How I know Diners, Drive In's and Dives is BS

This episode also featured the Anchor Bar, in Superior, Wisconsin (way up north). I have been eating and drinking there for 20+ years, and it _is_ everything it is cracked up to be. The place is awesome, and a total dive bar.

You can get a 1/3# cheeseburger (made with fresh beef ground for them daily at Superior Meats), fries cut to order (I don't mean just cooked to order, but actually cut after you order), and a 34oz mug of Grainbelt for ~$7. Whenever I fly home to visit the family, we stop there on the way home from the airport or on the way to the airport.

It is near the docks (Duluth/Superior is the world's largest freshwater port) in the shadiest part of town, and the walls are decorated with things sailors have bartered over the years when they didn't have money to buy food or beer.

 

I frequent several of the Chicago restaurants they've featured over the years, and every one is as fantastic as it looks. One of them, The Depot American Diner, was going through some tough times just before DD&D's arrival, and a local foodie forum really stepped up for them to get the word out and fill the tables for the taping.

I'm sure the experiences of some will vary, but at least in Chicago's case they've picked the right restaurants to feature and have really hit on a great segment of the city's culinary scene.

 

Likewise, the places he's been to in Boise are all great and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of them (I've been to three) to family and friends. Bar Gernika (Basque pub), West Side Drive-In and Pizzalchik.

 

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Chicago is our favorite place. We've hit a number of places from Food Network shows (Kuma's Korner, Al's #1 Italian Beef, Gino's East).

Would you mind throwing out some suggestions? We'd love to try some new places in the Spring.

 

We left Chicago about 6 years ago, but this is what I still crave:

- Uncle Julio's Hacienda (North & Clyborn): best beef fajitas, chips & salsa EVAR
- Lou Malnati's (several locations): Pizza
- Iberico (LaSalle & Chicago): Tapas (Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, on Halsted, has a nice outdoor area, but I like the food at Iberico better)
- Duke of Perth (Clark, N of Diversey): Scottish pub food, great Scotch bar

 

I've been to half a dozen DD&D places, all have lived up to the hype.

 

I live abut two miles from All American.

I've always thought DD&D should go there. Although it would just get more crowded, which we don't need.

I've been to the Pit Stop and thought it was good, but not worth the trip for me. Especially when All American is so close.

 

At last count, I've been to about a third of the places that DDD has been (hey, I get around).

Some are worth the hype. Some aren't. Some are *sometimes* (like when a DDD crew shows up) but not on others. I'd say he hits a lot more than he misses.

I won't criticize too much. Heck, I know that a lot of people don't like some of the places that I do, either. You can't please all the people all the time. One person's feast is another's meh.

 

Indeed, I love Anchor Bar in Superior. Too bad I don't get out that way much any more.

Other places that I particularly like that were on DDD include:

1. Al's Breakfast in Minneapolis. My favorite breakfast place on the planet.
2. Psycho Suzie's Motor Lounge, Minneapolis
3. Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, NH. Considering that some of the night staff know me by name...
4. Joe's Cable Car, San Francisco. Better burgers to be had, but it is an enjoyable spot with a very good burger.
5. Matt's Big Breakfast, Phoenix. Another one of my top 10 breakfast joints.
6. Joe's Farm Grill, Gilbert, AZ. Really good burgers, served up in a farm.

 

I've also been to a few of the places featured and they were all good.

The Shed - Ocean Springs, MS

I absolutely love this place, and my nephew used to work there years ago after it first opened. Now it's famous, helped by the DDD appearance, and has several other locations.

But anyplace that is happy to be called a "dive" isn't going to appeal to everyone. I'm sure a lot of places are hit and miss.

 

I saw one where he went to a taco truck in San Jose. I looked it up and stopped there on a drive down south (about 45 minutes) and man was it good-one of the best burritos I've ever had!

 

The two places in CLT that I know of this show has featured are both great, I would recomend them for sure.

Maybe your place is a dud.

 

When are you goin in the Spring?

 

I've only been to two places featured on DD&D. Both were excellent.

Metro Diner in Jacksonville, FL - The best breakfast I've ever had. Including home cooked meals. I barely finished my plate (which is rare for me). The waffles on the kids menu would have been enough for an adult.

Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint in Nashville, TN - Very good meal. The ribs were great!

 

Have you been to Smoque?

 

I also live close to All American and really don't like it at all. I know it's always crowded but i just don't get what people see in it. I guess it just shows that what is one persons idea of great food is anothers idea of overrated not so great food.

 

Whenever I'm traveling, I go to the DD&D website and look to see if the town has any places on his list. We found great places in Austin (Eastside Cafe) and New Orleans (Joey K's) that way.

 

I have indeed, many times. The brisket, peach cobbler, and mac and cheese are all amazing.

 

Here's a great site for all the food network shows. It scrapes the websites of the shows, and arranges them in order of your location.
http://www.famousfood.us/