Great Places to Eat Across the Country

Being a protly gentleman, good food is something I love to think about, talk about and write about. I recently wrote a review of one of my favorite restaurants and that inspired me to compile the following list. I am writing this on an empty stomach, so I apologize if my enthusiasm seems a little excessive. There are few things that bring as much pleasure to some of us as good food and I am writing this hoping that someone reading it might be prompted to try one or more of my choices. I am not going to attempt to place any of these in order of preference because they might change from day to day, depending on what I am in the mood for.

1. Jim's Pizza in Kendallville,IN

Jim's is my favorite pizza in the world and I encourage you to read the review I recently submitted all about my love for Jim's.

2. Arthur Bryant's in Kansas City,MO

This is the best BBQ you will ever find. Find a reason to go to Kansas City so you can see for yourself.

3. Gino's East in Chicago

This is a great place to go, both for the deep dish pizza and for the fun atmosphere where you can write on anything you want from the seats and tables to the ceilings.

4. The Munchie Emporium in Ft. Wayne,IN

It's hard to summarize why I like it so much, but I think it may be tied to the fact that it's a brewpub. They have a huge menu and the pizza is excellent. They also have some very good sandwiches and burgers here.

5. Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury,IN

The largest restaurant in the state is actually two restaurants, a menu-based one and a family-style one. Both feature authentic Amish food and more different kinds of pie than I have ever seen in one place. There is also a bakery in the building where you can by those pies as well as anything else you can imagine.

6. DeBrand's Chocolate in Ft. Wayne,IN

While not technically a restaurant, DeBrand has chocolate, which is food, so they are on my list. This stuff will make you forget all about Godiva and Ghirardelli, and they have the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted.

7. Coney Island in Ft. Wayne,IN

Nothing particularly fancy about this place. They just have really good coney dogs and they are cheap. Liking hot dogs a lot and being poor makes me naturally drawn to this one.

8. Flat Top Grill in Ft. Wayne,IN

I know this is a chain and chains don't make many best-of lists, but I just love this place. Being able to pick and choose what you want to use in your stir-fry and having an unlimited supply is pretty sweet. Also, I like the little flat-bread pancake things they have.

9. Giordano's in Chicago

I have never eaten in at a Giordano's, but have had it delivered a couple of times when in town and I have to rate it as my favorite Chicago deep-dish pizza. I'm sorry Gino's and Uno, I still love you, but I love this more.

10. Ed Debevic's in Chicago

This restaurant makes the list not so much for the food as for the experience. It is pretty typical diner food- burgers, fries, shakes, meatloaf etc., but the waiters and waitresses are all aspiring actors and actresses who dress outrageously and like to give a little sassy-mouth to the customers. It's a very kid-friendly environment and the food is good.

11. Greek's Pizza/Pizza Forum in Angola/Kendallville,IN

12. Gates BBQ in Kansas City,MO

13. Power's Hamburgers in Ft. Wayne,IN

14. Biaggi's Italian restaurant in Ft. Wayne,IN and elsewhere

15. Anyplace with good hot wings (Hooters, Buffalo Wild wings, Wings Etc.)

16. Cold Stone Creamery and Ritter's Frozen Custard

17. Ruth's Chris

18. Ceballo's Mexican Restaurant in Ft. Wayne,IN

19. Las Limas in Angola and Auburn,IN

20. White Castle

There you have it, my list of my favorite places to eat in the world. Obviously I don't travel much, but if you live in the midwest these are some good choices. In fact, a few of these will even be found on some "legitimate" snobby food critics' lists. But that doesn't really make any difference because it's all about me in this case. I am curious to hear your opinions about any of the choices on my list, whether you have tried them or you are planning to.