If you could snap your fingers and get take out from any restaurant anywhere, what'll ya have?

[NightWatcher]

I'd take a oyster and shrimp poboy from any one of a dozen places back in New Orleans.

[MontanaMama]

1. Steamer clams from

Pier 101 in Lincoln City, OR. The best, most unique broth I've ever tasted with steamers. I've even dream about those clams sometimes. I have tried for years to duplicate it and I haven't nailed it.

[asiliveandbreathe]

16. Oh sure, my favorite..a bucket of steamed little neck clams

from New England, which are larger than little neck clams in Washington...NO to clam strips..as she said land locked in AZ..just can't afford them here when they are ever available..maybe 4 to a lb.

As a little girl..dad and I would dig for clams in Ipswich MA..just steam in water and salt..when he got quahogs clams for chowder, he would put them in a bed of soda crackers (the clams would open and the sand would be removed from the clams), in the refrig veggie bin, over night..and then just steam them in water and salt...many recipes on line...how to...many different flavors..but the clams make their own broth....

[asiliveandbreathe]

2. From Zushi.....Mesa AZ....best in town....

Z" SPECIAL*
Spicy Tuna, Cilantro, Avocado, Cucumber inside. Butter Fish on top dotted w/ shaved Jalapeno slices & drizzled w/ Wasabi Cream, Lemon Balsamic sauce.

Or....

RED MOUNTAIN*
Crab, Avocado, Cucumber inside. Deep Fried. Topped w/ Salmon, Tuna, Shrimp. Tossed in VERY SPICY Creamy Sauce

[Doreen]

4. Please, please, please let me come with you.

[asiliveandbreathe]

5. If you are ever in AZ..this sushi restaurant is in NE Mesa..

http://zushiaz.com/

Menu at link....not sure if they deliver...oh and tempora..yum....

[Doreen]

13. Damn...I am in Washington state.

[asiliveandbreathe]

20. I loved Washington..fish peir etc etc..son had just returned from

6 months tour at sea, January 2002...drove to Wash. from AZ..(this was after 911)..I haven't flown since..we met him at the dock in Arlington...toured North to Deception Pass.. - all the ferry's - Oh my..loved it...if I could, my ideal location would be somewhere on the coast of Oregon or Washington....the only reason I don't , hubby - but then??..only kidding..

Depending where in Wash. state you are..google Best Sushi in Washington State..looks like there are many...

[pnwest]

3. Hung Su Gai from The Lotus Garden in

Greenwood, Indiana. Believe it or not! Family owned Chinese restaurant in business for 50+ years, food to DIE for.

Or - my fave pizza from Grimaldi’s. Wood-fired brick ovens lend a smoky sweetness to their seasoned THIN pizza crust, topped with white sauce, pesto, chicken, artichokes, black olives, sliced tomatoes, spinach and feta.

[True Blue American]

7. Chicken salad

From Aunt Catfish in Daytona Beach or Clam Chowder from Boston.

I am not an exotic eater, but do love Chinese.

[rampartc]

6. had the oyster po boy from jack dempsey's a few days ago

grilled oysters from acme last week.

what we don't have great in new orleans is barbecue. i'd like to beam down a rack of ribs from "pig out" in natchez or "country's" in auburn al.

[The Polack MSgt]

8. Hotate (Giant Scallops) Sashimi and grilled frills from Yama to Umi resturant

Hachinohe City (Aomori Prefecture)

I looked for a video to share but could only find a clip of grilled scallops from Osaka.

Those hotate are the warm water version - so they are not very big - Up in Aomorii on the North coast these Scallops get LARGE.

The frills are strung together on yakitori sticks and charcoal grilled with salt and uzu juice

I've never had better seafood than in northern Japan - Never before or since

[peacefreak2.0]

15. Those look outrageous!

I'm looking forward to some Digby scallops in a couple of weeks.

[pangaia]

54. I go to japan 3-4 times a year,,usually Kyoto... must go to Hokkaido soon..

[safeinOhio]

9. I'd be happy with a couple

of West Coast fast food fish tacos. Can not find in Mid-West anywhere.

[Adsos Letter]

10. A chicken dish I had in Rome last year.

I can’t remember the name of the place (my daughter made the reservation about six months in advance) but it wasn’t in a touristy area.

Easily the best single dish that I have ever eaten.

[Ohiogal]

11. From The Fish House

in Key Largo, Fla,

Fresh yellowtail snapper dusted with flour, dipped in egg wash, and sautéed in butter, lemon, and sherry. And a piece of key lime pie for dessert. HEAVEN!

