Sunday, July 26, 2009

Restaurants we love


Stinky's amazing Peanut Butter Pie

It's funny how often people ask us if we eat pizza all the time. The answer is yes, but man cannot live on pizza alone. The truth is, we have always been big foodies who enjoy trying all types of cuisine. We are so lucky to have great restaurants on 30A {particularly my husband because I am not a great cook!}. And while there tons of good eateries in our little area, we thought it would be fun to pay homage to our personal faves.

Borago - This is our most frequent date night spot. We've been Borago fans for years, and it's because they're deliciously consistent. It's funny because it seems to be "cool" to sit at the bar, but we are ever the nerds in the dining room with all the tourists. We just have so many good memories in that room. We also love watching the chefs at work. Michael, Mark and their team provide what we consider the best Italian food on 30A. Some of our faves are the scallops appetizer served over polenta, Wild Mushroom Ravioli, Chicken Piccata {we sub grouper}, Linguine with Tomato Sauce {simply perfect} and of course, the famous Bellini Martini.

Our sweet friends the Goods visited from Dallas and loved Borago

Friend Anna {and former Miss Alabama} celebrating her birthday {I love that she will want to kill me for telling everyone she's a big beauty queen}

La Botana - Nice people, great food and gorgeous decor. Owned by Phillip & Jane Solomon, this place is so much more than a wine bar. The Mexican food is served on small plates {less guilt}, but the flavors are anything but small. The Chile Relleno is seriously to die for and the Tres Leches Cake is heavenly. We are so in love with the blue sofa there that we may just have to steal it. Swede, the manager, is determined to help you find your favorite wine and dish and is such a gem. There's almost always great live music, special events or discounts, so check out their Facebook page for more info.
Gorgeous friend Stephanie {owner of DejaVu} on our favorite seat in the house

Paige York, Susan Massey {designer} and Jane Solomon {owner}

Stinky's - Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably been there or at least heard of it. The name is strange, but this place serves the best seafood in town. You can select your fish and its preparation, and no matter what you choose, you will be happy. This is a very no nonsense place with a very deliberate aptitude for service and quality. It's perfect for date night or dinner with friends. You won't go wrong no matter what you order, but make sure you try the Peanut Butter Pie for dessert. Have mercy.

At the former Stinky's location which is now Lake Place

Cafe Tango - If money were no object, we would eat here weekly. Tango is fine dining in a tiny room that feels much more like the living room it probably once was. It is a quaint slice of heaven owned by two of the nicest folks, Paja & Walter. As far as we can tell, they do zero advertising, but are usually 100% packed. Their wine list is extensive, yet we were thrilled to find a bottle we loved for a great price. They make all of their salad dressings and let me just tell you that the Parmesan Ranch is completely cravable. Our favorite dishes are the Chimichurri Steak {oh my goodness!} and seriously, any of the fish dishes. You will find yourself saying "Oh my gosh" frequently during your meal. It is that good. {Wish I had a photo of this cute place, but I don't, so call 267.0054 and make a reservation to check it out yourself!}

So there you have it for round one of our "Best of the Best" restaurants. Stay tuned for more local faves.