"All you can EAT!" A regional/state thing?

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

However, the people I know in real life, how much food you get on your plate is a restaurant's biggest selling point.

So typical of Americans.

I avoid the all-you-can-eat buffets. I much prefer a locally-owned restaurant with unique food and smaller portions -- and so do 90% of my friends.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Buffets usually aren't my thing. The only time I'll really eat at a buffet is breakfast/brunch...they don't make me nervous the way dinner buffets do. We have Old Country Buffet around here, but I've never been to one. Other than that, the only buffets I can think of around here are chinese food and sushi buffets, the sushi buffets being very popular. The one buffet that is AWESOME is weekend brunch at Salty's in Seattle, which is gourmet fancy shmancy (http://www.saltys.com/food_wine/best_brunch.asp)

[ComradesTrue]

As someone who has lived in 2 of the fattest states in the union (TN and TX) and someone who lived in the #2 fattest city in America (Dallas) I have certainly seen a buffet restaurant or two in my time.

Loved reading the stories about Pancho's. Haven't been there since I was a kid, but raising the flag was always a highlight.

I do avoid the Golden Corral type places, but have ventured into some of the "better" (relative term) Chinese buffets. This is not because I want some huge portion, but rather I enjoy a "sampler" platter. Just a few bites of many different menu offerings.

Because I have a toddler, we do find ourselves regularly in a Cici's. Keeps him happy and I have had worse. (the key here is to ask for a specific type of pizza, which they are happy to make special for you. Then no one else has sneezed on it, touched it, etc.)

Dallas had a decent all you can eat Sushi place, and they also had Fogo de Chao which is a nice Brazillian meat fest with locations in larger cities across the US. So I won't paint all buffets/all you can eats with the same brush.

What really makes me ill are watching the people in the all-U-can-eat lines on Cruises... they are a breed all their own and really do personify the "fat and lazy American." Observing those cows is far worse than anything that I have seen at the Chinese buffet or Cici's, and that is saying a LOT!

[EEKappa]

I'm getting all misty-eyed reading about Pancho's! Oh, those sour cream enchiladas, and the sopapillas. Mmm. When I lived in Atlanta there was a restaurant with a salad and dessert buffet that always had a mountain of chocolate mousse. We loved it for chapter functions.

I also live in New England, and the only buffets we see in my area are lunch buffets at Indian and Chinese restaurants. When we travel and eat at a really quality place, my husband always says that we need to open a good restaurant in town. I remind him that there wouldn't be a market for it with all the people lining up outside Olive Garden to wait an hour for unlimited soup and breadsticks.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

So typical of Americans.

I avoid the all-you-can-eat buffets. I much prefer a locally-owned restaurant with unique food and smaller portions -- and so do 90% of my friends.

Unique food? I tend to avoid places that advertise "unique cuisine," as the prices at those places tend to be as inflated as the culinary egos and the snobbery. That, and the food is rarely if ever "unique."

I'll eat wherever my family and I are in the mood to eat. Sometimes that's a nice restaurant, sometimes it a place that's quick and easy. Sometimes it's a local hangout, sometimes it's a chain. Sometimes it's a place to get dressed up for, sometimes I'm peeling my own shrimp. Sometimes it's "American cuisine," sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's even a buffet (which can be a plus with kids) -- either the "trough" kind or the Sunday after-church very nice kind.

Every restuarant may not have good food, but good food can be found in any kind of restaurant -- even the troughs.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Unique food? I tend to avoid places that advertise "unique cuisine," as the prices at those places tend to be as inflated as the culinary egos and the snobbery. That, and the food is rarely if ever "unique."

I really meant more -- well-prepared food or a place that gives a twist to a traditional dish.

Truly, I love the fine dining experience as much as a burger at a local hole-in-the-wall place.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Unique food? I tend to avoid places that advertise "unique cuisine," as the prices at those places tend to be as inflated as the culinary egos and the snobbery. That, and the food is rarely if ever "unique."

I totally agree with you!! I try to stay away from places that say "unique cuisine" or "authentic _____ cuisine." The summer I turned 15, I was traveling to Dallas with my family. As we passed Midland, we decided to stop and grab some food. We found a restaurant that said "authentic Mexican food." Well we didn't think anything of it, so we went in to eat. It was THE WORST food i've ever had. And totally NOT Mexican at all. the flautas were eggrolls, the quesadilla my cousin ordered was just one large tortilla chip covered in Velvetta. I shudder just thinking about it.

I hate it when people claim to know how to cook certain foods (well mainly Mexican food) but it's totally wrong.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by epchick

the flautas were eggrolls, the quesadilla my cousin ordered was just one large tortilla chip covered in Velvetta. I shudder just thinking about it.

After growing up in Texas with a fondness for Mexican food, I ventured to Virginia for graduate school.

Not long after arriving I was lamenting that I was really missing some good Mexican food. A friendly classmate, who was from Baltimore, tried to be helpful: "What do you mean there is no Mexican food here... we have a Chili's!"

Sigh.