[a kennedy]

32. OMGOSH I WAS THERE!!!!

forget what we had....it was 10 years ago, but loved all the wiener dogs all over Key West. Sorry thought you were saying Key West.

[True Blue American]

47. I did forget about the fish at the Point in Daytona.:)

And the Cinnamon tea!

[Doreen]

12. Osaka in Lacy Washington for the best damn Sushi in Thurston county.

Then JJ's Teriyaki in Centralia Washington which is also a Sushi bar is the best one....uhh...only one there.

[unblock]

14. once in iceland on a business trip, i was treated to an amazing 9-course meal

it was at that point the best meal of my life. most courses had little mousse vegetables or something, and the seafood was fresh caught and amazing.

the only restaurant that ever outdid that was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, i took mrs. unblock to the london, gordon ramsey's restaurant in new york city, for our 10th anniversary. it was out of this world, but so was the bill; hence, once in a lifetime....

[True Blue American]

48. But,oh, I love that fowl mouthed Gordon!

Watch him on Pluto.

[peacefreak2.0]

17. A dozen oysters

At Islay Ales, Bridgend.

[C_U_L8R]

18. Chicken croquettes and clam strips from HoJo's.

And a stop by Dog-N-Suds for a gallon of root beer.

[Skittles]

19. from a REAL Jewish diner

Matzah Ball soup, bagels and latkes - mmmmmm

[Docreed2003]

21. Arnauds...sticking with the NOLA theme

Filet with lump crab meat and bernaise

[RainCaster]

22. A hot pastrami sandwich from a NY deli

Or alligator gumbo and fried chicken livers from New Orleans.

[pangaia]

55. Katz's now ships !!!!

[dameatball]

23. A big greasy paper bag full of Seabreeze Restaurant Deviled Crabs, along with a bottle of hot sauce

and some cold drinks (in Dad's borrowed 67 Pontiac convertible of course). We used to get those as carry out when I was a kid. Although the restaurant is now closed, I have heard that a former employee sells their original recipe Devil Crabs out of a food truck somewhere around town. Next time I'm in Tampa I will try and find it.

[BootinUp]

24. Filet and baked potato from the Hereford Barn

Charlotte NC

[Sherman A1]

25. Getting a steak & shrimp dinner

tonight from the VFW Hall. Beyond that I would say a Raspberry Pork dinner from Hendel's in Florissant, MO.

[justhanginon]

42. Thanks for the reminder about Hendel's. I used to live in Florissant

many moons ago and had dinner there a few times and always enjoyed it. I live on the other side of the river now, outside Edwardsville, but will give Hendel's a shot when I am over in that area sometime. Aaaah memories!

[Sherman A1]

43. Certainly

Just there a few weeks ago. It’s always good.

[fierywoman]

26. Something from Henry's Hunan in San Francisco.

[handmade34]

27. Baba ghanoush

from Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet in Houston (or the Woodlands)

[qazplm135]

28. fried chicken

from this little shack near university of houston.

[htuttle]

29. Thin crust pizza from Zaffiro's bar on Farwell in Milwaukee

[htuttle]

31. Or...Ponza Rotta from Jimmy's Grotto in Waukesha

It's a pizza, folded in half and deep fried.

[lkinwi]

36. Yes!!!! They are great!!!

Unfortunately, diabetes makes me stay away when I’m visiting family in the area.

[blm]

30. Plate of beef ribs from Dr Hoggly Woggly's Barbeque in North Hills, Ca

With macaroni salad and beans

[Cartoonist]

33. Portillo's

Now a huge chain around Chicago. They have Italian beef sandwiches that are only available in the midwest.

[Cirque du So-What]

34. Soft shell crab sammich from Ocean City, MD

I dream about them occasionally.

[nocoincidences]

35. Curried Chicken from Derya

a little Turkish restaurant in Paris. OMG.

[Tikki]

37. From Indio CA-Macarios Restaurant...

Either the Chile Colorado plate or the The Enchiladas Rancheros plate.

We make the 170 or so mile trip a couple times a year and ALWAYS
make it to dinner at Macarios while we are visiting Palm Springs.

The Tikkis

[Siwsan]

38. Lechon Asado from Versailles Cuban restaurant in Los Angeles

Hands down the BEST roasted pork I've ever tasted. With black beans, rice, and a side of fried plantains. Best when washed down with their wonderful Sangria.

I've tried to duplicate it, and have managed to come up with a very tasty imitation but it still pales in comparison.

