Restaurants-The Good, the Bad and the Indifferent

Alabama through Florida

Restaurants--Alabama through Florida The following list is compiled from those restaurants we've patronized for either breakfast, lunch or dinner. Sunday morning breakfast out is our weekly treat to ourselves and we normally don't go out in the evening for dinner per se. Often while we're out sightseeing or running errands we'll end up stopping somewhere to eat for a late lunch or early dinner. Restaurants that have been recommended by fellow RVers or local residents that we have not tried ourselves are listed in red. Bill Joyce, a fulltime RVer, has created a nice list of restaurants on his website.

Note: We are from southern Ohio, which is a very inexpensive place to live. What we consider expensive/pricey you may consider moderate depending on where you are from and the size of your pension.

ALABAMA

Auburn: Cheeburger Cheeburger, 160 N. College, Phone (334) 826-0845 Typical college-town burger joint, great burgers (and yes, that's how they spell the name of the place!) (4/1998)

Foley: Lambert's Cafe,2981 S. McKenzie. Phone:251-943-765 Home style cooking, reasonably priced (11/1999) Edited 4/2008: we tried breakfast at Lambert's and found the menu quite limited. But the throwed rolls are still hot and delicious.

Guntersville: Pinecrest Dining Room , Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge,1155 Lodge Dr., Phone (256) 571-5440 This lovely restaurant overlooks Lake Guntersville and primeval forests. The breakfast buffet is limited on Sundays (no omelets available at the grill for some reason) but the food is good and the staff extremely attentive and friendly. There are tables on the deck and if you ask nicely you may be able to take your meal out there. Reasonably priced, takes credit cards. (4/2008)

Gulf Shores: Nolan's Restaurant and Lounge, 508 E Beach Boulevard Phone (251) 948-2111 Fresh Gulf seafood and steaks, moderately expensive (2/2000)

Robertsdale: El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant, 21900 State Rte. 59, Phone (251) 947-7070 A tired building, minimal upkeep and decor, and the food came out much too quickly to be freshly prepared. The combo plates were judged no better than "okay". Moderately priced.

Mirage Cafe (Stuckeys), 27801 County Road 64 Ext (exit 53 off I-10), Phone (251) 960-1152 We stopped for breakfast here. Denny said their chicken fried steak was the best he ever ate but the veggies in my Denver omelet had been thrown on at the last possible moment and weren't cooked at all. (4/2006) Fairly expensive considering the area.

ARIZONA

Apache Junction: Fatman's Pizza & Grill, 1985 W. Apache Trail Phone (480) 671-9897. We tried a thin crust Chicago SMOG pizza. The sauce is a marinara sauce, very watery, which made the otherwise delicious hand-made crust soggy. Their subs looked delicious, as did their Italian dinners. Lots of folks dining in and taking carry out home. (1/2006)

Arizona Opry, 2275 Old West Highway Phone (480) 982-7991 Dinner with a show. Tender roast beef, coleslaw, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, roll, chocolate cake. Not exciting but okay. Show is a lot of fun. $23 adult (1/2006)

Cobb's Restaurant, 944 W. Apache Trail Phone (480) 982-3233 Daily $3.99 breakfast special keeps this greasy spoon full of cotton-tops. Okay breakfast. (1/2006)

The Feedbag Restaurant, 300 S. Phelps Dr., Phone (480) 983-3521 Moderately expensive, very busy, very good (breakfast) (1/2006)

Famous Sam's Sports Bar & Grill , 250 Phelps Dr., Phone (480) 983-8200 Sometimes you just have to try a chain restaurant, especially when the Feedbag's customers are lined up outside the door on a Sunday morning. There were only three other couples at Famous Sam's for breakfast at 8:15 AM on Sunday but that wasn't indicative of the food quality or the service. We had a terrific breakfast (try the Country Omelet or the Country fried (or Chicken-fried as the eastern born waitress insisted) steak and eggs. They'll substitute a fruit cup for the bread and potatoes, coffee comes free with the meal and it's a tad cheaper than the Feedbag. (2/2007)

Sundance Restaurant, 1535 E. Old West Hwy., Phone (480) 983-1917 A favorite with the winter visitors on Sunday mornings. Good, filling, fairly cheap. Get there early to beat the crowd. (1/2006)

Barro's Pizza, 1113 S. Signal Butte, Phone (480) 357-3500 Spicy hot wings, an okay salad bar, good greasy thin crust (if you ask for it) pizza. Pretty popular with the locals. (3/2007)

Benson: Apple Farm Restaurant, 660 N. Ocotillo Blvd., Phone (520) 586-8760. A decent breakfast, reasonably priced, friendly staff. (1/2010)

Beijing Chinese Restaurant, 577 W. 4th St., Phone (520) 586-7140 Pass this one by. The food in the buffet line was cold, there were no spicy dishes other than the hot and sour soup and the food choices were standard Americanized Chinese. (1/2010)

Galleano's, 601 W. Fourth St., Phone (520) 586-3523 We ate here a year and a half ago and we were a bit disappointed in the quality of their chorizo. This year their country fried steak had obviously been heated in a microwave instead of being freshly cooked. Service is friendly and prices are reasonable. (10/2006)

G & F Pizza, 114 E. 5th St., Phone (520) 586-9449 Friendly staff, good pizza, reasonable prices (11/2005) Edited 1/2010. The quality of the pizza has gone downhill. Buffalo wings were good.

Horseshoe Cafe, 154 E. 4th St., Phone (520) 586-3303. We ate breakfast here and their French toast is terrific. Comfort food, reasonably priced and the decor is cowboy funky. Check out the saddle on top of the old Wurlitzer juke box where you can still get 3 plays for a quarter at your booth. (1/2007)

Benson Doughnuts, 690 N. Ocotillo Rd., Phone (520) 586-3966 Okay, it's not a restaurant but they have the best sour cream doughnuts we've tasted since getting them freshly baked from the Hy-Vee in Altoona, Iowa. Yum. (1/2007)

Irene's Restaurant, 687 W. 4th St., Phone (520)586-9190 The fried food had a funny/off flavor. Skimpy house salad, meals just okay. (1/2010)
<>Reb's Cafe and Coffee Shop,1020 W. 4th St., Phone (520) 586-3856 This place is always jammed and we're not sure why. We tried their breakfast and weren't impressed. In addition, while we're usually willing to accept a little shop-worn appearance in tiny towns this place just seemed dirty. (11/2005)

Camp Verde: Crusty's Pizza, 522 W. Finnie Flats Rd., Phone (928) 567-6444 Everyone in the campground turns out for the Tuesday lunch special of spaghetti for $4.50. We weren't impressed by their pizza, but the fried mushrooms were hot and plentiful. We'll return to try their hot sandwiches next time around. Moderately priced. (3/2006)

La Fonda Mexican Restaurant, 2750 W. Horseshoe Bend Rd., Phone (928) 567-3500 Recommended as the best in the area by locals, genuine Mexican meals that are reasonably priced. Watch out for the salsa-it'll sting your mouth! (3/2004, 3/2006)

Randall's & Family Restaurant, 522 W. Finnie Flats Rd., Phone (928) 567-0351 (Crusty's and Randall's are in the same shopping center as the Basha's grocery store) Breakfast was terrific; we'll try it for lunch the next time we're in town. Reasonably priced. (3/2006)

Casa Grande: Cafe de Manuel, 1300 N. Pinal Dr., Phone (520) 421-3199 A pleasant little Mexican restaurant with good food and reasonable prices. Their huevos rancheros breakfast is excellent. Service can be slow in the winter as all the restaurants in Casa Grande seem to be overwhelmed by us snowbirds. Dinners are spicy and well-prepared. (1/2007)

Belgian Waffle House, 105 W. Florence Blvd., Phone (520) 423-2255 Denny had the Eggs Benedict waffle with Canadian bacon while I had the French toast combo. They serve melted butter and heated syrup with your waffles or French toast, mmm. Nice ambience and they have outdoor seating for warmer mornings. Lunch is served also. Prices are higher than Denny's or IHop but it's a nice change from the chains. (1/2007)

T & M Pizza, 1264 E. Florence Blvd., Phone (520) 316-0656 Very good pizza, good wings, big salads. What we saw of their baked spaghetti looked good, too. Hot and cold subs, prices typical of Arizona in the winter. Slow service in all Casa Grande restaurants in the winter as all the restaurants are overwhelmed by thousands of rvers hitting town. There's a new mall being built this winter that is promising 26 new restaurants which should ease the strain. (1/2007)

Lucky Sushi and Chinese Restaurant, 1350 E. Florence Blvd., Phone (520) 836-0102 Don't be put off by the tacky strip mall exterior of this little restaurant. They have a full sushi menu and a Chinese menu. We're not experienced enough to dabble in sushi, but the food from the Chinese menu was excellent. You have 4 choices in hot tea, a fairly extensive lunch menu and decent prices. We did watch the sushi chef prepare several dishes and they looked delicious. It may be time for us to broaden our horizons a bit. (2/2007)

Gold Canyon: Della Cruz Mexican Grill, 5301 S. Superstition Mountain Rd., Phone (480) 982-7850 A nice little Mexican restaurant in the Basha's shopping center that boasts an outdoor patio with a marvelous view of the Superstition Mountains. You can enjoy a nice meal, icy margaritas and watch the mountains turn red in the sunset. Reasonable. (1/2006)

The Garage Pub and Pizza , 6851 E. Hwy 60, Phone (480) 671-8890. The pizza here was tasty, not too expensive, but I was up several times later that night sick as a dog. Denny was fine, so I don't know if it was the pizza or just me. We've not been back. (1/2003)

Red Sage Restaurant, 8330 E Sunrise Sky Dr, Phone (480) 671-0300 We had breakfast and dinner here. Breakfast and service was by far the better time to go. Our dinner came out wrong and in bits and pieces and our middle aged waitress was having a really bad night or she was a really bad waitress. My filet mignon was chewy with lots of connective tissue, Denny's baked potato was cold and his meal so mediocre we can't remember what he ordered. (1/2010)

Goldfield: Mining Camp Restaurant, 6011 E. Mining Camp Rd. Phone (480) 982-3181 Meals served family style at trestle tables, specializing in ribs. $18.95 adult, all you can eat ribs/roast chicken/ham (1/2006)

Lake Havasu City: Black Bear Restaurant, 1900 McCulloch Blvd., Phone (928) 854-1307 Lots of food, reasonably priced and good. (3/2005)

Bob's Big Boy, 1881 Kiowa Blvd N., Phone (928) 854-1900 Yes, it's a chain, but they'll make you an Ohio-style Big Boy with tartar sauce and pickle if you ask nicely. (3/2006) Edited 4/14/07 They messed up our order three times, it's now badly overpriced as this Big Boy is trying to become more like a Chili's--we were handed about seven different menus when we sat down. Go back to burgers and fries, guys. No longer recommended.

