The side discussion in another thread about Del Taco hamburgers got me thinking. What other out-of-their-focus items have you found at restaurants that were really quite good? Any Chinese places that have killer hot wings? A burger place with a sushi chef? Both fast food and sit-down places are fair game.
I’ll start with the aforementioned Del Taco. They only have a couple of burgers on the menu, but they really do a good job with them. Better than several of the chains that specialize in burgers.
We were eating at a favorite local restaurant a few years back. My gf told the owners we would be back in 3 weeks for my birthday. The owners asked what meal I would like (that wasn’t a regular menu item). I mentioned osso buco, and they said OK.
As promised, they made us osso buco. It was amazing! I suggested they add it as an occasional special, but they said no way. It was too difficult and was a money loser.
In Alhambra California a place called “Diner on Main” does pretty small twists on traditional American fare–not even just diner fare, but standard stuff, but they do a bacon fried rice that is great. It’s the only fried rice dish on the menu.
There’s a restaurant in Houston called the Rockfish Seafood Grill, which not surprisingly features seafood. I like their seafood but my favorite item on their menu is the cream of jalapeno soup.
There’s a little old seafood place in N. Syracuse, NY called The Clam Bar. Small, dark, dingy, been there forever. They serve seafood, of course, and it’s good, though you don’t get much for your money. Never mind that: they have chicken wings. The same old Buffalo Wings. Their very own recipe - excellent! and Mexican chile lime wings - OMG! I have seldom ever had anything so delicious as the chile lime chicken wings at The Clam Bar. Outstanding, different, just to die for.
There was a little hole in the wall Mexican carcinera and grocery on Bellaire in Houston, old strip mall half empty and run down. In the back they had a fajita bar, dude spoke not a word of English and they made the BEST fajitas I have ever eaten. I still crave them occasionally years later.
I’m not kidding delicious, absolutely loaded with cilantro and lime.
There is an excellent local pizza place nearby (as in, within 2 miles of my house) that also happens to serve the second best Caesar salad I have ever had. The same place also has very good burgers.
Fuego’s Tortilla Grill makes ok Mexican food. Not the best I’ve ever had, but not the worst either. Their french fries, on the other hand, are awesome. Most of the time, that’s the only thing I order when I go there.
There was this one joint I used to frequent for their fried chicken. (I sometimes ordered their Chinese food too.) Their chicken was good, but it was of the non-spicy variety. I once half jokingly said “Can you make mine spicy?” The owner just sort of shrugs and says 'Sure! But you gotta wait!"
I’m glad I did too, because that chicken went from good to freaking awesome! I have no idea why he didn’t offer that on the menu.
I used to really like the Mojo Potatoes at Shakey’s pizza place. I know they were completely unhealthy and even thinking about them is probably clogging up my arteries, but I liked them. We don’t have a Shakey’s anywhere near us anymore, so I miss them.
In Buffalo, there is a place to get wings that is locally known as one of the absolute best, Duff’s. It’s a family-style restaurant (with several locations), and wings are the main thing. Food Network films stuff about wings there, Obama went there for a photo op with wings, that sort of thing.
But their cheeseburgers are TO DIE FOR. Nothing fancy, but good quality on a butter bun, and done perfectly. It is a basic burger, executed to perfection. SUBLIME.
White Castle makes a fish sandwich that is outstanding. Too bad it’s approaching $2, for such a tiny item. (Even worse, I now live 10 hours from the nearest Castle.)
We lived in a rural Pennsylvania town for a while that seemed like a culinary desert until we discovered the Wegmans in Erie. There was one big restaurant that catered to early-bird seniors and happy hour hounds. One day, though, I was longing for seafood and ordered their shrimp cocktail. The shrimp were huge, well-seasoned, and perfectly cooked. It was the best I’ve had before or since and nothing else on their Olive-Gardenish menu even came close.