[Aristus]

39. Steak with asparagus and mashed potatoes from Harbour 60 in Toronto.

The most expensive meal I've ever purchased.

My brother and I were visiting Toronto, and we asked the taxi driver for dinner recommendations; he recommended Harbour 60. (In retrospect, he must have been taking kickbacks from the restaurant.)

My brother was covering our hotel room, so I treated him to dinner. Strange atmosphere in the dining room. It seemed to be the kind of place Toronto mobsters brought their molls for dinner; there seemed to be a Wise Guy at every table.

The food was heavenly; I mean, not to be believed, it was so good. Best steak I've ever had.

The service was impeccable, so I added an $80 tip on top of the charge of $300 or so for dinner for two.

I'd ask what the snap of the fingers would cost me, but the food would definitely be worth it...

[wryter2000]

40. A little place on the Piazza Santa Croce in Florence

Homemade ravioli stuffed with fresh peccorino and pear in a sauce of butter and sage. Each bite was heaven.

I've driven myself crazy trying to approach this dish. I even ordered fresh sheep's cheese from a place in Michigan. The shipping alone cost $$$. I planted sage in my garden so I'd have it. But I cannot get close to what I had in Florence

[Cousin Dupree]

46. That sounds divine!

[wryter2000]

72. It was

Everything I ate in Italy was wonderful, but I'll never forget get that meal.

[doc03]

41. A gyro from Smileys in Massilon Ohio. nt

[applegrove]

56. Donair in Halifax. Same family as a Gyro.

[doc03]

80. Looks good. nt

[TEB]

44. Chicken parmigiana

[Cousin Dupree]

45. A gyro from Steve's Gyro stand at the West Side Market in Cleveland. Absolute deliciousness!

[enid602]

49. Mussels

Mejillones a la Provençal. Mussels (without the shells) in a sauce of olive oil, garlic and parsley. Served cold. From the deli at any COTO in Buenos Aires. Muy rico!

[First Speaker]

50. A large sausage pizza from Abate's...

...a local, small chain here in New Haven, the only place on earth where there's always perfect pizza...

[pangaia]

51. Pastrami on rye from Katz's, shipped direct...

[JT45242]

52. Cincy grown

Skyline chili. Chili spaghetti with onions and a Coney light mustard

[applegrove]

53. Fettuccini alfredo at Sam's American Cafe in Boston, down the street from the Commons.n/t

[RockRaven]

57. Fish tacos from La Veracruzana in Northampton MA...

possibly not the *absolute best* fish tacos I've ever had, but they're very good and the combination of the-time-in-my-life-when-I-ate-them-regularly-based-nostalgia and I'm-so-far-away-this-snapping-fingers-thing-is-the-only-way-I-can-eat-them-again kind of swings it.

Honestly considering the distance/instant factor changes the question entirely. There's a lot of dishes from my favorite local restaurants that I'd rather have, all things being equal, but I'm not wasting a magical snap on something I can get myself with a 5 or 10 minute drive.

[Botany]

58. Union Oyster House Boston, Massachusetts

Clam Chowder & Fried Oysters.

[Boxerfan]

59. Steak & Mushroom Pizza-Front Room Clement st SF.

I rarely travel and don't even know if it is there anymore-but OMG good & ancient original brick oven made it the best in town-saying a lot for SF.

[CountAllVotes]

60. Prawns

From Louisiana.

Without the oil.

Thanks.

[Kali]

61. there is a strange bbq joint in Chandler AZ, of all places

run by a German guy. ( ) right across the street from another bbq place. anyway, the German guy makes the best brisket I have ever eaten. I will take a lb of it and maybe some peach cobbler.

[LeftInTX]

62. Germans own lots of BBQ (smoked meats) places in TX

[LeftInTX]

63. Chicago style pizza

[Dem2theMax]

64. I had the most incredible gnocchi in Assisi, Italy.

I could not tell you the name of the restaurant, but I had that meal in the early 90s, and it is still in my memory as the best food I have ever eaten. The gnocchi was so light, I compared it to eating clouds.

When I finally finished eating it, I truly wanted to take my fork and walk around to every table in the place, and ask everyone if I could have a bite of their food! That's how good it was.

But what I really wish I could do is snap my fingers and have my mom back here, cooking her wonderful meals.

She passed away in 2012, and she took all the recipes with her. She never wrote down her recipes, she never taught them to me. I'm a really bad cook. So there is no chance of trying to duplicate any of the things she made. Now I just remembered them with incredible fondness and wish and wish and wish.

[flying rabbit]

65. Arthur Bryant's

BBQ brisket sandwich, with crinkle fries.

