The Best of What We Ate in 2017

As we’ve trotted around the world we’ve eaten at some fairly horrible

Texas-shaped corn bread

places, but these were greatly outnumbered by wonderful places. This blog is an amalgamation of all the places we gave a rating of four or more carrots. If you want to read about the places these restaurants are found, just follow the links to the associated blog. For information about my rating system, see Reading the Reviews. Within the blogs are also loads of pictures and more information about the places the NearNormal Travelers have visited.

What we ate in China

There were a few average meals during our trip through China, but most were better than we expected, which is why there are so many restaurants with high ratings. We do wish that we could get the same sort of Peking Duck in the states that we got in Beijing; I suppose we’ll just have to go back!

Four and one-half carrots

The Peking Duck Dinner was in a very upscale shopping mall in the middle of the city: Hua’s Fine Dining Restaurant at Wangfujing (3/F Macau Center, No. 8 Wangfujing East Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 86 10 5128 3326). We were seated at a table for 10 with the ubiquitous ‘lazy Susan’ wheel that passed the food around. Peking Duck in China is different from what we get in the States; the skin was not crispy and was removed by the chefs, but the meat was succulent with none of the sort of greasy taste that accompanies some poultry. The duck was served with ‘pancakes’ that were much like crepes. You put the duck, some vegetables, some plum sauce (with horseradish) on the pancake, rolled it up and ate it. This was followed by more vegetables, shrimp, dumplings, soup, and finally dessert that was fruit (watermelon and tomato) along with some gelatin squares that were concentrated, flavored bean curd, and concentrated cranberries. The food was delightful and kept coming until we were all completely satiated. Down the Yangtze

Kerry Hotel (86 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, 86 10 6561 8833) provided a breakfast that was a spectacular visual and

Rental bicycles in Wuhan

epicurean treat. Asian and western foods were prepared as you ordered at the buffet that probably had well over a hundred items from which to choose. Dave and I both went back for more. We also had a buffet lunch was at the hotel – again, more food than any group of people could possibly eat. It was all good. Dave had chicken, pork and beef along with vegetables. I had everything cold that I could find: salad, fruit, sushi, potato balls fixed as if they were in potato salad. The food was all fresh, and the presentation, even on the buffet, was appealing. It was interesting that beer was considered a ‘soft drink’ throughout China, making it included with your meal while wine was an additional cost. Down the Yangtze

Tang Dynasty Dinner and Show (75, Changan North Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China, 86 29 878 22222) was a special treat. The food was excellent and the chefs went to great pains to make sure that I didn’t get any onions or spinach. We were introduced to warm, rice wine. It was sweet but I couldn’t detect any alcohol; I had substantial amounts of this beverage while I waited for my food to come out. The dinner and show certainly were worth the extra cost and effort to go to this presentation. Down the Yangtze

Viking Emerald had the quality and quantity of good food and service that we expected. If I put in pictures of all the food we ate on the ship, there would be pages of images. The service was what we expected from Viking, but I will say that there was no one except ‘hotel manager’, who was Italian, who didn’t need more practice with English. The chef talked to me quite a bit, trying to make sure that I got the right foods; he would make some things especially for me, but really encouraged me to choose foods that didn’t require extra preparation – no chives was not a problem; no onions was in some cases, particularly the Chinese dishes. However, he and the maître d' did try their best to communicate with me. I loved all of the noodle dishes and found that I could eat them daily without growing tired of the flavors. Down the Yangtze

Four carrots

Weston (Bund Center, 88 Henan Central Road, Shanghai, Shanghai, 200002, China, 86-21-6335-1888) Dinner buffet was spectacular with on-demand food cooked to your specifications. Down the Yangtze

What we ate in Europe

Four carrots

Il Gusto Ristrante (Rytířská 404/12, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia, +420 739 766 573) is in Old Town and has both outdoor and indoor seating. We had some really good cheese as well as some nicely cooked

Melk Abby

fish.  The service was slow – as it is in Prague – but the food was good and the company was great. Sitting inside can be rather warm, but the restaurant was non-smoking and it was gradually getting too cool for comfort outside. The prices were a bit high, but not out of line for where we were in the city. Beading through Bohemia Part 2

La Bodeguita del Medio (1074 Budapest, Dob str. 57, +36 20 388 2738) is a Cuban restaurant located in what appears to be a sketchy part of town. Actually, the neighborhood is just fine and is going through a gentrification. The young lady who invited us in had a hard time getting everyone to actually check out the restaurant. I decided to have a look inside and was quite surprised and pleased. Our meal was very good and the service was excellent. Prices were good, as well. I hope these folks are still in business when I come back! Beading through Bohemia Part 2