Dragon House Restaurant, 1799 Kiowa Ave, Ste. 112, Phone (928) 854-7883 Inexpensive, but their egg flower soup was watered down. They had a decent Kung Pao chicken and Kung Pao shrimp but their serving was only 1/2 the size of most Chinese restaurants. (4/2007)

Farrell's Golden Horseshoe, 4501 London Bridge Rd., Phone (928) 764-3800 Dinner was decent but boy was this place expensive for what you got. Cowboy rustice decor and an inflated idea of their worth. Lake Havasu City is growing--find a better restaurant for a steak. (3/2005)

Havasu Landing Resort and Casino, Phone (928) 858-4593. No address on this one, you take the ferry from near the London Bridge over to the casino. Gamble a little and then have lunch overlooking the lake by the wall-to-ceiling windows. Lunch was reasonable and tasty. Make an afternoon of it by playing the penny slots and enjoy the ferry going to and from the casino. (3/2006)

Juicy's Noodles Italian Restaurant, 90 Swanson Ave. Phone (928) 680-0883 Pleasant decor but the waitress needed more help or to pay more attention. Our omelets were okay, the fruit we substituted for the hash browns and toast was absolutely tasteless. At 8:45 in the morning they were out of their fresh biscuits. Pricey. We won't return. (4/2007)

Peggy's Sunrise Cafe, 1584 Countryshire Ave., Phone (928) 854-1068 A local resident told us about this place and they try to keep it a secret. It's a tiny little place with great food at reasonable prices. Expect a wait on Sunday if you get there after 8:30 in the morning. (3/2006)Edited 4/28/07 Still good, still busy, and they still call 95% of their customers by their first names. CASH ONLY.

Senior Murphy's, 1841 Kiowa Blvd N Ste 103, Phone (928) 680-0201 We had the breakfast here, which was good and reasonably priced. It's a popular place. (3/2005) Edited 4/14/07 Senior Murphy's is now Bad Miguel's. Phone (928) 680-0201.

Mesa: Bill Johnson's Big Apple, 950 E Main St, Mesa, 85203 Phone (480) 969-6504 A nice breakfast with enough food to split a meal with your spouse. Very noisy on a Sunday morning which made talking with friends difficult if not impossible. (1/2006)

Organ Stop Pizza , 1149 E. Southern, Phone (480) 813-5700 Truly a unique dining experience with the huge (and loud) Wurlitzer organ concert that starts at 4:30PM and continues throughout the evening until closing time. The pizza is decent, the salad bar is fairly varied, the fried mushrooms are good and plentiful. You have to order at the counter near the entrance, seat yourself and watch the lighted board for your order number to be called. They take cash and checks only, no credit cards or debit cards. You'll have fun, but you won't be able to carry on a conversation once the organist begins to play. You have to see it. (2/2007)

Parker: China Garden, 1000 S. Hopi Ave., Phone (928) 669-2660 Excellent meals, crispy spring rolls, moderate prices and a wait staff that remembers you out of thousands of annual snowbirds (10/2005) Edited 3/3/2007: Still an excellent place for a meal.

Crossroads Cafe, 612 S. California Ave., Phone (928) 669-9552 Always busy, nice breakfast, good prices (1/2005) Edited 3/3/2007: Still good.

Early Bird Coffee Shop, 904 S. California Ave., Phone (928) 669-5355 A hole-in-the-wall greasy spoon, very inexpensive, good breakfast (1/2005)

Coffee Ern's, 1720 S. California Ave., Phone (928) 669-8145 We tried Sunday breakfast here. The restaurant is grungy-looking and the food was mediocre. Go the the Crossroads or the Early Bird instead. (1/2006)

Stroke's Bar and Grill, 8010 Riverside Dr., Phone (928) 667-2366 We ate Sunday breakfast here which was quite good and last year we ate here with friends for dinner although we all had just sandwiches or grilled chicken salad, all of which was good and was reasonably priced. Lots of locals eating here with their families in the evening. (1/2006)

Queen Valley: Diego's Mexican Restaurant, 620 E. Queen Valley Rd., Phone (520) 463-2225. This tiny little Mexican restaurant carries a mailing address in Apache Junction but it's located in the tiny township of Queen Valley about 25 miles away. Play 18 holes at the Queen Valley Golf Course and then stop here for some terrific margaritas and a great meal at small town prices. The golf course (short but challenging) and the restaurant are worth the drive, or stay at the Queen Valley RV Park, an Encore RV Park just a few streets away.

Salome: Christina's Cafe, 66745 E. Hwy 60 #B, Phone (928) 859-3060 Big breakfasts at a reasonable price. Quaint interior. Disregard the cobwebs on the high ceilings. (12/2004) Edited 3/3/2007: We ate here again and the quality of the food has gone downhill. I would suggest you try the breakfast at the Desert Vista RV park instead where they serve similar meals for less.

Tortilla Flat: Tortilla Flat Saloon, SR 88, Phone (480) 984-1776 Burgers, fries, “killer” chili. Pricey but fun. (2/2003)

Wendon: Crystal's Cafe, Hwy. 60, unknown phone number. Next to a small market south of the turnoff to Lake Alamo. Just a little hole-in-the wall that serves a good breakfast. (3/2006)

Yuma: Arnie's Cafe, 1400 E. 16th St. (US95) Phone (928) 329-6471 This new restaurant serves breakfast and lunch only, opening at 5:30 AM. Denny had the country-fried steak and eggs, I had the spinach, mushroom and cheese omelet. Good food and great 50s-60s rock and roll music playing in the background the entire time we were there. I was bebopping in my seat, much to Denny's chagrin. (3/2007)

Bernardo's Pizza, 11242 Foothills Blvd, Suite 15 Phone (928) 342-2034 Hungry for pizza, we were appalled at the price of $18.00 for a 3 topping medium pizza, but ordered it anyway. The pizza was simply one step (if that) above your basic grocery store frozen pizza. Although there were a lot of people eating there, we were the only ones eating pizza; everyone else was eating a hoagie/sub. Now we know why. Cash only.

Brownie's Restaurant, 1145 S. 4th St., Phone (928) 783-7911 Located in what appears to have been an old service station, inside Brownie's it's a bit tired and dusty and worn. Packed with locals, your breakfast will be cheap, hot and ...okay. (1/2006)

Dairy Queen Brazier, 11274 S Fortuna Blvd., Phone (928) 345-0688 I normally don't mention chain restaurants or fast food, but we each had the flame thrower chicken sandwich, Denny's fried and mine grilled and I had a chocolate malt. Both our chicken breasts were moist and tender after cooking and my chocolate malt actually tasted of malt, which is rare nowadays. No one can make a good malt anymore (says she whose parents owned a soda shop and knows how to make a malt, an ambrosia soda and a phosphate). (3/2007)

Famous Dave's, 1501 S. Yuma Palms Parkway, Phone (928) 329-7600 Normally we don't eat at chain restaurants, but the smell of barbeque lured us in at lunch time. We had the lunch special sandwich sampler which was terrific. We went back for dinner another night; happy hour drinks were very watered down, our meals came out within five minutes, actually beating our appetizer to the table. Not a good thing. The food was cold. So lunch yes, dinner no. The tasted of the barbeque is excellent as are the sides. We just prefer our food hot. (1/2010)

Hunter Steakhouse, 2355 S. 4th Ave., Phone (928) 782-3637 We arrived in Yuma on Thanksgiving Day and this was the first restaurant in town that we found open. The meal tasted wonderful (we had steaks, not turkey) and yes, it was pricey but it's an attractive, more formal restaurant with an excellent wait staff in a town full of fast food and chain restaurants. (11/2004)

Don Quijote's Mexican Food, 11411 S. Fortuna Rd., Phone (928) 342-3313 Plain and simple American style Mexican food, reasonably priced in a friendly atmosphere. A popular place. (2/2005)

Penny's Diner, 1731 S. Sunrise Dr., Phone (928) 539-9000 A classic, albeit new, chrome-shiny diner. You'll dine at a table covered with a 50s-patterned formica top amid the clatter of the grill and dishes. The food is good, substitutions of the menu items are allowed and breakfast is terrific. Easy off Interstate 8 at exit 2 or off Hwy 95 (16th St). (3/2007) Edited 1/2010; menu is a little limited now, the omelettes are still good.

Rob's Grill and Catering, 11411 S. Fortuna Rd., Phone (928) 345-2266 The first year we ate breakfast here was the week of their grand opening. Sunday is buffet day and the buffet was terrific--the food was being kept hot and fresh and there was quite a variety of dishes as well as homemade fudge for dessert. We returned the next year and the food is still fresh, hot and delicious. (1/2006)

Sesame's Kitchen, 11274 S. Fortuna Blvd., Phone (928) 342-0888 Great shrimp and chicken kung pao, good egg drop with wonton soup. However, if you dine in they will give you a stryofoam plate and a plastic fork and then bring your food to the table packaged in to-go boxes. Save yourselves the trouble and order it to go and eat at home on nice plates. I hate eating off styrofoam. (3/2007)

Tilly and Cat's Grub and Pub, 11732 S. Fortuna Rd., Phone (928) 342-3340 Okay folks, I can deal with a waitress hollering across the room at me if I'm sitting at the bar at Happy Hour, but don't holler across the room at me when I come into your place for Sunday breakfast. I'm just picky that way. Strike one. One waitress for a very big dining area, strike two. Breakfast nothing exciting, overpriced and slow to arrive. Strike three. (2/2005)

CALIFORNIA

Big River: The Dock Restaurant, 150341 Del Rey Drive, Phone (760) 665-5516 I had forgotten about this little riverside restaurant a few miles south of Parker on the California side of the river. We ate at their Friday night all you can eat fish fry and returned for Sunday breakfast. Excellent. You can sit at a booth inside on the upper level or go down a couple of steps to the enclosed "patio" where you'll eat off paper plates with plastic utensils at picnic tables with a fine view of the Colorado River. Opens at 4PM Parker time in the winter. (2/2007)

Blythe: Rosita's Mexican Restaurant, 611 W. Hobson Way, Phone (760) 922-4090 Standard Mexican fare, standard décor, moderate prices (2/2005)

Sunset Grill, 9266 E. Hobson Way, Phone (760) 922-9808 Motel restaurant, food okay but a little pricey (2/2005)

Courtesy Coffee Shop, 800 W. Hobson Way, Phone (760) 922-2302 Inexpensive meals, good food, but don't expect a lot of ambiance The last time we were there the owner had a “for sale” sign up (10/2005)

Calimesa: Bob's Big Boy, 540 W. Sandalwood, Phone (909) 446-8822 Our waitress was from Michigan and therefore knew what an “Ohio-style” Big Boy was. In Ohio they use tartar sauce and dill pickles in place of the original thousand island dressing and pepper relish. However, lunch of two big boys, salad bar for Denny, onion rings for me and two drinks came to just under $18 for lunch which is definitely not “Ohio style”. (3/2005)

Royale Restaurant, 1007 Calimesa Blvd #K, Phone (909) 795-7065 Great homestyle cooking, cheap, great wait staff. Dinner with tea and dessert for both of us was just under $20 and was delicious. One of our favorites. (3/2005)

Cathedral City: Don and Sweet Sue's, 68955 Ramon Rd. Phone (760) 770-2760 Very popular on a Sunday morning, California-healthy breakfasts, moderately expensive (3/2005)

Chula Vista: Broken Yolk Cafe, 884 Eastlake Pkwy. Phone (619) 216-1144 Four egg omelets that can be split between two customers for free, fresh fruit as an option for potatoes, blueberry muffins with a cake-like texture; yum! Breakfast burritos, waffles, pancakes, Mexican style breakfasts--you have your choice. Open for breakfast and lunch only, pleasant surroundings, outdoor dining, pleasant staff and near a Trader Joe's. So we went back the next week!

