Agree Legal Seafoods in Boston was fantastic as was The Barking Crab in Boston harbour, not far from the IC Boston, we really enjoyed the lobster there.

ANA

Best eats in Atlanta:

Fatt Matt's Rib Shack  (We love the BBQ down in the South)

Chops  (Best Filet Mignon)

Taqueria del Sol  (Cheap delicious tacos if you can deal with the line)

Au Pied de Cochon  (InterContinental Atlanta; Buckhead Restaurant with the United States' largest collection of cognacs)

Fellow Atlantans,

Your thoughts?

Au Pied de Cochon was a nice surprise during my first stay at the IC Buckhead. It was late after my flight was cancelled after checkin I went to the bar. Great selection from basic bar food to high end.

I have not had a chance to try it (a group would be better) but Delicious Kabob, a Szechuan restaurant has a lot of the foodies in your area excited.

First time I think I had a hamburger and a beer before going up to hit the mini-bar.

Last time me and the wife had sushi.

I am going to focus on my Mexican favorites, none fancy-all good

Austin area: Oaxacan Tamaleo

Austin: El Chilito

Salt Lake City: Red Iguana

Boston Area (Waltham, MA): Taqueria Mexico

I am always interested in learning about Mom-and-Pop mexican restuarants where the recipies are generations old, and especially like Mole

One of the best and most unique Mole sauces that I have ever had was from the Oaxacan Tamaleo (www.tamaleo.com), it is even available by phone or throuugh the website. The Tamales there are fantastic, but not available on-line (website needs updating on this item) which is too bad since I would have a supply in my freezer if I could.

If in the area, it is about 15 minutes east of the Austin airport on RT 71

Amanda-Thank you kindly for the information, I appreciate it. I had a long conversation with a rep from the Ambassador service group this morning and was told by him that Ambassador status would have no effect on any of my non-Intercontinental Hotel stays. Since my company prefers that we stay at HI and associated non-Intercontinental brands, I guess that I would not gain any value at all by joining at this time (with the possible exception of my wife gaining some benefit on the points-stay that I booked for her later this month at IC Chicago).

If anyone knows of benefits that I might receive at HI, HIX Group hotels by gaining Ambassador status, please fee free to respond and I will reconsider my decision not to upgrade at this time.

Thank you-Scott

For New york City, pick up a Zagat directory, listing thousands of restaurants rated by the locals.   Restaurants are listed alphabetically, and indexed as to neighborhood,  types of food, brunch, best in town, etc.  It's the bible of restaurant guides, and though many cities also have a Zagat,  I understand the NYC is the most comprhensive.

Subway

I'm so cheesy...I'm addicted to those Japanese places where they cook in front of you..hibatchi style

Amanda Kehoe

Great answer.

Always like to find local family operated restaurants and try the local food. Some of the IHG hotels have nice restaurants as well and are worth trying them. The Sunday brunch at the IC Dallas was outstanding.

Unfortunately most hotel restaurants don't provide great food.

The Loveless Cafe.. fun and great food.

Europe seems to be missing out here. However a very simple but great value in my home town is an Indian Restaurant called the "CURRY PLACE" Rodbourne Road Swindon. UK.

all the food is cooked freshly so you need to wait for it. we go early  so the wait is not a problem. Including drinks  prices about £15.00 ($25.00) The service is always good and the portions adequate. As we a group of friends have been going regularly for 15 years and a number of Indians also ear there is recommendation indeed.

Depends on the location.  Throw a city into the mix and I can offer some suggestions.

There are some excellent restaurant Apps for the iPhone and they're free.  Local Eats, etc..

Some places you can't go wrong (sorry only listing chains in the absence of a specific location).  I've dined at several locations for these restaurants and can say I've never had a bad meal at any of them:

Legal Seafood

Chart House

Ocean Aire

Several Different Brazilian Steakhouses

Mortons

Los Angeles/Hollywood: Yamashiros (Billion dollar view!)

Washington DC:  Kinkaids

Portland, OR:  Jake's Grill and Portland City Grill

Seattle:  Wild Ginger and Ivar's Salmon House

Anchorage:  Glacier Brewhouse

Mexico, Maine:  Chicken Coop (I'm not kidding)

Chicken, I would guess. Did google it and it's chicken.

