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February 28, 2021

Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog

Follow the Culinary Ruminations of New Mexico's Sesquipedalian Sybarite. 1208 Restaurant Reviews, More Than 11,700 Visitor Comments…And Counting!

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United States

Arizona / Dog Friendly / German

Haus Murphy’s – Glendale, Arizona

December 27, 2020January 10, 2021 - 3 Comments.

To some of us of a certain age and generation, the term “grandma’s food” evokes emotionally-arousing childhood memories of the foods our grandmothers would prepare. That’s especially true for those of us who no longer …

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Arizona / New Mexican / Rated 23

Richardson’s Cuisine of New Mexico – Phoenix, Arizona

December 26, 2020January 10, 2021 - 15 Comments.

My friend and former Intel colleague Steve Caine will forever rue the day he asked me to help him with an expense report for a business trip he made to Portland, Oregon. His itemized expense …

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Arizona / Dog Friendly / Italian / United States

Fat Ox – Scottsdale, Arizona

December 25, 2020January 18, 2021 - 1 Comment

In the Alpine village of Carrù in the Piedmont region of Italy stands the “Monumento al Bue Grasso” (monument to a fat ox).  Depicting two fat oxen under yoke, the monument celebrates the beast of …

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Arizona / Dog Friendly / Italian / Pizza / United States

DeFalco’s Deli: Italian Eatery & Grocery – Scottsdale, Arizona

December 24, 2020January 10, 2021 - Leave a Comment

My Kim usually leaves the recitation of movie or television quotes to me (apparently it’s a guy thing), but every once in a while she’ll surprise me with an utterance or exclamation she could have …

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Arizona / Dog Friendly / Mexican

Barrio Cafe – Phoenix, Arizona

December 23, 2020February 2, 2021 - 5 Comments.

A neighborhood should never be defined solely by grids and lines on a map or by a physical area where people live.  Nor should a neighborhood be defined by areas made homogeneous by restrictive covenants. …

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Arizona / English

Cornish Pasty Company – Scottsdale, Arizona

December 22, 2020December 24, 2020 - 2 Comments.

There’s a European joke that uses stereotypes to deride British cooking, among the most maligned cuisines in the world culinary stage. As the joke goes, in the European conception of heaven, the French are the …

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Arizona / Dog Friendly / Hot Dogs / Illinois / Rated 23 / Sandwich

Portillo’s Hot Dogs – Tempe, Arizona

December 21, 2020December 23, 2020 - 7 Comments.

Portillo’s story is the story of the American dream, a rags to riches saga that began with a single hot dog stand opening in 1963. That single investment has blossomed into a multi-million per year …

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Albuquerque / Burgers / Las Vegas, Nevada / National Chain / New Mexico

Fatburger – Albuquerque, New Mexico

October 31, 2019November 2, 2019 - 12 Comments.

To its detractors, there are a lot of things about which to criticize California, but even detractors will give the Golden State its due when it comes to a national obsession–the hamburger.  California is the …

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Colorado / Dog Friendly / Southwestern

Gray’s Coors Tavern – Pueblo, Colorado

August 31, 2019September 7, 2019 - 28 Comments.

Dante Alighieri’s classic poem “A Divine Comedy” recounts a spiritual journey in which the author was guided by ancient Roman poet Virgil through hell, purgatory, and paradise.  Their path takes them through the nine circles …

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Brewery-Pub / Colorado / Dog Friendly / Irish

Shamrock Brewing Co. – Pueblo, Colorado

August 30, 2019September 7, 2019 - 6 Comments.

When my friend David Wagner, author of the spell-binding Rick Montoya Italian mysteries, invited us to dinner at the Shamrock Brewing Co. in his hometown of Pueblo, Colorado, I quickly leapt to the conclusion that …

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California / Dog Friendly / Fine Dining / United States

AC3 – Palm Desert, California

December 28, 2018January 8, 2019 - 2 Comments.

Hollywood’s movie studio system of the 1920s and 30s contractually required its greatest glitterati  to remain within 100 miles of Tinseltown’s studio during production. Because of this “two-hour rule,” such stars as Cary Grant, Debbie Reynolds, …

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Bakery / Breakfast / California / Dog Friendly / Jewish / United States

Sherman’s Deli & Bakery – Palm Springs & Palm Desert, California

December 27, 2018December 27, 2018 - 4 Comments.