Desert Hot Springs: China Food House, 14220 Palm Dr., Phone (760) 329-9898 Standard Chinese fare, reasonably priced (3/2005)

Havasu Lake: The Landing (inside Havasu Landing Casino) 1 Main St., Phone (800) 307-3610 Good sandwiches at lunch time and a great view of Lake Havasu through floor to ceiling windows. Pricey. Take the ferry shuttle from Lake Havasu City to the casino for a pleasant afternoon ride, get discount tickets for the ferry and lunch at the gift shop by the London Bridge. (10/2005)

Bad Miguel's, 1841 Kiowa Ave.#103 Phone (928) 860-0201 Breakfast was good and reasonable, nice salsa with tortilla chips. (10/2005)

Jamul: Fillippi's Pizza Grotto, 13881 Campo Rd (Hwy 94) Phone (619) 669-1080 Good pizza, basic iceberg lettuce salad, good bread on our first visit, so we went back for the Italian dinners. I tried the family combo (spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna) while Denny had the spaghetti/ravioli combo with Italian sausage. My meal came with a salad and a bowl of soup, Denny's didn't, but my salad was big enough to share, as was the soup. Plus we took a lot home with us. Friendly staff, typical pizza parlor decorations but in the fall they are moving a bit northwest up the street into a new building of their own.

Needles: Rita's Restaurant, 1901 Needles Hwy, Phone (760) 326-2266 Pass this one by. Since they don't have a liquor license they offer margaritas made with wine. Need I say more?

Perris: Jenny's, 1675 N. Perris Blvd. #B, Phone (951) 657-2945. A fifties-style diner, great sandwiches, lots of food for the price, always busy. (1/2005)

China Palace, 1675 N. Perris Blvd. #A8, Phone (951) 943-1867 Buffet or off the menu, standard Chinese restaurant fare but they”ll spice up your dishes upon request. It was here that we discovered Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce which I now use to make spicy buffalo wings-wow! Reasonably priced, nice selection in the buffet. (1/2005)

San Diego: Neighborhood Burger, 777 G St (at 8th) Phone (619) 446-0002 If you are an aficionado of beer, this is a good place to stop for a burger and a cold one. The menu is a bit on the eclectic side but the food is tasty, well prepared and pleasingly plated. The cafe is a tiny place on the corner, but with the huge windows opened wide on a warm day it was a nice place to have lunch and people watch. Good food, good service, California prices.

FLORIDA

Apopka: Argos Diner, 3346 E. Semoran Blvd. Phone (407) 788-1888 A small restaurant with a friendly staff. We ate breakfast there and although our eggs were more brown than we liked them, the food was hot and good. And the biscuits were fresh. Reasonable (2/2008)

Clermont: Oakwood Smokehouse , 1529 Sunrise Plaza (fronts Hwy 27) Phone (352) 394-0036 One of four restaurants in the Lake County area, Oakwood Smokehouse features a special of a full rack of ribs for $10.99 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. And oh, are those ribs wonderful! I had the pork sandwich and the meat was a bit dry. Go for the rack of ribs and you won't regret it. The cheddar broccoli soup is pretty good, too. (3/2008)

Randy's Grill, 1213 US Hwy 27, (352) 243-6005 Breakfast was hot and delicious. The Western omelette was perfect and Denny said the chicken fried steak was tasty. Reasonably priced. (3/2008)

Santino's Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant, 1529 Sunrise Plaza Dr. (fronts US 27 next to Advance Auto Parts) Hands down, the best meals we've had in weeks. We ate there three times; first, we had the pizza, which is served with free garlic knots (I could make a meal of these) and an order of fried mushrooms. Absolutely delicious. Second trip, veal parmesan for me, penne with Italian sausage and meatballs for Denny. The veal was pounded meat, not ground up and formed into patties and then delicately breaded and fried and doused with marinara sauce and mozarella. Denny moaned over his penne. Our third trip at lunch time we went for the soup and 1/2 sub special which included a salad, a large bowl (not a cup) of soup, and then our subs appeared with a large serving of french fries on the side. So much food and it was so good we had to try to eat it all. I could have eaten here every night of the week. Highly recomended and try to sit at one of Brenda's tables--she's a sweetie. (3/2008)

Homasassa: New China Restaurant, 3770 Suncoast Blvd. Phone (352) 628-1122 Three strikes for serving your eat-in meal in styrofoam take-out containers and plastic utensils. The fourth strike is hot and sour soup that has only bamboo shoots in it. Chicken in garlic sauce and shrimp in garlic sauce lunch entrees were hot, plentiful and good. I just hate eating on styrofoam. Reasonable. (1/2008)

Yanni's Restaurant, 7431 S. Suncoast Blvd. Phone (352) 621-4551 Family-style, family owned and operated. Moderate prices, early bird specials, good food, excellent tiramisu (2/1999) Edited 1/13/2008: Yanni's is no more. The restaurant is now called Patrick's and according to a newly transplanted Floridian the food is quite good. The address and the telephone number are the same.

Hudson: China King, 12035 Little Rd. Phone (727) 868-0888 Great hot and sour soup, mediocre kung pao and chicken in garlic sauce. Served on styrofoam take out boxes with plastic forks. I HATE that. Not recommended. (1/2008)

Sam's Hudson Beach Restaurant, 6325 Clark St. Phone (727) 868-1971 Good burgers and fries, good fish, great view of the water. Very, very, very expensive. 2 burger platters and 2 fish sandwich platters and four iced teas cost over $60 with tip. Are you blanching yet? We did, because we picked up the check. We won't be back (2/2008)

Live Oak: Dixie Grill, 101 Dowling St. Phone (386) 364-2810 Where the locals go to eat. We ate Sunday breakfast there early and beat the crowd. I had a Western Omelette that was stuffed with good ham and large chunks of onion and green peppers. Denny raved about his link sausage. The biscuits were large and fresh from the oven, not the microwave. Yum. Under $15.00 including the tip. (1/2008)

Moore Haven area: Seminole Casino Brighton--Joshua Lounge, Hwy 721 between SR 78 & SR 70 Inside the casino, allows smoking in the restaurant. More of a cafe, very expensive. The food was decent, but it's inside of the casino so it is smoky and noisy. It's a place to eat in an area where there's not many choices. (2/2008)

Okeechobee: Clock Restaurant, 1111 S. Parrott Ave. Phone (863) 467-2224 Friends took us here for the breakfast buffet. It was not exciting. A lot of the locals seem to eat here, especially the seniors. A buffet, go figure. (5/2006)

All-Star Steak & Ale, 3415 St. Rd. 441, Phone (863) 467-8191 Our friends said they had some of the best food in town. I'd hate to have the worst. The BBQ ribs were pressure cooked with a ladle of bland sauce that was little more than ketchup. One of the worst meals we've had in a long time. Plus the "smoking" section was the pool hall side and our table was 3 feet from the juke box which the pool players decided to play after we'd been sitting and talking for about 15 minutes-and the very considerate guy even turned the volume up to full blast for our dining pleasure. Don't bother with this place. (5/2006)

Port Richey: Breakfast Station, 10039 US Hwy 19 Phone (727) 861-3814 Breakfast and lunch served only. Excellent western omelette, great country fried steak and eggs, good service, cheap price. Our kind of place. (1/2008)

Jeannie's Diner and Restaurant III, US Hwy 19 and Jasmine Blvd (NE corner) Phone (727) 862-9916 We had breakfast here twice and it was the least expensive breakfast we've had in months and it was good. For Sunday breakfast, arrive between 8 and 8:15 to get a table--it gets busy after that. Breakfast, lunch and dinner plus a bar. (2/2008)

Mickey's Diner, 7015 Division Ave Phone (727) 862-6425 They were out of grouper, so we ordered a pollock sandwich and the special Mickey burger. Both were tasteless. The french fries were hard. Not recommended. (1/2008)

Sam Seltzer's Steakhouse , 9409 US Hwy 19 Phone (727)844-7267 We normally don't hit the chain restaurants for dinner, but this place was recommended by friends. We had the happy hour prime rib, which while thin cut, was tender and flavorful. I enjoyed the creamed spinach and Denny went for the baked sweet potato. Our friends raved about the ribs. Alcoholic beverages are expensive--next time we'll have our cocktails at home, then come here to eat. (1/2008)

St. Augustine: The Oasis, 4000 A1A South, Phone (904) 471-3424. An obvious favorite with the locals. The portions are small and the prices are high, although the food is good. The wait staff is very friendly. We had breakfast here. (11/2006)

A1A Ale Works,1 King St., Phone (904) 829-2977 There are a lot of restaurants in old St. Augustine and they will all be expensive. However, dining on the balcony of this former mercantile building while people and boat-watching was very pleasant and our meal was very good. The chefs here are allowed free hand with the menu and they change the specials daily. The wait staff taste-tests them all so they are able to recommend their favorites of the group. Do not leave without trying the white chocolate dried cherry bread pudding. Yum! We rolled out of this restaurant, wonderfully stuffed. (11/2006)

Borrillo's Pizza and Subs, 88 San Marco, Phone (904) 829-1133 Cash Only! = New York-style slices of pizza or whole pies, Buffalo wings, spaghetti and more. We went for the whole pie and an order of wings and took most of the pizza home. The locals know to buy a slice and leave it at that. Good pizza and great wings. (11/2006)

Cafe Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., Phone (904) 460-931 Sunday is buffet-style breakfast only, which was only mediocre and expensive. There are a couple of small tables outside but no real view of the beach due to the condos across the street. (12/2006)

Raintree Restaurant, 102 San Marco Ave. Phone (904) 824-7211. This 2-story yellow frame former home with enclosed front porch decorated for Christmas is the personal favorite of one of our trolley tour drivers. He recommends the dessert bar even if you dine elsewhere. It looks like a wonderful place for an intimate dinner for two, especially on the front porch. We'll try it the next time we're in town. (11/2006)

Barnacle Bill's, 14 W. Castillo Dr. Phone (904) 824-3663. This seafood restaurant is supposed to be quite popular with locals and tourists both, per another tour guide. A short walk from the trolley stop.(11/2006)

St. Pete Beach: Sea Porch Cafe at the Don CeSar Hotel, 3400 Gulf Blvd. Phone (727) 360-1881 Elegant dining, excellent presentation, great food. Expensive. Due to the wind, we ate inside by the choice of the servers. Our preference would have been the outdoor tables with a bit of a view of the beach and the hotel. Recommended as a special treat. (2/2008)

Wauchula: Pioneer Restaurant, 2902 US Hwy 17S Phone (863)735-0726 Four of us agreed our dinners here were good; liver and onions, BBQ sandwich and chili and country fried steak. Denny and I went back for breakfast and the eggs were way overcooked both as scrambled eggs and as an omelet, which also came back as nothing like what I had ordered. Eat dinner there, not breakfast. Cash only.(1/2008)

Wildwood: Ole Coffee House, 610 N. Main St. Phone (352) 748-4300 A little beat-up, a bullet hole in one of the picture windows, but the locals like to gather here for some tall tales (we heard the one about the two-legged dog in Alabama keeping up with a truck driving 25-30 mph down a country road.) A two-egg omelette was filled with so much tender ham, green peppers and onions that I had to take half of it home. Their biscuits had been reheated in a microwave, unfortunately. The sausage gravy was good, per Denny. Reasonable.(1/2008)

Georgia through Wilmington, Ohio

Restaurants Good and Bad-Georgia through Ohio
GEORGIA

Folkston: Okefenokee Restaurant, 103 S. Second St. Phone (912) 496-3263 Located at the corner of Second and Main, this pleasant little restaurant is well patronized by the locals. The food was excellent, the waitresses friendly and cheerful and the price was surprisingly low. When asked about the fried gator tail, our waitress said it was horrible and they only put it on the menu for the tourists. You gotta love honesty like that. We recommend this one. (12/2006)

Greensboro: Huddle House , 6141 Lake Oconee Pkwy, Phone (706)453-9833 The choices for breakfast on Sunday are few in this small town, so we hit a chain. We had such a good breakfast (me, the Western Omelette with jalepenos and Denny the country fried steak and eggs) that we came back again the next week. The staff will remember you after recognizing you as strangers the first time you go in. (12/2007) There is a newly opened restaurant in town called the Broad St. Grill that has breakfast Monday through Friday that looked like a good place to try also. Maybe our next trip here.