SRWOmaha,

Thanks for sharing more information on the Chicken Coop...It is a great and silly name for a restaurant. Dive restaurant & bars have always been intriguing to me! And I have never heard of Mexico, Maine before you mentioned it. Thanks for sharing this...Any more "crazy name" restaurants you have been to? I'm not sure if you have visited Atlanta, Georgia, my hometown, but if so I would love to tell you about a few dive bars/restaurants here if you are curious...

Thanks for Sharing More About the Chicken Coop,

Amanda Kehoe

Hi SRWOmaha

my two cents

5 Seasons Brewing  www.5seasonsbrewing.com

Now three locations

Not cheap but affordable even better priority club dining participant

Reads a little like a commercial sorry.  I mostly go to the one on Roswell Road.  Please let me know what you think.

Manhattan:

Churrascaria Plataforma

221 W Broadway

New York, NY 10013-2909

Mr. Toads is alive and well.  Never eaten there and its still the eclectic art set crowd hanging out to listen to some jazz.

The Old Market still has the greatest collection of excellent restaurants in Omaha, all within a few square blocks of one another.  The French Quarter like vibe is always there, although most of the nightclubs are just outside of the immediate district.

I have found that the Priority Club Reward Network Restaurants have been very good.  http://priorityclub.rewardsnetwork.com/

If I'm in a city I don't know much about I look for  them to eat at. I tend to avoid the chain restaurants.  Even the cities where I live these tend to be good (& sometimes unique) restaurants & pubs with good food at really good rates.  The points are nice but the food is better     I have found so many neat little places in so many cities, it adds to the adventure.

Paul,

Are you saying that there is no dining rewards program in the UK? Some time ok I read about the Midweek Dining Club, I don't think you receive points but they give you good discounts and the money save you can use for travel.

there is a dining rewards program linked to Priority club. I don't know if it exists  outside of the US. Check out priorityclub.rewardsnetwork.com.

This is how it works:

+ Sign up - free, register your credit card(s)

+ they have hundreds of restaurants in the NYC area, and probably thousands in total across the country that are on this program

+When you eat at a restaurant  on the program, and pay with the registered credit card, you are awarded PC points. I receive 8 points per  dollar spent on the total bill, including tip and tax. There are always promotions to double  the   points.

there are some limitations.

For example,

+some resaturants don't honor points on Friday and Saturday, though most do.

+some restaurants  go off the program, and if you haven't checked on line to see , you might find you ate at Ptomaine Cafe, because of points only to  learn they  no longer give points.

+The website is not as user friendly as it ought to be.

Nevertheless, there are many restaurants at all levels that are on the program right in my own neighborhood and I do rack up points each month.  My bonanza, was in San Diego, when I invited friends for dinner.  I asked them to choose a  fine restaurant, as  they live there and I don't... What a surprise when I later discovered  almost 2,500 PC points awarded for that restaurant (16 points per dollar on total bill)

Bon apetit

There seems to have been a Renaissance in the English Country pub Menus, Better food, better choice , better service and reduced prices. That ticks all my boxes.

Bubble and squeak was a  meal made up of left over potatoes, mashed with left over cabbage, both traditional; Sunday Lunch food  from less well of families . It was mashed together and  fried  looking rather like a veggie burger of today,

Surprisingly it has re appeared in some better pub restaurants as a starter, but with added bits like bacon, poached egg and a sauce like eggs benedict.

Thanks for adding new places! I love your idea of grabbing a book of matches to remember a special spot..

Anybody else collect matchbooks???

Thank you,

Amanda Kehoe

I don't prefer suits and ties either and normally like to go to restaurants that allow one to be casual dressed. I do not think that dressed in a suit will make me like the food more.

As a regular diner over in Europe I rather avoid these upmarket places as I found out that the food is not better there, only  more expensive. If it's cold I rather wear a sweater.

Will let you know when I come back from FRA. Since I lived for a good while in Germany I know excellent Restaurants in France and  Germany that are not so strict with their clothing rules.