Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with food and restaurants

Vancouver BC restaurant recommendations, please

rabinowitz — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:45:17 -0800

We're going to be in Vancouver BC in late December, and would love your restaurant recommendations. For the most part, we tend to like the same places as those "foodie" folks, especially places that concentrate on local, seasonal ingredients, but we love all good food. Nothing too snooty (Mr. Rabinowitz won't be bringing a jacket and tie), but we're open to (almost) all cuisines and price ranges as long as there's deliciousness involved. We'll be there for several days, and we'd like to experience a range of Vancouver's food offerings-- but we definitely want to have at least one GREAT Chinese meal, as that's one of the few things not available to us at home in Portland.

As to geography, we'll probably be staying at a hotel downtown (any opinions on Sutton Place vs. Fairmont Vancouver vs. Wedgewood, by the way?), but we'll have a car so we figure we can get just about anywhere we need to.

Thanks so much, Metafilter.

Pass me that menu Stat!

mary8nne — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:15:14 -0800

Quick! need a restaurant recommendation for London City / Shoreditch area, for tonight. Casual but not too casual. Was thinking St Johns Bread and Wine but I left it too late to get a table. Everywhere decent will probably be booked out I guess. Its for two, kind of a 'date'. I'm thinking not a curry obviously.

S&M / Canteen seem a bit clinical. I coudl do Viet on Kingsland Road but its a little obvious.

language/culturally-specific cribsheets explaining the basics of foreign foods.

jjjjjjjijjjjjjj — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:26:45 -0800

The folks over at Evil Mad Scientist Labs made a pretty comprehensive wallet-sized cheat sheet to help the uninitiated navigate Southern Indian menu items. I think it's well done, useful, and quite clever. I'd like to have something similar for all the world's cuisines. I got no idea where to start with this; I'm quite inept with names for foods--which is precisely why this concept appeals to me as much as it does. I have a forgiving palate, so it's not like I'm needing to avoid anything, but I'd like to be more savvy with what I pick.

I'm not joking about the remedial nature of where I'm starting from, here... f'real. If my momma didn't make it, I don't know the name of it. I almost always love the taste of it, though, so it's time I figured it out.

Can someone point me to other quick, index-card-able summaries that are designed to act as this one is--that is to say, streamlined but reasonably comprehensive, well-arranged, and specific? I feel like I should stress that this is what I feel would be the most useful. A bunch of people giving single factoids (eg. " 'boeuf' is a beef dish in a French restaurant") is probably not the best way to compile this sort of thing.

Western/Eastern Europe, Southern Asian, East Asian, African, North African, Middle Eastern, South American... I want a cheat sheet for every cuisine I might reasonably find in a restaurant in a large U.S. city. Please point me to where this information lives. Many thanks.

Places to eat in Philly

Aanidaani — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:15:12 -0800

I just moved to Philly and I want to know what some of the best places to eat around town are. I've checked Philly Magazine, but a lot of those restaurants seem to be upscale and out of my price range. What are some affordable, good places that I should check out? I'm interested in all varieties of food, so any suggestions are welcome.

Le nom nom nom.

IWoudDie4U — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:02:09 -0800

Where can we make out with French boys, what foodie things can I not miss in Paris, and what is the Kampa Park of Brussels? In two weeks, I will be in Paris for the first time, with
my family. Then Bruges, Brussels and Amsterdam. I will be on vacation with my parents and my sister. We love seafood and wine and meat and salty snacks and cocktail hour. And cheese. I am obsessed with France/ French cuisine/Food and cooking in general. I spent all winter baking macarons in my tiny Chicago apartment. I have Pierre Herme and Laduree already mapped out for macaron gluttony, and Stohler's for éclairs. My parents are graciously picking up the tab, so being thrifty isn't necessary. We're not looking to have dinner at any Michelin star restaurants- but what foods/restaurants/bakeries/shops should we not miss?

