We take you to some of the most unique eateries in New York City that are serving up their twist on comfort food staples. A rowdy meatball joint on the lower east side, a bustling restaurant serving knockout chicken and waffles in Brooklyn, an eco-friendly hot dog haven where the chef makes the condiments from scratch, and a burger and fries shack in the middle of the city that boasts lines down the block every day.
We'll find out why the burger at Minetta Tavern is the most talked about burger in town and what makes this eatery top everyone's reservation hot list. Plus, starred chef Daniel Boulud takes us inside his first downtown eatery for an international tour of his house-made sausages. And, there's nothing more unique than a restaurant that specializes in every kind of grilled meat imaginable - and it's all you can eat.
Visit a pie shop in Brooklyn where they sell by the slice - and are sold out within hours every single day; an ice cream truck that sells artisanal ice creams with specialty ingredients sourced from around the world; and a bakery that filled with treats so good, you'd be shocked to know they never use the usual butter, eggs, milk, or flour.
These are places where the drink list may be long, but the dining is the real reason to visit. We meet the chef who brought the tradition of gastropubs over from England and experience her nose-to-tail cooking. Then, a gastropub that serves American favorites like hot dogs and tater tots, but this fare is far from the ordinary. Plus, a traditional German-style beer hall that boasts the best home-made charcuterie in town.
The meals are hand-held at these hotspots, but the unique flavors are the big attraction. Authentic Mexican cuisine pioneer Rick Bayless celebrates Mexico's most beloved street food and snacks, while two brothers bring decadent Italian toasts to one of New York's hippest neighborhoods. A Top Chef winner turns traditional eastern-european cuisine on its head with inspirations from his own Scottish-Israeli heritage. And a former fine dining chef feeds the need for cheese on the streets of LA - one gourmet grilled cheese sandwich at a time.
Classic American fare gets the royal treatment at these extraordinary spots. Heavy-Metal inspired burgers piled high with the works, mouth-watering, stick-to-your-ribs barbecue in Brooklyn, a downtown L.A. hotspot taking American desserts to new heights, and the creamiest, craziest ice cream creations you can fit on a cone.
Imagination roams free at these amazing dining spots, where food and fantasy meet. A pioneer chef in molecular gastronomy pushes the boundaries between food, science and art at WD-50, while culinary innovator Jose Andres offers up a collection of magical dining experiences entwined in an artistic Spanish-inspired setting at The Bazaar. And get an inside glimpse at an exclusive Hollywood speakeasy, serving "prohibition tea" and tea-inspired tastings to L.A.'s most elite eaters.
Take a tour of the most unique places and spaces in dining today - from a food truck serving the most delectable Korean/Mexican dishes on four wheels, to a LEED-certified bowling-alley-cum-music-venue boasting it's own special Blue Ribbon menu, to a locally-inspired private farm table dinner requiring reservations up to a year in advance.
Classic Italian meets passion, authenticity and innovation at these noteworthy restaurants. Vetri has been called one of the best Italian restaurants in America, presenting simple, fresh, authentic Italian dishes in utterly unique. Chef Nate Appleman, brings gourmet savory and dessert pizzas to Pulino's from brunch to late night, and Porchetta's Sara Jenkins brings this Italian street-food to a tiny Lower East side store front, where "drop-dead-delicious" pork draws a steady stream of the hip and hungry.
Indulge your weekend cravings at some of the most unique brunch spots from the nation's capitol, to New York, to the Pacific Northwest. Check out a do-it yourself pancake house, savor Italian versions of brunch favorites, dive into over-the-top sweets, and treat yourself to an upscale brunch you won't forget.
These are eateries that serve food late into the night, and they are definitely worth staying up late for. Doughnuts like you've never seen before, crepes filled with decadent ingredients, a Korean feast cooked tableside, and a soul-satisfying meal that includes everything from the nose to the tail!
If you like ice cream, you will be wowed by these unique treats. How about bourbon and corn flakes flavored scoops at Humphry Slocombe? Or the sweets at Sweet Rose Creamery where everything from the cones to the chocolate chips are made from scratch? And don't forget to visit the Dairy Godmother for unique ice pop flavors like grilled pineapple and pink peppercorn.
We'll show you unique sandwiches from across the country and the people who make them so special. A Jewish Deli in New York with roots with Montreal is serving up their signature smoked meat. Classically trained French chefs in San Francisco are upgrading some Asian classics while just down the street a hands-on chef from Massachusetts is making everything from scratch. And in Portland, three friends from North Carolina are turning out the best biscuit sandwiches in town.
