ON THE ROAD

[Jim Tom Pinch]

And what's with all the bolding of city names? Reading them can be a real pain in the ass.

I started it. For this thread if you want to go back through looking for posts on a certain city, it makes it easier to find.

 

[kleeda]

I lived in San Antonio, so I can be of some help.

The cuisine to eat is Tex-Mex of course. Best Mexican food in the USA is in San Antonio, and the worst place in town is better than anyplace outside Texas' border.

Among the touristy favorites: El Mirador, 722 S. Saint Mary's St. (excellent soups and a surprising menu); Rosario's, 910 S. Alamo St. (way overpriced, but the most trendy and has a very pleasant collection of senoritas on any given night); Mi Tierra, 218 Produce Row in Market Square (One of the older reataurants, lineage-wise, in town and good food. A little pricey, but open 24 hours. Definitely great at 3 a.m. after some serious drinking on the River Walk.

The best Tex-Mex in town is at a little counter-service joint called Teka Molino, 2403 N. Saint Mary's. Great everything, and you'll likely leave for under $6. Guy that owns the place is a big Texas A&M booster. Family has run the restaurant since the 40s. Get the Carne Guisada with flour tortillas. Tell Arthur "Mr. Lee" sent you. He'll know who I am.


As for sight-seeing. McNay art museum is OK. Alamo is alright, but you might not find it moving unless you're into history. The other four Spanish Missions on the Mission Trail through town are really cool. Like California, the influence of the Catholic Missions in Texas cannot be underestimated.

Mission San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo) is very much different from the way it appeared at the time of the battle.

Mission San Jose and Mission Concepcion are both stunning.

Mission San Juan and Mission Espada stand out for their glimpse into how hard life on the Texas frontier had to be.

Sea World is a good time if you have kids. So is Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

The River Walk is what you make of it. always overpriced, but the eye candy is there.

I never found a truly great drinking establishment in San Antonio.

If traveling from Houston, some of the best barbecue in Texas is near I-10. One of my favorites is Barbecue Smokehouse and Catering, just North of I-10 at 716 N. US Highway 77 in Schulenberg. Even has an all-day buffet. It is outstanding. That's the best that doesn't take you too far off the road. That part of the state has a heavy German/Czech influence.

You could also run up to Shiner and take a tour of the Spoetzl Brewery. It's a Czech town, and the brewery is a good time.

 

[Huska]

Anyone have any suggestions for -- gulp -- Wichita? I'm headed there in the near future.

Why?

For its size, Wichita isn't all that great. Maybe I expect too much from Kansas' largest city.

But, if you must find something to do, Towne East is the only mall in town. Don't even think about any other place. Towne West isn't comparable.

Rock Road has some good eats (Olive Garden, On The Border and a good Memphis-style barbecue place). This is where Borders is located, too.

I think the Old Town district is overrated. Try it if you want. There are a few good bars and restaurants down there.

There is a great sports bar/steakhouse just off Kellogg near the airport. I can't remember the name, though. (CJ's???)

I hope you're staying at the Hyatt... The Marriott is OK, but its breakfast isn't in the same league.

The best part about Wichita is the huge Warren Theater. I'm not sure how reservations work, because I'm not of "acceptable age," but there is one theater in this building of about 20 screens that has a self-service bar balcony. Waitors bring drinks (and food, I think) to your table throughout the show. Tickets for the special balcony seats are expensive, but I hear the experience is a blast.

Exploration Place is an OK place for the kids.

If you have a couple days, make the short trek to Yoder, Kan., and you'll eat at the state's best Amish restaurant. If you're really in the mood, go a little bit further and try the Dutch Kitchen in Hutchinson for breakfast.

My knowledge of Wichita is limited, though. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[Oz]

Actually, you gave a good scouting report, Huska.

Like he said, not the best city. Enough to do sometimes with Old Town and the bars there. I avoid the malls since I hate malls, but they just put a Steve and Barry's in the Towne East last month. Rock Road has some places to eat, including a Hooters which triples the size of the old one on Kellogg. (So I've heard.)

