GTKY - TV Restuarants

henderson1026

Has anyone ever been to a restaurant they saw on TV - such as Diners, Drive-ins & Dives?  Did it live up to your expectations?

I've never been to any of them - it seems all the DC ones featured are in neighborhoods I don't want to go to for one reason or another.

ktballz

I've gone to a couple, some I found out were on the show after I went and some I went to because I saw them on the show. Mostly it's been hit or miss but if I had heard of the place from another source as well the food was usually better. I hope that makes sense.

WildRumpus

Yep! I'm in STL, and we've actually had quite a few show up.

Bailey's Chocolate Bar-Drinking Made Easy (Totally lived up to expectations!)
Blueberry Hill-Drinking Made Easy (Good, not great)
Donut Drive In- DD&D (AWESOME apple fritters)
Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard-quite a few shows actually (Honestly, not impressed)
Schlafly Tap Room-Drinking Made Easy (Pumpkin Ale...need I say more?)
Jilly's Cupcake Bar-Cupcake Wars (Oh yes...they've won 2 times, for good reason)

I know there are a ton more, those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head

WildRumpus

Oh, Fitz's as well; Rachel Ray visited

lkobriant

We actually used to (and still do when we visit CT) frequent a pizza place that was on Man vs Food, but we went long before it was on the show, same with a BBQ place in AR.  They're both fabulous!! 

But I agree, I've heard so many wonderful things about Ben's Chili Bowl in DC but we've never been, we're just never in that part of town.  @henderson1026 if you ever need a pretty good Italian/Pizza place Ella's Wood Fired Pizza (F & 9th, across from the art museum) is wonderful!  We don't make a trip down there without grabbing lunch first!

henderson1026

thanks @ikobriant, we rarely go into DC, but that's pretty close to the touristy stuff.

girlmama83

I cannot think of the name of it.. maybe it is called the merit canteen?? But it's in CT and I've seen it featured on that show. I went there when visiting my BFF at college.

BelhurstBride

If I have it wasn't intentional. 

bendicott7

@Jill9288, that pumpkin ale sounds delicious!!!!!

We have been to Primanti Brothers and that was pretty darn good.  I think that was on DDD.

WildRumpus

@Bendicott, it is. I'm glad I won't be missing out on the fall beers, especially since I've missed out on all of the yummy summer ones. Oh Summer Shandy...
(

lefender

I've been to a few, DH and I like to try them out.
Bens Chilli Bowl -DC- (@lkobriant and @henderson1026 it was very very good but totally in a sketchy area, there was a shooting a block away the day we went and we had to walk back to the metro a different way.) I have a weakness for a good hotdog, and they have phenomenal half smokes.
The Penguin- Charlotte, NC- I used to work next to this dive and it was awesome, their fried pickles and pimento grilled cheese was to die for. It's under new management now though so I don't know if it's still as good.
Dish- Charlotte, NC- Also really good but I didn't love it as much as the penguin. It had some really good southern comfort food.
Obrycki's- Baltimore, MD- Known for MD crabs, super tasty but expensive. I think they closed the one in downtown baltimore but the one at BWI is still open.

MinnesotaMomma91

Ive been to voodoo donuts from man vs food. I used to live in southern oregon and we used to make road trips up to portland.

Im obsessed with their chocoloate donuts with cocoa puffs on top. I miss voodoo donuts. Why cant we have one in mn.

coastalchristina

I've been to a few: Melt, Cleveland, OH (man vs food, ddd,& cheese paradise) (really good different grilled cheese sandwiches) Zunzi, Savannah, GA (man vs food) (love the food)

theatrelily

My husband and I went to Oceana Grill in New Orleans, which was featured on Kitchen Nightmares; we went AFTER the transformation, and the food was pretty decent. 

We also went to the Acme Oyster House, which Adam Richmond went to on Man vs. Food; I still have dreams of their fried, soft-shell crabs.

And, of course, we went to Cafe du Monde, which has been featured on several shows. The beignets and cafe au lait were great, but there was actually another place in the French Quarter whose coffee and beignets were better (in my opinion).

amandarins

I've been to several I'm sure...I live in Las Vegas and it seems like every place has been on tv

Bunnyfer

We saw a Restaurant Impossible episode that was filmed about 45min from home that we were going to visit...found out they closed down 5mo after the renovation.

I have been to Geno's in S Philly thougjh

jenniferw91

We recently went to The Shed BBQ and it was amazing! We first saw it on diners, dine-ins, and dives and wanted to go so on the way to the beach we stopped for lunch and were very very pleased.

jenniferw91

theatrelily said:

My husband and I went to Oceana Grill in New Orleans, which was featured on Kitchen Nightmares; we went AFTER the transformation, and the food was pretty decent. 

We also went to the Acme Oyster House, which Adam Richmond went to on Man vs. Food; I still have dreams of their fried, soft-shell crabs.

And, of course, we went to Cafe du Monde, which has been featured on several shows. The beignets and cafe au lait were great, but there was actually another place in the French Quarter whose coffee and beignets were better (in my opinion).

What is the name of the place better than Cafe du Monde?

henderson1026

jenniferw91 said:

We recently went to The Shed BBQ and it was amazing! We first saw it on diners, dine-ins, and dives and wanted to go so on the way to the beach we stopped for lunch and were very very pleased.

just saw commercials that they are getting their own show today

lkobriant

She'sGotAWay said:

I have been to the Blue Moon Cafe and Brick Oven Pizza, both of which are in Baltimore. They were featured on Triple D. Blue Moon Cafe has the Cap'n Crunch French Toast. It is LEGIT.

I had no idea the Blue Moon was on triple D. We've been there lots of times...super yummy!!

manditxg

we went to the salty dog in sarasota that was on man vs. food.  can't go wrong with deep fried hot dogs though.  

jenniferw91

henderson1026 said:

jenniferw91 said:

We recently went to The Shed BBQ and it was amazing! We first saw it on diners, dine-ins, and dives and wanted to go so on the way to the beach we stopped for lunch and were very very pleased.

just saw commercials that they are getting their own show today


Hmm imma have to look into that. DH would be so excited lol.

jbbolton

Yes I went to Victors 1957 Cafe which is a Cuban place in Minneapolis last summer while on a work trip. It was amazing!!

LokiLahve

When we were in Maui a surf instructor told us about this little fish stand shack he recommended (no way ill remember the name). So we went and I can tell you they have THE BEST fresh mahi sandwich you will ever have in your life. Then I saw it on D&D a few months later.

theatrelily

jenniferw91 : It was "Cafe Beignet" on Royal. Great food. It's a bit small, crowded, and looks like a little hole in the wall kind of place, but there's additional seating outside in a side patio you can't really see well from the road.

I liked it much better than the factory-touristy feel of "Cafe du Monde".

lialakacz

When we went on our honeymoon, we went to the Pizza place in Rome from Anthony Bourdain's layover.  We also went to Cambi in Florence after seeing it on Rick Steve's show.  

In DC: Ben's Chili bowl is great, and it's not in that bad of part of town.  Plus, they serve their food at the National's baseball stadium...So just go to a ball game