Luigi's Pizza Restaurant , 6163 Lake Oconee Pkwy, Phone (706) 454-1555 New York style pizza that's just wonderful and you can watch the pizza guy spin the dough in the kitchen while you wait. Their tiramisu is heavenly and some of the baked entrees we saw carried to other tables looked awfully tasty, too. A sign on the side of the room says to clean up after yourself because they aren't your mother, and most every one in the restaurant did, dumping their trash in the trashcan and their cups and silverware in the bin provided (except the female yuppie who ate while her husband who ordered nothing watched). A friendly place with excellent food--what more can you ask in a restaurant? (12/2007)

Lavonia: Dad's Restaurant, 5061 Whitworth Rd. Phone (706) 356-4442 Located inside the BP station, you're immediately greeting by the cashier with a friendly "Good Morning!" We thought our breakfast was going to be a little pricey but this is one of the places that will reduce your bill when you ask to skip the bread and potatoes (and grits). Our breakfast was very good and the pancakes were huge. Lots of locals there on a Sunday morning. (10/2006)

Jekyll Island: The Rah Bar (Latitude 31 restaurant) on the pier in the historic district, Phone (912) 635-3800 Recommended by our tour guide as the best place for fresh shrimp as the shrimp boats deliver there daily. We packed a picnic lunch and dined al fresco at the picnic grounds farther north on the island. We'll try this place our next trip. (11/2006)

St. Simons Island: El Potro Mexican Restaurant, 2205 Demere Rd. Phone (912) 634-0703. The interior is tired and tattered, but the portions are large, reasonably priced and very tasty. We had the burro Aztec and the burro Grande and both of us took half home. (11/2006)

IDAHO

Glenns Ferry: Carmela Vineyards, 1289 W. Madison, Phone (208) 366-2313 Stopped by for a wine tasting, bought some, stayed for lunch. Excellent prime rib sandwiches, cheesy broccoli soup and salad. Dine on the patio overlooking the golf course. Well worth the price. (9/2005)
Hagerman: Larry and Mary's Restaurant, 141 N. State St., Phone (208) 837-6475 My blog review (9/2005)

Oldtown: Riverbank Family Restaurant, 402 N. Idaho Ave. Phone (208) 437-0892 We stopped at this restaurant that sits on the Priest River due to the large number of cars in the parking lot. Little did we know that all of the patrons were in the bar and for good reason. Denny and I both ordered the Friday night special of all you can eat fish which was cod. The meal came with a salad bar which included old lettuce, a few toppings and about eight types of salad dressings. The fish looked wonderful when it arrived at our table, but it turns out what we were served was fish fritters. The cod itself was pieces of fish about 3/8 of an inch thick, one inch wide and about four inches long. With the breading, the fish appears to be two inches wide and seven inches long. When I finished my three pieces of fish, after removing all the breading, I had a pile of breading that was about four inches deep on my plate. We brought that to the attention of the waitress who said she'd tell the cook (and we did hear her telling him) but that was it. There was only us and one other couple in the restaurant at 6PM on a Friday night. I guess that says it all. Not recommended. (7/2010)

Weiser: Homestead Cafe, 813 State St. Phone (208) 414-3962 Popular with locals, relatively inexpensive and lots of food. We ate breakfast there. (9/2005)

INDIANA

Batesville: Hobo Hut, 1356 SR 46 E, Phone (812) 934-5010 Breakfast is simple and filling. The Western Omelet had sausage, bacon AND ham in it and Denny's plate of eggs with three types of meat was cooked well. This is where the locals have breakfast. Cash only.

Elkhart: Callahan's Restaurant, 2917 Cassopolis St., Phone (574) 262-3151 Touted by the locals as the place for breakfast and lunch. We had Italian steak sandwiches for lunch along with their homemade soups; chicken noodle for me, French onion soup for Denny. Really, really good. (8/2009)

Golden Egg Restaurant, 3124 Plaza Ct., Phone (574) 266-6400 Bring a big appetite when you stop at the Golden Egg Pancake House. Here, if you order 2 eggs you'll end up with three eggs, so if you truly only want 2 eggs, order 1 egg. Make sense? Reasonable prices, great breakfast. (8/2009)

Middlebury: Das Dutchman Essenhaus, 240 US 20 Phone (800) 455-9471 Good home cooked family style meals. You won't leave hungry, especially if you try a slice of one of their many homemade pies. The rhubarb custard is fabulous. (8/2009)

Monticello: Harvest Time Restaurant, 722 W. Broadway St., Phone (574) 583-8666 Denny and I both had the Western Omelettes which were excellent. We skipped the American fries and toast. It was the cheapest breakfast we've had in ages. Welcome back to the Mid-west. They serve lunch and dinner also with a decent variety of choices. (5/2007)

Oldenburg: Wagner's Village Restaurant, 22171 Main St. Phone (812) 934-3854 Pan-fried chicken is their claim to fame, served family style. Green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy are okay, the blackberry cobbler and chocolate cake are from scratch. A little pricey for a small town, but an enjoyable meal made more pleasant by a couple of blocks walk around town to see nicely restored homes and buildings. Worth the trip. (5/2009)

LOUISIANA

Abita Springs: Abita Springs Brew Pub, 72011 Holly St. Phone (985) 892-5837 Pricey, but good food and a variety of their own beers. I was pleasantly surprised by the presentation of the meals, which was rather upscale for this small town. Dine inside or on the patio.(1/2009)

Abita Springs Cafe, 22132 Level St. Phone (985) 867-9950 We had great hopes for breakfast at this picturesque little cafe, but our first clue was when the waitress advised us that they were out of fresh fruit. This was immediately after she told us that we were fortunate to arrive before the Catholic church got out because the cafe always had a big breakfast rush then. So if you know you will have a full house, why are you not well stocked with items that are on your menu? Our omelets were simply okay and there was no discount for having them leave off the potatoes and breads. Overpriced. (1/2007)

Denham Springs: Don's Seafood Hut, 136 Rushing Rd., Phone (225) 664-1192 We joined friends here and had a wonderful meal. I had the fried catfish/shrimp dinner and Denny had the filet mignon. Both were excellent and the service was terrific. (4/2006)

MISSISSIPPI

Bay St. Louis: Silver Slipper Casino Jubilee Buffet, 5000 South Beach Blvd. Phone 1-866-775-4773 If you sign up for a player's card, you'll get a discount for your buffet. The food was hot, good, plentiful and varied.(1/2009)

MISSOURI

Ozark: Lambert's Cafe , 1800 West State Highway J, Phone (417) 581-7655 We love Lambert's Cafe and now we've visited all three locations. The food is always good, freshly cooked and hot and we love to catch the "throwed rolls" and slather them with butter and sorghum. It's good-bye Atkins, when we eat at Lambert's. Cash or personal checks only. (5/2007)

MONTANA

Coram: Glacier Grill and Pizza, 10126 E. Hwy 2, Phone (406) 387-4223 Good hand tossed pizza, breaded mushrooms and breakfast. Friendly staff, alcohol available, beer on tap. (7/2010)

Crow Agency: Custer Battlefield Trading Post and Cafe, I-90 Exit 510, Phone (406) 638-2270 Breakfast here was decent; my omelet was a bit overcooked (I hate eggs cooked brown), but a lady at the next table shared her huge piece of fry bread which was very good. Lots to look at while you are waiting for your breakfast, outdoor seating is available in nice weather for some terrific views. (6/2010)

Olney: Point of Rocks Restaurant, 10035 Hwy 93 N, Phone (406) 881-2752 It looks and feels like a road house but their prime rib is some of the best we've had in a while. Dinner included soup or salad, cheese toast, choice of potato or rice and ended with a sundae, included. Reasonable, good food, generous pour of wine. Fortunately it's on our way to visit friends, so we look forward to going back there. (7/2010)

Polebridge: Polebridge Merchantile, 265 Polebridge Loop, Phone (406) 888-5105 The most wonderful bakery located 25 miles from the west entrance of Glacier National Park. Montana coffee to go with it, or a variety of unusual flavors of soda and sandwiches we didn't know about until reading about them after we had left. Sit on a tree stump on the front porch and enjoy your Danish while it is still warm from the oven. Worth the drive. (7/2010)

W. Yellowstone: The Gusher Pizza, 40 Dunraven, Phone (406) 646-9050 We asked a local resident for the best pizza place in town and this is what he recommended. It was okay and incredibly expensive, but this is a high tourist area. We didn't get what we asked for either, as many of the employees were foreign exchange students with a limited grasp of English. (9/2005)

White Sulphur Springs: The Branding Iron, 307 3^rd Ave SW, Phone (406) 547-3894 Denny chose the hot shot, I had the 4 wedges of pollock. The beef in Denny's hot shot was tender and flavorful, the corn was cooked to death, my fish was on the edge of being too old and the salad was bagged iceberg lettuce. The man behind us raved about his hot fudge sundae, wish I had gotten that. (6/2010)

Corner Stone Deli, 11 E. Main St. Phone (406) 547-2513 Wonderful broasted chicken wings, great create-it-yourself sandwiches (mine was turkey and roast beef with mayo, horseradish, lettuce and tomato on ciabatta bread), excellent sweet potato fries and homemade purple potato chips. The staff will work with you if you have allergies; peanut butter is sunflower seed butter instead. We highly recommend this little place. (7/2010)

Dori's Cafe, 112 E. Main St., Phone (406) 547-2280 We had breakfast here—my omelet and Denny's fried eggs were overcooked, the hash browns were nice and crispy and you had to pay 75 cents extra for rye toast, English muffins or a biscuit. If you like eating while surrounded by dead animals, this is the place to go. (7/2010)

NEVADA

Pahrump: Charleston Pizza, 1480 Charleston Park Ave. Phone (775) 751-0700 Ask the locals for the best place for pizza and here is where they'll send you. Carry out or delivery only, but they make a good pizza and tasty Buffalo wings. (4/2007)

Romero's Restaurant, 290 Humahuaca St., Phone (775) 537-1800 So-so Mexican food, which was surprising for a family run restaurant, but reasonably priced (3/2005)

Silver Spur Restaurant (inside Saddle West Casino) 1220 S. Hwy 160, Phone (800) 433-3987 We hit this one for the Sunday breakfast. The first time we ordered off the menu, and the second time we went for the buffet. Good food reasonably priced. (4/2005) Edited 5/2007: Still good.

NEW JERSEY

Atlantic City: Carmine's, 2801 Pacific Ave. Phone (609) 348-6737 Good food served family style and a la carte for salads, entree and desserts. And each salad, entree and dessert will easily serve four people and you'll still have leftovers. The price reflects the size of the portions, prepare yourself for a big bill. Excellent service, friendly staff. (9/2009)

Cape May Courthouse: Clary's Country Corner Restaurant, 2 W. Hereford Ave, Phone (609) 465-4361 We stopped here for lunch after exploring Cape May State Park as there had been a lot of cars here earlier. My fried flounder sandwich was just so-so, barely hot for something freshly cooked. Denny's reuben was just okay. I see a lot of great reviews online for their breakfasts, which is where their specialties lie. Plus we arrived just before they closed for the afternoon, which we didn't realize until we sat down and ordered. So the kitchen staff probably wasn't too careful with our order. We'd give this restaurant another shot and come for breakfast. (9/2009)

Galloway: Romanelli's Garden Cafe, 279 S. New York Rd. Phone (609) 652-0179 Lovely interior, gracious and friendly staff, a nice breakfast. Excellent bread pudding with whiskey sauce and tasty bacon topped apple muffin which was more like a cupcake. If we go back to the area, we'd try an evening meal.