Originally Posted by epchick

I hate it when people claim to know how to cook certain foods (well mainly Mexican food) but it's totally wrong.

If there is not a huge tub of lard involved in making my flour tortillas, then they ain't tortillas. Bonus points if the lady making them is the matriarch of the family and doesn't speak a lick of English. Love those sweet ladies....

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by Blondie93

After growing up in Texas with a fondness for Mexican food, I ventured to Virginia for graduate school.

Not long after arriving I was lamenting that I was really missing some good Mexican food. A friendly classmate who was from Baltimore tried to be helpful: "What do you mean there is no Mexican food here... we have a Chili's!"

Sigh.



If there is not a huge tub of lard involved in making my flour tortillas, then they ain't tortillas. Bonus points if the lady making them is the matriarch of the family and doesn't speak a lick of English. Love those sweet ladies....

Tex-Mex rules to live by -

1.) Understand that Tex-Mex is not Mex-Mex. Mexico has a rich and varied cuisine, which bears little resemblance to Tex-Mex.

2.) You cannot get good Tex-Mex outside of Texas. Yes, the restaurant may be owned by Mexicans, but that does not mean the food will be up to true Tex-Mex standards. I cannot count the bad experiences I have had all over the country because well-meaning friends are convinced I will LOVE their local Mexican restaurant. Thanks for trying - I need to go home to Texas.

3.) A good Tex-Mex restaurant makes their own tortillas (by HAND, not machine) and fries said tortillas to make chips. Bagged chips = NO. Salsa or pico out of a jar = no.

4.) Fajitas are made of skirt steak or chicken. Lobster fajitas are an abomination.

Herbert's Taco Hut in San Marcos is just about PERFECT - started as a Mexican grocery, started selling prepared food, added on to the grocery store in several stages. It is like a rabbit warren. Black velvet painting of Jesus amongst the cosmos over the jukebox, little Mexican women patting out the tortillas, two beer limit with dinner, and CHEAP as free. Yummmm. . . it is also out of the way, so tends to draw a local crowd. I need me some cheese enchildas now.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Tex-Mex....

Ewwww.....As much as i like certain "tex-mex" concoctions, it still isn't Mexican food, and shouldn't be claimed as such.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by epchick

Ewwww.....As much as i like certain "tex-mex" concoctions, it still isn't Mexican food, and shouldn't be claimed as such.

That's why it is Tex-Mex, and strictly Mexican food is Mex-Mex.

My aunt married into a large Mexican family, and "Mama" taught her to make authentic Mex-Mex food. It is AMAZING.


eta - here's a link - scroll down to see Herbert's. Oh - and The Green Parrot, infamous Gamma Phi hang-out "back in the day".
http://www.texcenproperties.com/san-...photo-tour.htm

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

4.) Fajitas are made of skirt steak or chicken. Lobster fajitas are an abomination.

Ever been to Puerto Nuevo? Some of the best Mexican food I've ever had -- and lobster is their specialty!

http://www.bajalife.com/bordercrossi...nglobster.html

...but, I do know what you're saying -- it always makes me laugh when I see a "spinach & mushroom burrito" on the menu of an authentic mexican restaurant.

Oh, and I would dearly LOVE to experience Herbert's in San Marcos someday!

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Tex-Mex rules to live by -

1.) Understand that Tex-Mex is not Mex-Mex. Mexico has a rich and varied cuisine, which bears little resemblance to Tex-Mex.

2.) You cannot get good Tex-Mex outside of Texas. Yes, the restaurant may be owned by Mexicans, but that does not mean the food will be up to true Tex-Mex standards. I cannot count the bad experiences I have had all over the country because well-meaning friends are convinced I will LOVE their local Mexican restaurant. Thanks for trying - I need to go home to Texas.

3.) A good Tex-Mex restaurant makes their own tortillas (by HAND, not machine) and fries said tortillas to make chips. Bagged chips = NO. Salsa or pico out of a jar = no.

4.) Fajitas are made of skirt steak or chicken. Lobster fajitas are an abomination.

Herbert's Taco Hut in San Marcos is just about PERFECT - started as a Mexican grocery, started selling prepared food, added on to the grocery store in several stages. It is like a rabbit warren. Black velvet painting of Jesus amongst the cosmos over the jukebox, little Mexican women patting out the tortillas, two beer limit with dinner, and CHEAP as free. Yummmm. . . it is also out of the way, so tends to draw a local crowd. I need me some cheese enchildas now.

This sounds like one of my rants when people try to say that the Olive Garden is real Italian food.

ETA: Or when they try to tell me Legal Seafood still has the best chowder in Boston...but that's just a personal thing...

[alum]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

This sounds like one of my rants when people try to say that the Olive Garden is real Italian food.

ETA: Or when they try to tell me Legal Seafood still has the best chowder in Boston...but that's just a personal thing...

I miss Hanover Street.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

This sounds like one of my rants when people try to say that the Olive Garden is real Italian food.

Or Bravo. I don't care if it says "Italian Kitchen" in the name.