Give in to your chocolate cravings at these hotspots that make everything you could ever desire in chocolate! From gourmet confections like chocolate fleur de sel toffee, nostalgic baked treats like whoopie pies, outrageous hand formed chocolate salamis, and chocolate sea salt crostatas. These handmade chocolate treats will tantalize your tastebuds.
These unique eateries churn out some of the best street foods on the planet. Enjoy authentic Thai dishes in Portland. Feast on succulent chicken and porchetta from a rolling rotisserie truck in San Francisco. Bite into coconut jam sandwiches in Los Angeles and grab a Belgian waffle to go in Portland.
Farm to table dining has certainly swept the nation, but these locations take the idea of farm to table to the extreme. At Blue Hill at Stone Barns, they take farming to a scientific and educational level, and then turn the fruits of their labor into fine dining. At Dinners at the Farm, you dine under the stars on the very farm where the ingredients were picked moments ago. And at Ubuntu, where the plates are like works of art, even meat eaters eat their vegetables...and love it.
Check out creativity at its best at these eateries where it's not just about the food, but also the unique drinks. A java boutique where coffee drinks come in the most unique flavors; A brew pub where the beer menu reads like a book and the ales are used in the dishes too; to Mexican eatery shaking up margaritas and mezcals in unusual combinations, and a prohibition style gin joint where even the ice is carefully crafted.
Everything is better with cheese, and these restaurants will show you why. Take a tour of a cheese cave and enjoy a world-renowned fondue and cheesecake in New York. Find out how many cheeses can fit into one macaroni and cheese dish in Connecticut. And enjoy some of the most unique and sought-after grilled cheese sandwiches in San Francisco.
Roll up your sleeves and get ready to dive into some of the most unique seafood dishes. A traditional oyster roast and seafood boil prepared right on the water in Charleston, South Carolina. A New York City restaurant that features twenty-five different mussel pots, complete with French fries and bread to sop up all the unique flavors. A cozy restaurant in the heart of Boston's North End where you can get two different lobster rolls and lobster spaghetti. And Montreal, where a Texas chef adds global flavors to his seafood menu.
Find out where all the foodies go to fill their bellies with the best dumplings and noodles in Chicago. Take a seat at the bar and be dazzled by Japanese robata-style cooking in New York City's East Village. Sample creative Chinese cooking like tea-smoked chicken, salt and pepper shrimp and steamed duck egg custards in North Carolina. And step inside a funky retro diner in Boston where a husband and wife team are serving up innovative Cantonese and Taiwanese dishes.
Deli by day, intimate restaurant at night, Torrisi Italian Specialities in New York's Little Italy neighborhood is celebrating Italian-American food but peppered with many modern and delicious twists. Joan's on Third is the go-to gourmet deli in Los Angeles where you can rub elbows with celebrities while devouring a grilled cheese short rib sandwich. The humble hot dog gets a culinary upgrade at Neal's Deli in North Carolina. And for Jewish delicatessen classics just like bubby used to make, step into Eleven City Diner in Chicago.
Pull up a barstool at these unique pubs, where the food is delicious and daring. Joe Beef in Montreal for their signature creamy lobster spaghetti, rich Swedish Meatballs and indulgent Foie Gras Double D. Longman & Eagle in Chicago where there is a critically acclaimed gastropub downstairs and a cozy inn upstairs. Citizen Public House in Boston for the Carpetbagger: filet mignon with fried oysters and oyster butter. It's a step back in time at Henry Public in Brooklyn, New York for preprohibition cocktails and comfort foods like braised turkey sandwiches, and made-to-order doughnuts.
The beloved American comfort food is raised to new culinary heights. At Jane in Montreal, the thick, sweet, chewy pizza crust is a tribute to their city's bagels and they're covered with wild combinations like macaroni and cheese with meatballs, and smoked meat, cheddar and pickles. At Domenica in New Orleans, pizzas are baked in a wood-burning, rotating oven and some are topped with rare Mangalista pork. Pizza lovers cram into Great Lake in Chicago where they feature only three pizzas, and none of them are deep dish. And Neapolitan-style pizza is celebrated in the most delicious ways at Motorino in Brooklyn, New York.
