Restaurants

(Photo credit: Virgilsbbq.com)

Virgil’s Real BBQ is right in the middle of NYC, on 152 West 44th St – steps from Times Square. The Times Square area has been cleaned up considerably since since its famously grittier heyday, but it’s still often a congested mess. New Yorkers rush by in car or by foot, barking on their cell phones, while out-of-towners stroll and gawk at the neon sights (annoying those rushed New Yorkers). It’s quite a scene. How fun, then, to find such a great Southern-themed barbeque joint in the midst of all this madness. Virgil’s Real BBQ is one of the best American barbeque restaurants in the city.

Tourists and New Yorkers alike have a great time at Virgil’s Real BBQ. This is not the place to diet or even try to be reasonable – it’s a fun, calorie-filled night out, with a boisterous atmosphere that welcomes kids and messiness. My favorites here are the brisket, ribs, fried catfish, and chicken fried steak, while others rave about the Carolina pulled pork and Owensboro lamb. Virgil’s signature barbeque sauce is tangy, tomato-based, and not terribly spicy. Sides include what you’d expect at a Southern-themed BBQ restaurant: collard greens, mashed potatoes, biscuits, macaroni and cheese, etc. I’ve never been incredibly impressed by the sides, but they don’t detract from the entrees. Well, except for the hush puppies. They are delicious!

(Photo credit: Virgilsbbq.com)

The atmosphere is part of the equation here (as with all the best restaurants in NYC). While plenty of people do come here for lunch during work, or right after work wearing sports coats and ties, decorum is somewhat abandoned for a casual approach to dining. It IS barbeque, after all. Coats slung over chairbacks, ties flung over shoulders, and everyone dives right in. The noise level is notable here, even for a casual BBQ joint. On the whole, I’d say that Virgil’s is as much a tourist attraction as restaurant. Please choose another restaurant if you want a quiet, sophisticated dining experience. However, loud and happy parties are handily accommodated at Virgil’s Real BBQ. It’s big; two stories, in fact. This is unusual for a restaurant in the heart of New York City, but highly useful. The longest I’ve had to wait to get seated was 15 minutes on a weekend (reservations are a good idea).

If you can make room for dessert, I recommend the peanut butter pie. Decadent, sure, but the rest of the meal hasn’t exactly been a model of moderation, has it? You can be healthy tomorrow. Virgil’s Real BBQ is worth it.

Georges on Fifth is one of the best steakhouses in San Diego, hands down. Because the setting is little more

Elegant Dining at the Best Formal Steakhouse in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter (Jennifer Miner)

swanky than not, a meal here adds a touch of luxury to a vacation in Southern California. We were in San Diego with relatives who mostly appreciate high-end, classy dinners out, so we knew that reservations here would make for a positive experience. And – best of all – it was New Year’s Eve.

A sophisticated ambience and quiet bustle (yes, it’s possible) create an atmosphere that the “fancy” relatives appreciated. A pianist tinkled unobtrusively in the background, sometimes accompanied by a vocalist (she specialized in jazz classics). Depending on the night, the live music can range from classical to classic rock – if this is important to you, please check when making your reservations. The restaurant decor is an odd mix of formal styling and Wyatt Earp-era memorabilia (this building used to be Wyatt Earp’s Gambling Hall and Saloon). There are caricatures of famous people hailing from San Diego on the walls – I was amused to see Orville Redenbacher among the drawings.

Two Best Appetizers at G5 are the Dungeness Crabcakes and this Shrimp Cocktail Jennifer Miner)

We started with the Dungeness Crab Cakes and the Shrimp Cocktail, both of which were outstanding (only four jumbo shrimp, but that’s typical at a restaurant like this). The Beefsteak Tomato and Maui Onion Salad was surprisingly delicate, for such a savory salad. But the real stars here are the steak and seafood.

The steaks here are, of course, outstanding. Only Prime cuts are used, and the seafood is fresh off the boat that morning. Prime Filet Mignon, Prime New York Strip,the sushi-grade Ahi and Jumbo Sea Scallops were impeccable. Rave reviews all around, and we had some demanding customers at our table! This restaurant was voted “The Best of the Best” Steakhouses in San Diego, and I’d have to agree.

Since we were there for New Year’s Eve, there were some noisemakers and party hats at our table. This touch went a long way with the children in our party, considering that George’s on Fifth (G5, to locals) is about as far from a crayons-and-paper-at-the-table type of restaurant as there is. The waitstaff was professional and courteous, and a bit removed (rather than over-friendly) as befits a restaurant of this type. Remember, this is a formal restaurant. It’s recommended for a romantic night out, an anniversary, or family gatherings with demanding, sophisticated companions – and most of all, for a fun yet classy New Year’s Eve.

Georges on Fifth
835 5th Ave (Gaslamp Quarter)
San Diego, CA
(619) 702-0444

A Best Restaurant in the Big Island's Queen's Marketplace, Hawaii

Waikoloa Beach is one of the resort hotel areas on Hawaii’s Big Island, and as with many resort destinations, there are a couple of small shopping areas in walking distance from the hotels. The Queen’s Marketplace is one such shopping area in the Waikoloa Beach district. Along with the usual touristy shops and a Starbucks, there is a really fantastic Thai restaurant here. Charley’s Thai Cuisine serves everything from mild Thai classics like Pad Thai and satay, to very spicy chili and curry dishes. Warning: Like most seriously authentic Thai restaurants, when Charley’s says “spicy,” they mean it!

Although I haven’t been to every Asian restaurant on the Big Island, Charley’s Thai Cuisine proved to be so superior to any that I have eaten in, that I can safely say it’s one of the best Asian restaurants on this Hawaiian island. Located at the far end of the Queen’s Marketplace area, it feels removed enough from the foot traffic to lend to the restaurant a sense of distinction from the outdoor-mall atmosphere. The decor is Thai, of course, and everything is new and clean. There are also plenty of wine and beer options here: With choices ranging from microbreweries on Hawaii to Thai beer, and an international selection of wines, there is bound to be a drink to meet any guest’s desire. And if there isn’t, the Thai iced tea is a real crowd-pleaser.

Charley's Thai Cuisine in the Queen's Marketplace, Hawaii (Bill Adams)

We were a party of six; our meals varied from non-spicy fried shrimp, to a generous portion of mildly spicy mahi mahi and veggies, to a medium-hot yellow curry stew with plenty of coconut flavor, to a very spicy (ordered that way) seafood and sticky rice dish. The very spicy entrees here really take some acclimation for those of us raised on the Western version of Thai food! I appreciated the variety of options and the authenticity of the curry and chilis here. I wonder if the genuine quality is due in part to the fact that Hawaii is closer to Thailand than are the mainland U.S. states. Whatever the reason, Charley’s Thai Cuisine in the Queen’s Marketplace is one of the best Asian restaurants on the Big Island of Hawaii, and one of the most authentic Thai restaurants around.