I love my birth month. Around here, the excuse for indulging just goes on and on. Most of the indulging involves eating out. Oh, how I love to eat out. I especially like eating foods that I can't prepare myself. We got an early start on birth month last Friday night by eating Afghan food. Yummy. Then, score of all scores, we discovered a new gelato place on Grand.
St. Louis has a pretty good selection of restaurants. And eating out is way more affordable here than anywhere else I've lived. We are missing a few faves, like In and Out, and a good Mexican place. But we have killer Vietnamese, Indian, and Thai. I'll take it.
So, my friends, in the month of July, in celebration of living yet another year I am going to do....
Won't that be fun. This week I'm giving away a collection of 5 cards, each featuring a different painting. What do you need to do? Just tell me a favorite restaurant and what city it's in. (Share more than one if you like.) Then we can all dream of getting together for lunch. The winner will be randomly selected.
I'll start. St Louis favorites:
- India's Rasoi (Love the lunch buffet)
- Pho Grand (Vietnamese, super affordable)
- Bailey's Chocolate Bar (Amazing hot cocoa)
- World Fair Donuts (Go after 11 am and get the hand-cut donuts)
Mmmmm. My tummy is starting to rumble.
Oooh I would love to win those cards! My favorite place to eat in my current home town Minneapolis is Punch Pizza--yum! And in SLC it is Cafe Rio--double yum!
Posted by: Alicia | July 01, 2008 at 06:48 AM
Escobar's in Kanab, UT. Seriously, if you are even a few hundred miles from Kanab it is well worth the drive to eat at Escobar's. I still dream about their food. (Don't make the mistake of eating at any of the other Mexican Restaurant like Norma's and the other one that made me sicker than I have ever been in my life! Warning, Escobar's is closed on Saturday, the owners are 7th Day Adventists.)
Posted by: Kim H. | July 01, 2008 at 07:06 AM
Oh, and Happy Birthday Month to you!
Posted by: Kim H. | July 01, 2008 at 07:07 AM
There aren't any good restaurants nearby. But, a good 30-minute drive in several directions can get you some pretty good food. My all-time favorite is Thai Inn, Rochester Hill, MI.
They have the best soup I have ever had in my life. So good that I bought several quarts once and tried to freeze it. (Not advisable.) Everyone I've ever introduced it to has loved it, and several of us dream about it. (Hot & Sour Gai (chicken), zero mushrooms and not too spicy (good thing, 'cuz I'm a wimp).)
Funny that I'm not really a soup person, but my other favorite restaurant is on the list because of their soup! Kruse & Muer restaurants all have the yummiest gazpacho I've ever had. I bought their recipe book just for that.
I don't think HTML is allowed in comments. Here's the URL for Kruse & Muer:
http://www.kruseandmuerrestaurants.com/
Posted by: Melissa | July 01, 2008 at 07:13 AM
Happy Birth Month!
Here are a few of my restaurant favorites:
Fuki Sushi in Palo Alto, CA
Mike's Pastries in Boston, MA (cannoli heaven!)
Passage to India, Salem, MA
Karavalli at the Taj Gateway Hotel, Bangalore, India
Citrus at the Leela Palace, Bangalore, India
Baja's Mexican, Orange, Connecticut
Posted by: Amy Hodge | July 01, 2008 at 07:47 AM
I really love Italian food, but I often come away from restaurants a little disappointed. However I love the Spaghetti Factory (in Salt Lake & Phoenix & other cities). My husband loves the Spinach Tortalini. But my favorite is the pasta with Mizithra cheese, to die for. I want some right now even at 8 am. Plus you get spumoni ice-cream with your meal, and it is delicious. They also have a really good creamy pesto salad dressing... ok I'm done.
Posted by: Nancy | July 01, 2008 at 08:08 AM
Do I dare list a chain restaurant??
California Pizza Kitchen. I LOVE the vegetarian eggplant pizza and the grilled veggie sandwich on focaccia with szechuan slaw.
Yummy :)
happy birthday month to you...
Posted by: Elizabeth Raubach | July 01, 2008 at 08:16 AM
Johnny Boy Carryout
4127 Southern Ave
Capitol Heights, MD 20743
(301) 736-6300
The best ribs in the entire USA; if you're in the Washington D.C. area you must eat here. The place is a little scary, but the ribs are definately worth the risk on your life, just don't go alone at night.
Posted by: Colette Melby | July 01, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Happy birth month! Mine too :~)
I love the idea of a virtual feast! I'm so lucky where I live in London as there are many many great places within strolling distance but faves would have to be:
- Leon (www.leonrestaurants.co.uk), for delicious, healthy, ethical fast food that beats the burger chains at their own game.
- The Hanoi Cafe on Kingsland Road, for simple, affordable and delicious Vietnamese food.
- Story Deli at the Truman Brewery, for AMAZING gourmet pizza
- Lindsey House on Romilly St, Soho, for a splurge.
- The Sportsman, Seasalter (Kent) - because its got to be the best, most relaxed michelin star food in South East England. My family have been going for years (and my husband proposed over their tarte tatin for two)!
So much great food!
Posted by: Mali | July 01, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Happy Birthday month to you!