We'll probably have a nightcap after dinner with my parents, but my sister and I would like to go out a few nights. We're both in our mid-20s, both single. She's more mainstream sports bar/ beer/ frat boys, and I'm more offbeat hipster bar/ gin martinis/ hipsters. We will both begrudgingly put up with the other's choice for at least a night. We're staying in the city centers at all locations, and are transit-savvy. Any suggestions?

When we were in Prague, my mother, sister and I had dinner at Kampa Park. We ate outside on the patio right on the river, overlooking the Charles bridge. The food was exquisite, we watched the sunset, and when it got a little chilly, the waiter draped us with
warm blankets. Blankets! It was perfect. It'll be just the ladies for two nights in Brussels, and we'd like to repeat the experience- breathtaking views, superb service, and delicious food. Where should we go?

Breakfast and ice cream spots near Hotel Andra, Seattle?

DakotaPaul — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:38:23 -0800

I would like to have great breakfast and ice cream in Seattle. Can you help? Nearer to Hotel Andra the better. The family is taking a road trip to Seattle soon and we are looking for great breakfast and ice cream spots. We're staying at Hotel Andra, so walking/Monorail/short drive distance from there would be preferable. Bonus points if the breakfast place is 21-month-old-toddler-friendly. If you have a to-die-for breakfast recommendation we could hit on the way out of town we'd be up for it, too. Thank you!

Silicon Valley Girl

bread-eater — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:13:16 -0800

San Jose/Silicon valley recommendations for spas *or* veggie restaurants for getting a gift certificate. Please help me! I am trying to get a gift certificate for a friend leaving the east coast to work in Santa Clara. She's vegetarian and from India, so one idea was to get a gift certificate at an Indian restaurant (don't worry, she won't find it offensive). I'm having trouble figuring out which ones are actually good. And it would have to be one that actually bothers to do gift certificates (by mail, no less).

An alternative is to get her a spa gift certificate. Any recommendations for spas with good service? We want it to be a treat!

Other information: She'll be working in industry research, is generally proud of her nerdiness, is really really looking forward to the good weather but isn't a particularly outdoorsy person.

I would really appreciate any recommendations for Indian restaurants or spas or any other things that you can think of for me! Thanks!

What food do I need to experience in Raleigh?

Roman Graves — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:56:00 -0800

Where to eat in Raleigh? I'll be in Raleigh this weekend so please tell me about your favorite restaurants. Specifically soul food/homestyle, but really just any place you love. If there's some event happening I shouldn't miss, throw that in too.

yes, we eat like paula deen

kidsleepy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:04:31 -0800

If your best friend was going to Savannah, GA, where would you tell them to eat? As a follow-up to this question, SO and I will be in Savannah soon. We will arrive in time for Saturday dinner, and leaving Sunday afternoon. I perused these two previous questions, and there's a lot of good info there; however it's almost 3 years old, so if anyone has any new advice, we'd love to hear it!

Where should we go for dinner on Saturday? Breakfast on Sunday? and lunch on Sunday?

Things we love: meat (no vegetarians here), cheese, seafood, great southern home cookin', and good beer. Willing to pay more for good food, but love those hole-in-the-wall joints as well. Can be formal or need reservations, or it can be paper napkins and plastic silverware.

Istanbul Travel Tips

mary8nne — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:19:35 -0800

TravelWiki: Tips, Suggestions or Advice on Things to do in Istanbul. Off to Istanbul for 5 days (4ppl -2 Couples). What must we do? We are all in Late 20s to early 30s and travel preferences probably range from:

Local restaurants / delicasies you just _must_ eat when there
Good bars to drink in
Historical/ Monument type stuff that is good to see.
Markets / Cultural Experiences.
Short Day Trips out of Istanbul

And Google map links or addresses / references are appreciated. (We are making a monster Google Map of things to do before we go).

