Killington's Restaurant and Pub, Huntersville, North Carolina

In the northern Charlotte suburb of Huntersville, North Carolina, Killington's Restaurant and Pub, a gastropub, offers a wide variety of creative, well-presented and delicious entrées. The three food photos below show the Rosedale chicken, pretzel encrusted pork tenderloin, and coconut chicken.

Rosedale Chicken (with mozzarella, roasted peppers, tomatoes, garlic, balsamic, and served with sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes)

Pretzel encrusted pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and asparagus

Coconut chicken with rice and mango

For More Information: Killington's Restaurant and Pub

Nothing But Noodles, Birmingham, Alabama

Although a chain restaurant, Nothing But Noodles, offers a wide variety of delicious noodle dishes representative of Asian, Italian, and North American cuisine. The food photo below shows Tofu Pad Thai and "Asian" Salad at the Birmingham, Alabama Nothing But Noodles location. Pad Thai is one of Thailand's "national dishes".

Tofu Pad Thai, Asian Salad, and Iced Tea at Nothing But Noodles

For More Information: Nothing But Noodles 

Plaza Fiesta Carolinas, Fort Mill, South Carolina

Plaza Fiesta Carolinas is an indoor mall with retail and restaurants built around a Latin American town "plaza". Plaza Fiesta is next to the Carowinds theme park along the South Carolina/North Carolina border in suburban Charlotte. The food court area in and around the main central plaza has a wide variety of restaurants representing many countries throughout Latin America. The food photo below shows "Lomo Saltado", a traditional Peruvian dish of marinated beef, onions, tomatoes, peppers, spices, sauce, and fried potatoes and rice.

Lomo Saltado, a typical dish from Peru

For More Information: Plaza Fiesta Carolinas

Pupuseria, Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte's eastland area along Central Avenue is an international corridor containing restaurants, retail, and other business representative from many places around the world - particularly Latin America and Asia. At the corner of Central Avenue and Rosehaven Drive, there is a restaurant selling traditional Salvadoran and Mexican cuisine, with a sign out front along the road that says Pupuseria". The pupusas (traditional Salvadoran thick corn tortilla filled with a blend of cheese, pork meat ground to a paste, squash, or refried beans) are excellent, and the tacos are very similar to what you will find in many areas of Mexico. The tacos al pastor (traditional in many areas of central Mexico, typically prepared with marinated pork, onion, pineapple, cilantro, lime juice, and salsa) are wonderful. The food photo below showcases the pupusa and tacos al pastor.

Pupusa (left) and tacos al pastor (right)

Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington, D.C.

Old Ebbitt Grill is among the most famous of Washington, D.C. restaurants. Adjacent to The White House, at 675 15th Street NW, between F Street and G Street, Old Ebbitt Grill opened in 1856. The exterior grand facade welcomes visitors into the spectacular atmosphere and ambiance of the restaurant's interior. Old Ebbitt's changing menus are built around fresh ingredients for a wide variety of appetizers, soups, salads, vegetables, meats, poultry, seafood, and amazing desserts. The food photos below showcase New York strip steak, baked sweet potatoes, and green beans, as well as a pear crumble dessert.

New York strip steak, baked sweet potatoes, green beans, at Old Ebbitt Grill

Pear crumble dessert, Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington, D.C.

Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington, D.C.

The White House, Washington, D.C.

The White House, Washington, D.C.

Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

For More Information: Old Ebbitt Grill, 675 Fifteenth Street NW, Washington, D.C. The nearest Metro stations are McPherson Square, Metro Center, and Federal Triangle.

Clyde's of Gallery Place, Washington, D.C.

Clyde's of Gallery Place is one of my favorite restaurants in Washington, D.C. I've eaten there a number of times and have always had a wonderful experience. The atmosphere is excellent and the food is superbly delicious with a great presentation. The ambience of the restaurant blends in well with both the location in Chinatown as well as the adjacent Verizon Center sports arena. Clyde's of Gallery Place is on 7th Street NW near G Street and above the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro Station. The food photos below show one sample of a main course and a dessert at Clyde's of Gallery Place.

