Good food is not always a given – not every restaurant is
capable of providing what you consider good eats. While there are great places
to eat in most areas, the fact is that the best
places to eat are more often than not, privately owned, one of a kind
establishments. These are usually family owned and family run businesses where
quality comes from the heart and is delivered to each and every customer. If
you are lucky enough to be near such a place (or more than one), then you know
exactly what I mean.
Everyone has their own ideas of what a great place to eat is
– these are my favorites.
Burgers and Fries
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| Holly's Drive-In |
If you love hamburgers and soft ice cream, Holly’s Drive-In, in Post, Texas, is a
must visit. If you live anywhere near Post and nearby Lubbock, take the time to
try the food at this great drive-in. It’s a classic small town sort of place –
a place where you can step back in time to a kinder, gentler era. Holly’s is
far, far from the artificial atmosphere
of too many modern ‘theme’ restaurants. This family owned classic drive-in is a
throwback to a time when quality in food and service, and a small town, homey
sort of feel meant something. Holly’s is not a put-on – it is the real thing;
an all too rare commodity in today’s world.
How good are the burgers? Well, they are that good – good enough that I would
drive out of my way to eat a Holly Burger. They are perfectly cooked to order,
with fresh ingredients and the added touch of a bun lightly grilled in butter –
all combined to produce one of the greatest burgers I have ever eaten. Sure,
anyone can make a hamburger, but these aren’t just burgers – a Holly Burger is
a taste of America.
Besides the outstanding burgers, the beauty of Holly’s is
the fact that it is a real place – not
some corporate guy’s idea of what America used to be, or a contrived way of
trying to recreate the past by filling a restaurant with rusty flea market
junk, like so many modern chain stores try to do. Holly’s is as authentic as it
gets, and they represent a lost art – an independent business that doesn’t try
to recreate the past – they allow you to step back into it. Post is a small
town with the kind of atmosphere that only exists in such a place – a classic
American town with a classic American drive-in.
Holly’s Drive-In
615 South Broadway St.
Post, Texas 79356
Baked Goods and
Barbecue
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| Chappell Hill, Texas |
It’s in a big, orange building that sits on the south side
of Highway 290 in Chappell Hill, Texas, just a few miles east of Brenham, and about
65 miles northwest of Houston.
The building itself stands out, and that is also a perfect
description of the food they serve in the Chappell
Hill Bakery and Deli. To say that this family owned restaurant does
barbecue and baked goods is like saying that a Ferrari is a metal thing that
moves fast – a massive understatement. It is much more accurate to say that
this wonderful place has the power to waylay passersby and stuff them with some
of the most amazing food the lucky eaters have ever had.
The very first time I stopped at the Chappell Hill Bakery
and Deli; the very instant that I
stepped through the door, I thought ‘oh wow, this is going to be a great place to eat!’ It was the
intoxicating aroma of barbecue that hit me first – the sweet, smoky smell of
what I knew was going to be something special. As we walked in and that aroma
swept over us, we walked past tables with happy customers eating lunch. Every
plate looked inviting and delicious – each was piled high with various kinds of
meat, potatoes, and vegetables. I was trying not to stare at people as they ate, but I couldn’t help it – the
food all looked so incredibly appetizing.
Then I noticed that on the right side of the large serving
counter, was a huge display of pies and other baked goods. Are you kidding me?
They have homemade baked goods too?
Oh yes they do.
First things first though - as much as I love pie, I had to
order lunch first. I stood there looking at the menu above the counter, and I
could not decide what to eat. This was not fair – I only had time to stay for
one meal. How am I going to pick just one
thing, and still have room for desert? This is what a restaurant should be like
– menu items that scream out ‘pick me!’ A restaurant should be a place where
you know you’re going to get a great
meal, no matter what you choose.
Finally, after careful deliberation, I ordered a plate of
various smoked meats, along with potatoes and a vegetable. I’m reasonably
certain that no matter what I had chosen, I would not have been disappointed. There
was no chance that the food would be ordinary – not in this big, orange
building. It was a full, satisfying meal, and I knew there was no way I would
have room for pie. The rest of the family had the same problem, so we decided
to buy a whole pie to take home.
