The Best Restaurant.....

[BluePhantom]

I am interested in your "best restaurant stories". Mine is the following....

Primanti Brothers on the strip in Pittsburgh. Let me set it up for you.

When you see the restaurant you will look at it and question whether it's in your best interests to enter....go in anyhow.

Expect no customer service at all. Remember you are inconveniencing them with your request to buy food and if they don't wish to serve you, you can fuck right off. Because of this before you approach the counter make sure you have your order ready so you don't delay them.

When you approach the counter do not expect a "good evening, may I help you?" or anything like that. A big fat sweaty Italian guy will walk up and ask "whadda ya want?"

You had better damn well know what you want or you will catch hell. Delays will result in statements like "come on guy I got customas waitin behind ya, make up ya mind".

Further delays will result in them ordering for you. In that case expect kielbasa...the guy will scream "ya wanna kielbasa sandwich?" and before you get can out one syllable in response he will scream "Hey Sal...give this guy a kielbasa sandwich" and which point "Sal" will turn around and grunt.

As you move down the counter try to soak in the atmosphere and talk to other customers. DO NOT look at the floor, the flattop, or anything having to do with the preparation of your food. Just trust me on this one. Your job at this point is to wait for "Sal" to scream at you "hey buddy..ya want fries?"

Say "yes"

At this point Sal will wipe the sweat off his brow with the palm of his hand and "clean" it off on his wife beater shirt that is equally as soaked in sweat, then immediately grab a handful of fries and smash them into your sandwich. Remind yourself at this point that it contributes to the flavor.

Once Sal has jammed it into your hands go to a nearby table and spend a moment training your mind to ignore the hundreds of health department violations you have just witnessed.....keep your head down lest you witness more violations, a rape, or a murder....and take a bite.....

it will all be worth it...it will be the best fucking kielbasa sandwich you have ever tasted in your life.....and you will happily put your life in jeopardy to eat there as often as possible.

That's my story and I am sticking to it.

 

[Skull Pilot]

While Primanti sandwiches are arguably the best on the planet, I wouldn't call the establishment a restaurant.

 

[BluePhantom]

While Primanti sandwiches are arguably the best on the planet, I wouldn't call the establishment a restaurant.

I see you have been there.

 

[strollingbones]

place in montreal like that.....but they are rude in french so i had no clue what they were saying...some smoke meat something...people stand in line to get in there....

 

[Douger]

My favorite ever was Called The Green Turtle Inn in Islamorada Floridastan.
It was a converted house built in the 1930's. Some murkin bought it and dropped a five story building in it's place.
This is my current fave .
El Otro Sitio, Restaurant Comida Peruana, Emilio Peschiera, Borderio, aji de gallina, pisco sour, Boulevard Parque Arauco

 

[BluePhantom]

I think my favorite "non-dive" restaurant is Mon Ami Gabi at Paris in Las Vegas. The food is solid enough but it's really the atmosphere. If you can score a sidewalk table you will have the Bellagio fountains right across the street. I took my fiance there for our first date...very romantic. Toasting champagne on a nice summer day as the fountains played "Time to Say Goodbye" is our favorite memory.

 

[alan1]

There is a Mexican dive right down the road from my house. They call themselves a Taqueria (and their tacos are good), but for the best meal you want to get the chile rojo, the chile verde or the camarones a la diabla. My favorite is the chile rojo.
Most of the time I go there, I am the only non-hispanic customer.
The lady that owns the place is hot, hot, hot -- her and her son are the only english speaking employees in the joint (I think her husband speaks english because he always glares at me when I flirt with his wife, but he won't admit to speaking english). All the waitresses are fat and ugly but they take good care of the customers. The owners husband does most of the cooking while she runs the cash register and directs the waitresses.
If you feel up to it, the owners husband will arm wrestle you for the cost of the meal. If you win, your meal is free, if you lose, you pay double for the meal. The waitresses always cheer for me because they know that when I win they get a bigger tip. I'm about 50/50 on the arm wrestling. The owners son tells me I am the only person that can beat his dad half the time, most everybody else loses according to him.