It's a delicious taste of barbecue across America. Whether you like it pulled or chopped, you're guaranteed the best whole hog sandwich made by a legendary pit master in North Carolina. See why people line up early at an Austin eatery that serves the very best Central Texas-style brisket, ribs and something called the "Tipsy Texan." Follow the smoke signals to New Orleans where three Southern brothers cook barbecue tacos and smoked pork cakes in a one hundred year old house. And big global flavors mingle with barbecue at a small restaurant in Williamsburg, New York.
Featuring neighborhood gems that over time have become restaurant legends with a cult following. Willie Mae's Scotch House in New Orleans where they make "America's Best Fried Chicken." Garde Manger in Old Montreal where Chuck Hughes wows his customers with his seafood troughs and lobster poutines. Hominy Grill in South Carolina for the best low country classics morning, noon and night. And Olivia Restaurant where the folks of Austin have their weekend brunch.
Whether you like it fried, roasted, grilled or smoked, we've got a chicken dish you will want to sink your teeth into. Two different styles of Korean fried chicken are the delicious draw at Crisp in Chicago. Approximately 5000 people come to Wright's Farm in Rhode Island on the weekend for their ten dollar, all-you-can-eat roast chicken dinner. Romados in Montreal specializes in Portuguese rotisserie grilled chicken that's slathered with a top-secret sauce. And at Hill Country in New York, chickens and game hens are smoked with Texas post oak and the chickens are dunked in a sticky sweet and tangy barbecue sauce.
If you're hungry for big flavors without breaking the bank, these unique cheap eats will deliver. In the windy city, a honky-tonk whiskey bar serves amazing tacos, and a small restaurant dresses house-made haute hot dogs and sausages with global flavors. In downtown New York, students flock to a delicious Cambodian sandwich shop the size of a dorm room. And in Williamsburg, New York, a quirky Venezuelan restaurant offers seventeen different arepas that will fill you up quickly.
You don't have to go all the way to Europe to have the best bistro fare. In Los Angeles, a hip new restaurant updates French bistro classics. In Boston, seafood is highlighted in the famous Provencal dish bouillabaisse. La Fourchette in South Carolina celebrates hearty French countryside dishes. And at Landmarc in Tribeca, New York, Chef Marc Murphy pays homage to the foods he grew up eating in France and Italy
Longing to take that lunch break? These unique restaurants will encourage you to step out of the office and linger over a leisurely lunch. M. Wells in Long Island City, New York looks like a diner, but there is nothing ordinary about the food and atmosphere. At Parish Cafe in Boston, all the sandwiches are created by a famous local chef. At Valencia Luncheria in Norwalk, Connecticut one bite of the arepa or empanada lunch plate will transport you to the beaches of Venezuela. And in New Orleans, time seems to stop at Boucherie Restaurant so that you can enjoy your po' boys and glazed doughnut bread pudding.
It's the ultimate guilty pleasure. At La Banquise in Montreal, choose from twenty-five different topping to go with your poutine (French fries, cheese curds and gravy). Also in Montreal, a fish and chips shop that offers different fish and unique batters like orange soda and maple syrup. In Brooklyn, New York fried risotto balls go gourmet with unique sweet and savory fillings. And in Austin, Texas big fat doughnuts are piled high with the craziest combinations like deconstructed peach cobbler and fried chicken and honey butter.
Some of the country's best wine bars are serving innovative small plates to go with your glass or bottle. Simple, rustic Italian dishes shine at Terroir in Tribeca, New York. At the Purple Pig in Chicago, a young chef impresses with his Mediterranean menu. At Cochon Butcher in New Orleans, shop for provisions and then have a delicious bite to eat and a glass of wine to sip. And at Max's Wine Dive in Austin, the portions and flavors of their American comfort food menu is anything but small.
When you're out having a drink, you gotta have food to soak it up. So why not dig into something beautifully prepared, utterly unique, and yet still sinfully delicious? Taste a devilish concoction called The New Luther, a hearty and addictive steak and kidney pie, a total twist on chicken wings, and a curious bar snack called Num Nuts.
Excite your palate with a gastronomical weekend in California Wine Country. Indulge in fried chicken at the more casual sister restaurant of a local legend, twirl your fork through unique pasta dishes, make room for amazing Mexican fare done right, and find out how a "Truckstop Deluxe" fits right in, even in the Napa Valley.
