gathering place, the square is also home to the Dane County Farmers’ Market, the largest producers’ only farmers’ market in the United States, bringing in thousands of visitors.
The 1200 square foot shop features about 90 percent Wisconsin cheeses and about 10 percent imported. And every cheese is available to sample. And boy did we sample. The melt in your mouth Ewe Calf to be Kidding Blue is the best blue cheese we’ve ever eaten. It’s a mixed milk cheese, made from cow, sheep and goat milk and produced by Hook’s Cheese Company in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. It placed second in its category in this year’s World Cheese Championship, but it’s first in my book. At Fromagination, all cheese is cut to order and we walked out with a generous slab of this one, plus smaller portions of a couple others.
Owner Ken Monteleone also offers a wine and specialty bottled beer selection that, thanks to Madison’s relaxed liquor laws, lets shops like this serve in the store. Customers can often be seen shopping with a glass in hand, lending a relaxed feel to the store. Every beer I saw on the shelves was brewed in Wisconsin. And don’t forget the sandwiches. Their signature sandwich is smoked turkey with Nueske’s bacon (you guessed it, Wisconsin made) and the shop’s private label cranberry relish made by Quince and Apple.
Many visitors come to Madison to see the largest state capitol building in the country. But after just one visit, there’s no doubt that Fromagination is a destination of its own.
Fromagination
12 South Carroll
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Ph: 608.255. 2430
www.fromagination.com

[Gypsy]

Good idea!

There are a ridiculous amount of excellent restaurants in Chicago, something for everyone. Many folks ask me for recommendations for a good Italian place. Considering my maternal grandmother and grandfather come from Sicily I rarely eat Italian food out, but one of the best is Rosebud's. There are now several locations...but THE location to hit is the original located in the "old neighborhood" (Little Italy) on Taylor St. My dad grew up the neighborhood...thus the "old neighborhood" reference. The food is excellent, almost as good as Grandma's!

At the end of the block where my dad grew up is one of the best stores around, Fontano's on Polk St and Carpenter. My dad and Red (the owner) were best friends, so we went there a lot! It is an "Italian store" in the front and a deli in the back. It is THE place to go for an Italian sammich that will make you want to slap your momma. I can remember as a little girl walking in to the store and it just smelled like home. The aromas surrounded you, you could almost taste the cheeses and salami, the "gravy" cooking in the back room...ahhhh the memories! There are several suburban locations which are rather generic but the original in the "old neighborhood" is the best.

Right across the street is the best Italian Ice in the city!

Just for fun, one other thing I remember is the "chi-chi" man, an old Italian man that would come down the street every day with his cart filled with various hot nuts, pistachios, cashews etc. We'd start yelling "chi-chi" and run down the stairs of my grandma's house for our favorite treat!

[cbtengr]

Wisconsin is not only known for it's dairy products it is also known for it's Friday Night Fish Fry's and it's Supper Clubs. About 35 miles Northwest of Madison, WI. is the Casino Supper Club. Like a lot of Wisconsin Supper Clubs this one sits out in the middle of nowhere. The Casino is located just West of Fall River, WI. They have a great fish fry and also are known for their Brandy Old Fashions which is a Wisconsin staple sort of like beer, perhaps not quite as popular but close. There is even a guide book available regarding the Supper Clubs.

casino-1.jpg Wisconsin Suppewr Clubs.jpg

[Box]

...so has anyone tried the "All-American Burger" at the SmokeBomb Grille yet?

[MR2]

Originally Posted by Billy L-bach

...so has anyone tried the "All-American Burger" at the SmokeBomb Grille yet?

Probably made with organically grown transvestite beef (known to cause cancer by the State of California).

[mark46th]

Hey! We here in California may have cornered the market on left wing lunatics and illegal immigrants but we did start In 'n' Out burgers...

[PSM]

Originally Posted by mark46th

Hey! We here in California may have cornered the market on left wing lunatics and illegal immigrants but we did start In 'n' Out burgers...

While true, I've eaten a few and don't get the enthusiasm about them. Do I have to order from the secret menu to experience what everyone loves about In-N-Out? I found the burgers rather bland and the fries soggy.

ETA though, Mark, remember Pioneer Chicken?

Pat

[Box]

Originally Posted by mark46th

Hey! We here in California may have cornered the market on left wing lunatics and illegal immigrants but we did start In 'n' Out burgers...

I am completely disarmed by your response.

In-and-Out Burger is the Krispy Kreme donut of the hamburger world.
...I surrender to your states superior grasp of fast food hamburger skill.

Well played sir.

[Remington Raidr]

In and Out is a gastro-intestinal description. Gotta get to the midwest for da white castle sliders. Just sayin'.

[mark46th]

I am originally from a small town in Ohio near Columbus. I have been known to eat of bagful of White Castles. Actually, Costco and Sam's Club carry them, so I get them every now and then.

And yes, Pioneer Chicken was great! My wife and dad liked Pioneer for the gizzards... I also liked them because Elgin Baylor was one of the original owners...

[Box]

I dont know what it is like these days, but in San Antonio in the early 1990's, Bill Millers BBQ was like little bit of Heaven (if heaven tasted like chicken).

El Pollo Loco was also a great place for some decent Tex Mex.


If you are around El Paso, the State Line and The American Land and Cattle Company can put some pretty good dead cow on the table for you.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Billy L-bach

I dont know what it is like these days, but in San Antonio in the early 1990's, Bill Millers BBQ was like little bit of Heaven (if heaven tasted like chicken).

El Pollo Loco was also a great place for some decent Tex Mex.


If you are around El Paso, the State Line and The American Land and Cattle Company can put some pretty good dead cow on the table for you.

I can attest to the State Line BBQ.

Also, Peter Lugar's in NYC and Bern's in Tampa.

Best view ever was the old Cannon Club on Diamond Head in Hawaii.

Best ribs I have had are at the Pik n Pig at the Carthage, NC airport. An Apache landed there last week when we were eating, and the crew came in to eat.

Worst place for overeating was Chason's in Lumber Bridge, NC.

TR

[PSM]

These come from our RVing travels:

Bubba's BBQ and Steakhouse Ennis, TX. We've stopped there several and have tried several different meals and they have been very good. The recent Yelp reviews have not been kind, though, so I don't know if there has been a change of ownership in the last couple of years. We always had to wait in line and, once, it looked like the whole police force was in there for lunch.

Big Boy's BBQ Sweetwater, TX. We TRY to stop here on every trip to Texas, but they are only open 3 days a week and never seem to match up with our itinerary. The three times we have stopped before, though, it was some of the best BBQ pork I've had.

Pepper Pot, Hatch, NM. Well, it's the chile pepper capital of North America, so it's probably hard to get a bad meal here, but this is the place we stop at. Unfortunately, it's never at mealtime so it's always take-out and the chips and tacos never survive but everything else, especially the chile rellenos, have been excellent.

Pat

[cbtengr]

I have had ribs from sea to shining sea, every place will claim that their ribs are the best. I have probably had more poor ribs than good ribs. I have paid anywhere from $15.95 to $27.95 for a full rack, I do not mind paying a little more for really good ribs and I prefer the wet ribs to the dry rub. I also do not like ribs that are swimming in sauce, good BBQ does not require much sauce, it's all a matter of taste.

Corky's BBQ in Memphis and Mark's Feed Store Middletown, KY near Louisville.

Corky's ribs.jpg Corky's

Marks Ribs.jpg Mark's