Old Bridge: The Pine Tavern, 151 Rt. 34 N, Phone (732) 727-5060 Denny's cousin recommended this one and we were disappointed in the quality of the prime rib we both had--it was tough and chewy although it had a very good flavor. The steamed spinach was good, but the waitress (or the cook) got all three orders wrong. I don't think we'd do this one again, but maybe they were just having a bad night. Pricey. (9/2009)

Parlin: Santinos Ristorante and Pizzeria, 499 Ernston Rd. (also shows up as Sayreville, NJ) Phone (732) 721-3163 Tasty Italian subs (hoagies). Once we arrived to pick up our order, I almost wished we had ordered pizza--what they had out at lunchtime looked and smelled wonderful. It was the first time I saw pizzas with calamari and pasta as ingredients. (9/2009)

Seaside Park: Berkley's Fish Market and Restaurant, 24th & Central, Phone (732) 793-0400 A nice view of the Barnegat Bay while you're dining on the second floor. Nice Jimmy Buffet style decor, great fried flounder sandwiches and nice staff. Just outside of Island Beach State Park with miles of beach (shore if you live in NJ) and a few geocaches. (9/2009)

NEW MEXICO

Cedar Crest: Cedar Point Grille, 12124 Hwy 14 N. Phone (505) 281-2534 Recommended by the staff at our campground, we stopped here for Sunday breakfast on Mother's Day. I was given a lovely carnation by a very pleasant and friendly waitress. Our Tijeras omelette was delicious, if a bit expensive. You can dine on the deck overlooking a small valley or inside where the walls are lined with the watercolor pastels and oils of a local artist who does exquisite work. (5/2007)

China Best, 12165 Hwy 14 N. Phone (505) 286-4898 Lunch here was relatively inexpensive and very good. We had a window side table looking out over the mountains. Very pleasant. (5/2007)

Deming: La Fonda Restaurant, 601 E. Pine St. (505) 546-0465 This restaurant has new owners so they don't have the liquor license transferred over yet. We had eaten here three years ago and the food was okay, nothing exciting. This time around in spite of being owned by a Hispanic family they have managed to make Mexican food that is absolutely tasteless. Stay away. (3/2006)

NEW YORK

Ashford Hollow: Carson's Ashford House, 9219 Route 219, Phone (716) 942-3840. A homey restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Decorated with lighthouses and model trains that circle the main dining area, Carson's serves American-style food at a reasonable price. We've eaten breakfast and lunch there but have yet to try their dinners. They do advertise a prime rib special that sounds good. (8/2006)

Grand Island: Brick Oven Pizzeria, 2131 Grand Island Blvd., Phone (716) 773-4445 Good pizza, good subs, nice wine and beer selection. New York prices. (12/2005) Edited 1/2007: Still good when we returned 12/2006.

Currents Lounge, Holiday Inn Grand Island, 100 Whitehaven Rd., Phone (716) 773-1111 Nicely decorated, floor to ceiling windows with a view of the Niagara River. Very expensive, food is average. (12/2005)

John's Pizza & Subs, 2131 Grand Island Blvd., Phone (716) 774-0020 Good hot Italian subs. (12/2005)

Jalapeño Loco, 2800 Grand Island Blvd. Phone (716 ) 773-8748 Brand new, standard choices nicely prepared. Pricey. (12/2005)Edited 12/2008 Out of business.

Town Cafe , 2352 Grand Island Blvd., Phone (716) 773-7373 Wonderful wedding soup and the locals go for the all-you-can-eat fish. The owner will greet you like a long-lost friend while the guys sitting at the bar tell goofy jokes. Good food and a fun, homey atmosphere. Reasonably priced for NY. (12/2006)

Newfane: The Rib House, 2990 Lockport Olcott Rd. (north of Lockport) Phone (716) 778-7910. A prime example of why you should try the local small town restaurants. Terrific meals, great service, reasonable prices in the small dining room of a converted house. (7/2004)

Ransomville: Country Roadhouse Inn, 2989 Ridge Rd. (Rt. 104) Phone (716) 791-4316 Okay, this meal was heavy on the deep-fried stuff; an appetizer platter of fried cheese, fried cauliflower and mushrooms, fried onion rings and chicken tenders, followed by a swiss-mushroom burger for me and a BBQ bacon cheeseburger for Denny which we each split and shared (and I took home half of each of that). Delicious. If you're up for it, you can play sand lot volleyball with the locals afterward at the side of the restaurant. (8/2006) Edited 9/2007: We stopped by for Sunday breakfast and it was okay but nothing to write home about. They do have the biggest mugs of coffee I've ever seen. Edited 8/2009: Service lousy for dinner and they were "out of mashed potatoes" for a hotshot at 5:30PM. Don't bother eating here.

Springville: Apple Dumplin Restaurant, 521 S. Cascade Dr. Phone (716) 592-0171 Pleasant surroundings, expensive for a lunch but tasty. (7/2004)

NORTH CAROLINA

Lexington: King House Buffet, 200 Lowe's Blvd. Phone (336)238-8288 Excellent food, excellent service, inexpensive but quality food. All the buffet food was hot and fresh. Great sushi. Tucked into a strip by the Wal*mart Supercenter. (10/2009)

La Fuentes Restaurant, 217 W US Highway 64 #4, Phone(336)236-1601 The most excellent steak/chicken/shrimp fajitas we've had ever! Very reasonable, takes credit cards. (4/2008) Edited 10/2009; this restaurant has a different name now, so I don't know if the quality of the food is the same.

Pizza Place, 215 W US Highway 64 #14, Phone (336) 249-6197 Most folks on a Friday night were having the buffet which was a few varieties of pizza and spaghetti, along with a small salad bar. We opted for ordering our own pizza, along with some fried mushrooms. The mushrooms were good, the pizza had obviously bee planned for the buffet as it was lukewarm when it reached the table and it wasn't what we ordered. And the pizza itself was nothing special. If you are absolutely desperate for pizza, this will suffice. Takes credit cards. (4/2008)

Mocksville: Buffalo Rusty's Bar-B-Que, 2076 US Hwy 601 S, Phone (336) 751-3131 Breakfast here took 40 minutes to get to our table, even though we were only the fourth couple in the entire restaurant. The food was decent, but the oven wasn't working that morning so there were no biscuits. We were given a discount for that, but we still probably wouldn't go back as the food wasn't that exciting. Rustic decor, takes credit cards. (4/2008)

Sagebrush Steakhouse, 1562 Yadkinville Rd.Phone(336)936-0021. Normally we don't dine at chain restaurants, but since we had friends with us who had a taste for steak we stopped here. Good choice. Denny and I had the barbecued ribs/chicken/shrimp combo which was excellent. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender and you had a choice of 6 different styles of barbecue sauce on the table. Yum. Takes credit cards. (4/2008)

Salisbury: Fire Mountain Hot off the Grill, 730 Jake Alexander Blvd (Hwy 601), Phone (704) 639-1811 We stopped here for breakfast when our first choice was closed due to a fire. We were a bit taken aback to discover it was a buffet, because I don't care for buffets. This place was terrific though, with lunch/dinner choices as well as breakfast choices at 8 o'clock in the morning, like fried catfish and chicken. The food was hot, well cooked and delicious. Watch out for the bakery bar there--it's dangerous to us calorie counters. Very cheap at $7.50 each considering the spread.

The Farmhouse Restaurant, 1602 Jake Alexander Blvd. South, Phone (704) 633-3276. A nice place for Sunday breakfast and a popular one. They serve lunch and dinner seven days a week also. Breakfast was very good, moderately priced and the service was terrific. The interior was that of a toned-down Cracker Barrel. (10/2006)

Ting Hao Chinese Restaurant, 510 Jake Alexander Blvd. Phone (704) 633-3942 Moderately priced and a very good meal at lunch. I must admit I was taken aback by their use of styrofoam plates and bowls and plastic forks but the food was excellent and the locals like it too. (10/2006)

Wilson: Italian Pizza and Subs, 700 US 301 North #C, Phone (252) 243-5004 In business for 15 years, the owner is from New Jersey. They make great hot subs; we had the Italian and the Supreme Steak and Cheese. Yum. (10/2006)

OHIO

Note: As of December, 2006 the state of Ohio no longer allows smoking in businesses and enclosed public areas.

Bellbrook: Blue Berry Cafe, 72 Bellbrook Place, Phone (937) 848-5900 This is where the locals go. A sunny yellow interior, nicely decorated with a mini boutique to browse while you are waiting for a table. We ate here for breakfast and it was terrific. Generous portions, more expensive than most mom and pop places in the area but worth it. (6/2007)

Tuscany Grille , 129 W. Franklin St., Phone (937) 848-2226. We tried this nice little restaurant for Sunday breakfast. At this time they are only serving a limited buffet as an experiment and hope to expand the buffet if the idea is successful. The food was hot and good, the waitress friendly, the decor attractive. We'll be back. (6/2007) Edited 5/15/2009 This restaurant is out of business.

Brunswick: Cozumel Mexican Restaurante, 625 Pearl Rd., Phone (330) 220-3335 Quesadillas and the chimichangas were good, margaritas were generous if a bit weak during Happy Hour. (8/2009)

Centerville: China Cottage, 6290 Far Hills Avenue, Phone (937) 434-2622 We ate here at the grand opening when the chefs prepared a special set of meals. Absolutely fantastic. The best value is the lunch menu. No buffets here, but the servings are generous. The restaurant has been remodeled and re-opened in the spring of 2007.