You don't need to sacrifice taste to eat cheap at these joints. We're off to Cleveland Ohio for a pulled pork PBLT and squash dumplings; Brooklyn, New York for an outdoor food market with a bevy of satisfying BBQ and biscuits, Washington D.C. for spicy Asian fare, and finally Austin, Texas where the weird tastes wonderful.
We spend a weekend in the city of Brotherly Love and discover some truly unique eats. From exciting Spanish tapas to gut-busting Philly-style sandwiches, an osteria creating inventive Italian classics and an eatery dedicated to fried chicken and doughnuts -- you'll feel as though you have tasted your way across the world.
Dive into the most unique variations of your favorite comfort foods. Double the fun with a pie that's filled with macaroni and cheese, crunch on nachos with a Japanese twist, indulge in doughnuts filled with jelly and fois gras, or end your meal with a good old fashioned chocolate cupcake... with bacon.
Take a tour of restaurants with unique takes on seafood standards. In Philadelphia, oysters are smoked with hay, in Portland Oregon you can savor a potpie filled with local fish and shellfish. And how about a fish sandwich like you've never had before? It's all about the ocean's bounty served in the most one-of-a-kind way.
Find out what the buzz is all about at these dining hot spots across the country. From a San Francisco legend where they're taking Chinese food and turning it on its head, to a New York City favorite where American classics get a twist, to a cozy Portland, Oregon favorite where the menu changes every night. After this, you'll be calling for a reservation.
Join us for a trip down memory lane as we discover restaurants serving dishes that reminiscent of the old days, but with a deliciously modern twist. A renowned chef updates the Asian dishes from his childhood. Another takes good old British pub fare and throws in a curve ball. And then there are savory pies brought to a whole new level, and American BBQ that will reawaken your taste buds.
We're celebrating the best of all worlds with restaurants that mix different ethnic traditions to create new and unique flavors. A chef in Houston combines Texas tradition with Italian standards. In Las Vegas, burgers are flavored with Asian ingredients. Japanese-Peruvian dishes are all the buzz at a Los Angeles hot spot. It's a mouth-watering journey of culinary mash-ups.
Go off the beaten path in this episode and visit extraordinary eateries that are unknown to the average tourist. A rustic Italian restaurant in Staten Island where the nonnas are in charge, a perfect pizza joint outside the bright lights of Las Vegas, a dining destination only for those in the know in Hawaii, and a cool spot for shaved ice under the palm trees.
Everyone knows Vegas for its bright lights, humming slot machines, and big shows. But if you play your cards right, you can also eat at some of the most interesting, delicious and unique restaurants. We're going on and off the strip to discover those eateries. After this, you'll be convinced to spend an evening outside of the casino.
We feature restaurants who are pushing the envelope on some of America's beloved comfort foods. Plan Check in Los Angeles, CA offers the most indulgent burgers, fried chicken, and pastrami sandwiches, plus a unique towering donut dessert. A food truck in Nashville, TN uses big fat biscuits for hearty sweet and savory sandwiches. Cold fried chicken and baked potatoes are transformed into imaginative pizzas at Pete Zaaz in Brooklyn, NY. And in Atlanta, GA guilty pleasures can be found in creative hot dogs, sausages and fries at HD1.
Yardbird in Miami gives a taste of the true south with its unique fried chicken and fried green tomatoes. Dinic's in Philadelphia's Reading Terminal has been serving up some of the best old school sandwiches to crowds for decades. In New York, old school meats new school at Quality Meats steakhouse, and La Camaronera in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami honors a family seafood tradition.
Atlanta is a hotbed for unique eats. Heirloom Market BBQ brings together Korean and American barbecue in a quirky roadside eatery. Seafood dishes are brought to delicious new heights at swank newcomer The Optimist. Cozy corner restaurant One Eared Stag serves edgy American food. And Abattoir adds global touches to Southern dishes.
Americans continues to pine over all things swine. Korean restaurant Palsaik in Los Angeles serves bacon in eight different flavors. Martin's Bar-B-Q in Nashville smokes whole hog right in the center of their dining room. At Cemitas Puebla in Chicago, diners sink their teeth on quesadillas stuffed with chicharones or their signature Mexican sandwich stuffed with sliced deli ham, fried pork and grilled pork. NYC's The Cannibal celebrates nose-to-tail eating with their whole slow-roasted half pig's head, whipped lardo toast and boudin noir sausages.