 

[syrenn]

I think my favorite "non-dive" restaurant is Mon Ami Gabi at Paris in Las Vegas. The food is solid enough but it's really the atmosphere. If you can score a sidewalk table you will have the Bellagio fountains right across the street. I took my fiance there for our first date...very romantic. Toasting champagne on a nice summer day as the fountains played "Time to Say Goodbye" is our favorite memory.

Mashed Cauliflower!

 

[alan1]

I think my favorite "non-dive" restaurant is Mon Ami Gabi at Paris in Las Vegas. The food is solid enough but it's really the atmosphere. If you can score a sidewalk table you will have the Bellagio fountains right across the street. I took my fiance there for our first date...very romantic. Toasting champagne on a nice summer day as the fountains played "Time to Say Goodbye" is our favorite memory.

The kids and I will be at The Paris next weekend
Might check it out in a non-romantic sort of way.

 

[syrenn]

I think my favorite "non-dive" restaurant is Mon Ami Gabi at Paris in Las Vegas. The food is solid enough but it's really the atmosphere. If you can score a sidewalk table you will have the Bellagio fountains right across the street. I took my fiance there for our first date...very romantic. Toasting champagne on a nice summer day as the fountains played "Time to Say Goodbye" is our favorite memory.

The kids and I will be at The Paris next weekend
Might check it out in a non-romantic sort of way.

If you are looking for family style Italian... not expensive and lots of it, give Battista's a try. Its just down half a block off the strip behind Harrass across from Ballies and before you get to the Sheraton... on Flamingo.

Its more of a locals place believe it or not. The Ecuadorian guy is old and hysterical! Its endless cheep house wine, and something at the end called a "Homemade Cappuccino" that is more like hot chocolate. Make reservations...its always crowded.

Battista's Hole in the Wall - Italian Restaurant - Las Vegas - Home

 

[BluePhantom]

I think my favorite "non-dive" restaurant is Mon Ami Gabi at Paris in Las Vegas. The food is solid enough but it's really the atmosphere. If you can score a sidewalk table you will have the Bellagio fountains right across the street. I took my fiance there for our first date...very romantic. Toasting champagne on a nice summer day as the fountains played "Time to Say Goodbye" is our favorite memory.

The kids and I will be at The Paris next weekend
Might check it out in a non-romantic sort of way.

I am jealous. I suppose Syrenn is not a big fan of it, but I have had some decent experiences there. The steak au poivre is solid, IMHO. Of course I have only eaten there twice. Avoid the creme brule though....quite disappointing.

 

[alan1]

I think my favorite "non-dive" restaurant is Mon Ami Gabi at Paris in Las Vegas. The food is solid enough but it's really the atmosphere. If you can score a sidewalk table you will have the Bellagio fountains right across the street. I took my fiance there for our first date...very romantic. Toasting champagne on a nice summer day as the fountains played "Time to Say Goodbye" is our favorite memory.

The kids and I will be at The Paris next weekend
Might check it out in a non-romantic sort of way.

If you are looking for family style Italian... not expensive and lots of it, give Battista's a try. Its just down half a block off the strip behind Harrass across from Ballies and before you get to the Sheraton... on Flamingo.

Its more of a locals place believe it or not. The Ecuadorian guy is old and hysterical! Its endless cheep house wine, and something at the end called a "Homemade Cappuccino" that is more like hot chocolate. Make reservations...its always crowded.

Battista's Hole in the Wall - Italian Restaurant - Las Vegas - Home

Crap. I've got to make reservations?
I generally just wing it in Vegas.
We've got reservations at Top Of The World, but that's because there is going to be over 20 of us for that meal.