It wasn’t just pies though – the display case was filled
with trays of freshly baked kolaches. If you have never had a kolache, you have
no idea what you are missing. These pastries, of Czech and Slovak origin, are
very popular in Texas and for good reason. The Chappell Hill Bakery makes a
stunning variety of these incredible treats, from ham and cheese, sausage,
cream cheese and many different flavors of fruit fillings. You had better buy
more than a dozen, just so you have some left by the time you get home. Besides
the pie, we bought two dozen of our favorite kolaches.
By the time we arrived home, we were ready for desert; the
pecan pie and kolaches did not last long. Just as with the barbecue, Chappell
Hill baked goods are in a class by themselves.
Unfortunately, we live two hours from Chappell Hill, so we
don’t have a chance to eat there very often. On the other hand, maybe that is a
good thing – I could go broke just eating this food. If you get the chance to
be anywhere near this place, look for the big orange building and prepare
yourself to eat very well.
Chappell Hill Bakery
and Deli
8900 Highway 290 East
Chappell Hill, Texas 77426
Mexican Food
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| Jalisco Cafe, Silver City, New Mexico |
My family and I stayed for a night in Silver City, New
Mexico while we were on vacation several years ago. We had traveled all day and
were looking for somewhere to eat that would be just a little different than
the usual – no chain restaurant for us that night, if possible. After checking
into our motel, we asked the woman working the desk to recommend a decent
restaurant – some place where the locals would eat, but not necessarily where
tourists would likely go. As luck would have it, we were in the right place at
the right time, and happened to ask that question of the exactly the right
person.
She gave us directions to The Jalisco Café, and told us that although it was on a main
street, it wasn’t necessarily a place where tourists would go. We found the
restaurant and had a great dining experience that we will long remember. The
Jalisco Café is a Mexican restaurant, probably more accurately identified as
‘New Mex/Mex’.
The restaurant was busy when we arrived – tables full of
obviously happy people. The staff was friendly and efficient. They didn’t keep
us waiting long – less than ten minutes to seat us. The food was more authentic
than what you will find in any chain Mexican restaurant – clearly made with
pride and care. It was spicier than the ‘watered down’ fare found in most ‘Mexican’
restaurants; the flavors more clearly defined – different, and far tastier than any ‘Mexican’ food I
had ever eaten.
The servers were helpful and although the restaurant
remained busy and full the entire time we were there, we were encouraged by
several staff members to take our time and enjoy our meal. After an exceptional
main course, we lingered over coffee and tasty sopapillas for desert.
We returned to our motel that night feeling that we had been
treated to something special – a dining experience that most tourists miss out
on. I learned a valuable lesson that night – when traveling, don’t be afraid to
ask local people for restaurant suggestions – you might just end up somewhere
special, like the Jalisco Café.
The Jalisco Cafe
100 S Bullard St
Silver City, NM 88061-5314
Pizza and Pasta
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| Bella Marie's, St. George, Utah |
People in New York, Boston, and Chicago probably think they
have the market cornered on great pizza. There is no denying that restaurants
in those great cities make some of the finest pizza in the country, but they
are not the only ones.
If you find yourself in the high desert of Southern Utah,
there is a pizzeria worthy of praise for producing some of the finest pizza I
have ever eaten. Bella Marie’s Pizzeria,
in St. George, Utah, was an entirely unexpected find. Unlike most restaurants
in this hurry up modern world, Bella Marie’s takes the time to make their own
pizza sauce and dough. What comes together on a plate in this little restaurant
is something so special that it stands among the finest anywhere.
Although I have only been fortunate enough to eat there
twice, each time was an experience that will stay with me. Bella Marie’s makes
pizza that is so fresh and tasty that it stands among the best offered in any
and all of the great pizza cities of the US. You just cannot go wrong eating in
this restaurant, located in the unlikely desert town of St. George, Utah.
To eat pizza in such a restaurant is to ruin every other
pizza choice readily available in any American city. No disrespect intended to
any of the many pizza chains across the country, but I can’t bring myself to
even mention their names in the same article as that of Bella Marie’s. I
haven’t even tried any other entrée they offer – the two times I have traveled
to the St. George area, all I wanted to do was eat Bella Marie’s pizza. I can’t
imagine that any menu item there isn’t world class, but it’s their pizza that
stands out for me.
As I write this, a little over two months after my last
visit, I can still taste it – the
tanginess of the cheese blend, the richness of the sauce, and the perfection –
did I mention perfection? – of the
crust, are vivid in my mind. I have eaten great pizza before, in New York,
Boston, Chicago, and even in a little restaurant in Bozeman, Montana called The
Pizza Oven back in the 1960’s. For my taste buds though, the exceptional pizza
from Bella Marie’s, is the best I have ever eaten – bar none.