Rosemary herb roasted chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus

Cheesecake with mango sauce

The White House, Washington, D.C.

United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.

National Mall and Washington Monument, Washington, D.C.

World War II Memorial, Washington, D.C.

View from Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

For More Information: Clyde's of Gallery Place, 707 Seventh Street NW, Washington, D.C.

Willie G's Seafood and Steaks, Denver, Colorado

Willie G's Seafood and Steaks is located along the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall, at the intersection with Lawrence Street, in downtown Denver, Colorado. This upscale restaurant offers a pleasant atmosphere and an excellent selection of steaks, seafood, chicken, pasta, and other appetizers, salads, and desserts. The food photo below depicts the Chicken Romano, which consists of pan seared chicken with a blend of Romano cheese and panko bread crumbs topped with lemon butter sauce and diced tomatoes, with mashed potatoes and broccoli.

Chicken Romano at Willie G's, Denver, Colorado

16th Street Pedestrian Mall, Denver, Colorado

16th Street Pedestrian Mall, Denver, Colorado

For More Information: Willie G's Seafood and Steaks

Casa Rio, San Antonio, Texas

Casa Rio, opened in 1946, is a historic Mexican restaurant on the beautiful River Walk, Paseo del Rio, in San Antonio, Texas. Enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine inside the restaurant or outdoors along the banks of the San Antonio River. The food photo below shows a sampling of Mexican cuisine available at Casa Rio.

Mexican food at Casa Rio

Casa Rio Mexican Food, Since 1946, San Antonio, Texas

Casa Rio, River Walk (Paseo del Rio), San Antonio, Texas

For More Information: Casa Rio Mexican Cuisine, 430 East Commerce Street, San Antonio, Texas

Court Restaurant at The British Museum, London, England

Court Restaurant is a must for any visitor to The British Museum in London, England, United Kingdom. The restaurant, located in the upper level of the grand atrium of the museum beneath its giant glass roof of the museum, offers a range of European classics. One of my recommendations is to plan to visit The British Museum - one of the world's great museums - exploring its many galleries and exhibits, and then head to the Court Restaurant for their traditional English afternoon tea service. Tea service, shown in the food photo below, includes a pot of tea, a variety of finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam, and a variety of pastries. Wonderful!

Traditional English Afternoon Tea Service at The British Museum, London, England

The British Museum, London, England

Grand Atrium, The British Museum, London, England

London, England, view from St. Paul's Cathedral

London, England and the Thames, view from St. Paul's Cathedral

For More Information: Court Restaurant at The British Museum

The British Museum is located at Great Russel Street, London, WC1B 3DG. The nearest Underground stations are Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, and Russel Square.

Le Casse-Crêpe Breton, Quebec City, Canada

Le Casse-Crepe Breton, in the historic center of Quebec City, the capital of Quebec, Canada, is a great place for entree crepes as well as dessert crepes. Crepe Breton is a very popular place, without a large space inside, so be prepared to wait. But the wait is certainly worth it! Le Casse-Crepe Breton is located on Rue Saint-Jean.

Apple and Swiss cheese crepe (left) and ham, asparagus, and Swiss cheese crepe (right)

Rue Saint-Jean, Quebec City

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City

Quebec City, Canada

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City

For More Information: Le Casse-Crepe Breton

Les 3 Brasseurs, Montreal, Quebec

Les 3 Brasseurs (The 3 Brewers) in center city Montreal (Centre-Ville de Montreal), Quebec, Canada, is a microbrewery-restaurant with a variety of great food on its "gazette" style menu. The desserts are also great, as the food photo below portrays. Les 3 Brasseurs is located at the intersection of Rue Sainte-Catherine and Rue Crescent, across from the Apple Store, down the hill from McGill University.

