Category Archives: American (Traditional)

Pea Soup Andersen’s Restaurant

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Exterior
Interior
Placemat
Crackers
Quesadilla

*** (3 stars)

A flashback to the 50s in every way from decor to menu to the cracker basket on the table. Even the placements are unchanged! Anderson’s has never been my favorite soup, but the other food on the menu is quite good. My tuna sandwich was just like Mom used to make, and the quesadilla (which I’m pretty sure wasn’t on the menu in the 50s) was huge.

Pea Soup Andersen’s Restaurant
376 Avenue Of
Buellton, CA
93427
(805) 688-5581
https://www.yelp.com/biz/pea-soup-andersens-restaurant-buellton-3

LongHorn Steakhouse

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Exterior
Bar
Interior

**** (4 stars)

The outlaw rib eye is the go to steak here, arguably better than any steak you can get as sister restaurant Capital Grille. Lunch items are a good deal, but not up to the quality of the dinner menu. Excellent decor, bar ambiance, and service.

LongHorn Steakhouse
8398 Vineland Ave
Orlando, FL
32821
(407) 828-8976
https://www.yelp.com/biz/longhorn-steakhouse-orlando-8

Tennessee Pass Cafe

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Exterior
Interior
Smoked trout salad
Colorado Western bison burger

***** (5 stars)

This is a great local cafe on the main historic street of Leadville. The interior is very historic, with heavy beam lintels and a beautiful metal ceiling. There is also a side room and an outdoor patio.

The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, salads, and a few entrees. Everything we had was excellent. I particularly liked by Colorado Western bison buffalo burger, which came with BBQ sauce, sauteed onions, raw onion, tomato, lettuce, and pepper jack cheese. Home Run!

My companion’s smoked trout salad was also delicious.

Even though they were very busy, service was friendly and the kitchen did a great job of keeping up with the rush.

Tennessee Pass Cafe
222 Harrison Ave
Leadville, CO
80461
(719) 486-8101
https://www.yelp.com/biz/tennessee-pass-cafe-leadville

Patio Drive-In

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Cinammon and mint shakes
Classic Burger plus bacon with onion rings
Classic Burger with curly fries
Exterior
Counter
Interior

***** (5 stars)

Fantastic burgers in a great retro seeing. Burgers come with lettuce, tomato, and all the fixin’s. Great shakes, too. Sides include giant curly fries and onion rings. Friendly service.

Patio Drive-In
95 N Grayson Pkwy
Blanding, UT
84511
(435) 678-2177
https://www.yelp.com/biz/patio-drive-in-blanding

Bavarian Inn, Black Hills

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Rooms
Reception
Breakfast buffet
Pool

***** (5 stars)

Delightful independently run inn with charming touches. Convenient location and friendly staff.

Nice rooms and a great breakfast included. Pancake making machines! And a coffee machine that makes great decaf espresso. Highly recommended.

Bavarian Inn, Black Hills
855 N Fifth St
Custer, SD
57730
(605) 673-2802
https://www.yelp.com/biz/bavarian-inn-black-hills-custer

Ship Tavern

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Slow Roasted Prime Rib
Burger and onion rings
Pretzels
Bar
Bar
Interior

**** (4 stars)

You might expect an upscale hotel like The Brown Palace to have an equally upscale dining room, but this tavern is actually more like a 60s BBQ joint. The entree selection is somewhat limited, but there are lots of sandwiches and sports-bar-like appetizers. The prime rib was truly delicious, and they make a great burger. There is also a nice selection of whiskey. Service was friendly and helpful.

Ship Tavern
321 17th St
Denver, CO
80202
(303) 297-3111
https://www.yelp.com/biz/ship-tavern-denver-5

The Grill on the Alley

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Exterior
Interior

**** (4 stars)

This location is far from an alley, like the original in Beverly Hills! The building and it’s interior design is exceptional.

The menu is very similar to the original, although the preparations are slightly different.

My favorite item is actually the creamed spinach that comes with the steaks. It has the perfect balance.

Service is friendly and professional.

The Grill on the Alley
120 Promenade Way
Thousand Oaks, CA
91362
(805) 418-1760
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-grill-on-the-alley-thousand-oaks-5

Applebee’s Grill + Bar

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Exterior
Interior
BBQ Ribs and Chicken combo

*** (3 stars)

I really like the interior decor at Applebee’s. It’s a lot more like an intimate bar and grill than a coffee shop. The food is good (if typical) sports bar food, and the service is decent. I’d rank it as one of the better chains of this type, at least at this location.

Applebee’s Grill + Bar
2503 S Kirkman Rd
Orlando, FL
32811
(407) 704-6750
https://www.yelp.com/biz/applebees-grill-bar-orlando-2

Uno Pizzeria & Grill

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*** (3 stars)

This is an open, clean and nicely designed Uno location. Of course it offers the standard chain menu, but that’s okay, because it’s fairly interesting, with much more than just pizza.

Service is friendly, and the lunch specials are a good deal.

Uno Pizzeria & Grill
3167 Daniels Road
Winter Garden, FL
34787
(407) 877-6510
https://www.yelp.com/biz/uno-pizzeria-and-grill-winter-garden

Waffle House

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All star breakfast

Interior

Exterior

*** (3.5 stars)

You know what? Waffle House has good food.

I know, I know, they’re kind of low-brow, old fashioned, tacky, but that can be fun. And I would put their All-Star breakfast up against Denny’s, Keke’s or First Watch any day.

My over easy eggs were perfectly cooked, the super crispy bacon was full of flavor–as was the waffle–and the hashbrowns were well done as I requested. Coffee was decent and the service was attentive. What more can you ask?

Waffle
6990 W Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL
32818
(407) 293-8048
https://www.yelp.com/biz/waffle-house-orlando