But a sports bar called Player's does it for me. It's in the northwest corner on 21st St., down the street from the original Warren Theatre. So much sports memorabilia to look at, especially Wichita State and classic boxing. The atmosphere is unreal, even if the wings are average sometimes. The East Warren on 13th is the one where you get trashed drinking in the balcony, BTW.

The Yoder restaurant is Carriage Crossing.

 

[JRoyal]

If you go to Austin, take a short trip to Driftwood to the Salt Lick. Best damn barbecue I ever had, and great atmosphere.

 

[accguy]

If you can't get to the original, you can also get Salt Lick BBQ at the Austin airport. Clearly not the same atmosphere, but it beas the hell out of McDonald's at the airport.

 

[facemadeforradio]

Anyone with knowledge of the restaurant scene in Jacksonville? I have to there for some football game early next month, and I'll be on the lookout for upscale feedbags. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

In Jacksonville, Olive Garden might be the tops.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

I love this restaurant, Durant's. They say mobsters love it, and the food is great. You have to walk in through the kitchen. Too bad it's got to be in freaking Phoenix.

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/issues/2005-01-06/news/feature.html

 

[jerseygirl]

Thanks to those who recommended Mother's - we went for po-boys, which were excellent, and then returned for a damn good breakfast. We also tried Johnny's and the Acme Oyster House, both of which we enjoyed.

We also went nuts and had breakfast at Brennan's, which was worth it. On the other end of the cost spectrum, we had more than one meal at a place called the Market Cafe, on Decatur where the road splits. Good, basic New Orleans eats while sitting outside listening to live jazz at apparently any hour.

As for Jacksonville, there is a place way up 95 (I think it might be in St. Augustine) called the Outback Crab Shack that I have gone to a bunch of times. It's in the middle of nowhere, right on the water, and completely low-key - we eat outside on picnic tables. But the seafood is great - we've always ordered it fried, although there are other options. The portions are huge - they pretty much dump a tray filled with food on the table. Beer was also served in an ice-filled bucket, if I recall.

For me, it's worth the lengthy drive from downtown Jax.

 

[Cosmo]

All right, I know I mentioned it before, but I'll do it again, since I went back yesterday. In Portland check out Typhoon on Broadway, just down from Washington. I love thai food (even if my bunghole doesn't), and they had Phad Thai served with lump crabmeat that was simply marvelous.

Stay away from the garden salad though. The dressing is waaaaaaaaaaaaay too sweet.

Oh, and the VIP room at Barracuda > jOO

 

[Mighty_Wingman]

Don't listen to the haters, people. Jacksonville is a great town -- just don't expect it to be New York or New Orleans or whatever when it comes to good eats.

And if you're staying downtown, be prepared to drive a ways to get to most decent restaurants -- it's a pretty far-flung town, and the city center's not much to speak of.

Jerseygirl's recommendation of the Outback Crab Shack is spot-on -- it's on County Road 13 in St. Augustine, which is a decent drive, but won't kill you. It's entirely worth it.

The Chart House on the river, once J-ville's signature quality restaurant, has fallen on hard times after an ownership switch, and isn't as good as it once was. But it still beats Chili's, or whatever other chain you were thinking about visiting. There's also a decent little microbrewery restaurant on the south side of the river whose name escapes me -- quite good, right by the I-95/I-10 interchange.

Rumor has it that Gordo's, a tasty Cuban place downtown that was only open for lunch, has now closed. The world is a sadder place.

At the beach, Mezzaluna on 3rd street in Atlantic Beach is pretty solid Northern Italian fare -- again, keeping in mind that you're not in New York, much less Rome. Tra Vini in Ponte Vedra, just a little ways down A1A, is also good.

