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Southwestern cuisine comes to mind when thinking about Phoenix, Arizona. And, in fact, Phoenix does have some of the best southwestern and Mexican restaurants in all the country. However, the chefs in the southwest are a diverse bunch that specialize in Italian, French and seafood cuisine as well. 
photo credit: BethinAZ
If you visit the town where Disney Land is one of the biggest attraction, you are bound to find some great restaurants for kids. What’s surprising is how good the food is and how much adults enjoy a bit of fantasy as well. Whether you are on an adventure to visit Micky, Cinderella and Snow White or you live in the area and are out for a good meal and some family friendly entertainment, you’ll love our choices on our Best Family Restaurant in Anaheim review list.
photo credit: John Griffiths
Long known more for cheap buffets piled high with mass-produced food-stuffs, Las Vegas has exploded into the cuisine scene in recent years with celebrity chef after celebrity chef opening posh restaurants. Though cheap buffets can still be found, today’s diners are more likely to dress up and step out for a dinner of haute cuisine from a famed chef. The Strip is jam-packed with big-name chefs, though you’re more likely to find the chef signing books than preparing your dinner. Still, a trip to Vegas can feel like a world tour of culinary hotspots in a week.
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Palm Beach is an amazing barrier island destination in Florida that people visit primarily because they are interested in a terrific vacation on a beautiful beach. Those people who spend time in Palm Beach will find that there is actually a lot more to do here than just lounge around sunbathing (although there is ample opportunity to do that as well!) With all of the different activities that you’ll enjoy both in and out of the water, you are definitely going to work up an appetite. When you do, you’ll want to make sure that you take yourself out to some of the hottest restaurants in the area so that you can supplement your great vacation with a great dining experience.
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San Antonio is a really fascinating city comprised of a rich multi-cultural history and a developing urban landscape. You can see this interesting sense of San Antonio no matter what you’re doing but one of the best ways to check it out is by doing a fine dining tour of the best restaurants in San Antonio. These restaurants will give you insight into San Antonio in a way that might surprise you.
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A trip to Los Angeles will include many different experiences. It will include time spent enjoying the surf and sand at some of the most interesting beaches in Southern California. It will include shopping and celebrity sightings and nights out at comedy clubs or dance clubs. The specifics of what it will include will vary greatly from person to person since so many different interests can be explored in different parts of Los Angeles. But no matter what you’re doing during the bulk of your Los Angeles vacation, you’re going to need to stop and eat. Why just grab a quick bite when you’re spending time in a city that has some of the hottest restaurants in the entire nation? Make an experience out of it by choosing to dine at the trendiest places there are.
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You’re spending your vacation in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and planning for the entire trip to be relaxing. You’re there to watch the yachts, enjoy the beach and visit some laid back attractions like the world’s largest drive-in movie theater. What you’re not there to do is get all dolled up and spend a fortune on every event that you attend and meal that you eat. Never fear; this doesn’t mean that you’ll be dining at good old Mickey D’s every day as you try to avoid the high costs of luxury dining available in Ft. Lauderdale. With over 4,000 restaurants to choose from in this city, you’re not going to have any trouble finding great casual dining restaurants that are affordable, laid back and yet unique to the area.
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St. Louis, Missouri is known for a few big things. It’s known for its arch which is called the Gateway to the West. It’s known for its zoo (which is the most-visited zoo in the entire country). And it’s known for its particular style of barbecued pork. This food has gotten so popular that people eat it all over the nation but the best place to go get it remains St. Louis itself.
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Seattle is a city that will keep you busy if you let it. It’s got a thriving arts and entertainment scene. It has numerous historic and modern attractions. And there’s often an interesting annual event of some sort happening in the area. But you’re going to have to slow down at some point during your Seattle stay in order to eat. When you do, you might want to visit one of the hot restaurants available in this fast-paced destination city. With great choices in nearly every type of cuisine that you can imagine, there’s got to be a leading restaurant or two that will stand out on your list.
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Reno, Nevada isn’t nicknamed the world’s “biggest little city” for nothing. Known for the gaming entertainment of its casinos and its proximity to the outdoor adventures of nearby Lake Tahoe, Reno is a place where all different types of people may go for a good time. From the college-aged snowboarder who is too young to gamble to the elderly couple who have been vacationing in Reno every year for several decades, the city is a vacation spot for a truly diverse group. But there is one thing that all of Reno’s visitors have in common; they need to eat.
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There are a whole lot of reasons that you might be drawn to travel to New Orleans. The most well-known of these is, of course, the New Orleans nightlife scene – especially during Mardi Gras! But you may also go to New Orleans for reasons as diverse as business conferences, a desire to explore the rich history of the area or an urge to assist in rebuilding the city’s tourist economy after the disaster of Hurricane Katrina. You probably won’t go there specifically to sample the local dining opportunities. However, you have to eat when you’re on the go and you’ll quickly discover that New Orleans has a whole lot of hot restaurants to satiate that appetite of yours.