Charlotte Filter: Best Mid-Upscale Restaurants

sandmanwv — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:36:14 -0800

Give me your best mid range to upscale restaurant in Charlotte, either Uptown or accessible by the new Light rail. Atmosphere (three late 20s professionals going, so not romantic), crowd, great, interesting food are the criteria. Probably looking something 'hip' and loud.

Its my birthday... where should I eat in Seattle?

bamassippi — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:29:27 -0800

It's my birthday... where should I eat in Seattle? I'm looking for insight into some of Seattle's nicest restaurants which I may not have yet eaten at. Chain restaurants are ok... though my wife and I usually prefer Seattle's unique restaurants.

Money is no big deal, though I'd prefer to have options which didn't break the bank.

Any suggestions?

Asian Food in San Francisco

timelord — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:19:52 -0800

What are your favorite Asian restaurants in San Francisco? I'm traveling to San Francisco in a few weeks and while I'm there I'd like to sample as much good Asian food as I possibly can. Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Indonesian, and more. Preferably, I'm looking for places that are mostly authentic and relatively inexpensive, but I'm open to all suggestions.

I found quite a few good suggestions in this thread, but that question was quite a bit more general. One thing I'm already looking forward to is getting some Banh Mi in Little Saigon.

Good Eats in Philly

missuswayne — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:46:22 -0800

MeFi Foodies: Can you recommend good (cheap-ish) eats in or around Philly's Convention Center and Art Museum areas? I'm heading into Philadelphia today to meet up with my brother and his wife who are staying near the Convention Center. I'm looking for dinner recommendations for a place in between there and the Art Museum area. We're interested in inexpensive and casual (but no Chili's or anything like that). I'm laying off the sugar/carbs, so I think Chinatown might not be an option, but correct me if my assumption is wrong. Meat is good. We're up for anything cuisine-wise.

Koi carps in Chinese restaurants

sour cream — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:32:49 -0800

Ever notice the fish tanks with koi carp near the entrance in many Chinese restaurants? A friend told me that they are actually there to indicate (perhaps through the number or type of fish?) whether the restaurant owner has paid up to the local Chinese mafia (triad). Is there any truth to this or is it just another urban legend?

the secret ingredient is...

Solon and Thanks — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:22:29 -0800

Servers spitting in food: fact or fiction? I've never heard a first-person account of it, and having worked in (non-food) service industries I know that employees are much less nefarious than paranoid customers think we are. Food-spit usually seems like the scary camp-fire story of restaurant discussions. Still, I have to wonder about the pervasiveness of this idea.

Google results are contradictorily and suggest both that this often happens/is a total myth. I suspect it's on the rare side but does happen. How common is it really?

I am not interested in personal views on the goodness/badness of customers, spit, restaurants, servers, butter eaters, tipping, germs, rumors, whatever. Just wondering if anyone has been a witness to food-tampering behavior, and if so how much.

Warmed & Breaded Goat Cheese in Boston?

The Confessor — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:47:21 -0800

The last time I went into Boston, I was horrified to discover that Ned Devine's in Faneuil Hall no longer served my favorite appetizer of all time: warmed and breaded goat cheese bites. Please help me find another restaurant in the Boston metropolitan area that serves a similar appetizer. Almost any high-priced restaurant in Boston serves a goat cheese salad, and Stephanie's on Newbury serves an appetizer of warmed goat cheese used as a bread dip, but there's nothing that really approximates the appetizer I enjoyed so much at Ned Devine's.

Where can I eat some good North African food in Paris?

oxala — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:48:26 -0800

Where can I eat some good North African food in Paris? Moroccan, Tunisian, Algerian etc. As with all tourists, I'm looking for authentic little cafes and diners rather than fancy restaurants, any "fusion" driven establishments, or places where tourists go. I have found a few suggestions using Google but I thought I'd see if anyone has any personal faves...

