Time to Eat

This is a list of 30 of my favorite places to eat, as well as what I normally get. Does that mean this counts as two lists? They aren't in any particular order, otherwise Diplomat Deli would be higher on the list. Without further ado...

1. Moe’s – Homewrecker
2. Cold Stone Creamery – Coffee Lovers Only, although honestly, they’re all quite good. This is where we almost always went for ice cream.
3. Chick-Fil-A – The original chicken sandwich. Nothing fancy, just the chicken and the pickles, thanks.
4. Chick-Fil-A – Part II: The chicken biscuit. It has been way too long since I’ve had one of these.
5. Magic Mushroom – The Great White. The website is also very enjoyable for the thick Southern accents.
6. Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse – I usually go for the filet, or the petit filet. Trust me, the petit filet is plenty. I have never failed to find myself pleasantly stuffed when I go there.
7. Roly Poly – The Hickory Chicken. I always get them to add jalapenos.
8. Starbucks – Summertime: A Mocha Java Frappucino. Winter: Vanilla Latte, although I also like the seasonal specials in the fall.
9. Maspero’s – The muffaletta. I don’t even know if this place is still standing anymore, but it used to be a “must” anytime I went to New Orleans.
10. Diplomat Deli – The muffaletta. Well, if I can’t be in New Orleans, this is the next best thing that I’ve found. It puts the other muffalettas in town to shame. Nice beer selection, too. Diplomat, how I miss you!!
11. Diplomat Deli – Part II: The gumbo (Mich says beer cheese soup). Really, this is a great place to stop for a bite.
12. Nanyang – Lo mein noodles. Yes, I’m typically a plain and simple guy, and I think this is where most of our Chinese in the last few years came from. Occasionally, I would get the Mongolian beef. We used to drive from Helena to go here.
13. Macaroni Grill – Veal Saltimbocca, although I’m not certain that this is on their newer menus. Their menus used to be seasonal, and you could only get this in the winter. The house wine is also good.
14. O’Henry’s – Latte. (And a dessert.) Going here at the end of a night out used to be somewhat de rigueur for Michelle and me. The one in Harbert Plaza (is it still called that?) also has good sandwiches.
15. Patera’s – The turkey and cheese hot sandwich. One of the few places around Helena that Michelle and I would frequent when we lived there.
16. Depot Deli & Grill – Another place that Mich and I went when we lived in Helena. It’s basically a burger joint built in the old train depot.
17. The Purple Onion – I almost always end up with the gyro plate.
18. Rocky’s – A Hot Jab. Unfortunately, this is primarily the result of too many late nights at work, and Rocky’s is one of the only places that would deliver on the north side of Birmingham. Word of warning: They love garlic there.
19. Zoe’s – The gruben was always one of my faves, although the chicken pita is also well worth a try.
20. Panera Bread – A Bacon Turkey Bravo for me, although there’s several other good choices.
21. Krispy Kreme – Just a plain glazed doughnut, hot off the rack. A regular stop for us and the kids when we were in Alabama.
22. Wings – Wings. Usually reserved for a night out with the guys.
23. Jim n’Nicks – The Buffalo chicken fingers. Those and a beer to wash them down.
24. Barnie’s – Yet another coffee joint, so I guess that makes me an official coffee fiend. This time, though, I have to say that I go there solely for the granitas. I don’t know why Starbucks hasn’t figured out how to make a granita yet. It’s not just iced coffee.
25. Merstham Tandoori – Obviously, this is a recent addition. Curries are quite big here, and this has become one of the places that we get take-out from. Tikka Masala or some variant, mostly, with a nan or two.
26. Surin – Sushi, or the Thai Noodles (extra hot).
27. Tin Roof BBQ – A barbecue plate.
28. Baker’s Pizza – A pizza, any sort. A little local joint close to our home, and excellent stuff. We didn’t eat here nearly often enough.
29. Johnny Rockets – A bacon cheeseburger. There are actually better burgers around, but I don’t go looking for a burger that often, and I do like Johnny Rocket’s, as a general rule.
30. Los Compadres – Whatever platter that has the chile relleno. The chile relleno has to be my favourite piece of Mexican cooking.