 

[syrenn]

I think my favorite "non-dive" restaurant is Mon Ami Gabi at Paris in Las Vegas. The food is solid enough but it's really the atmosphere. If you can score a sidewalk table you will have the Bellagio fountains right across the street. I took my fiance there for our first date...very romantic. Toasting champagne on a nice summer day as the fountains played "Time to Say Goodbye" is our favorite memory.

The kids and I will be at The Paris next weekend
Might check it out in a non-romantic sort of way.

I am jealous. I suppose Syrenn is not a big fan of it, but I have had some decent experiences there. The steak au poivre is solid, IMHO. Of course I have only eaten there twice. Avoid the creme brule though....quite disappointing.

Now why would you say i am not a fan of it?

It was alright, middle of the road for vagas restaurants... run of the mill, nothing impressive ....to me. What impresses me and what impresses most are two different things. I loved the mashed cauliflower. And i will agree.... avoid the desserts....but that is me, dessert has a high bar to measure up to . ...most will love them.

 

[Unkotare]

I am interested in your "best restaurant stories". Mine is the following....

Primanti Brothers on the strip in Pittsburgh. Let me set it up for you.

When you see the restaurant you will look at it and question whether it's in your best interests to enter....go in anyhow.

Expect no customer service at all. Remember you are inconveniencing them with your request to buy food and if they don't wish to serve you, you can fuck right off. Because of this before you approach the counter make sure you have your order ready so you don't delay them.

When you approach the counter do not expect a "good evening, may I help you?" or anything like that. A big fat sweaty Italian guy will walk up and ask "whadda ya want?"

You had better damn well know what you want or you will catch hell. Delays will result in statements like "come on guy I got customas waitin behind ya, make up ya mind".

Further delays will result in them ordering for you. In that case expect kielbasa...the guy will scream "ya wanna kielbasa sandwich?" and before you get can out one syllable in response he will scream "Hey Sal...give this guy a kielbasa sandwich" and which point "Sal" will turn around and grunt.

As you move down the counter try to soak in the atmosphere and talk to other customers. DO NOT look at the floor, the flattop, or anything having to do with the preparation of your food. Just trust me on this one. Your job at this point is to wait for "Sal" to scream at you "hey buddy..ya want fries?"

Say "yes"

At this point Sal will wipe the sweat off his brow with the palm of his hand and "clean" it off on his wife beater shirt that is equally as soaked in sweat, then immediately grab a handful of fries and smash them into your sandwich. Remind yourself at this point that it contributes to the flavor.

Once Sal has jammed it into your hands go to a nearby table and spend a moment training your mind to ignore the hundreds of health department violations you have just witnessed.....keep your head down lest you witness more violations, a rape, or a murder....and take a bite.....

it will all be worth it...it will be the best fucking kielbasa sandwich you have ever tasted in your life.....and you will happily put your life in jeopardy to eat there as often as possible.

That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Shouldn't that be in a "shittiest restaurant" story thread?

 

[BluePhantom]

If you are looking for family style Italian... not expensive and lots of it, give Battista's a try. Its just down half a block off the strip behind Harrass across from Ballies and before you get to the Sheraton... on Flamingo.

Its more of a locals place believe it or not. The Ecuadorian guy is old and hysterical! Its endless cheep house wine, and something at the end called a "Homemade Cappuccino" that is more like hot chocolate. Make reservations...its always crowded.

Battista's Hole in the Wall - Italian Restaurant - Las Vegas - Home

Ahhh...now that reminds me of a good dining story. My brothers and I spent the summer in Europe one year just touring all over. When we were in Florence we asked some people where to go get some good authentic Italian. They gave us directions to a place where the front door was in a back alley. LOL. It didn't have a sign or anything. It was almost like an old speakeasy where you knocked on a door and had to give the password to get in. Anyhow, we found it and it was a little Mom and Pop place with the husband cooking and the wife serving. Maybe 8 tables maximum.