La Salle Restaurant (Heathrow Airport Terminal 2, +44 20 8897 8101) was a really nice place to go for breakfast. The food was tasty, the coffee fresh and hot, and the service outstanding. Barb and I each had a latte. She had eggs Benedict with garlic infused spinach; she said it was excellent. I ate eggs Benedict with smoked ham and fresh tomatoes; it was a very good meal. Usually eating at the airport means that the food is expensive. In this case, we got what we paid for; a good breakfast. I’d certainly go there for another meal. Wroclaw Reviews

Menagerie (Prinz Eugen-Straße 27, 1040 Wien, Austria, +43 1 3201111) is actually a café inside the Belvedere Museum. We only wanted a place to scour our maps and something cold to drink. What we got was some over the top iced coffee and the help of a very nice waiter. From out table we could look out over the gardens then out to the city. With the breeze coming in through the windows it was a very pleasant place to enjoy our coffee. Beading through Bohemia Part 2

Pod Fredrą (Rynek 1, 50-116 Wrocław, Poland, +48 71 341 13 35) is a nice restaurant on the square. We were lucky enough to get a bottle of Georgian sweet wine, the first I’d had since I was in Russia (see Moon over Moscow) The waiters were very accommodating and worked with a

Barb and gnome in Wroclaw

rather large group regarding what was in the food they served as well as giving us all separate checks. Almost everyone ordered a traditional meal consisting of some sort of pierogis with a variety of sauces. Unfortunately all of the pierogis had onions in the dough. I ask the waiter for his recommendation, which was the duck. He was right! The duck had crispy skin and a hint of rosemary; it was served with a wonderful cranberry sauce, crispy apples, and well roasted potatoes. For dessert I had homemade marshmallows with raspberry sauce – really sweet and substantially different from what I expected. I was very pleased with my meal. Wroclaw Reviews

Restauracja Pod Gryfami (Ul. Rynek 2, Dolnoslaskie, Wroclaw 50-106, Poland, +48 71 343 79 27) was a very nice place for a large party. The wait staff did a good job of getting everyone fed and separating checks. We had more than 20 people in a back room, everyone ordered individually, and the service was still good. I had a couple of nice glasses of wine plus a plateful of well roasted pork with fried cinnamon apples. This was a different meal from the ‘normal’ traditional fare and was well prepared. It was a lovely setting for a very good meal. Wroclaw Reviews

Stifler Bar (Budapest, Hungary, Erzsébet krt. 19, 1073 Hungary, +36 20 200 1000) is actually a sports bar. In this bar you order off of a menu above the cash register, but the staff bring your food to your table. They were extremely courteous and made sure that we were happy with our meals. We each got a burger and fries along with very cold Cokes. Neither of us thought we could finish our meals, but we both ate every bit of what was before us. Barb had melted cheese to go with her fries and I had chipotle mayonnaise to go with mine. The restaurant had memorabilia from a bunch of US sports teams; however, on all of the TVs were videos of the Hungarian Olympic medal winners. I would go back there in a heartbeat! Beading through Bohemia Part 2

Taszka - Wine & Petiscos (Ul. Rynek 53/55, 50-116 Wroclaw, +48 57 033 74 24) is a Portuguese restaurant on the square. We had a really good time sharing food and entertaining the wait-staff. We all enjoyed the mozzarella salad, olives, bacalhau croquettes with herbal sauce, and octopus with young potatoes. I had a delicious dessert of goat cheese, and strawberries. This place is a bit pricey, but the food and service are well worth the price. Wroclaw Reviews

What we ate in the US

Four carrots

There are lots of things to see in Fort Worth (see Ride ‘em Cowboy), and although I’ve lived in the area all of my life I still haven’t seen everything. One pretty day this spring a friend and I took off for The Modern art museum (3200 Darnell Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107, 817.738.9215) in Fort Worth. I had heard that the café associated with the museum was a great place for lunch, so we had to test that rumor. The museum, although small, is quite interesting. I’m not much into modern art, but I did appreciate the collection of paintings by Andy Warhol and the exhibition by Katherine Bernhardt. There was a linear film by Doug Aitken that was interesting in that it focused on how we are alone although with millions of people. The setting for this museum is also quite attractive. As you look out of the windows, there are park areas that hold sculptures with paths to walk and places to sit and enjoy the art. The Café Modern was, in fact, very nice. The round atrium opens onto a park-like area as well as a shallow pond that is visited by mallards. Linnea had some very tasty tacos and a side salad that was crisp and fresh. I had a fresh salad with lettuce, tomato, sunflower seeds and goat cheese; it was wonderful! Service was good but prices were a bit steep. Been There, Ate That