Not everyone appreciated my friend Bob’s stark honesty as much as I did. For nearly twelve years, Bob was my most trusted source for information on the Santa Fe dining scene. He was also a …

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Burgers / California / Dog Friendly

Grill A-Burger – Palm Desert, California

December 26, 2018December 28, 2018 - 5 Comments.

California may not have invented the hamburger, but a strong case could be made that no state has and continues to evolve what is arguably America’s most sacrosanct food.  With more than 6,000 burger restaurants, California has …

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American / California / Dog Friendly / Rated 25

LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO – Palm Springs, California

December 25, 2018December 25, 2018 - 1 Comment

How many times have you heard a transplant to the Land of Enchantment say it just doesn’t feel like Christmas without snow? Some of you expats dream of a white Christmas, just like the ones …

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American / Brunch / California / Dog Friendly / Rated 25

JAKE’S – Palm Springs, California

December 24, 2018December 25, 2018 - 2 Comments.

“Now i lay me down to sleep And pray the Lord my soul to keep If i die before i wake, feed Jake He’s been a good dog My best friend right through it all …

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American / California / Dog Friendly / United States

Workshop Kitchen + Bar – Palm Springs, California

December 23, 2018December 27, 2018 - Leave a Comment

“Good restaurant design is about achieving equilibrium between the food, service and design – in effect telling a complete story.” ~ David Rockwell, American Architect Andy Rooney, the curmudgeonly commentator on television’s 60 Minutes didn’t like food …

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California / Dog Friendly / Seafood / United States

Shanghai Reds at the Fisherman’s Market & Grill – La Quinta, California

December 22, 2018December 25, 2018 - 2 Comments.

For years, fish tacos have been one of those popular, almost faddish obsessions which have garnered more attention and affection than cynics like me believe is warranted (much the same way some of us feel …

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American / Chicken / Texas

GUS’S WORLD-FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN – Austin, Texas

November 23, 2018November 29, 2018 - 4 Comments.

When I told my friend Carlos my Kim and I would be enjoying Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken during our trip to Austin, he quipped “when did Los Pollos Hermanos open a restaurant in Texas?”.  …

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Dog Friendly / Pizza / Rated 25 / Texas / United States

Via 313 – Austin, Texas

November 23, 2018November 29, 2018 - Leave a Comment

It’s oft been said that among males (we’re such children), insults are a form of intimacy.  Perhaps because of societal expectations, many men aren’t comfortable expressing affection toward other males in physically demonstrative ways (even in …

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Barbecue / Dog Friendly / Texas

Black’s Barbecue – Lockhart, Texas

November 21, 2018November 27, 2018 - 7 Comments.

Yabba-dabba-doo!  After finishing another day of toiling at the quarry, Fred Flintsone rushes home to pick up his modern stone-age family for a drive-in movie, an exclusive one-night only viewing of The Monster.  Courtesy of …

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American / Dog Friendly / Donuts / Texas / United States

Gourdough’s Public House – Austin, Texas

November 20, 2018November 22, 2018 - Leave a Comment

Donuts could have gone their entire existences fat, dumb and happy with a following–mostly cops, adult men my age (39) and households with annual incomes of less than $10,000–who expected nothing more out of them …

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American / Brunch / Chicken / Dog Friendly / Southern / Texas

Lucy’s Fried Chicken – Austin, Texas

November 19, 2018November 29, 2018 - 5 Comments.

“I‘m only eating the skins, so the chicken’s up for grabs.” ~Joey Tribbiani Several of my earliest memories of growing up in agrarian Peñasco, New Mexico involve chickens.  Some of those memories–such as getting viciously …

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American / Brunch / Dog Friendly / Texas

Contigo – Austin, Texas

November 18, 2018November 20, 2018 - Leave a Comment

There are a phalanx of “best of” lists online and in print publications that celebrate restaurants deemed true stand-outs worthy of accolades.  Such lists are obviously very subjective though by no means definitive.  That holds …

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American / California / Dog Friendly / Fine Dining / United States

Spencer’s Restaurant – Palm Springs, California

December 31, 2017July 7, 2018 - 1 Comment

Dean Beck: What do you have against preachers? Clay Spencer: It’s what they preach against I’m against. Dean Beck: I’m afraid I don’t understand? Clay Spencer: They’re against everything I’m for. They don’t allow drinkin’ …

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American / Breakfast / Brunch / California / Dog Friendly / United States

Cheeky’s – Palm Springs, California

December 28, 2017July 7, 2018 - 1 Comment

Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw is widely credited with the aphorism “England and the United States are two nations divided by a common language.” My Kim and I had no idea just how different the …

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American / Arizona / Breakfast / United States

Butters Pancakes & Cafe – Scottsdale, Arizona

December 23, 2017October 13, 2018 - 2 Comments.