When the guy found out we were Americans it was almost like someone gave him a million dollars for his birthday. He came out all happy and said "Imma gonna make ya a beautiful classica meal for my American friends, uh" and God did he ever. I don't recall exactly how many courses but it was one after another and after every course he would come out and ask if we wanted more of that course (and to say no would be an insult) so he just stuffed us to the gills. And let me tell you these were not small portions he was giving out either. I mean like after pounding down a massive bowl of pasta and then another after he gave you seconds he'd come back with half a fish and then give you the other half too. My brother actually went into the bathroom and stuck a finger down his throat to make room for more.

Anyhow...wow what a fantastic meal that was.

 

[alan1]

I think my favorite "non-dive" restaurant is Mon Ami Gabi at Paris in Las Vegas. The food is solid enough but it's really the atmosphere. If you can score a sidewalk table you will have the Bellagio fountains right across the street. I took my fiance there for our first date...very romantic. Toasting champagne on a nice summer day as the fountains played "Time to Say Goodbye" is our favorite memory.

The kids and I will be at The Paris next weekend
Might check it out in a non-romantic sort of way.

I am jealous.

I know.

I suppose Syrenn is not a big fan of it, but I have had some decent experiences there. The steak au poivre is solid, IMHO. Of course I have only eaten there twice. Avoid the creme brule though....quite disappointing.

Any chance they have key lime pie?

 

[BluePhantom]

Now why would you say i am not a fan of it?

It was alright, middle of the road for vagas restaurants... run of the mill, nothing impressive ....to me. What impresses me and what impresses most are two different things. I loved the mashed cauliflower. And i will agree.... avoid the desserts....but that is me, dessert has a high bar to measure up to . ...most will love them. [/COLOR]

Oh I guess I just misinterpreted your post is all. My apologies. Yeah like I said, for me it was more the experience of that date with my lady that makes it a special restaurant for us. The food is good but yeah there's definitely better in Vegas.

 

[BluePhantom]

Shouldn't that be in a "shittiest restaurant" story thread?

Oh hell no. A Primanti sandwich is a fantastic thing. You can't believe you are actually eating it when you are there, but that's half the experience too. It would almost lose something if not for the environment.

 

[syrenn]

The kids and I will be at The Paris next weekend
Might check it out in a non-romantic sort of way.

If you are looking for family style Italian... not expensive and lots of it, give Battista's a try. Its just down half a block off the strip behind Harrass across from Ballies and before you get to the Sheraton... on Flamingo.

Its more of a locals place believe it or not. The Ecuadorian guy is old and hysterical! Its endless cheep house wine, and something at the end called a "Homemade Cappuccino" that is more like hot chocolate. Make reservations...its always crowded.

Battista's Hole in the Wall - Italian Restaurant - Las Vegas - Home

Crap. I've got to make reservations?
I generally just wing it in Vegas.
We've got reservations at Top Of The World, but that's because there is going to be over 20 of us for that meal.

Oh you can wing it... and walk in. But there will be a line depending on what time you show up.


Try hash house a go go..... there is a few of them. One is in the imperial palace, in a few other casinos and one off strip....

 

[alan1]

The kids and I will be at The Paris next weekend
Might check it out in a non-romantic sort of way.

I am jealous. I suppose Syrenn is not a big fan of it, but I have had some decent experiences there. The steak au poivre is solid, IMHO. Of course I have only eaten there twice. Avoid the creme brule though....quite disappointing.

Now why would you say i am not a fan of it?

It was alright, middle of the road for vagas restaurants... run of the mill, nothing impressive ....to me. What impresses me and what impresses most are two different things. I loved the mashed cauliflower. And i will agree.... avoid the desserts....but that is me, dessert has a high bar to measure up to . ...most will love them.

Dessert has a high bar for me also.
Me ex-wife used her culinary degree to focus on dessert.
I love key lime pie and know good cheesecake.