Driving down Rapp Road into Watauga (see Walking around Watauga) we came across a place that billed itself as providing ‘Southern comfort grub’.  Campfire Grill Texas Kitchen (6751 Rufe Snow Drive

Sea Urchin fountain in Oakland

#350, Watauga, TX 76148, (817) 849-5567) is a small place with tables and booths. There are menus so that you can choose your table, grab a menu, and decide what you want to eat before you go to the counter to order and pay. Once you’ve accomplished this task, someone brings your food to the table. We were really pleased with the food and the service. Our waitress took a moment to chat with us and to make sure that we had what we needed before returning to the kitchen. Each time she brought out food, she made a sweep of the room to check on her customers. On this visit I had the pulled pork sandwich with fried okra; both were better than average. Dave had the chicken fried steak with green beans and potatoes. He was very pleased with the flavors of the foods, but was surprised that the steak came on top of the potatoes. The second time we visited one of our friends tried the catfish and was very happy with her meal. I was curious about the boxes on one wall; these have information on them about local charities. You are asked to put your receipt in one of the boxes then 10% of the total is given to that particular group. I think that this is a wonderful practice and wish that more store owners would instigate this manner of giving. Been There, Ate That

Finn Town Tavern (2251 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114, 415-626-3466) is a great deal more up-scale that what you’d think for a tavern. And this is one place that you will need a reservation even on non-peak hours. The evening we went, our choices of reservation times were 5:45 or 10:45 PM and the only places left were at the bar. And good seats they were: we got to watch what was happening in the kitchen, see the wait staff run in and out, and get a good look at all the different offerings the restaurants provides. We decided to share plates, partly to be able to sample different dishes but also because this is a pricy place. Teri, Sue and I began with stuffed eggs as an appetizer. This is the ‘in thing’ in San Francisco. What made these different was the spicy sauce that accompanied them. Teri got the Cornflake Crusted Fried Chicken Sandwich with Chesapeake aioli, brioche, pickles, fries; the chicken was huge, but rather than being a dried out patty, it was moist with a very definite flavor. The fries were good, also. Sue got Buffalo Shrimp; they were spicy and plentiful. I ordered the Lobster Rolls and was surprised that they were more like flautas than the rolls you get in the Northeast; they were quite tasty. We were all quite happy with our meals and with the service. Out in Oakland

There is no doubt that FnG Eats (201 Town Center Ln #1101, Keller, TX 76248, (817) 741-5200) is one of the pricier places in Keller (see Gentlemen, Start Your Engines) for lunch. It’s also one of the most creative places for food, as well. Dave and Andi had FnG burgers that were, of course, huge and dressed with fresh vegetables. Their sides of fries were also very good – Vince and I snitched a few to go with our more healthy choices. Vince and I opted for sandwiches with salads. His Blackened Redfish was substantially more than he could eat and I ended up eating my WUGU chicken sandwich but taking my salad home. The extra special treat for this meal was the ‘children’s portion’ of Chef’s Mac & Cheese that was made with Gouda and shells. This was amazingly good and so large that although four of us nibbled on it as an appetizer, half of it went home with us. On previous visits the restaurant was really busy and very noisy; on this day, we were early enough to get a booth which reduced the amount of noise by half. Our waitress was efficient and willing to have some fun with us; we quite liked both of those characteristics. We’ll go back again, but rather than having my traditional WUGU I may just have a portion of that delicious mac and cheese! Been There, Ate That

Hitch (300 Drayton St, Savannah, GA 31401, 912-239-6970) was good enough and innovative enough that we ate there twice. Again, the later in the evening you go the noisier it gets, although it’s not quite unbearable; it’s still difficult to hear the waitress or hold a conversation. The décor is eclectic, with pictures of celebrities on the walls and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil playing soundlessly on the TV (the second night was an old Batman movie starring Adam West). The food was excellent! My favorites were the fried avocado sticks and the dessert eggroll with apple pie filling. Some of the dishes are pretty pricy, but you get what you pay for and the service is good. (See Sashaying through Savannah)

Granbury, Texas (see Getting Grub in Granbury) is one of those cute towns with lots of places to pop into on the square, as well as some nice places to eat. We’ve been trying to get back to Linda’s Southern Kitchen (201 E Pearl St #108, Granbury, TX 76048, (817) 573-1952)

