Category Archives: American (Traditional)

The Waterfront

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Tuna Poke Bowl
Waterfront Platter
Exterior
Interior
Exterior
Exterior

***** (5 stars)

This has got to be one of the best outdoor dining places in Orlando. The restaurant is barely visible from the road, and looks like a dive, but once inside you realize it opens out into a couple of great patios that really are on the water.

While the menu may look like a sports bar’s offering, the food is much better than the average sports bar. The smoked fish dip was balanced and complex, yet served with simple saltines. The Waterfront Platter was a generous mix of batter and fried shrimp, fish, chicken, hushpuppies and fries. All were done with a light touch, so they weren’t oily at all.

The tuna poke was a beautiful and delightful portion of chopped tuna and fresh veggies.

On a day with a nice breeze blowing in across the lake I can’t imagine a better place to be in Orlando.

The Waterfront
4201 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL
32806
(407) 866-0468
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-waterfront-orlando-3

Cold Spring Tavern

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Interior
Interior
Exterior
Exterior
Interior

***** (5 stars)

I’ve driven past here dozens of times but today was the first time I ever turned off the main road and wound my way down to the Cold Spring Tavern. What an amazing place! It’s an old stagecoach stop, and retains all of the charm (and rickety wood construction) of its historic past.

Outside, a stream cascades down the rocks at the bottom of the canyon, and the building is surrounded by lush growth.

The restaurant is divided up into intimate rooms, with great mood lighting, and views of the woods.

Lunch offerings include salads and sandwiches and burgers. Both the chiliburger and venison steak sandwich were excellent, as were the accompanying fries and salad. Apparently the quiche is amazing, with a wonderful pastry crust, but the person before me got the last order!

Service is friendly, and the staff are definitely having a good time working there.

Cold Spring Tavern
5995 Stagecoach Rd
Santa Barbara, CA
93105
(805) 967-0066
https://www.yelp.com/biz/cold-spring-tavern-santa-barbara

Brother’s Restaurant At the Red Barn

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Fried oysters
Tuna tartare
Exterior
Interior

***** (5 stars)

This place offers perfectly grilled steaks and other meat and seafood dishes in a vibrant environment.

in addition to the inside dining area, there is a large outdoor area in back, plus a very lively bar.

The wine list is one of the best in the area, featuring local wines with good pedigrees at reasonable prices.

Service was friendly and professional.

Brother’s Restaurant At the Red Barn
3539 Sagunto St
Santa Ynez, CA
93460
(805) 688-4142
https://www.yelp.com/biz/brothers-restaurant-at-the-red-barn-santa-ynez

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