Midwestern U.S. :: The Happy Fork

Jun

2002

Topogigio Restaurant

by bradvr · Comments (0)

Scrumptious Italian specialties served in a old town neighborhood restaurant.
What To Order: Bruschetta, housemade soups, and pasta dishes.

Topogigio Restaurant

This information was accurate at the time of posting, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead or visit the website to confirm hours, location and other details.

http://www.topogigio-restaurant.com/
1516 N. Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Near North Avenue
312.266.9355

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $20 to $30
Bar dining, Table seating, Private room, Credit cards, Bar, Snappy Casual, Street Parking, Limited parking

Categories : 3 Forks, Fork on the Road, Midwestern U.S., The Happy Fork reviews

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Dec

2001

Lidia

by bradvr · Comments (0)

Lidia’s is a popular, reasonably priced, Kansas City eatery. Try the ퟙPasta Tastingퟘ ($24) for a sampling of the house pastas, offered by servers carrying fresh pans throughout the dining room. Some of the other house specialities are Crisp arugual salad with walnuts ($7.50), Gnocchi stuffed with duck ($14), and Chicken limone ($ 13).

For special occasions or corporate events rent ퟙLidia’s Loftퟘ for seating up to 100, upstairs above the restaurant.
What To Order: Gnocchi stuffed with duck ($14), Chicken limone ($ 13).
Notable Staff: Dan Swinney

Lidia’s

This information was accurate at the time of posting, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead or visit the website to confirm hours, location and other details.

www.lidiasitaly.com
101 West 22nd Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
Freighthouse District
816.221.3722

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $20 to $30
Bar dining, Patio, Table seating, Private room, Reservations, Brunch, Credit cards, Bar, Beer and wine, Exceptional wine list, Snappy Casual, Catering, Tasting menu
Lunch: Daily 11 am to 2 pm
Dinner: Mon-Thu 5:30 pm to 9 pm
Fri 5:30 pm to 10 pm
Sun 5 pm to 9 pm

Categories : 3 Forks, Fork on the Road, Midwestern U.S., The Happy Fork reviews

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Nov

2001

Lamberts Cafe

by bradvr · Comments (0)

Generous portions of Southern cooking – fried chicken, chicken fried steaks, roast pork.

Any place that starts your meal off with heapings of fried okra (61,200 pounds are served a year), and yeast rolls with sorghum and jam, is bound to have lots of happy customers – and Lamberts has lot’s of happy customers since opening in 1942.

Lamberts Cafe

This information was accurate at the time of posting, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead or visit the website to confirm hours, location and other details.

www.throwedrolls.com
Hwy. 65
Ozark, MO
Between Springfield and Branson
417.581.7655

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: dinner, per person, no drinks
Table seating, No Reservations, Credit cards, No alcohol, Casual, Notable atmosphere
Daily: 10:30 am to 9:30 pm

Categories : 3 Forks, Fork on the Road, Midwestern U.S., The Happy Fork reviews

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Nov

2001

The St. Paul Grill

by bradvr · Comments (0)

The St. Paul Grill has the reputation as one of the best restaurants in America and I must agree. Superb atmosphere, attentive and friendly service, classic menu with flawless execution. In LA, the Grill is a enviable chop house, but even it doesn’t compare to this Midwest landmark.

The glass of Blanton’s Kentucky Bourbon may have got me off to a good start but the food keep me there. I had several of their signature dishes including a taste of three starters – bruschetta, pepper shrimp, and crab with artichoke spread with toast points. Either the Caesar salad or the chicken and rice soup would be a good choice to follow. The pan fried Walleye with butter cream sauce ($19) or the double cut pork chops with cinnamon apple sauce ($20) are both examples worthy of any table. The Walleye is a regional favorite and a native to The Great Lakes. Sides of Hash browns and the most magnificent cream spinach imaginable were shared and easily devoured. Other entrees include a variety of steaks and fresh seafood.