[no_hypocrisy]

66. Roast goose and red cabbage from Luchows in NYC on 14th Street.

Yeah, it's been closed for 30+ years, but that was good eatin'!

https://www.google.com/search?q=luchow%27s+restaurant&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=4vffEgcy5zzc6M%253A%252CfdWZ1bNUQJMWxM%252C%252Fm%252F03cl7qv&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kR-KI-c1OxmdG9bwQ4o59K_SpAQ8g&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiv_oX6goXlAhWPuVkKHcjQBA4Q_B0wF3oECAoQAw#imgrc=4vffEgcy5zzc6M:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCchow%27s

http://menus.nypl.org/menu_pages/51015/explore

[sir pball]

74. Luchow's is in the Vincent Price cookbook

When I get home I'll look and see if that recipe's in there!

[DFW]

67. Beijing Duck from the Shun Lee Palace on E. 55th Street in New York City

With an order of their hot and sour soup to start, and their garlic prawns and scallops on the side.

Talk about unforgettable!


Second would be a round of Tapes (tapas) from either the Taverna del Bispe or one of the Sensi locations in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona.

Trouble is, I know of few restaurants that have food as good as what I get at home. My wife is a master chef (two DUers have had the honor) and she is a tough act for any restaurant to follow.

[malthaussen]

68. Dunno. Do I have to pay, also? n/t

[DFW]

69. No, the finger-snapping gives you a waiver n/t

[NightWatcher]

71. We're snapping fingers, so money, space, and time are no object

[malthaussen]

85. The sad truth is...

... all of the places where I used to get good food are gone. Now I live in a food wasteland. I'd have to go back several years in time to get good takeout.

Ah, if only I could just snap my fingers and go back several years in time...

-- Mal

[customerserviceguy]

70. Pizza

It's the only thing that I either take out or have delivered, merely because it is easy to reheat to the temperature needed for maximum satisfaction.

I much prefer to have my meal served fresh from the kitchen, so I don't do takeout or delivery. The vast majority of the time, that is from my own kitchen at home.

[sir pball]

73. Roast beef po'boy, from

Domilise's. With an Andygator, please.

[jmowreader]

75. Pastrami Reuben from Sarge's Deli in NYC

[Paladin]

76. A chili burger and fries from Chili's, circa 1976.

There used to be 2-hour waits to get into the local Chili's for those burgers and fries. I coaxed friends and family from 100 miles away to come up and try them, because they were worth it. Some genius decided to take Chili's in a different direction, cut the chili burger from the menu, and turned it into just another mediocre chain restaurant. I haven't been back since.

[flotsam]

77. I come from the Old Pizza Road (New Haven CT-Bronx NY)

And I want a Thin Crust pepperoni with Scamorza cheese-smoked as was the style there or even an Italian combination sub with the painfully sharp provolone native there...

[Politicub]

78. A steak burrito from most any hole-in-the-wall place on Mission St. in San Francisco

I haven't lived in the Bay Area for 20 years, so I imagine that gentrification in the city has caused most of the old burrito places to close down, though.

Still, I crave those giant burritos to this day. None of the chain places that tried to copy them are the same.

[madamesilverspurs]

79. Taquitos with a side of guacamole

from Mac's Steak in the Rough, Albuquerque.


.

[Lunabell]

81. Definitely the Bahn Thai in Tallahassee.

Best Tom Kha Gai ever! Spicy rich with lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, galanga and cilantro in a delicious broth of coconut milk. Mmm best ever. And the Pad Thai to die for!

[I_UndergroundPanther]

82. A good Thai restaurant. Then go for sushi!

[rateyes]

83. Chicken Chasseur and Escargot from La Consigne

in Paris, France.

[Nac Mac Feegle]

84. Dreisbach's, Grand Island Nebraska

Wedge salad with Roquefort dressing
Top Sirloin, medium rare.
Sunflower potatoes

[Ron Obvious]

86. I'm surprised nobody has brought up The Olive Garden

Of course when I say "surprised", I really mean "not surprised at all" since their food tastes like microwaved Chef Boyardee.

[MountainMama]

87. If we can go back in time, too....

I'd snap my fingers and get the meal I had when I got to go to Mama Leone's in New York. That was a HS trip and I've never forgotten it.

[DiverDave]

88. A real Monte Cristo sandwich

From the kitchen at the Eugene Hotel. 1971.
Worked there then. Best damned sandwich EVER. PERIOD.

[Hotler]

89. Elway's (John Elway) for steak.....nt