Chicago continues to draw hungry foodies from all corners of the country with their innovative restaurants. Publican Quality Meats sells farm-raised meats and housemade charcuterie from their butcher counter, but the real draw is the hearty, meat-filled sandwiches. Yusho creates a buzz with their creative Asian-inspired street food. Antique Taco in Wicker Park offers authentic Mexican tacos and classic American comforts foods with a Mexican twist. Familiar brunch dishes get a fine-dining makeover at the Trenchermen.
In Austin, chef Paul Qui is keeping it weird and uniquely delicious at East Side King. In New York City's Atera, chef Matt Lightner and his kitchen are the stars of this jewel-like culinary theater. In Philadelphia, a well known innovator keeps it kosher while wowing the crowds, and in Los Angeles, a couple has gone from illegal dinners in their apartment, to a full-fledged restaurant serving irresistible pan-Asian fare.
Parm in New York City's Little Italy dishes out classic Italian-American sandwiches and bring out the kid in all of us with their colorful ice cream sandwich cake. Italian comfort food is paired with beer at gastropub Alla Spina in Philadelphia. Superba Snack Bar in Venice, CA crafts their own fresh and dried pastas using unusual ingredients and cooking techniques. City House in Nashville puts a Southern twist on Italian sausages and seafood and uses leftover pizza dough to create bread dumpling-like gnocchi.
We all love classic dishes but they are all the more special when thoughtful chefs rethink and reinvent them into something completely new and unique. The Wakin' and Bakin' Brunch at Miami's Eating House has something new and interesting for both savory and sweet lovers. Lucy's Fried Chicken in Austin spruces up the traditional fried chicken dinner with lots of creative fixings and sides. Josh's Deli in Surfside Florida brings the traditional Jewish deli to a whole new level, reinventing the ubiquitous matzoh ball into gnocchi. And Easy Tiger in Austin combines an artisanal bakery with a beer hall.
In Austin, Texas an authentic ramen house is taking classic broths and adding intense flavors that Texans will enjoy. At Pubbelly in Miami the pig is big and served at this gastropub in unique Asian-inspired ways. Traditional Thai food has reached the people of Austin and they couldn't be happier with Sway. And in Brooklyn, Dassara is transforming brunch favorites like bagels and lox into an Asian noodle dish.
Why not sample everything on the menu when it comes in the form of small bites. My Ceviche in Miami Beach keeps it light with the freshest local fish and zesty dressings that define the traditionally Latin-American ceviche dishes. Barley Swine in Austin features 13-15 small plates a day, each one highlighting a few specific ingredients bought at the local farmer's market. Amis in Philadelphia puts a twist on classic Roman trattoria food where diners are encouraged to order several dishes to share. Momo Sushi Shack in Bushwick Brooklyn serves sushi and dumplings that have Manhattanites crawling through the tunnel to try.
The lunch hour just got a little longer because the dishes at these restaurants are meant to be savored. Perla in New York City's West Village serves rich Italian sandwiches and delicious pizzas. It's all about the unique "baco" sandwich served daily at Baco Mercat in downtown Los Angeles. At Local Three Kitchen and Bar, diners order fast food classics without the guilt because only fresh, top-quality ingredients are used. Merchants Restaurant in downtown Nashville is a quiet retreat from bustling Broadway and serves elegant Southern food.
Authentic global flavors can be savored right here in America. Folks craving Mediterranean and Israeli food flock to charming Balaboosta in New York City. Popular Nashville food truck Riff's Fine Street Food marries Caribbean and Asian flavors. At Cook's Torta in Los Angeles, there's always a crowd for their Latin-style sandwiches. Pecking Order in Chicago serves Filipino-style chicken that comes roasted, grilled or fried.
The borough of Brooklyn is the new rival to Manhattan on NYC's dining scene. Celebrated chefs like Elizabeth Falkner are moving to Brooklyn to make their NYC debuts; her pizzeria Krescendo has grabbed the entire pizza-crazy city's attention with creations like Finoccio Flower Power Pizza. Court Street Grocers takes on another NYC institution - the deli sandwich - and raises it to new heights. La Vara is owned by a husband-and-wife team who already have two successful Manhattan eateries, but they turned to Brooklyn to open their most imaginative take yet on Spanish food. And Brooklyn's diversity even makes room for Southern hospitality at Pies-n-Thighs, a down-home fried-chicken joint in the shadows of the Williamsburg Bridge.