Concrete art in Glen Rose

because you just have to have a really good chicken fried steak every now and then. I’m always surprised when a place this large has waitresses who can call customers by name, ask about their families, and talk about what is happening in town. Along with some really good home-style food, they have sweet tea that actually tastes like tea rather than just sweet water. Today the soup was cream of broccoli with jalapeño. I was pleased that the flavor of the chile was there without being overpoweringly spicy. They also had a broccoli salad that included cabbage, bacon, and grapes; it was wonderful. Vince, David, and I all chose the ‘small’ portion of the chicken fried steak. Vince got a side salad along with the broccoli salad; Dave got mashed potatoes and fried okra; and I had the broccoli salad with fried okra. The waitress also brought us some hot, fresh bread that reminded me of those yummy rolls that came from the school cafeteria kitchen smelling of yeast and happiness. All of us had trouble walking from the restaurant because we were so full. And yes, we’ll go back to see Linda, again. Been There, Ate That

Market Place Kitchen and Bar (336 W Main St, Avon, CT 06001, 860-470-3641) is an upscale restaurant with a trendy menu. The foods prepared are locally grown, so the menu changes frequently. We began with some homemade bread and dipping sauce; this was a good beginning. For my dinner, I had the Prosciutto di Parma flatbread which came with Goat Cheese, Fig Marmalade, Arugula, and a Pomegranate Reduction; it was very good with just the right ratio of cheese to marmalade, and a tangy vinegary sauce. Service wasn’t what I expected for a not particularly busy time of day; our server was quite scarce throughout the meal. This is definitely a place I’d return to for another meal. Adventuring in Avon

Mingalaba Restaurant (1213 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010, 650-343-3228) was so good last year that we decided to pay a return visit. As with last year, there was a 20 to 30 minute wait. However, it was definitely worth staying. This place serves a lot of food, so sharing among three people is no problem. We began with the Tea Leaf Salad. The flavor is unforgettable and unmistakable; the texture is nutty. We all loved it. Next we shared the House Noodles that came with coconut chicken, lime leaves, yellow pea’s powder, onion and fried thin noodle on the top. It was oh-so-good! And finally, for our vegetable, we ate fried okra and shrimp; it was as good as it was different. Once you’re seated, service is good. Prices are right in line for the food and service presented. Out in Oakland

My Father’s Pizza & Pasta (110 Cherry St, Black Mountain, NC 28711, 828-669-4944) is one of our favorite places to eat; this visit Linnea and I had garlic pizza three times! This family-run pizzeria has gourmet pizzas (including those that are gluten-free), a variety of pasta dishes, yummy salads, and a bar. Each time our pizza was nearly completely cheese with extra garlic on top that had been slightly toasted. The taste was excellent! Service is generally good and the prices are good for what you get. Weaving to Weaverville

The Palate Restaurant (Monte Vista Hotel, 308 W State St, Black Mountain, NC 28711, 828-669-8870) is our new discovery for this year. We saw a sign that said that the evening special was fish and chips – of course we tried it! The setting is lovely. There is indoor seating in what appears to be a historic house, and outdoor seating in a pretty garden. If it’s cool outside you can ask for one of the tables by the fire place. Linnea and I shared the fried green tomatoes; they were yummy! She really enjoyed her fish and chips; I loved my fish tacos. The fish was deep fried in what appeared to be a tempura batter. The bread was fresh and warm. Service was good even though the restaurant was relatively busy. Weaving to Weaverville

Picán Restaurant (2295 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-834-1000) was a real surprise. Teri and John told me it was southern cooking, but what I didn’t realize was that this was a very nice restaurant. The man playing the piano was excellent and the music was a selection of oldies from the 60s through the 80s. We started with the Warm Artichoke, Shrimp and Louisiana Blue Crab Dip that included garlic-parmesan cream, and was accompanied grilled country bread; it was quite good as were the accompanying breads. Teri had been wanting to try the Southern Fried Chicken with smoked Gouda mac ‘n cheese; she said it was fantastic. John ordered the Braised Pork Belly on bed of braised savoy cabbage with raisins, apples, and maple gastrique; while it was more than any human could eat in one sitting, he said it was excellent. I decided on the Gulf Shrimp and Logan Turnpike Mill Grits; the shrimp were cooked just right and the grits were quite tasty. For dessert there was a cheesecake with fruit; it was good, too. Service was excellent, as it should have been in this upscale restaurant. Out in Oakland

Ponder continues to grow with the area and has become a bedroom community with a few shops and restaurants. We tried the Ranchman’s Steakhouse. This restaurant has been around for lots of years and has the reputation of being a good place for lunch, and dinner (110 W Bailey St, Ponder, TX 76259, 940-479-2221). Evidently, if you want a baked potato with your dinner, you have to order it early in the day so they have it ready for your meal. We got to lunch just after 1:00