Dessert: Coffee, Cheesecake, Chocolate

Rue Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec

Parc du Mont-Royal in distance, Montreal, Quebec

Montreal, Quebec, view from Parc du Mont-Royal

Montreal, Quebec, view from Parc du Mont-Royal

For More Information: Les 3 Brasseurs

Cocina Latina, Charlotte, North Carolina

Cocina Latina is a great family-owned Mexican restaurant in the international corridor area of Charlotte's eastside, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The menu offers a variety of inexpensive traditional Mexican cuisine, enchiladas, tacos, tortas (sandwiches), and seafood dishes. The food photo below is of chicken enchiladas rojas with rice and beans.

Enchiladas rojas con arroz y frijoles

Villa Francesca, Charlotte, North Carolina

Villa Francesca Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria is a great family-owned restaurant located on the corner of Caldwell and Seventh Streets in the First Ward neighborhood of Uptown Charlotte. The extensive menu at Villa Francesca offers a wide array of appetizers, salads, pizzas, calzones, heroes, pasta dishes, entrées, and desserts. The food photo below is the Chicken Francese entrée, fresh chicken sautéed in lemon, white wine, and butter.

Chicken Francese, fresh chicken sautéed in lemon, white wine, and butter

For More Information: Villa Francesca Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria

Dandelion Market, Charlotte, North Carolina

The Dandelion Market is a great restaurant and gastropub in Uptown (Center City) Charlotte, North Carolina, on Fifth Street between Church and Tryon Streets. The creative and unique menu at the Dandelion Market offers a wide selection of "small plate" tapas-style dishes and excellent desserts. Check out the food photos below for a preview of several delicious items available at Dandelion Market.

Fried sage leaves with sea salt, balsamic, and garlic sauce; aged cheddar and ale fondue; fried artichoke hearts; ale simmered sausage bites with hot sweet mustard sauce; pommes frites with currey sauce

Rhubarb Cobbler with vanilla ice cream

For More Information: The Dandelion Market

Einstein's, Midtown Atlanta, Georgia

Einstein's is a popular restaurant amidst the newer skyscrapers in the thriving Midtown area of Atlanta, Georgia, on the corner of 12th Street and Juniper Street. With a great indoor and outdoor atmosphere, Einstein's serves up a variety of modern southern cuisine with other options as well.

Appetizers: creamed corn hushpuppies and tortilla soup

Whether you live in Atlanta or are just passing through, Einstein's is a delicious option for lunch or dinner. It's easy to get to by MARTA rail and by car if you're passing through center city Atlanta on I-75/85.

E-Grill Sandwich (turkey, tomato, cheese, raspberry sauce, on French toast), and Macaroni and Cheese

For More Information: Einstein's Restaurant Midtown Atlanta

Hunan Garden, Hoover, Alabama

Hunan Garden is a popular Chinese restaurant in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Hoover. This family-owned restaurant has been in business for years (I couldn't find the exact information, but I would guess for about the last twenty years). For standard Chinese dishes, Hunan Garden offers a wide selection with excellent quality and service. The picture below is my favorite entrée at this restaurant: Mongolian Beef. Hunan Garden offers great lunch specials that come with soup, egg roll, rice, and entrée.

Lunch special: Mongolian Beef, fried rice, hot and sour soup (top right), egg roll (not pictured)

For More Information: Hunan Garden Chinese Restaurant

Surin West, Birmingham, Alabama

Surin West is one of the most popular Thai restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama for the past fifteen years. Located in the historic Five Points South neighborhood of Birmingham's Southside, Surin West offers a wide variety of Thai cuisine as well as a large selection of sushi. The photo below is a selection of appetizers that we already began to sample (half-eaten by the time the photo was taken).

Spring rolls, crab angel, and chicken coconut soup

Birmingham, Alabama, view from Vulcan Park on Red Mountain

For More Information: Surin West - Thai Cuisine