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Have you ever noticed that French women eat things that would destroy an American woman’s diet and yet never seem to gain a pound? It is said that the French are able to indulge in daily food delights because their great appreciation for their food overwhelms the weight gain and keeps it at bay. This probably isn’t true, of course. But what is true is that the French people are able to enjoy smaller meals because they use such rich ingredients that quality surpasses quantity in the French dish.
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You’re going to Montreal and you want to make sure that you eat at all of the best places. After all, you are going to be telling people about this trip for months to come and you want to be able to drop some names of the hottest restaurants that Montreal has in order to show off a little bit about the experience. Besides, all of the other sightseeing that you’re going to do in the area is going to make you hungry and these are the restaurants that offer the best food in the most enjoyable environment.
There are a multitude of reasons that you may be seeking out a fine dining restaurant in Denver. Perhaps you are a visitor to the Denver area who wants to see the nicer side of what the city has to offer in terms of a restaurant experience. Perhaps you are a business traveler who needs to do some entertaining during the time that you are in Denver and your preferred way of doing that is over dinner and drinks at a nice restaurant. Or maybe you live in Denver and you usually enjoy a down-to-earth kind of life but want to spice things up a little bit by splurging on a great restaurant for a special occasion in you life.
There are many different reasons that you might want to visit an Irish pub (or two or three) during your stay in Chicago. Perhaps you are planning to be in The Windy City during St. Patrick’s Day and you want to do the pub crawl through the area’s most popular Irish pubs in order to celebrate the holiday. Maybe you just moved to the Chicago area and want to find that corner neighborhood Irish bar that you can make your happy hour home. Or perhaps you’re someone who really loves Irish pubs and tries to visit new ones in every city that you get a chance to explore. Any of these reasons are good reasons to find out more about the Irish pubs that are in Chicago. Of course, do you really need a better reason than good beer, great food and a lot of camaraderie?
New York is not exactly known for being a friendly city. It’s not that people don’t enjoy the time that they spend there. But everyone in New York is busy, headed off to somewhere else and in a rush to get there. They’re working and then catching the subway or battling for a cab, rubbing elbows with the millions of other people around them who are trying to do the same. For the most part, that’s invigorating and exciting. The fashion and nightlife scene in the city, the New York business world and the many activities that are available make it fun to join the crowds in rushing from here to there.
Atlantic City, New Jersey. If you went to the boardwalk there as a kid, you probably think of meals that consist primarily of hot dogs and pretzels. As a gambling adult, you might consider Atlantic City meals to revolve around casino buffets. However, there are many different types of restaurants for the people who live in and travel to Atlantic City. Whether in the casinos or out around the rest of the resort city, you can find fine dining that challenges the best of restaurants located all throughout the nation.
If you want to find a big Irish community in the United States today, one of the major cities that you’re going to look in is Boston. Irish immigrants formed a foundation for this city starting in the early nineteenth century. This culture has played an important role in the development of Boston ever since, impacting the politics and the activities of the people who live there. For that reason, anyone who wants to celebrate their Irish heritage need not look too far from any spot in Boston to find a good place to do that.
Of course, what better way to celebrate your Irish self than to find a good Irish pub? After all, it may be a stereotype to say that the Irish love their drink but there’s no denying that Irish pubs hold an important place in Irish-American communities to this day. For people who want to toast to the history of Ireland in Boston, there is no shortage of Irish pubs to do that in. Whether you want to find a place that’s going to have live music or you’re looking for a spot that’s going to give you some fish ‘n chips with your beer, there’s likely to be a pub in Boston that suits your needs.
If you’re looking for a quintessential Parisian memory, try having lunch or dinner at the Eiffel Tower’s newest attraction: The Jules Verne restaurant.
If you’re looking for a meal deal then leave the fast food behind and make an early trip to a nice restaurant. Florida is known for its early bird specials that have drawn the pre-dusk crowds for ages. And speaking of ages, it’s not just a treat for the geriatric crowd. Early bird specials are open to everyone and anyone willing to partake of an early meal.
Most of these specials feature a soup or salad, an entrée from a limited menu and a beverage. Many restaurants also give diners a dessert option. The entire meal is moderately priced in the teens, saving the diners several dollars per meal.
The best part of these specials is they give you a chance to try new restaurants at a reduced rate. Generally, the restaurants put several of their more popular items on the menu, not only giving you a good selection but the palate pleasing choices are apt to encourage you to return to the restaurant in the future.
The popularity of early bird specials for both diners and restaurant owners has begun to catch on in other cities. New York City restaurants, for example, now offer many pre-dusk deals for cost-conscious consumers. So the next time you’re in a big city and looking for a great meal at a reduced rate, go for the early bird dinner special.
