25 New Restaurants in 2010

[foolsgold]

So when we broke it to them that we were going to have Japanese, they started a fuss.  Then the hibachi chef came out and lit some shit on fire and that shut them up.

Got to love the calming and awe inspiring powers of food + fire.

[Kwyjibo]

As evidenced by the "Instant Replays" they always did on Iron Chef whenever Sakai caught anything on fire.

Man, is that show on anymore at all?  I loved that shit.  The American version just doesn't have the same appeal.

[Butter]

1) El Matador Restaurant - Taylors, SC.

We took a wrong turn on our way down to SC and wound up off the highway.  It was about lunch time, so we decided to stop at the first good looking place we could find.  After passing miles of fast food joints, we pulled into the parking lot of this crummy looking place.  What we found inside was some of the freshest and best prepared mexican food we've ever had.  I don't think it was really mexican..more like something further south.  I had some tasty carnitas tacos with generous helpings of some fresh cilantro heavy salsa.  The boys ate tamales and Michelle got a combo.  We were so happy for our accidental discovery.

What the hell were you doing in Taylors?  That's like minutes from where we spent Christmas week.  In fact, Andrea knows where El Matador is from memory.  But we've never been there.  We prefer places like The Clock Drive-In for our greasy food fix.  Andrea says we'll have to try it next time we go.

[Butter]

As evidenced by the "Instant Replays" they always did on Iron Chef whenever Sakai caught anything on fire.

Man, is that show on anymore at all?  I loved that shit.  The American version just doesn't have the same appeal.

They still show it on Fine Living Network, if you get that.  DirecTV subscribers do, like us. 

[Doug]

What the hell were you doing in Taylors?  That's like minutes from where we spent Christmas week.  In fact, Andrea knows where El Matador is from memory.  But we've never been there.  We prefer places like The Clock Drive-In for our greasy food fix.  Andrea says we'll have to try it next time we go.

Yeah, I thought I sensed a buttery sensation when we were driving around.

We were traveling to McCormick, SC to visit my parents.  Then we came back up through Cashiers, NC to do some skiing/tubing on New Years.

[Kwyjibo]

As evidenced by the "Instant Replays" they always did on Iron Chef whenever Sakai caught anything on fire.

Man, is that show on anymore at all?  I loved that shit.  The American version just doesn't have the same appeal.

They still show it on Fine Living Network, if you get that.  DirecTV subscribers do, like us. 

I believe we get it, even though we're lowly cable subscribers.

[c-lando]

Yeah, I thought I sensed a buttery sensation when we were driving around.

HEHEHEEHEHEHEEE!

[Rafe]

1. Yo! Sushi - St. Pancras International, London

Just like any other Yo! Sushi anywhere else in Britain, except it's at a train station. Pretty decent as per usual.

[foolsgold]

I loved the Yo! Sushi place I went to (I think it was in Soho.)  A couple friends and I spent close to 4 hours drinking robot delivered beer and accumulating an impressive (and ultimately quite expensive) pile of multi-colored dishes. 

I still think fondly of those salmon rolls.

[Doug]

What the hell were you doing in Taylors?  That's like minutes from where we spent Christmas week.  In fact, Andrea knows where El Matador is from memory.  But we've never been there.  We prefer places like The Clock Drive-In for our greasy food fix.  Andrea says we'll have to try it next time we go.

Yeah, I thought I sensed a buttery sensation when we were driving around.

We were traveling to McCormick, SC to visit my parents.  Then we came back up through Cashiers, NC to do some skiing/tubing on New Years.

My wife corrected me on this last night.  We went through Greenville, but the resturaunt was in Ashville, NC.  So...

Insert Quote
1) Tomato Restaurant - Ashville, NC.

We took a wrong turn on our way down to SC and wound up off the highway.  It was about lunch time, so we decided to stop at the first good looking place we could find.  After passing miles of fast food joints, we pulled into the parking lot of this crummy looking place.  What we found inside was some of the freshest and best prepared mexican food we've ever had.  I don't think it was really mexican..more like something further south.  I had some tasty carnitas tacos with generous helpings of some fresh cilantro heavy salsa.  The boys ate tamales and Michelle got a combo.  We were so happy for our accidental discovery.

2) Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company - Cashiers, NC.

This is where we ate on New Years Eve.  We got there just in time to watch the sun set in the valley from the deck of the pub.  The food was standard brewpub fare.  Michelle had a wood smoked pizza and I had smoked chicken wings.  The boys split a burger.  Dessert was oven baked s'mores.  It was all really good.  I had a couple of their house brews..a stout and a pilsner.  It was just a really nice atmosphere and a relaxing way to fatten up for the new year.

3) Uno's Chicago Grill - south of Knoxville TN.

Maybe it was the 50 mile detour we took at 20 mph through a winding 2 lane mountain road that spoiled this for us.  Or maybe it was the bland. fresh out of the microwave taste of the food.  Either way, I spent the rest of the day feeling sick from this place.

4) Fuji Japanese Steakhouse - Florence y'all.

After 12 hours of driving and with home in site just a couple hours ahead, we decided to stop in here.  The boys wanted spaghetti, but the only place we saw for that was Fazolli's, and I'd rather eat Chef Boy Are Dee.  So when we broke it to them that we were going to have Japanese, they started a fuss.  Then the hibachi chef came out and lit some shit on fire and that shut them up.  It was pricey, but well worth it.  I had my favorite, steak and scallops with lots of shrimp sauce.  Michelle ate tempura and sushi and the boys got chicken and shrimp.  Everybody left fat and happy.

[MissKitty]

1. Brothers Bar & Grill - Newport on the Levee

2. Aladdin's Eatery - West Chester

Nomtastic Lebanese/Middle Eastern restaurant with tons of vegetarian fare. Excellent selection of organic smoothies too, which we'll be checking out when it warms up a bit. Owner says they are planning to open another Cincinnati-area location soon in Clifton's Gaslight District. Yay!

[vizzah]

1.  Starlite Diner

2. Tickets Pub in Fairborn, Ohio - Love this place.  It's actually the 2nd time I've been, but I forgot to put it on my list in 2010.  5 out of 5 sporks!  Full review is up at Food vs. Face.

[Doug]

1.  Starlite Diner

2. Tickets Pub in Fairborn, Ohio - Love this place.  It's actually the 2nd time I've been, but I forgot to put it on my list in 2010.  5 out of 5 sporks!  Full review is up at Food vs. Face.

Tickets is so awesome.  We love to get the Greek hot plate for two.  We feed the whole family on that thing.  It's one of the best places to eat when the weather sucks.

Nice blog BTW.

[vizzah]

Yeah, we'd seen the hot plate for two - so we ordered it for one and shared it. 

[MissKitty]

1. Brothers Bar & Grill - Newport on the Levee
2. Aladdin's Eatery - West Chester

3. J. Gumbo's - downtown Cincinnati

Finally got around to eating at J. Gumbo's today and was knocked out by the Bumblebee Stew, a vegetarian concotion of corn, black beans, onions and stewed tomatoes over steamed rice in a gorgeously sweet butter sauce.

Fantastic!