Author Archives: theseconddinner

Somewhere I got the incorrect notion that Fishing With Dynamite was a casual spot. While it was so crowded and glitzy that I nearly fled, I survived the “uncool kid at the Bar Mitzvah” alienation and enjoyed some outstanding food. … Continue reading →

The meat-eating person on our crew had to explain to the vegetarian partner that there were probably no salads here, kind of a “we’ll make it quick, take some pictures and you can get a salad later” deal. It turns … Continue reading →

Over Easy brings innovation to two sectors that often stick to the traditional – eggs, as the title indicates, and less obviously, beverages. It’s hard for us to resist namesake items so we went with the Over Easy. Per the … Continue reading →

How much do we like The Cove? It’s our “theme picture.” This is as good as fried fish gets, and it partially disproves our fears that delightfully scenic restaurants don’t always excel at the food. The bad news, dear reader(s), … Continue reading →

What’s this southern barbecue joint doing across the road from Lake Erie? Despite the geography, this is real deal, not just in the pork offerings but in the smalltown charm. Go for a combo – get what you like but … Continue reading →

At the cheerfully raucous Randazzo’s, the crowds can look intimidating but move relatively fast, a process that you can help if you quickly decide what to get (hint – probably the chicken.) Multiple visits provided a chance to dig through … Continue reading →

Mr. Francis is one of the most surprisngly unheralded places we’ve ever encountered. You won’t find this takeout-only barbecue spot in Fodor’s or even Chowhound. If you’re not in St. Martinville (and we’re guessing not many of our 23 readers are), you’ll … Continue reading →

We’re breaking from format with a three-for-one deal because there was just too much great food in Lake Placid to exclude the silver and bronze medalists. Paradox Lodge was the champion here, with spectacular French-influenced fare and a unique setting. The … Continue reading →

We were big fans of Cranbury Station and sad to see it apparently disappeared, but then the newcomer called Station Bar And Grill on the same site claimed it had the same menu with better ingredients so we gave it … Continue reading →

Even your touristy joints are pretty good in Key West, as competition will knock out anyone turning in supbar grouper or key lime pie, but try to find some time for slightly off-the-radar classics like Eaton Street Fish Market. The … Continue reading →