Tom M presents...
Good-ass Eats!
These are my favorite niche restaraunts. Let me know if there's some other individual or unique eateries that my limited geographical traveling has prevented me from making the acquaintance of. Thanks chums.
Nick Tahou's
Rochester, NY
Nick Tahou's is home of the infamous and oft-duplicated but never-equaled Garbage Plate. Cheeseburger, home fries, macaroni, hot sauce; all thrown together in a styrafoam container. All you One-Eaters beware!! (reference my diatribe on One-Eaters.) Does it get better than this? Rochester, NY has little to offer, least of all my alma-mater RIT, but it does have Nick Tahou's.
In-N-Out Burger
Sacramento (and other CA locations), California
This is perhaps the greatest burger joint I've ever been too. When I was out in California for six months, a group of us would drive about a half an hour every Friday during our work lunch hour just to attend this place. They have three things on the menu: fries, cheeseburger, double double (2 burgers, 2 cheese). That's it. Nothing fancy. That is, unless you know the secret items not listed on the menu. Yes, there is a huge underground list of items and keywords that you can request that will get you new types of burgers. I didn't believe it myself until I took the advice of my friend and ordered a cheeseburger Animal Style and got the most delicious burger I've ever had. Take a gander at some of the items off of their secret menu.
Dibella's
Rochester, NY
Dibella's is home of the best submarine sandwiches you have ever tasted. I like to think of myself as a bit of a sub connoseur, and I have found nowhere that compares to Dibella's in quality of food and service as well as atmosphere. The restaraunt is run in an old-fashioned motif and looks like an old-time diner. They bake their own bread in-house. Fantastic.
Bill Gray's Restaurant
Rochester, NY
Home of the World's Greatest Cheesburger. Quite a bold claim, indeed, for a place that sounds more like an expensive steak house than a burger joint. I'm not sure if it's the greatest cheeseburger in the world, in the country, or even in the state of New York, but it's pretty damn tasty, especially topped with everything (relish, hot sauce, etc). Ordering a platter gets you a burger, a huge helping of fries, and an equally huge serving of onion rings. Don't think that this is just your average fast food burger joint. The platter will cost you about seven dollars. Drinks are extra. But believe me the cost is worth it. Also, Bill Gray's has an excellent atmosphere, with tv's located throughout and a small game room (where I rock on air hockey). Not to be missed.
Fat Daddy's
Raleigh, NC
Fat Daddy's is the best place to go for burgers in NC. Try their 1/3- pounder. (How do you say that anyway? Like quarter-pounder. Can you say anything besides "one-third" pounder? That just sounds silly.) They hava an in-house bakery and ice-cream parlor. It's a very cool atmosphere and they have a bar underneath the restaraunt with cool live music and a couple Bonzini French-style fooseball tables. And don't forget to adorn yourself with a Fat Daddy's tee shirt.
Miami Grill
Raleigh, NC
This is on this list because there's nowhere else that I've found a decent chicken gyro. Although now that I think of it, the gyros here really aren't that decent. But at least it is a chicken gyro of some sort. Thus, this place makes the list by default. Okay... wait. I recently found a better place in Raleigh. Sam's Deli. Authentic Greek cuisine - the gyros here are superb. Made with real lamb, too. And bonus points for the waitress there actually being Greek. And cute too.