My favorites are:
Parson's Bakery in Bountiful, UT
Biaggi's, anywhere (none in CA ; (
Hotel Nauvoo buffet, Nauvoo, IL
El Amigo Burrito, Santa Clara, CA
The Italian Place, Orem, UT
Watson's Drug Store (home of "That Thing You Do!" - also a fave movie), Orange, CA
Phil's Fish Market, Moss Landing, CA
now it's time for lunch!
Posted by: annie | July 01, 2008 at 01:45 PM
This isn't a restaraunt, it's a church dinner served twice a year at St. Leo's in Baltimore's Little Italy. These wonderful cooks make 10,000 ravioli, a gazillion meatballs and gallons of sauce--all handmade. It is heavenly and worth waiting for.
If you came any other time, maybe we would have crabs with Old Bay seasoning or crabcakes at Nick's Fish House, Philip's or Obrycki's. All in Baltimore, of course.
Posted by: Joan | July 01, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Uncle Julio's in Fort Worth, Texas
The Boatyard in Eastport, Maryland
sigh. chicken fajitas at one and crab at the other. heaven.
Posted by: Shelley | July 01, 2008 at 05:59 PM
We just moved to Denver and so I don't have any favorites yet, but there are TONS of small neighborhood resturants. More than anywhere I have lived previously.
My favorites in AZ were Garduenos Margarita factory in Scottsdale (not in Chandler), Rustlers Roost for when people came to visit (Very SW), and the Indian Fry Bread Taco house north of DT PHX. Yum. I miss them.
We lived in Indy and there wasn't much that I liked except the Boulder Creek in Brownsburg.
Posted by: Nicole | July 01, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Tutta Bella in Seattle
Posted by: Laura | July 01, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Laura Bailey, it's Stacy (Goodman) Rivas. I found your blog through Kim's blog. Do you remember me? How the heck are you????
I, too, am obsessed with eating out (so goes the plights of those who cannot cook). So here are some yummy restaurants in LA:
Cobras and Matadors (tapas)
The Lobster (decadent seafood)
Don Antonio's (Mexican)
Delphi (Greek)
Yummy Cupcakes (self-explanatory)
Posted by: Stacy | July 01, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Hey Laura!
I can't wait to see your fabrics!!!!! Can't wait! I'm soooo excited for you!!!! You talented momma, you! Well, I can't say there are a whole lot of places I CAN eat at...i have many allergies.....wheat/gluten/sugar/MSG/peanuts,
so that pretty much leaves me with the basics.
Bridges in Danville has great food and caters
to my gluten free menu! Just ate there last week. Am loving the Bay Area, once again!
Good thing I LOVE TO COOK!
Take care,
Laurie
Posted by: Laurie | July 01, 2008 at 10:43 PM
PS...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Posted by: Laurie | July 01, 2008 at 10:44 PM
My absolute favorite is the local coffee shop on the square. It's MIMI'S COFFEE SHOP, in Talladega AL. Every time you go you run into all of your friends, everyone knows everyone and OMG, she has the BEST cakes in the world :-) I mean gosh, isn't eating out about the chocolate!!!!!!!!! It is just such an 'at home' place and the kids are as much welcome as the adults, that counts for alot.
Posted by: donna | July 02, 2008 at 06:44 AM
Happy birth month! :) My favorite restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas, is Piranah's Killer Sushi. It is killer!!!
Posted by: Jessica Hood | July 02, 2008 at 07:41 AM
The Sweetwater Cafe - delicious local food in a really clean restaurant | Marquette, MI
Posted by: Haley | July 02, 2008 at 07:45 AM
I'm in Fayetteville, AR and some of my favorite places are:
A Taste of Thai
The Flying Burrito
King's Pizza
Noodles Italian
La Huerta Mexican
Posted by: Rory | July 02, 2008 at 08:49 AM
Lola's (New Orleans, LA)
Bluebird Cafe (New Orleans, LA)
Venezias (New Orleans, LA)
Liborio (New Orleans, LA)
Posted by: katie | July 02, 2008 at 10:14 AM
As someone who not only shares your birth month, but birthday, I think I'm going to take up your way of celebrating :) I love eating out and we have a whole new city to explore right now.
But my fave's:
Forever Fondue, San Diego, CA
Lorna's (Italian), San Diego, CA
Pizzapapalis, Dearborn, MI
Fin's, San Diego, CA
Posted by: Kim | July 02, 2008 at 10:31 AM
oh, fun little contest/give away! Favorite restaurants call my name about every other day!
Pad Thai - Anchorage, Alaska
Seasons - Williamsburg, Virginia
Rudy's BBQ - Del Rio, Texas (and other places)
Spidini's - Las Vegas, Nevada
Delish! :o) I'm crossing my fingers for these cards!
Posted by: Jayci Reeder | July 02, 2008 at 12:19 PM
oh, fun little contest/give away! Favorite restaurants call my name about every other day!
Pad Thai - Anchorage, Alaska
Seasons - Williamsburg, Virginia
Rudy's BBQ - Del Rio, Texas (and other places)
Spidini's - Las Vegas, Nevada
Delish! :o) I'm crossing my fingers for these cards!
Posted by: Jayci Reeder | July 02, 2008 at 12:20 PM