Azalea in Savannah

PM, which was a good time since the lunch crowd was just leaving. Both Dave and I had to take time to read the menu. Along with what there is to eat, the menu provides the history of the restaurant and some other interesting tidbits. One of the first things that attracted my attention was the fried green tomatoes, so Dave ordered those along with a chicken fried steak, red cabbage, and mashed potatoes. I had the Rancher’s BLT with fried green tomatoes on it. There were also homemade rolls to accompany Dave’s lunch. It was all good, but the stand-out for both of us was the red cabbage. It was both spicy and sweet with a nice crunch. Service was good and the prices were reasonable. Pondering Ponder

Riverhouse Grill (210 SW Barnard Street, Glen Rose, TX 76043, 254-898-8514) is an excellent place to go for a meal. Located in the historic Milam house, this lovely venue supports the innovative menu created by Chef and owner, Milan Olejnik, Jr. Although alcohol is served, Glen Rose is dry so your driver’s license will be scanned to enter you into the ‘club’. The day we visited the special was gnocchi in a pesto sauce with blue cheese and sun-dried tomatoes; it was beyond yummy. Dave had a very nice piece of catfish that he said was cooked ‘just right’; he did say that the slaw needed some pizzazz, but the sweet potato fries hot and crispy – just as he likes them. Vince had a ham and smoked gouda panini that was garnished with whole grain mustard, and tomatoes then served on grilled bread; he also chose the sweet potato fries as his side; he said the sandwich was excellent. I wandered upstairs and through the rest of the house. The rooms are set up for private parties and one area serves as a tasting room; every room is tastefully decorated. We were excited to find this restaurant and will be back, again. Going to Glen Rose

Checking out the Savory Bistro (2650 FM407 #165, Argyle, TX 76226, 940-584-0255), was why we went on this adventure. We were pleasantly surprised at the décor and the menu. I had read that they will provide complete dinners that you take home and put together, so I expected something that resembled a market. This is not the case; it’s a very nice restaurant with a full bar. As soon as we sat down our very nice waitress brought us hot bread with garlic butter; delicious! Dave had the special of the day, rotini with Italian sausage in a cream sauce; he would have preferred a thinner sliced sausage with more spice, but he did like the dish. I had a panini with prosciutto, kale, and goat cheese. I also had a kale salad with blue cheese, granny smith apples, candied pecans, and a lovely vinaigrette dressing. I thoroughly enjoyed both the salad and the sandwich. We’ll be going back to this restaurant very soon. Looking Around Lantana

The Texas Great Country Café and Pie Pantry (903 S Bosque St, Whitney, TX 76692, 254-694-3608) appears to be a tiny restaurant in a strip shopping center but actually takes up most of the strip; there are three seating areas plus the area for the pie pantry. The waitresses are efficient, friendly, and can be silly (which we really liked). The food is good as are the prices. Dave had the chicken fried steak; there was more meat than breading and the breading was well spiced rather than being doughy. The vegetables were fresh and well prepared. Vince ordered the lunch special; this day it was beef stroganoff. Although this is a fairly unusual dish for a country restaurant, he said it was tasty and exactly what he wanted. I had an open-faced beef sandwich. Of course it came with mashed potatoes, and I asked that my second side be fried okra; it was a good decision. Dave and Vince got okra, also; I was pleased not to have to share mine. We also got a basket of rolls. The cornbread, that was quite good, was in the shape of Texas.  Unfortunately, we were all too full to order pie – but next time, we will! This place made us all smile. Winding up in Whitney

Fast becoming one of our favorite places for sushi is Tokyo Sushi Asian Food and Bar (9160 N Tarrant Pkwy #140, North Richland Hills, TX 76182, (817) 514-8888). Located in North Richland Hills (see Home on the Range), it never seems particularly busy and I’m pretty sad about that; I’m hoping we are there at times when they are not rushed off of their feet. We thoroughly enjoy their sushi. The large servings are attractively arranged and absolutely yummy. On this visit, Dave had a Winter roll that was literally heaped with fresh crab. We finally descended to picking the roll apart eating only the crab, avocado, tempura fried shrimp, and the cucumber. I had a Fried Eel roll that also included avocado and crab, but was deep fried; I had to deconstruct mine to finish it, as well. We’ve decided that when we go again we’ll share a roll and then if we’re still hungry try one of their desserts. The ladies who serve the tables are very polite and kind. They check on the patrons regularly to make sure we all have what we want. Prices are very good, especially on the days when they are running specials. Been There, Ate That

Beaded stars in North Carolina

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