Doubleday's Bar and Grill, 199 E. Alex-Bell Rd., Phone (937) 436-4666 More restaurant than bar most nights, good food, great appetizers and soups, moderately priced (1/2006)

Cincinnati: Abby's Pub & Grill, 5753 Harrison Ave. # 1, (513) 574-6622 Great soup and sandwiches, a little pricey. A nice covered patio for eating outside when the weather is nice. The owner is a big fan of local sports which you'll discover upon reading the menu. A place to return to. (7/2008)

Angilo's Pizza , 6953 Harrison Ave. (513) 574-0777 A decent pizza, a small dining area. Supposedly their hoagies are quite good. Reasonable, friendly staff. (8/2008)

Barnesburg Tavern , 5761 Springdale Ave. (513) 741-1200 Great sandwiches in a newly opened storefront. The Barnesburg Tavern has moved and updated itself and the locals love it. A bit pricey for the area, but good specials every day. (8/2008)

Dena's Diner, 8375 Colerain Ave. (513) 245-2960 A small storefront restaurant serving breakfast and lunch only. Breakfast was fine, not exceptional. Reasonable. (8/2008)

Guido's Restaurant, 8007 Harrison Ave., Miamitown (513) 353-9900 Popular with the locals, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. A little worn inside and you can't be in a hurry to get your food, but the wait is worth it for good, old fashioned home cooking. Try the fish hoagie. Or the specials. Breakfast is good too and the New York style cheesecake is tasty. Reasonable. (7/2008)

Home Like Restaurant, 6856 St. Rt. 128, Miamitown (513) 353-9828 We were disappointed in this local restaurant. We ate breakfast here and the eggs were badly overcooked. Pleasant outdoor seating. Popular with the locals. Reasonable. (8/2008)

LaRosa's Pizzeria , 5806 Cheviot Rd., Phone (513) 347-1111 Ohio-style pizza means lots of thick tomato paste based pizza-yum! They make great salads and their house salad with creamy garlic dressing will have you reaching for breath mints afterwards. (7/2008)

Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse , 925 Riverside Dr. (513) 721-7427 One of the most popular restaurants in Cincinnati, known for their ribs. Great service, great food, nice view of the river, expensive. A nice evening out when you are celebrating. (8/2008)

NYPD Pizza , 5761 Springdale Ave. (513) 521-NYPD Carryout and delivery only, good pizzas, great hoagies. Reasonable. (9/2008)

Red Squirrel Restaurant , 8227 Colerain Ave. (513) 741-4800 They serve a nice breakfast here and the place is always busy. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Reasonable. (8/2008)

Ron's Roost Restaurant ,3853 Race Rd. (513) 574-0222 Great mock turtle soup, good food. I was restricted to soft foods when we ate here, but the seven other people I was with said all their meals were great. Reasonable, popular with the locals. (7/2008)

Local chains we hit when in Ohio: Frisch's, Skyline Chili, Steak & Shake, Logan's Steakhouse, Longhorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden, IHop, Subway, Perkins, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse, Captain D's Seafood

Dayton: Marion's Piazza, 711 Shroyer Rd. Phone (937) 293-6991 Marion's Piazza gained its fame in the 60s when the owner invited the cast members of Dayton's Kenley Players to stop by after the show for pizzas. The walls of the Shroyer Road location are lined with autographed photos of notable actors from the 60s which is great fun for us older folks. Marion's serves a unique thin crust pizza with the toppings chopped up small and the cheese underneath the toppings so that all the "stuff" has a tendency to drop off. You just scoop those up with your fingers and stuff 'em in your mouth. Plus they cut their pizza in the standard Dayton way; in squares. They have a good selection of hot sandwiches, too. The deluxe steak sandwich with cheese is one of our favorites. It's a great place to meet with friends and it's kid-friendly and group-friendly, too. (6/2007)

The Pine Club, 1926 Brown St. Phone (937) 228-7463 (12/2004) Great steaks, cash only.

Delaware: Corner Cafe, 535 Sunbury Rd. Phone (740) 369-0377 We had an average breakfast at average prices. The owner didn't turn the heat on until we were leaving and it was very cold inside the restaurant. Accepts credit cards(9/2007)

Famous Jack's Diner, 755 US 23N, Phone (740) 369-6677 Lunch here was a tasty fish sandwich that was moist and substantial, although served with just a bun and tarter sauce. Denny's cheeseburger was good, his chili average. The onion rings were a bit greasy. The setting is an old fashioned diner with a couple of pictures of winners of the Little Brown Jug. Accepts credit cards. (9/2007)

Shorty's Pizza, 554 W. Central, Phone (740) 362-5555 Good deluxe pizza (everything except anchovies) and good Italian subs (hoagies) and good breadsticks. Order at the counter, clean up after yourselves. It's worth it.(8/2009)

Kettering: Apple Station Restaurant, 3002 Woodman Dr. Phone (937) 253-6303 Serving homestyle breakfast, lunch and dinner at very inexpensive prices. I hope this one sticks around. (8/2006) Edited 7/2009: Out of business, see Jimmy's Italian kitchen

China Cottage, 3718 Wilmington Pike, Phone (937) 294-4724 Great staff, great food, moderate prices. No buffet. Our personal favorite (12/2005)

Frisch's Big Boy, 2860 Wilmington Pike, Phone (937) 297-0833 A brand new Frisch's to replace the one that closed-yay! Bright and airy with 50s kitsch, they have all the old standards and some new wraps.

Golden Nugget Pancake House, 2932 S. Dixie Phone (937) 298-0138 Open for breakfast and lunch only, terrific food, great staff, very reasonable. Our favorite restaurant for breakfast. Currently closed after an attic fire but will be rebuilt, sadly missed (12/2004) Edited 5/2007: The Nugget is now open for business in a spanking new building, same owners, same staff, same great food.

Jimmy's Italian Kitchen, 3002 Woodman Dr. Phone (937) 293-9133 I had my first stromboli here and I certainly liked their version. Denny's sandwich (I forget what it was called) of sausage and goodies went down easily, too. Philly Cheesesteak and Gyro served open face on flatbread and are excellent. We'll be back to try their pizza, which has gotten some good reviews. (5/2009)

LaRosa's Pizzeria , 2801 Wilmington Pike, Phone (877) 347-1111 This new branch of LaRosa's was a disappointment; the hoagies (Philly Steak and Baked Royal) were simply okay and the thin crust pizza's crust was limp and soggy. We'll save our pizza jones for the Cincinnati branches.

Young Chow, 20 W. Stroop Rd., Phone (937) 298-5672 Take out only, no buffet. Good, filling, typical American/Chinese menu. I like the chicken, shrimp and broccoli in garlic sauce. Take advantage of the lunch menu deals for the best value. (8/2006)

Lumberton: 68 Family Restaurant, 8295 US 68 Phone (937)486-2111 Popular with local residents, we had breakfast here two or three times. It's good, filling, cheap. (5/2008 and 2009)

Middleport: Millie's Restaurant, 39239 Bradbury Rd. Phone (740) 992-4466. The only place to eat breakfast on Sunday for miles. The breakfast menu was very limited. Average fare, a little higher priced than to be expected for the area. (9/2006)

Moraine: Treasure Island, 4250 Chief Woods Dr. Phone (937) 299-6161 Steaks, seafood, sandwiches. Good food, moderately priced (12/2005)

Oakwood: The Oakwood Club, 2414 Far Hills Ave., Phone (937) 293-6972 Seafood and steaks, pricey but worth it. Go for the surf and turf (filet and lobster tail) and be sure to try the warm dark rye bread in the basket. (5/2006)

Pomeroy: Fox's Den Pizza, 518 E. Main St. Phone (740) 992-9040 A decent pizza,a little pricey. The breaded mushrooms are pan-fried instead of deep-fried. Pass on those.(9/2006)

Port Clinton: Bell Mell Pizza, 307 Fulton St. Phone (419) 732-7337 This is a neighborhood bar, not a pizza joint. However, the deluxe pizza was cheesy and good, as were the deep fried mushrooms. The iced tea was bottled, but the owner has replaced all the ceiling tiles and some of the paneling on the walls since Ohio became a non-smoking state, so the bar didn't reek of smoke. There is a very nice covered wooden patio outside where you can smoke. Cash or Checks only. (9/2007)

Fish Tales, 3266 NE Catawba Rd. Phone (419) 797-3474. The best breakfast we've had for a while. This small restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch only, catering to the locals and fishermen by providing bag lunches for carryout. We had the chorizo omelets and the waitress substituted french toast for regular toast at no charge. The special of pancakes with "spirited" cherries sounded good and a lady at the next table had a yogurt parfait with granola that was tempting also. We'll be back the next time we're in the area. Credit cards accepted. (9/2007)

McCarthy's Sports Pub and Restaurant, 101 Madison St., Phone (419) 732-8800. Some Irish specialities and your standard fish and chips. We saw lots of folks noshing on Buffalo-style wings. Denny chose a hot dog stuffed with cheese, wrapped in an Angus hamburger which was wrapped with bacon then covered with bbq sauce. He said it was good. Shudder. The fish of the fish-and-chips was good, but I didn't care for the deep fried thick chips. Reasonable, with good service. (8/2006)

Port-and-Starboard Restaurant, 128 W. Perry St., Phone (419) 732-7161 Want a good breakfast? This is the place for you. Great omelets, good pancakes, and if you ask that the toast/pancakes be skipped, they reduce the bill. Our kind of place. (9/2006)

Springboro: Young Chow, 232 West Central Ave., Phone (937) 748-8400 Take out Chinese. My favorite is chicken, shrimp and broccoli in garlic sauce. Spicy hot and sour soup. Best value is the lunch menu. No buffet. (6/2007)

Spring Valley: Mammaw's Restaurant, 3291 U.S. 42, Phone (937)862-4144 Friendly folks, a tiny little place right on the highway--we thought we found a winner. Until Denny bit into his beautifully cooked chicken fried steak and discovered it was cooked in old, off-tasting oil. Avoid this one. (6/2007)

Waynesville: Der Dutchman Restaurant, 230 North St.Rt. 42 Phone (513) 897-4716 Amish meals served family-style at your table, plus a nice breakfast buffet on weekends. Reasonable, filling and good. (9/2006 and 7/2007)

Village Family Restaurant, 144 South Main St., Phone (513) 897-8835 Surprisingly affordable for this "antiques capitol of the US" tourist locale. Homestyle meals at reasonable prices. The fried perch and fried shrimp are great dinner meals (the house salad was a bit wimpy and limp, though) and a late lunch of a steak sub and an Italian Stallion baked sub was oh, so good after a long day on the golf course. (7/2007)

Wilmington: Buffalo Wild Wings, 143 Fairway Dr. Phone (937) 283-9464 Although this is a chain, we were in the mood for an alcoholic beverage on this night so we stopped by. It was prom night and in Wilmington, OH BWW is "upscale" dining. The Buffalo Chicken sandwich was crispy outside and tender inside and I liked their skinny fries. Denny had some delicious ribs and wings. My first taste of a mojito was probably not a genuine mojito, but it was very tasty on a warm night.

Country Corner Restaurant, 3669 SR 380, Phone (937) 655-9064 Formerly a drive through beer place that has expanded to include a small dining area, you'll get a decent breakfast here at a reasonable price. The menu is limited, but the food is well cooked and tasty. (5/2008)

Country Kitchen Restaurant, 3150 SR 350, Phone (513) 932-7680 Breakfast here was good, although both the toast and the bacon could have been a lot crispier. Reasonably priced and very popular with the locals, especially around lunch time. We'll have to try that. (5/2008)

Wilmington, Ohio through Wyoming

Restaurants Good and Bad-Ohio through Wyoming
General Denver Hotel , 81 W. Main St., Phone (937) 383-4141 We had high expectations of this one, since it's a newly remodeled hotel in downtown Wilmington. We met friends for breakfast and we were only the third table seated on a Sunday morning. The four of us each tried something different and no one raved about their food. It was simply okay and not too expensive. The dining room needs pictures on the walls, although the bar area is quite nice with its antique bar from Victoria Station in Cincinnati. I wanted this place to be better than it was. (6/2008)

Generations Pizzeria and Pub, 1342 Rombach Ave. Phone (937) 382-3845 There is no pub at the pizzeria. This is a neighborhood pizza joint where young soccer/baseball/football/sports teams come after the big game. The pizza was simply okay, the buffalo chicken wings were pan-fried instead of deep fried and not all the way done (yuck!) and the salad that the waitress said was big enough for two really wasn't. It's fine for families with kids, but I'm sure there's a better pizza somewhere out there in Wilmington. (5/2008)

Max and Erma's ,123 Gano Rd., Phone(937)283-3201 Max and Erma's does dinners well, not so good on Sunday breakfast. Four of us enjoyed various meals for dinner which weren't outrageously expensive, although their drinks are overpriced. Their Sunday breakfast buffet is pathetically small and apparently is simply to get the business of the folks staying at the hotel. Pass on breakfast. (6/2008)

