The Chicago Diner

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**** (4 stars)

This is one of the better vegetarian restaurants I’ve been too. They do a great job of using ingredients such as seitan in ways that give it great texture and flavor.

We started with the barbecued sauce coated “wings” which had a great crust and delicious coating. The serving was generous, to say the least, and when we’d finished sharing the appetizers we were wondering if we could eat any of our entrees.

The cuban sandwich was okay, but the tostadas were great, with just the right balance between quinoa and black beans.

Shakes are a specialty here, and my coffee flavored one was wonderful. Note: a small is plenty!

The Chicago Diner
3411 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 935-6696
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-chicago-diner-chicago

Trenchermen

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***** (5 stars)

Trenchermen provides a very interesting menu in a great environment that is a mix of retro and modern.

The very reasonably price four course menu offers a nice way to sample (rather large) tasting portions of two appetizers, and entree and a dessert. Having complete flexibility of wha tot choose from the menu is really a nice idea. Our eight choices were:

Shrimp was served on interesting toast, and with a lemon curd garnish, it was good, not superb.

Ham was thin sliced and served with a BBQ-like sauce, very good.

Carrots with exotic spices were accompanied by wonderful English pea falafel.

Pickle tots were more like potato puffs, with very little pickle flavor.

Cauliflower was a spectacular slice of a whole cauliflower, browned on both sides and served with tangy relish. This was stellar.

Double burger was perfectly cooked, served with spectacularly crisped steak fries and the most delicious “burger sauce” for dipping I’ve ever tasted. This was addictive.

Basque cake had a wonderful buttery crust and came with delicious poppy seed ice cream.

The cheese plate included three American artisanal cheeses, but the highly was the accompanying house-roasted nuts.

The focus here is on cocktails more that the rather eclectic selection of wines. Service was very friendly.

Trenchermen
2039 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 661-1540
http://www.yelp.com/biz/trenchermen-chicago

Amazing Kale Burger Lunch Counter

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**** (4 stars)

It’s always a pleasure to eat where the employees are really passionate about what they do, and that epitomizes The Amazing Kale Burger. From the moment I walked in I felt right at home, and my server’s enthusiasm for the food was very clear.

I tried the Vaden, which is served with a beet-based BBQ sauce. The kale burger patty is quite delicious, with all the ingredient in balance, and a nice crust from cooking. The accompanying lettuce and tomato were quite fresh, and the BBQ sauce was delicious. The bun was a bit small, sturdy and dry for my taste, but I can see where others might like it.

For a side dish I had pickled asparagus, which was tossed with yellow peppers and extremely fresh oregano bits. It was delicious.

House made mint tea was pleasantly unsweetened.

The kale burger was one of the better vegetarian patties I’ve had, and I’d often choose it over a meat patty if it were available elsewhere. Coincidentally, I ate here on national burger day!

Amazing Kale Burger Lunch Counter
741 Howard St
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 660-4330
http://www.yelp.com/biz/amazing-kale-burger-lunch-counter-evanston

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza

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**** (4 stars)

This is a great concept for pizza.

It’s always bugged me that pizza places charge some ridiculous amount for each ingredient when you roll your own. Well not at Blaze. Here you can get anything you like, in any combination, for one reasonable price. Assembly is quick and easy, and the baking process is equally quick, so it’s as fast as fast food, but completely custom, and with much better ingredients.

Service was friendly and efficient, and they took extra care to get my crust crispy, the way I like it, and to melt the ricotta cheese I selected.

It’s great that there’s finally an excellent pizza place in Evanston!

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza
4999 Old Orchard Center
Ste F9
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 568-1649
http://www.yelp.com/biz/blaze-fast-fired-pizza-skokie

Etch

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***** (5 stars)

The food at Etch is astonishing. Seriously. This was one of the best meals of my life. Every flavor component of every dish was surprising, complex, and worth savoring. Some dishes–such as the cauliflower appetizer–had different flavor combinations at different ends of the dish. There wasn’t a single element of anything we tried that didn’t contribute to the whole.

An interesting wine list and knowledgeable servers complement this amazing food. And the ambiance is upscale, trendy, yet not too loud to have an intimate conversation. This restaurant would be a major weekly temptation if I lived in Nashville. Truly memorable.

Etch
303 Demonbreun St
Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 522-0685
http://www.yelp.com/biz/etch-nashville

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

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*** (3 stars)

Cracker Barrel isn’t one of my usual haunts, but when you’re driving through the South it seems almost required dining. We had a pleasant enough breakfast here. The wait staff was friendly, and as far as I could tell it was identical to the other 100 Cracker Barrels we passed that day.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
5631 Highway 20 NE
Cartersville, GA 30121
(770) 386-6973
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cracker-barrel-old-country-store-cartersville

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

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**** (4 stars)

This is quite a spectacular hotel, with the rooms facing huge (as in HUGE) atriums filled with plants, waterfalls, rockwork and rivers. There are many restaurants scattered about, and the theming is really well done.

Having been to the Gaylord in Orlando, I was surprised to be reminded how much larger and nicer this Nashville one is.

As with any giant hotel, there are hordes of guests, so part of the trick of staying here is to try to avoid the rush. That means not arriving right at check in, when there can be 100 people in line at the front desk, particularly on a Saturday night. And if your room includes breakfast, go early before the lines form.

Staff is very friendly, so as long as you can avoid the crowds it’s a good place to stop in Nashville (note that it is nowhere near downtown, though).

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
2800 Opryland Dr
Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 889-1000
http://www.yelp.com/biz/gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center-nashville-8

Bristol Bar & Grille

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*** (3 stars)

This is a pleasant place for lunch and dinner in the heart of Louisville’s tourist district. There are extensive bourbons and other adult beverages at the handsome bar. Service is friendly. Note that Sunday brunch buffet is all that’s available until 2pm, so if you don’t want that a late lunch is a better plan.

Bristol Bar & Grille
614 W Main St
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 582-1995
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bristol-bar-and-grille-louisville-2

Proof on Main

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**** (4 stars)

This excellent and popular restaurant is lively and fun. There is an interesting wine list with more countries represented than any list I’ve see (Armenian wine, anyone?) Menu selections are limited, but constantly changing, and there is a special three course dinner every Sunday night. An excellent choice in Louisville, and a no-brainer if you’re staying at the wonderful attached 21c Museum Hotel.

Proof on Main
21C Museum Hotel
702 W Main St
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 217-6360
http://www.yelp.com/biz/proof-on-main-louisville

21c Museum Hotel

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***** (5 stars)

I love this unique boutique hotel, where every wall is filled with captivating modern art. There are extensive galleries off the lobby and downstairs, and many different media are represented. There is also an excellent restaurant, Proof on Main. Many of the city’s most interesting attractions are within two blocks. This is definitely the place to stay when passing through Louisville.

21c Museum Hotel
700 W Main St
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 217-6300
http://www.yelp.com/biz/21c-museum-hotel-louisville