If you're staying in the Southside/Baymeadows/Mandarin area, there's a big new development on Southside Boulevard south of Atlantic Blvd. If you're looking for chain-type restaurants, that's the place to go -- decent Japanese steakhouse-y place, a couple of good seafood restaurants, and some burger/sandwich joints. Another good place to get similar fare is around the Avenues mall, near the I-95/I-295 interchange -- there's an Applebees, an Olive Garden, etc.

Oh, and for those of you working for generous companies with enormous expense accounts -- not that such a thing exists -- I should point out that Jacksonville has two Ruth's Chris steakhouses (the one in Ponte Vedra's better than the one downtown) and a Morton's downtown.

Enjoy the Super Bowl, and try not to hate overmuch on the town.

 

[facemadeforradio]

Don't listen to the haters, people. Jacksonville is a great town -- just don't expect it to be New York or New Orleans or whatever when it comes to good eats.

And if you're staying downtown, be prepared to drive a ways to get to most decent restaurants -- it's a pretty far-flung town, and the city center's not much to speak of.

Jerseygirl's recommendation of the Outback Crab Shack is spot-on -- it's on County Road 13 in St. Augustine, which is a decent drive, but won't kill you. It's entirely worth it.

The Chart House on the river, once J-ville's signature quality restaurant, has fallen on hard times after an ownership switch, and isn't as good as it once was. But it still beats Chili's, or whatever other chain you were thinking about visiting. There's also a decent little microbrewery restaurant on the south side of the river whose name escapes me -- quite good, right by the I-95/I-10 interchange.

Rumor has it that Gordo's, a tasty Cuban place downtown that was only open for lunch, has now closed. The world is a sadder place.

At the beach, Mezzaluna on 3rd street in Atlantic Beach is pretty solid Northern Italian fare -- again, keeping in mind that you're not in New York, much less Rome. Tra Vini in Ponte Vedra, just a little ways down A1A, is also good.

If you're staying in the Southside/Baymeadows/Mandarin area, there's a big new development on Southside Boulevard south of Atlantic Blvd. If you're looking for chain-type restaurants, that's the place to go -- decent Japanese steakhouse-y place, a couple of good seafood restaurants, and some burger/sandwich joints. Another good place to get similar fare is around the Avenues mall, near the I-95/I-295 interchange -- there's an Applebees, an Olive Garden, etc.

Oh, and for those of you working for generous companies with enormous expense accounts -- not that such a thing exists -- I should point out that Jacksonville has two Ruth's Chris steakhouses (the one in Ponte Vedra's better than the one downtown) and a Morton's downtown.

Enjoy the Super Bowl, and try not to hate overmuch on the town.

Thanks, MW. Glad to hear there's a Ruth's Chris. Guess I'll be heading to Ponte Vedra!

 

[funky_mountain]

if anyone has more dining recommendations for jacksonville, that would be cool.

 

[Huska]

I know this sounds stupid, but any for Alaska... anywhere in Alaska?

l'm going there soon...

 

[spnited]

I know this sounds stupid, but any for Alaska... anywhere in Alaska?

l'm going there soon...

Don't eat the yellow snow.

 

[WildBillyCrazyCat]

No trip to Texas would be complete without a stop in Waco. Only about 10 minutes off the interstate that runs between Dallas and San Antonio, you can tour the Branch Dividian Compound.

For a small "donation," the surviving members of the sect (who also carry guns) will let you check out the remnants of the infamous raid. I've got a great picture of me and a buddy pretending to dive into their now-abandoned swimming pool.

 

[Redswriter]

In Indy on Saturday. Been there a few times but need a refresher course on the downtown bars near Conseco.

Don't give me Broad Ripple, just downtown. Thanks.

Also might want a steak before the game.

Any ideas? Thanks, guys!

 

[JR]

I must be hallucinating. I thought I had already posted.

Any suggestions for cheap accomodation around Cooperstown. ?

We're planning a trip there in the spring and we're always up for cheap motels. Doesn't have to be right in Cooperstown--anywhere within 1/2 hour would be OK.

 

[MacDaddy]

I'm not sure there's anything within half an hour of Cooperstown. When I visited I stayed at a place more than an hour away.