The Boiler Room is an excellent choice for a cocktail and wagyu sirloin steak while visiting Omaha, Nebraska. It sits in an absolutely gorgeous location in, yes, an old boiler room. You enter from the street onto the second level, which is a suspended iron grate floor with a beautiful view down into the open…
Restaurant Reviews
Brewster’s 2 Makes Some Killer Catfish, Fried Pork Chops and Bacon Cheeseburgers
From the outside, Brewsters 2 looks like a dark old lounge that’s seen its better days. There’s no good parking, either. Don’t let that turn you away. I park across the street next to that old closed up bakery. But get on inside and take a gander at that big menu. There’s the fried side…
Hawk’s Barbecue. This Old School Setup is the Real Deal.
Every Friday as I drive home I pass this little barbecue setup over in the parking lot of the stone and paver store out west on Cantrell Road. It’s a simple little barbecue setup, just a smoker and a red trailer with a big old pile of wood outside, which is always a good sign….
Del Campo a la Cuidad makes killer tacos
Today I found my very own version of taco heaven, in a little Mexican grocery called Del Campo a la Cuidad (“From the Field to the City”). Located over on a corner of University and 65th Street, this neat spot is cranking out some of the tastiest and most authentic Mexican food I’ve had in Central…
Chicken King in North Little Rock is a Great Place to Get Your Wing On
I can be a bit particular about chicken wings. I want them crispy and hot, spicy on the outside and juicy on the inside. And never, not ever, breaded. So, it was a really pleasant surprise to find a great chicken wing restaurant just a few miles from my office. It’s Chicken King, over at…
Compère Lapin in New Orleans: Wonderful Food from a Top Chef
The Mrs. and I were down in New Orleans recently and stopped by Top Chef Nina Compton’s Compère Lapin for dinner. Compère Lapin (Brother Rabbit) is located on the bottom floor of an old rambling hotel called No. 7, in New Orleans’ warehouse district. Compère Lapin was a boisterous place, and the food really inventive. We…
La Poblanita: A Nice Family Run Mexican Restaurant
Tucked in between a laundromat and a chicken wing place over at 1415 John Barrow Road in Little Rock is the best little family-run Mexican restaurant I’ve been to in a while. I bet you’ve never even heard of la Poblanita. Apple Maps certainly hadn’t. It wanted to take me 800 miles away. (Don’t worry,…
The Food at the Arkansas Ale House is Best Had After a Few Beers
My review originally appeared as a guest post on Kevin Shalin’s wonderful blog The Mighty Rib. To everything there is a season, and after four visits and much reflection, I can only say that the food at the Arkansas Ale House at Diamond Bear Brewery is best had after three or more of their fine beers.
Le Bernardin in New York City Beautifully Prepares Fish and Seafood
I met my sister tonight in New York City for a nice, quiet dinner at the Michelin three star fish and seafood restaurant Le Bernardin. I’ll write more later about the factors that result in a Michelin three star rating (which is the highest), but in short it is a commitment to the highest levels…
Don’t Miss the Sopa Azteca at El Alamo
This review originally appeared as a guest post on Kevin Shalin’s wonderful blog The Mighty Rib as part of our monthly series called He Said, He Said, way, way back in February 2018. Here it is again, but with my expanded thoughts. I like to think of this as my director’s cut. I hope you enjoy it….
A Whirlwind Tour of New Orleans’ Food Scene
I really love New Orleans. I’ve been there at least a dozen times. I love its art, music, people, history, culture, architecture and most of all, perhaps, its food. Last weekend a few friends and I went down to New Orleans for what was truly a whirlwind tour of its fantastic food scene. What ensued…
Wright’s Barbecue is Doing All the Right Stuff in Northwest Arkansas
I’m just going to come out and say it: I think Wright’s Barbecue may just be the best barbecue in the state. It makes Texas-style brisket, ribs, hot link sausage, pulled pork (ok, so not Texas), smoked chicken, brisket beans, mac+cheese, loaded baked potato salad, cheese grits, coleslaw, bacon green beans, cold shiner bock beer, chocolate…