posted
There's something I've always wanted to do, but I'm a little weak in my HTML-fu. For a while, I've thought how cool it would be to make a website where all our trusted Jatraquero friends can list and review their favorite things in their own home cities. Restaurants, book stores, independent theatres, maybe even a mechanic that wouldn't rip you off. That way if someone ever has to spend a couple days away from home, they can check the reviews and be able to try some of the best of a city, rather than just eating at Denny's and shopping at Best Buy.
In any case, as long as I'm not prepared to organize it as a webpage, I thought maybe I could at least start a thread on the topic. If you have any local places you love, list the city and the info here. Maybe sometime in the future I'll be able to organize it, but for now at least we'll have access to the thread.
I'll start:
SALT LAKE CITY
Brewvies 677 S 200 W Salt Lake City, UT 84101
This is the coolest theatre of all time. It's second run, so you won't ever see any new movies there. Also, it's a bar, so you need to be 21 to get in. But it has two theatres, and all the seats have tables in front of them. You go in, get your ticket, then you can buy a full meal and even a stein of beer, take them into the theatre and eat and drink while you watch your movie. There are sofas and lazy boys on the back row. There are pool tables out front for when you arrive early. And there's even free wi-fi in the theatres, so you can check your email on your palm pilot during the flick. It's one of the things I miss most about leaving Utah. I used to wait until movies came there before I'd seen them. The website is http://www.brewvies.com .
Cafe Shambala 382 4th Ave Salt Lake City, UT 84103
I've never been here for dinner, but this place has the best lunch buffet in the entire city, and I've tried them all. It's a family-owned Tibetan restaurant, and it's only a few blocks from downtown, in the avenues, so it's easy to get to. The buffet is just big enough that you can try everything once, and your favorites a second time, without getting sick. Only about two of the dishes have meat, so it's vegetarian friendly. And everything is absolutely delicious. It's only about $6 per person and it's the best food you'll ever have. I got addicted to it and used to go once a week. Incidentally, there's a family-owned chocolate & ice cream store next door that is wonderful and owned by some of the nicest people in the entire world. Perfect for dessert.
I've got more for Salt Lake, and a couple of Albuquerque picks as well, but my wife just came home, so I'll write them down later.
posted
If everyone posts a good geolocation (address, coordinates, or what have you), I'll be able to make a database-backed website with everything plotted by one of the various online map APIs (google's, most likely).
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Powell's City of Books 1005 W Burnside Portland, OR 97209 USA
Anyone visiting Portland shouldn't leave without visiting this store. It's one of the largest sellers of used/new books in the country. It covers an entire city block in the Pearl district of downtown Portland. It's close to great restaurants and located near both MAX and Streetcar stops. There's no way that you couldn't get there.
The rooms of Powell's are coded by color. The Gold room has Sci Fi/Fantasy on one side and Mystery on the other. The Blue room is full of literature. The Rose room has children's/young adult books across from Gardening and Astronomy. These rooms are HUGE. Not only can you find great new books, but there is usually a great used version right next to the new one. In the rare books room (a specially enclosed room) sit gems like first editions of the Hobbit.
Mayas Taqueria 1000 SW Morrison St Portland, OR 97205
About 5 blocks away from Powell's, you'll find this delightful little restaurant. The food is legit, and also fantastic. The food is ready fast and the menu is full of all your favorite mexican dishes that can be made with pork, beef or chicken. (Try their green chili chicken, it's wonderful.) The servings are huge, served up right in front of you on delightful glass plates. The meals cost anywhere from $5-10 and there's seating outside on the sidewalk, or upstairs overlooking the restaurant.
This is the place I bring my friends when we need a break from Powell's. The two are close enough that you can get right back to book shopping when you're done eating.
posted
Excellent. I'd heard so much about Powell's when I was on my mission in Portland, but it was never in my zone. I really need to get back to the NW sometime.
Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Actually, Narnia, the address you posted is for the Powells store on Hawthorne. The address for the downtown store is: 1005 W Burnside Portland, OR 97209 USA
Although, while we are on the topic, the Hawthorne Powells has my favorite coffee shop in it, The Fresh Pot. Good coffee, hip baristas, and all the books you can read just a few steps away. It's a bit of a hipster fish bowl at night, but it's always fun to sit and make fun of their snazzy outfits (quietly).
AND, right next door to it is The Bar Pastiche, the best little tapas bar this side of Canada. Teeny little scrumptious things, all for $1 - $3. You can order, like, 10 different things and never feel like a glutton. And the waiters are hot.