Oh you have to go to this place

cashman — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:02:51 -0800

What are the best restaurants specific to Philadelphia for vegetarian or seafood fare that you've been to this year? Near UPenn, I'm looking for the hole in the wall spots, the family owned restaurants, the little cool places that you love to eat at and that have good food. Places you've been to in 2008.

Downtown is fine, but I'm really looking near the University of Pennsylvania for stuff with great seafood dishes, vegetarian fare, or great chicken dishes. A chain-ish place is okay if the food is just mindblowing. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, whatever - I'm hungry. Give me some good spots to eat at!

Recommendations for restaurant on Devon Avenue in Chicago?

kdern — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:13:35 -0800

Recommendations for restaurant on Devon Avenue in Chicago? Going for Indian food on Devon Avenue in Chicago on July 4. Any recommendations on which restaurant to try? Buffet would be ideal as we are bringing a few Indian food newbies with us.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Cheap eats in Vegas?

blueshammer — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:26:27 -0800

Cheap, quality eats on the Vegas strip? I don't know if that's an oxymoron, but I'm making my first trip to Vegas this week for a conference and I'm hoping not to spend a fortune on food. I realize that Vegas has some great linen-napkin experiences, and I'll regret missing those, but I'd regret more paying twice as much for an Applebee's-and-a-half meal dressed up as haute cuisine. Really I'd like to find out about the declasse grub that's not to be missed and within a short walk of Bally's. A real greasy spoon, or great ethnic joint, or whatever -- hit me!

Lunch on the Ave

macinchik — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:28:28 -0800

Seattle filter: What are the best places to eat on the "ave" in the University District? Preferably the lower part? I'm looking for any hidden gems, something that surpasses all the teriyaki, pho, and bar food offerings.

Thanks!

Crawfish in Seattle?

bamassippi — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:49:46 -0800

Crawfish in Seattle? My girlfriend and I are both Southerners currently living in Seattle. We are dying for some boiled crawfish and, according to the Seattle Times, we have crawfish in Lake Washington.

Does anybody know where to get boiled crawfish anywhere (anywhere! we're dying!) in the Puget Sound area?

Unique Eats

srrh — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:39:59 -0800

Please recommend some unique dining experiences in Richmond, VA and the Hampton Roads area. My boyfriend lives in Richmond, and I live in Chesapeake, and we both love new and interesting restaurants. Our favorites are unique experiences -- The Melting Pot, for fondue, Europa, for tapas, Cajun Bangkok, for an eclectic mix of cooking styles, Freemason Abbey for the beautiful and unusual atmosphere, etc. These are just a few of the restaurants we really enjoy, but hopefully it gives you a good idea of what I mean by "unique."

The price range doesn't really matter -- anything from fine dining to BYOB is OK, as long as we get something new from the experience. (: Can you tell me some of your favorite places to go when you want something out of the ordinary? As I live in Chesapeake, I'd prefer any Hampton Roads restaurants to be in the Chesapeake/Norfolk/Virginia Beach area, and of course Richmond is self-explanatory. Thank you in advance for your help!

food and cooking podcasts

Infernarl — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 20:51:09 -0800

please recommend food and cooking podcasts or internet radio Specifically I am looking for podcasts where I (restaurant experiened food obsessed guy) can learn something. I am not so interested in politics (should foie gras be banned?) or issues (does eating organic actually do anything?). And I'm also not so interested in things that are typically material for food sections of magazines ("a winter stew that will really warm you up!<3").

If I was making my dream show some topics might include: cocoa powder double blind taste test, are your french copper pans really made in france?, minimalist bread experiments part 2, debunking cooking myths, focus on popular restaurant techniques and trends, simplest pasta recipe, sourcing/highlighting ingredients, discussions of "quality". Think Jeffery Steingarten plus a dash of Tony Bourdain; old world wisdom translated like Mario Batali, all combined with the experimentalism and professionalism of the eGullet forums. foodie podcasts without the pretension.