“Spread your tiny wings and fly away And take the snow back with you Where it came from on that day So, little snowbird take me with you when you go To the land of …

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Arizona / Rated 24 / Southwestern

The Turquoise Room – Winslow, Arizona

June 22, 2014July 15, 2018 - 24 Comments.

The concept of “fast food” had a far different connotation during the Southwest’s Frontier days than it does today. This is especially true if one traveled via railroad through hundreds of miles of desolate, open …

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California / Fine Dining / Rated 24 / United States

Geoffrey’s Malibu – Malibu, California

June 20, 2014July 15, 2018 - 17 Comments.

The walls at Geoffrey’s Malibu are festooned with copies of whimsical framed “doodles” created by Hollywood celebrities and movie stars who have dined at the posh seaside restaurant. Most are tongue-in-cheek self-portraits which probably speak …

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California / Mexican

La Super Rica Taqueria – Santa Barbara, California

June 19, 2014July 15, 2018 - 13 Comments.

Truly legendary restaurants, those which can legitimately be called institutions–and there are very few of them–don’t just inspire return visits; they inspire pilgrimages. Institutions have generally stood the test of time by remaining consistent over …

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California / Rated 23 / Sandwich

Norton’s Pastrami & Deli – Santa Barbara, California

June 18, 2014July 15, 2018 - 10 Comments.

“I flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami.” ~George Costanza January 14th has been designated “National Hot Pastrami Sandwich day.” The fact that a day has been designated to honor the greatness …

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American / California / Rated 24 / United States

Opal Restaurant and Bar – Santa Barbara, California

June 17, 2014July 15, 2018 - 1 Comment

We’re all familiar with premise of Iron Chef America in which accomplished chefs are pitted against the veritable pantheon of culinary giants who have earned the title of Iron Chef. Can you imagine if one …

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California / Italian / Rated 26

Trattoria Mollie – Montecito, California

June 15, 2014July 15, 2018 - 2 Comments.

In its three best-selling editions–published in 2006, 2008 and 2012–National Geographic’s “Passport to the Best” has enthralled, excited and educated connoisseurs of matters of taste across the globe. With top ten lists in dozens of …

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Sandwich / South Carolina

Butcher & Bee – Charleston, South Carolina

April 18, 2014July 16, 2018 - Leave a Comment

I’m not a sandwich store that only sells turkey sandwiches. I sell a lot of different things. ~Lady Gaga You might expect that a restaurant selected for inclusion on a list of “The 21 Best …

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Pizza / Rated 24 / South Carolina / United States

EVO – North Charleston, South Carolina

April 17, 2014July 16, 2018 - Leave a Comment

America is a pizza obsessed nation. Ninety-three percent of us consume at least one slice of pizza per month and collectively, we each eat some 46 slices of pizza per year. According to Pizza Magazine …

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Closed in 2014 / Gone But Not Forgotten / Soul Food / South Carolina / Southern

Gullah Cuisine – Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (CLOSED)

April 16, 2014July 16, 2018 - 3 Comments.

No culinary tour of South Carolina’s Lowcountry would be complete without sampling Gullah cuisine at least once. In the Lowcountry, Gullah represents several things: people, culture and language. As a people, the Gullah represent a …

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Soul Food / South Carolina / Southern / United States

Magnolias – Charleston, South Carolina

April 15, 2014July 16, 2018 - 3 Comments.

Some four million visitors flock to Charleston, South Carolina every year. Charleston is the beguiling Southern charmer, a siren which lures guests with its storied history, artistic communities, architectural styles (which range from antebellum to …

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S-A Barbecue – Albuquerque, New Mexico

February 22, 2021February 28, 2021

Bamboo Grill – Albuquerque, New Mexico

February 21, 2021February 28, 2021

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February 9, 2021February 25, 2021

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M’Tucci’s Moderno – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

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Upscale Burgers & Shakes – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

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Marigold Cafe – Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Dragon House – Albuquerque, New Mexico

January 9, 2021January 13, 2021

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