Oh, and what the hell. While we are on Hawthorne, we might as well visit the triumvate of alcoholism at the end of the blvd. I speak of The Watertrough, The Bar of the Gods, and The Space Room, of course. Three little bars circled around each other that offer 3 wonderfully diverse drinking experiences. First, there is the BOG. Formerly a grungy neighborhood bar with a single poorly lit pool table, it has transformed into a hip place teeming with hipsters and esoteric DJs. It still has the single poorly lit pool table, though. Then, on the same side of the street, there is The Watertrough. The sign for it is a dirty (literally) old man and a horse sharing a bath in a watertrough, and they advertise food, beer, and soap. Inhabited by very depressing alcoholic old men until about 6:30, they sell Pabst 16oz for &1.50 and have four pool tables that only cost a quarter. And the bartenders are super sweet. Last, and Least, is the SpaceRoom. Insanely strong MaiTais make this a good place to go before heading over to the pool tables in the old man bar. The crowd tends to suck (jocks and their ilk on most night), but after a few MaiTais that doesnt seem to matter as much.
Posts: 499 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Not a problem. Just see it doesnt happen again .
(Oh, and by the way, have you been to Taco Del Mar? MUCH better, and cheaper, than Mayas. Although more limited in food selection. But still... cheaper!)
Posts: 499 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Heaven help those who think a terrible fast food joint like Taco Del Mar is better than Mayas...which is actually owned and run by Mexicans! It's my turn to .
(but really, can you be serious?!)
Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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Pilot Butte Drive-In Restaurant 917 NE Greenwood Ave Bend, OR 97701
This is just about the only restaurant I went to on my whole mission that I still remember. They make the best hamburgers I've ever tasted, or at least it seemed that way when I was living in poverty. I remember thinking it would be the only burger joint I'd ever take a date to, which in fact I did once when I returned there after my mission. I still have fantasies about going back and getting another burger at that place. http://www.pilotbutte.com/index.htmPosts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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Luna's Restaurant (212) 226-8657 108 Mulberry St # 26 New York, NY 10013
You enter through the kitchen. If she's still alive (it's been a few years) Momma is sitting in the middle of the seating area ordering the waiters around. It's a blast.
Johnny's Pizzeria (212) 243-1680 (212) 935-2895 278 Bleecker St New York, NY 10014
If you like brick oven and thin crust. Also try the giant calzone. The best!
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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My HTML is pretty good. My php and mysql is very bad. I've done db work with other stuff though.
SALT LAKE CITY
Brewvies - Addition:
I've been there, and I don't drink and the smell was very strong and hard for me to ignore. If I was use to the smell I would have loved the place. The focus on eating is pretty cool. Someone had a full pizza. I wish other places were more like it.
Cafe Trio 680 S 900 E Salt Lake City, UT 84102-3478 (801) 533-8746
Italian. Very classy. Their pizza's are really nice, not like other pizza places that smother the pizza with cheese. Their cob salad is very very good. And their chocolate pudding is to die for.
Barbacoa Mexican Grill 859 E 900 S Salt Lake City, UT 84105-1362 (801) 524-0853
Best big burritos in SLC. You can hold them in your hands. They have variations but what they offer is essentially a variation of the burrito. Very quickly made. It is a lot like the Subway Sandwiches restaurant. Lime flavored chips are really nice too. Inexpensive.
Rumbi Island Grill
Awesome place. Very nice food. Rice bowls, salads, sandwiches, etc. Several locations in Utah, and it looks like they are expanding to other states. Inexpensive. http://www.rumbi.com
LOS ANGELES
Farmers Market 6333 West Third Street, Los Angeles 90036-3154 phone 323-933-9211 fax 323-549-2145 http://www.farmersmarketla.com/
Visited a few weeks ago with a friend who couldn't eat meat and a lot of other stuff and so unfortunately I wasn't able to really sample much, but the place looked like food heaven.
Posts: 1209 | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
I used to work about half a block from Barbacoa, and we would eat there at least once a week. I love their corn salsa. Unique and delicious Mexican food. And right across the street from Tower Theatre, so you can take in an indie flick while you're there. Way to make me homesick.
About Brewvies: I usually went there early in the day, so I never noticed any smell. The times I went at night there would sometimes be some smokers in the bar area, but they don't smoke in the theatres, so once I got in there I was never bothered. As far as the beer smell, although I don't drink, that never bugged me either. But I guess it is a good thing to keep in mind, because I'm sure it does get to some people. Thanks for the addendum. Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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(but really, can you be serious?!)