Their wine list is not extensive, but carefully populated with amazing and familiar names, mostly from California. We enjoyed the Turnbull 1998 Cabernet, and at $68 was a good buy.

Dessert time is when I am most happy to have a large group, in my recent dining at The St. Paul it was large enough to justify apple crisp with cinnamon ice cream, apple crisp with vanilla ice cream (we didn’t think to just order a side of vanilla!), pecan flour less torte, and BANANA CREAM PIE. I capitalize this because it was the best example of BCP you could imagine.

Bon Appetite!
Best Dish: Banana Cream Pie
What To Order: Crab with artichoke spread, Pan fried Walleye, Pork chops, Hash browns, Cream spinach, Banana cream pie.

The St. Paul Grill
This information was accurate at the time of posting, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead or visit the website to confirm hours, location and other details.

http://www.stpaulhotel.com/grill.htm
350 Market Street
St. Paul, MN 55102
In the historical St. Paul Hotel
651-22-GRILL

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $20 to $30
Credit cards, Beer and wine, Bar, Smoking section

Categories : 5 Forks, Midwestern U.S., The Happy Fork reviews

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Nov

2001

Hot Tamale Brown’s Cajun Creole Food

by bradvr · Comments (0)

What started in New Orleans in 1908, and later became a tradition there, is a blessing in Kansas City! Enjoy the limited but tasty Cajun Creole menu including standards like Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffee, and New Orleans style coffee. The standout meal here is the Crawfish Chili and the Frosty Mint Lemonade! The Crawfish Chili ($8) is made with ground turkey, beef, vegetables, a blend of Cajun and Jamaican spices, and Crawfish tail meat – just delicious!

They even have a drive through for year round convenience. This place is a modest one, and though it is comfortable at lunch, be cautious at night.

p>The Hot Tamale Brown web site has an interesting story about the Brown family and their history.

Best Dish: Crawfish Chili
What To Order: Crawfish Chili, Bourbon Street Tamales, Frosty Mint Lemonade

Hot Tamale Brown’s Cajun Creole Food

This information was accurate at the time of posting, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead or visit the website to confirm hours, location and other details.

www.hottamalebrown.com
10 W. 39th Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
One block West of Main street, about 10 blocks from the Plaza.
816-561-2020

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 or less
Patio, Table seating, Counter, Drive Thru, Closed Sunday, Cash only, Casual, Smoking section
Lunch and Dinner: Mon-Sat 11 am to 10 pm

Categories : 4 Forks, Fork on the Road, Midwestern U.S., The Happy Fork reviews

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Nov

2001

Pierpont’s Union Station

by bradvr · Comments (0)

Pierpont’s is at the East end of the restored Union Station, and though I suspect is a relatively new addition, looks like has been a fixture since the 1920′s. A great place to entertain clients, you won’t be disappointed with the hearty portions and continental menu. I enjoyed the flash fried calamari served atop “crispy” spinach and spit roasted chicken Lyonnaise with mashed potatoes.
What To Order: Crispy spinach (*the calamari is almost superfluous)

Pierpont’s Union Station

This information was accurate at the time of posting, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead or visit the website to confirm hours, location and other details.

30 West Pershing, #900
Kansas City, MO 64108
Inside the Union Train Station near 28th. At Pershing and Main.
816.221.5111

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $20 to $30
Late night, Credit cards, Bar, Beer and wine, Non-smoking, Smoking section

Categories : Midwestern U.S.

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Aug

1995

New Orleans Take-Out

by bradvr · Comments (0)

If you’re in Wisconsin, but find yourself craving a taste of New Orleans, this is the place to drop in. Like the Rajun Cajun near my office, New Orleans Take-out serves a great Po-boy.
What To Order: Oyster Po-Boy

New Orleans Take-Out

This information was accurate at the time of posting, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead or visit the website to confirm hours, location and other details.

1920 Fordem Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
608-241-6655

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 or less

Categories : 4 Forks, Fork on the Road, Midwestern U.S., The Happy Fork reviews

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