Bella Marie’s Pizzeria
1487 S. Silicon Way Ste. A-1
St. George, Utah 84770
Hot Dogs
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| Standing in line at Voss', Utica, New York |
You might think, hot dogs? Really? The answer is Voss’ Bar-B-Q, in Yorkville (Utica),
New York. This little place that is only open part of the year (they close in
winter) has been a fixture on Oriskany Boulevard for more than 70 years. My
parents ate there as kids growing up in Utica, and over the years I had heard
them speak of how memorable a Voss’ hot dog was. Mom and Dad aren’t the type to
speak reverently of food – especially something as simple as a hot dog, so I
knew that there must be something to this. What I discovered when I finally had
the chance to eat there, is there is no such thing as ‘simple’ when describing
a Voss’ hot dog.
Family owned, and family run; Voss’ Bar-B-Q is a one of a
kind place – an institution in Upstate New York. They offer many menu items,
and several variations of hot dog meals, but all I wanted was the classic Voss’
hot dog on a bun grilled with butter, and the fries. I sat there at a picnic
table on a pleasant late summer evening, as traffic rushed past just a few
yards away, and enjoyed the best hot dog on the planet.
You can’t even call Voss’ a drive-in – it’s a ‘walk up’. If
you’re lucky enough to find a parking spot in the small lot, you stand in line
at the window and watch smiling people pick up their orders and hurry off as
though they can’t wait to bite into their food. You may laugh at that, but by
the time you reach the window, with the fabulous aromas emanating from within,
you can’t wait to dig in.
A Voss’ hot dog is not
just a hot dog – it’s a taste experience that will leave you wanting more.
Voss’ Bar-B-Q
Oriskany Boulevard
Yorkville, NY 13495
Home Cooking
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| The famous Blue Bonnet Cafe |
Who doesn’t love home cooking? Who doesn’t want to eat the
food that you grew up with – food so good that only a Mom can make to your
satisfaction? That kind of food only exists at Mom’s house, right? Not quite. There
is a place where you would swear your Mom must be in the kitchen, cooking your
favorite food – The Blue Bonnet Café,
in Marble Falls, Texas.
This outstanding eatery has been featured on The Food
Network; former president and first lady George and Laura Bush and a number of
other famous people have eaten there. It is no accident that people flock to
this café – great food draws crowds, and the food at The Blue Bonnet is not just
good – it is memorable.
We stopped at this famous spot on our way home from a trip
one recent summer day. We weren’t sure what to expect for wait time – a
well-known restaurant like this at lunchtime would almost certainly require a
long wait. When we arrived, we could see that the place was packed, but we
waited less than fifteen minutes before the friendly hostess seated us.
Sometimes, such a place does not live up to expectations.
How many times have you gone somewhere or done something that was highly
anticipated, but didn’t turn out like you expected? That didn’t happen at the
Bluebonnet – it was even better than it’s advance billing.
My son Brendan and I ordered Mama’s Famous Pot Roast with homemade
red skin mashed potatoes; my wife Tiffany had the hand battered chicken fried
steak, and Emily had a hamburger. I noticed that everyone at our table – in
fact, everyone that I could see around us - smiled throughout their meal. I’ve
never seen so many smiling people in a restaurant; everyone that I could see
clearly loved the food. My pot roast
was exceptional – they don’t call this home cooking for nothing. But that was
just the beginning. Then came the pies – oh wow, the pies.
The Blue Bonnet keeps a glass case display with fresh pies of
just about every conceivable flavor. Just walking past that case as we were
seated was an experience in itself. Look at that one – no wait, look at that one. How are we going to choose
which one of those pies to sample? What a happy dilemma to have, and of course,
no one was disappointed with his or her choice – every pie slice was
exceptional.
After eating at this restaurant, you may be tempted to take
a look, just to be sure it isn’t your Mom
back there in the Bluebonnet kitchen, but it may as well be. If you love home
cooking, you need to find your way to Marble Falls, and eat at The Blue Bonnet Café. Although it’s not
your Mom cooking in their kitchen, you will smile and enjoy your food, just as
though Mom made it herself.
211 Highway 281
Marble Falls, Texas 78654
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