OREGON

La Pine: Ponderosa Pizza, 52574 Hwy 97, Phone (541) 536-1964 Pizza is okay, 10 wings are served as the whole wings so they are the equivalent of 20 wings and they are served on a huge bed of deep-fried potato wedges. Since we don't eat potatoes, we gave them to the family beside us who told us that they (the grandparents in the group) drive down from Portland (a distance of 160 miles) to eat here. Expensive. (8/2005)

Cindy's Kitchen, 51375 Hwy 97, Phone (541) 536-3785 A small little place serving a good breakfast. Pricey. (8/2005)

LaPine Inn, 51490 Hwy 97, Phone (541) 536-2029 There is a restaurant side and a bar/grill side and we didn't realize that and so sat in the bar for Sunday breakfast. Lots of locals choose to eat here and they all smoke in the bar side so make sure you go into the restaurant side. A good meal, cheaper than Cindy's. (8/2005)

Princeton: The Narrows Restaurant and Campground, 33468 Sodhouse Lane, Phone (541) 495-2006 The only place to eat for twenty-five miles and it's very good. Reasonable prices for the northwest and nice staff. (8/2005)

PENNSYLVANIA

Acme: Brady's Restaurant , US 31, 1 1/2 miles west of Exit 91 off the Turnpike (Donegal exit), Phone (724) 423-4566. Sunday breakfast here on a fall morning, looking out at the pond, ducks and trees changing color. Perfect. The restaurant is paneled in barn siding and has a fieldstone fireplace. Breakfast was very good, and there's a buffet with a grill chef ready to make your eggs or omelet the way you want. The lunch and dinner menu had our mouths watering. If we come back to this area, we'll be coming back here to eat again. (10/2007)

Hershey: Palmdale Cafe, 1736 E. Chocolate Ave, Phone (717) 533-3100 A great Western omelette and the homefries were served with red onions and a dash of hot peppers. Homey decor, nice staff and the owner is the cook who makes all her own sides like cole slaw. A cup of cinnamon-pecan coffee cost the same as regular coffee. We definitely recommend this one.

Scotrun: La Casa Nostra Pizza, RR 611 (east side of street in small strip of businesses near the E/B I-80 entrance.) Phone (570) 688-1204 Almost a white pizza since they put only a slight brush of sauce on their pizzas, but they'll give you a side of marinara for dipping your slices. Good garlic knots. Very tiny inside so you may want to pick it up and take it back to wherever you are staying. (8/2009) Edited 9/2009: They have closed.

Scotrun Diner and Motel, RR 611 (north of Rt. 715 on the west side of the street) Phone (570) 629-2430 The best French toast I've had in a while and my first time trying pork roll, which the waitress had a hard time describing. Good breakfast. (8/2009)

Tannersville: Smuggler's Cove, RR 611 (south of Rt. 715 and on the west side of the street) Phone (570) 629-2277 A great prime rib dinner--meat so tender you groaned, nice ambiance. Pricey, but worth it. (8/2009)

SOUTH CAROLINA

Myrtle Beach:

Bovine's, 3979 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet (843) 651-2888 Wood-fired grilled pizza, tasty appetizers, pleasant atmosphere. Pricey-very. (1999)

Firehouse Subs , 5407 Dick Pond Rd., (843) 215-3473 Great subs even if this is a chain. Recommended by a local, I liked the Italian sub here. There are three franchises in the Myrtle Beach area (11/2007)

Garden City Cafe, a new cafe on US 17 near Garden Lake Dr. Sorry, no address or phone number. Bright, cheeful, friendly employees, good although not exceptional breakfast. Reasonable. (11/2008)

J. Edwards Restaurant , 2300 S. Kings Hwy. (843) 626-9986 Nicely decorated, dim, pleasant service, great ribs, steaks and pork chops. (1998, 1999, 2000) Edited 11/2008: BBQ pork chops were hunks of loin, but the shrimp was good. Local reviews seem to show service and food is uneven.

Flo's Restaurant , 3797 Hwy 17, Murrells Inlet (843) 651-7222 Good food, great view of the marshes of the Inlet, nice folks. A bit pricey. (1999)

Harrelson's Seafood Market, 4368 South Hwy 17, Murrells Inlet (843) 651-5707 Fresh seafood to purchase and sandwiches available at lunch time. Great fish tacos, crab cakes from TV's The Crab Cake Lady. (11/2008)

Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery , 1321 Celebrity Circle #R4 (Broadway at the Beach) (843) 646-4677 Loud and crowded because of 2 for 1 night, food was good, there is indeed a brewery in the restaurant with a variety of microbrews offered each night. Live bands on the patio which has propane heaters for cool nights. We had fun (11/2008)

Nibil's Restaurant, 11 S. Ocean Blvd., Surfside Beach (843) 238-5080 Years ago we at lunch here and enjoyed it, this time it was breakfast which was good but not exceptional. However, this small restaurant sits on the beach and we watched dolphins swimming by in the ocean as we ate. A nice trade-off (11/2008)

Plantation Pancake House , 1150 Hwy 17 N., Surfside Beach (843) 238-1690 Decent breakfast, free wi-fi and it's a geocache site! (11/2007)

River City Cafe,11 N. Seaside Dr., Surfside Beach (843) 232-9797.

Thick burgers, buckets of salted peanuts on the tables and peanut shells on the floor. A great view of the ocean and great sandwiches. (11/2007)

Scatori's Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant , 1399 South Commons Dr. (843) 650-3370 One half of the building is the pizzeria and the other half is the more upscale Italian restaurant (no pizza on the menu on this side). Meals were nicely presented, house salad and bleu cheese dressing was mediocre at best, and my ravioli was garnished with potato chips. But the antipasto, ziti, ravioli and lasagna (there were four of us) was all good. (11/2008)

Spencer'z Sports Bar , 5910 S. Kings Hwy. (843) 238-4800 Happy hour on Friday nights has a small free "buffet" with pizza, meatballs, appetizers, hot dogs or whatever they feel like putting out. Play the trivia game against regulars Lizard and Len. (11/2008)

Woodhaven Pancake House, 2600 S. Kings Hwy (Hwy 17) (843) 448-2277 Run by the same folks as the Plantation Pancake House, but their omelet was better here. Also free wi-fi. (11/2007)

Murrell's Inlet:

River City Cafe, 4393 Hwy 17 Business, (843) 651-1004 Older than the River City Cafe in Surfside Beach, more rustic, same great sandwiches and a view of the marshes. (1998, 1999, 2000)

Santee: Big Water Country Store, 5236 Dingle Pond Rd., Phone (803) 478-3800 I hate styrofoam and that's what our water and orange juice was served in. The bb holes in the windows were the second strike. The badly chipped china was the third strike. The food was good, the waitress adjusted the price of our breakfast when we eliminated the bread/potatoes/grits but we couldn't get past the styrofoam.

Maurice's BBQ , 263 Britain Street, Phone (803) 854-3889 Yum. Just yum! Maurice's BBQ is an unusual sweet mustard sauce that is terrific! The cashier has you taste a bit of pulled pork before she lets you order anything because it IS different from your normal barbecue. However, the pulled pork sandwich is melt-in-your-mouth tender, the fries and crisp and hot and the price reasonable. We picked up several bottles of the barbecue sauce for our own use and for Christmas gifts.

Tastee Food Shop Restaurant, 656 Bass Dr. Phone (803) 854-1334. Pass on this one, it's grubby inside and the food is mediocre at best and the onion rings were so overbreaded to be unrecognizable. We were there for dinner and wouldn't come back. Cash only.

Sumter: Stellato's Restaurant , 2320 Peach Orchard Rd, Phone (803) 499-2400. If you happen to be visiting the Sumter area, do give this restaurant a try. They serve Italian cuisine and the three different specials Denny, Melissa and I tried were all excellent. We shared an appetizer of their formaggiio bread and a bottle of Lambrusco and we all took home leftovers. The staff was friendly and helpful, the prices were reasonable and the company wonderful. Kudos to this one.

TEXAS

Amarillo: The Big Texan Steakhouse , 7701 I-40 East (exit 175), Phone (800) 657-7177 We ate dinner here simply because we didn't feel like unhitching the truck and the restaurant offers free limo rides to campers and hotel guests along I-40 in Amarillo. The interior decoration is half saloon, half hunting lodge but the staff is eager and friendly. Unfortunately, the cuts of meat aren't all that terrific and the prices are pretty high. I'm sure Amarillo has a lot more to offer in a steakhouse. Not recommended. (5/2007)

Fulton: Alice Faye's Restaurant, 106 N. Fulton Beach Rd. Phone (361) 729-6708 Breakfast here was mediocre. They made a boring omelet and had no substitutions for the potatoes and toast. Smeary windows obscured the view of the bay. We were disappointed. (4/2006)

M & M Express Cafe, 3501 Hwy 35N, Phone(361) 727-0498 The proverbial greasy spoon with a great oversized fish sandwich and a small order of onion rings that was more than enough for two of us. Their hamburgers looked and smelled wonderful. Prices on par for the area. (4/2006)

Panhandle: Buffalo Grass Steakhouse, 200 Main St. Phone (806) 537-1010 Norman says they have great buffalo steaks (2006)

Rockport: Golden Gate Chinese Restaurant, 2005 Hwy 35 N Phone (361) 790-8223 If you like spicy, try their hot and sour soup. I had the Szechuan Triple Delight, Denny had the spicy Shrimp and Mushrooms and both were great. Very reasonable, very good. We went back for the lunch special and both our choices were good. (4/2006)

The Diner, 205 Hwy 35 N, Phone (361) 729-4985 Very popular on Sunday for breakfast. Our was good with the exception of Denny's sausage which was badly overcooked. The waitress adjusted the cost of the meal for that and the price overall was quite reasonable. We'd go back. (4/2006)

Study Butte: Big Bend Motor Inn & RV Park, FM 170 & TX 118. Small restaurant is the only game in town, priced accordingly. Burgers, etc. Lots of interesting stuff on the walls to read. (3/2001)

Willis: Pizza Shack ,115 W. Montgomery St. Phone (936) 856-9780 We visited this restaurant twice over two years and somehow I neglected to add it, which is a shame, because they have terrific pizzas and what we saw of the various Italian dishes that other diners were ordering looked wonderful and smelled terrific. If they still offer bread pudding and the tiramisu, get it. Yum! As long as the restaurant is here, we'll go back there. (2001 and 2003) Added 2/2008. Edited 12/2009: The food is still good, the desserts divine.