January is high season for the so-called Restaurant Weeks, when cities across the United States organize restaurants to offer a special set menu for customers at a reasonable price. If you’re traveling around the US in the next month or two, be sure to check up on the Restaurant Week dates in your destination cities. Here are some of the Restaurant Week details:
Check the details carefully, as beverages are usually not included. However, there are sometimes other special offers available, such as discount parking and hotel rates.
One of the best ways to explore a new culture is through the cuisine. If you’re interested in eating your way across a city– or country–there are a number of tours available.
Vegas used to be a place where you’d spend money on gambling and not much else. You especially wouldn’t pay much for food. The signs outside each hotel on the Vegas Strip would advertise buffet meals at under $10 a pop. You could walk up and down the street finding the best deal on crab legs or seafood buffets. But that’s not the case anymore. Stop in for dinner for two at the Buffet at TI and you’ll be shelling out nearly $60 for the meal.
Joe’s Stone Crab is a Miami Beach institution. A traditional favorite, Joe’s has been serving Stone Crab for 95 years. So popular are they, that many don’t think a trip to Miami is complete without a stop there.
The highlight of the menu, of course, is the stone crab claws, which are served cold with a mustard sauce. In addition to crab, Joe’s serves Florida lobster, Atlantic grouper, and a host of other fishes and seafood. You can also get a variety of steaks and chops. To accompany the entrees, try one of the six kinds of potatoes or the creamed spinach. For dessert, save room for Joe’s well-loved, home-made key lime pie.
No reservations are taken, so be prepared to wait for a table. Don’t worry; the crowd is always lively. Joe’s is closed each year from August until the mid-October.
Not planning on visiting Miami for a while? Most of Joe’s menu, including the Stone Crab claws, is available for order via their Web site. They ship the items via next day air, preserved on dry ice.
Joe’s is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 1130am to 2pm. For dinner, hours are Monday through Thursday from 5pm to 10pm, Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 11pm, and on Sunday from 4pm to 10pm.
Joe’s Stone Crab, 11 Washington Ave., Miami Beach FL
The price of a hot dog at Pink’s Hot Dogs might have increased by a factor of 30 since they opened, but when you consider that’s nearly sixty years ago, that doesn’t seem too bad. Pink’s Hot Dogs started out in Hollywood in 1939 selling hot dogs for 10 cents. These days you can get Pink’s famous Chili Dog for just $2.85 and a long menu of other specialities, including the Lord of the Rings Dog (with onion rings on top), the Martha Stewart Dog (created after she ordered a hot dog with tomatoes, sauerkraut and sour cream) and the Today Show Dog (two hot dogs in one). If hot dogs aren’t your thing, though, they also do a big variety of burgers, including the Polish-Bacon-Chili-Cheeseburger and the Double Turkey Burger.
My mouth’s watering and my stomach’s growling just reading the menu, but if you want to grab a Pink’s dog, be prepared to wait in line. Queueing up is actually part of the attraction; if you’re lucky, you might catch a celebrity lining up with you. But at the very least you’ll get to the front of the line sometime and have your stomach rewarded with one of the most filling hot dogs in California, if not the world.
Do you reckon you’re a dab hand at the BBQ? You know, I’m from Australia where we like to think - although we know it’s not true - that we invented the BBQ. I just wish I could get down to Daytona Beach for the August 18-19 Daytona Bar-B-Que Cook-off & Music Festival.
A really rewarding part of traveling is meeting locals and learning about their city and culture from the inside. Half the people in your street might have a picture of them in front of the Eiffel Tower, but probably none of them will have learnt what French high school kids are studying in math or whether or not French people serve baguettes up with dinner.
You know that when you go on vacation, you should shop at grocery stores instead of eating at restaurants in order to cut down on the cost of food during the trip. You know, but you never do it. That’s understandable. Part of enjoying a new city (and especially a new country) is getting a taste of the foods that are available there, foods which can differ greatly from what you normally eat at home. Luckily, you don’t have to forego restaurants all together in order to save on the cost of meals during a trip. Here are some money saving trips to consider next time you go on vacation:
o Share. If you’re going to the restaurant with someone else, share a plate instead of each ordering on your own. Restaurant portions are usually plenty big enough for two people and you pay half the cost.
o Drink water. Sodas, coffees and especially alcohol all increase your bill considerably. Reserve that as part of your “late night” expense and skip it during meals.
o Tip appropriately, not extravagantly. Many people over-tip during vacation because they feel freer with their money during the trip.
o Take the doggie bag. Order something that can be split in half and saved for later.
o Ask the locals. You may know that an area is great for seafood but don’t want to spend the tourist prices to try it out. Ask locals in the area for a good, cheaper recommendation.
o Choose one meal per day for splurging. You don’t need an elaborate breakfast, a decadent lunch and a four-course dinner. Pick one meal to be the fancy one and go light on the rest.
o Order appetizers as entrees or don’t order them at all.
Making smart decisions at every step of the restaurant selection process can help you make sure that you enjoy the treats available at your destination without causing your piggy bank to crack with your splurges.
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