UTAH

Hurricane: Hunan City Restaurant, 1141 W. State St. #5 Phone (435) 635-6882 Very good dinner, reasonable for a tourist area (near Zion National Park (9/2005)

Sweet William's Restaurant, 1560 W. State, Phone (435) 635-3169 Breakfast was good, but the waitress ruined the biscuits by microwaving them to heat them. Reasonable. (9/2005)

Leeds: Molly's Restaurant, 251 N. Main St., Phone (435) 879-2039 Great bacon BBQ cheeseburger and Philly cheesesteak. Moderately expensive, rustic. (9/2005)

Nephi: The Family Tree Restaurant, 2087 S. Main, St. Phone (435) 623-5300 Breakfast was good, food was plentiful, relatively inexpensive. (9/2005)

VIRGINIA

Louisa: Panda Garden Restaurant, 400 East Main St., Phone (540) 967-5988 Standard Chinese with their hot and spicy dishes on the mild side. They must adjust for Southern tastes. Good, plentiful but not exciting. (9/2006)

Mineral: Mineral Restaurant, 42 Davis Highway, Phone (540) 894-4927 Where all the locals go for breakfast on Sunday morning. Small, a little grubby inside and there is NO no-smoking area there. However the food is good, cheap and served hot. Plus it's the only place to eat breakfast on a Sunday for miles. (9/2006)

Orange: The Hornet's Nest, 269 Madison Rd. Phone (540) 672-7040. I really, really wanted to like this place. The walls are decorated with pictures of the local football teams dating back to the 60s, the staff is friendly and we like to patronize local businesses. However, the quality of the food was erratic; the pulled pork was tender but cold, the country-fried steak was tasty but the mashed potatoes were lumpy and the macaroni salad was the strangest concoction of bland macaroni, mayo, green peppers, celery and diced tomatoes. No pickle relish or hard-boiled eggs in it at all. It may be a local thing. I'd pass on this one. (9/2006)

WASHINGTON

Airway Heights: Buckhorn Inn, 13311 Sunset Hwy, Phone (509) 244-3991 We had lunch here first and then went back for breakfast later in the week. Denny had the German sausage sandwich which was very good and I had the 1/2 serving of Cobb salad which was enough for 4 people I think. I know I took my leftovers home and had them for lunch two more times. Breakfast was also good. This is another restaurant where dead animals stare down at you from the walls, but I'm starting to get used to that. Reasonable. (7/2010)

Coulee Dam: Melody's Restaurant, 512 River Dr., Phone (509) 633-1151 Don't let the setting or the lack of off-season customers put you off as the food is very good, served piping hot and it's very reasonably priced. Visit the Grand Coulee Dam and stay for the laser light show. (6/2005)

Ephrata: Country Deli, 245 Basin St. NW, Phone (509) 754-3143 Good food, small town atmosphere, very reasonable (5/2005)

Fall City: Fall City Grill, 4050 Fall City-Carnation Rd. SE, Phone (425) 222-5622 Great omelets, sports bar décor, Washington prices (6/2005)

Leavenworth: Happy Valley Restaurant, 220 9^th St., Phone (509) 548-2230 Nice little Chinese restaurant located inside a town mall with lots of nice little shops to explore as well as the town's visitor center. Friendly staff, good food, reasonably priced (4/2005)

Long Beach: Chen's Chinese Restaurant, 400 Pacific Ave. N, Phone (360) 642-8288 After a very bad day of traveling on our 20^th anniversary, we had an excellent meal here and the waiter made us laugh showing us how Chinese people open beer bottles with their disposable lighters. Of course, there was leftovers. Expensive-tourist area. (7/2005)

Julie's Loose Kaboose Diner, corner 46^th and Pacific Highway, Phone (360) 642-2894 Good burgers, clam chowder and Coastal pie (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, apples and rhubarb) Reasonable for a tourist town (7/2005)

42^nd Street Cafe, 4201 Pacific Highway, Phone (360) 642-2323 Breakfast was mediocre and expensive. I've head folks rave about the place so perhaps they shine at evening meals. (7/2005)

Laurie's Homestead Restaurant, 4214 Pacific Way, Phone (360) 642-7171 A very good breakfast with the best vanilla yogurt I've ever had. The restaurant appears to have been remodeled from a house, lots of country-style decorations with emphasis on chickens, friendly staff. Resort town prices, but worth it. (7/2005)

Morton: Plaza Jalisco Mexican Restaurant, 200 Westlake Avenue, Phone (360) 496-6660 Great meal and portions large enough to bring home leftovers for a second meal, so-so margarita, reasonable (6/2005)

Moses Lake: Bob's Cafe at the Inn, 1807 Kittleson Rd. Phone (509) 765-3211 Breakfast was good, but not for $25 for the two of us.(4/2005)

Newport: Michael's Cafe, 208 S. Washington St. Phone (509) 447-3355 We had breakfast here and wish we had come for the Friday night fish rather than eating at the restaurant we did just a few blocks away. I had their version of a Denver omelet with a homemade biscuit fresh out of the oven and the owner even brought out some of his home canned huckleberry jam for us. Denny's chicken fried steak was a bit tough and he mentioned it to the owner who told us that they cut, trim and pound their own steaks so he gave us a piece of his homemade huckleberry pie as an apology. The restaurant surroundings are pleasant, it is in the heart of downtown yet would have been an easy walk from our campground. Recommended. (7/2010)

Westside Pizza, 325 S. Washington St. Phone (509) 447-2200 We had their deluxe pizza which was a decent pizza, but I had to ask for a knife to cut it as the young staff hadn't done a very good job of cutting the pie all the way through and it was too hot to handle by trying to pull the pieces apart. Also, if you eat at their location, you'll be given plastic forks to eat with. Not our favorite type of silverware. (7/2010)

Ocean Shores: Homeport Restaurant, 857 Point Browne Avenue, Phone (360) 289-2600 Nicely decorated, good food (breakfast) (6/2005)

Othello: Potholes Sports Cafe, 7037 Hwy 262 SE, (509) 346-2895 A little bar and grill/golf pro shop serving decent food for a reasonable price out in the middle of nowhere. (4/2005)

Quincy: Harrington's Drive-in, 201 Central Ave. South, Phone (509) 787-3111 Great burgers, fried mushrooms and malts. (5/2005) Revisited 8/2010--malts and burgers still delicious, the fried mushrooms were too heavily breaded.

Idle Hour Steakhouse and Cafe, 18 B Street SE, Phone (509) 787-3714 We had breakfast here twice and each time it was quite good. The wait time for the food was a bit long but both times we managed to come in behind a couple of tables worth of folks. The owners are chatty and friendly and it appears they have a nice selection of local wines to go along with evening meals. (8/2010)

Tower Pizza, 8995 Crescent Bar Rd. NW, Phone (509) 787-0102 Decent pizza that was way overpriced, but we are in the resort section of town here. (8/2010)

Randle: Adams-St.Helen Family Restaurant, Hwy 12 and Cispus Rd., Phone (360) 497-5556 A little tired and beat up, home-style cooking, friendly staff and residents, reasonable prices for the area (6/2005)

Seattle: Cheesecake Factory, 700 Pike St., Phone (206) 652-5400 Okay, it's a chain, but we spent a special afternoon with a single lady we met on the Gray Line tour who has been teaching in Okinawa for 20 years and travels the country during summer break. Good food, outrageous prices, great company (6/2005)

Sequim: John Wayne Marina Restaurant, 2577 W. Sequim Bay Rd., Phone (360) 681-0577 We ate breakfast here, which was very good and very inexpensive for the area. I'd go back in a heartbeat for dinner or lunch. (6/2005)

Tailgate Pizza, 990 E Washington St. #E105, Phone (360) 683-9600 My review from 2005

Spokane: Frank's Diner Newport, 10929 N. Newport Hwy. Phone (509) 465-2464 Denny and I just flat out enjoy diners and this one is unique in that it is housed in an old Pullman sleeping car that has been converted (lovingly, I might add) to a diner. I had the turkey club while Denny had the cheddar bacon cheeseburger with potato salad. The server kept our iced tea glasses filled, the ambiance was great and the food hot and tasty. Highly recommended. (7/2010)

<>Frank's Diner Downtown, 1516 West 2nd St, Phone (509) 747-8798 After having lunch at the north location of Frank's Diner we decided to try the breakfast at the original location downtown where they have been voted Best Breakfast ten out of the last eleven years. We had a bit of a wait, but were willing to eat at the counter so we were seated before several other couples. Breakfast was very good, we got to watch the two excellent cooks at work and the ambience can't be beat. Lots of good food. (8/2010)

WEST VIRGINIA

Athens:Gino's Pizza, 100 S. Vermillion St. Phone (304) 384-7970 Just about the only place in town to get a pizza. Tuesday night is buy one-get one free. Which makes their very expensive pizzas seem reasonable. Okay pizza. (9/2006)

Pipestem: Mulligan's Sports Lounge in Pipestem State Park,Phone (304) 466-1800. Located at the Pipestem Golf Course upstairs from the Blue and Gold Room restaurant. I had the bbq pork sandwich and Denny had a hot ham and cheese, plus an order of breaded mushrooms. It was a great late lunch. (9/2006)

Brandon's at Nostalgia Inn , Indian Ridge Rd.(enter through the Rocky Ridge RV Park across from the Pipestem State Park) Phone (304) 466-9110 Excellent ribs, wonderful marinaded coleslaw and very reasonably priced. We recommend this one.(9/2006)

Princeton: The Omelette Spot, 909 Oakvale Rd., Phone (304) 425-4194. The omelette was decent but very overpriced especially since we always skip the potatoes, toast and/or grits. There was no reduction in price for not taking the carbs. A better choice would have been the early morning breakfast buffet at Ryan's Steakhouse nearby.(9/2006)

WYOMING

Cody: Adriano's Italian Restaurant, 1244 Sheridan Ave. Phone (307) 527-7320 We chose the crab-stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer (yum!) and the deluxe pizza. Excellent! We also took home a piece of tiramisu to share. If all this is any indication, their meals would be good too. Friendly staff. (6/2010)

Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant, 1201 17^th St. Phone (307) 547-6420. I should have known better than to ask Denny to stop here because there were never any cars here during the lunch hour. I had to ask for hot sauce to add flavor and sauce to my Szechwan chicken which was very dry. It was the worst Chinese meal I have even eaten at a restaurant operated by an Oriental staff. No iced tea, no refills on drinks. No going back. (6/2010)

Our Place, 148 W. Yellowstone Ave., Phone (307) 527-4420 Good homemade soup and pies (some of the pies are store bought—ask which ones the owner baked), great sandwiches—I had the chicken breast with ham and cheese, Denny had the mushroom/swiss burger. Good fries. Open for breakfast also—very popular with the locals. Cash only. (6/2010)

Sunset House Restaurant, 1651 8^th St. Phone (307) 587-2257 Excellent breakfast and buffet. I had the french toast special—the french toast and/or syrup had a pleasant vanilla flavor, the bacon was crisp and salty and the eggs nicely cooked. Denny had the buffet which had a nice selection of foods and fruits and breakfast casseroles. Another favorite with the local, the chefs here like to experiment and create new dishes and sandwiches. We're come back here. (6/2010)

Lander: Oxbow Restaurant, 170 E. Main St. Phone (307) 322-0233 Denny and I had lunch here as well as breakfast. This is another place frequented by the local townspeople. For lunch Denny had the bacon cheeseburger and fries, I had the fish sandwich with french onion soup. We enjoyed our lunches, so went back for Sunday breakfast. Denny's chicken-fried steak and eggs were good, as was my omelet. (6/2010)

Rawlins: Cappy's Restaurant and Drive-in, 2351 W. Spruce St Phone (307) 324-4847. Based on the number of cars here, we figured this was a good restaurant. Wrong. My fish sandwich was a square of breaded pre-formed fish like you get at Mickie Ds and my fries were well cooked but barely lukewarm. Denny said his sandwich was good (I forget what he had). (6/2010)

Penny's Diner, 2005 Daley St. Phone (307) 324-4700 What I like about diners is that you can watch your food being cooked. We had lunch and breakfast here; the menu is limited but the food is decently prepared and it's fun to watch the cook at work. It's pretty obvious he's been at it a while. (6/2010)

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Victoria: The Milestone Restaurant, 812 Wharf St, Phone (250) 381-2244. We ate lunch here which was very good and very expensive, but had a great view of the harbor and was a terrific place for people watching if you sat on the patio. (6/2005)