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In Nashville recently, I was in the mood for Italian. I remembered a place right across from a hotel I stayed at one time and thought I'd give it a shot. I made a good choice - Amerigo Italian Restaurant. roadtips.blog/2026/10/08/a...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Down in Kansas City earlier this year, my wife and I were looking for a place for lunch on the lighter side. I remembered an area that had a number of restaurants and went to one that I had not been to before - Tavern at Mission Farms in Leawood, KS roadtips.blog/2026/10/05/t...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

My wife and I recently spent a week in Maine. It turned out to be one of our most memorable vacations. The destinations, the scenery, the food, and a tale of trying to get back home are all part of the story in this entry. roadtips.blog/2026/09/25/m...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

My wife has been on a Mediterranean bent lately and we found a place in the western suburbs of Chicago that fit the bill. Everything was very good - but the grill octopus was heavenly - Violí in Oak Brook, IL roadtips.blog/2026/09/14/v...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Rarely will I do two entries on a place I've visited, but I've never done three - until now. We tried this place for breakfast at their old and new locations, then had dinner there earlier this summer. We were blown away - Creati^e Signature Cuisine in East Moline, IL roadtips.blog/2026/09/10/c...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Faced with choices of restaurants owned by celebrity chefs, we found this stylish contemporary Mexican restaurant that is part of a small regional chain. Great food, great margaritas, great service, great ambiance - Laredo Cantina in Branson, MO roadtips.blog/2026/09/03/c...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

We've found a new place that has entered our rotation of pizza joints that aren't Quad City-style pizza. This place features brick-fired pizza with fresh ingredients, a great marinara dipping sauce, & a wide variety of wine & craft beers - Basil & Vine in Bettendorf, IA roadtips.blog/2026/08/31/b...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

We recently spent a long weekend up in Holland, MI with two or three planned destinations including a wooden bowl factory, a great blown-glass exhibit in nearby Grand Rapids, and one of the best farmers markets in the Midwest. Part one of our trip - roadtips.blog/2026/08/26/a...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

It's been nearly 3 months since we were in Hot Springs and my wife STILL talks about the meal she had at this Mediterranean restaurant that included chicken shawarma, a mixed vegetable grill and a blueberry margarita - The GOAT roadtips.blog/2026/08/10/t...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I thought I knew where all the brew pubs that served food in the north Chicago suburbs were until I stumbled upon this combination brewery/barbecue joint. The beer was excellent, as was the sliced smoked brisket - Une Année/Hubbard's Cave in Niles, IL roadtips.blog/2026/08/06/u...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

People usually think of Kansas City as a barbecue town, but the Italian food in the area is vastly underrated. It had been over 20 years since I had eaten at this place and it was just as good as I remembered - Garōzzo's in Overland Park, KS roadtips.blog/2026/08/03/g...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

This brewpub expanded into a new location about 4 years ago opening up a restaurant in the process. While the sandwich was good, it was sort of a gut bomb. But the gumbo was outstanding, as was the double hazy IPA - Modern Brewery & The Kings Oak in St. Louis. roadtips.blog/2026/07/30/m...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

A memorable anniversary meal which included great food and great service, but also something rather bizarre that we'd never encountered in all our years of eating in fine dining restaurants - The Vault in Hot Springs, AR roadtips.blog/2026/07/27/t...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

A buddy of mine and I were on the hunt for sushi and coming up short on spots we tried to get into. We did find this place that was a bit disjointed with the service when we first got there, but turned out to be very good in the end - Tsunami Sushi in Brandon, FL roadtips.blog/2026/07/23/t...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

The somewhat new owners of this bakery have continued the 80-year legacy of great pastries and donuts, while adding breakfast sandwiches - or "flips" - along with their specialty cakes and pies - Cha Cha's Hiland Bakery in Des Moines, IA roadtips.blog/2026/07/20/c...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

A get together with industry friends at a suburban Chicago Italian restaurant that was tied to one of my favorite Italian places in the city. The food was just as good as the original location - RoccoVino's in Elk Grove Village, IL roadtips.blog/2026/07/16/r...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

A visit to the oldest continuous bar in Arkansas which has somewhat of a sordid history dating back to the early 1900's. A great salad, superb sandwich, and the service was outstanding! The Ohio Club in Hot Springs, AR. roadtips.blog/2026/07/09/o...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

The owner at this burger/beer joint got his start at In-n-Out, went to culinary school, then joined a friend in a similar craft burger/brew before he struck out on his own. If the burger I had is any indication, he learned pretty well - Craft Burger Co. in Placentia, CA roadtips.blog/2026/07/06/c...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Years after moving from Italy to New York City, the family who owns this Italian restaurant set roots in the Tampa area. This little trattoria featured friendly service, great pasta dishes, and a house-made tiramisu that was killer - Allegria Italiana in Brandon, FL roadtips.blog/2026/07/02/a...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Found this Mexican restaurant owned by an Irishman who was smart enough to hire a Mexican chef. Was in a quandary what to get, so I had some outstanding birria enchiladas, then went back two days later to get the grilled octopus tacos - Amor Loco in New York City. roadtips.blog/2026/06/29/a...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

A visit to this SoCal BBQ joint where the founder had a tragic ending after celebrating numerous highs in his life. After his death, the place was saved by a man who brought Texas-style BBQ with him - Beach Pit BBQ in Costa Mesa, CA roadtips.blog/2026/06/25/b...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Celebrating a significant birthday at this Italian Steakhouse on "The Hill". Service was excellent, food was great, portions were huge, and lots of food was left on the plate - Carnivore STL in St. Louis. roadtips.blog/2026/06/22/c...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

We wanted to fly somewhere for our vacation, but plane fares were astronomical. We ended up driving down to Arkansas for a visit to the Hot Springs area, then ended up spending a night in Branson before heading up to KC for BBQ. roadtips.blog/2026/06/18/a...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

My wife took me to this authentic French crêpe restaurant in the heart of the midwest, owned and operated by a French-trained/Moroccan ex-pat. She liked it a bit better than I did, but it was still interesting - Crêpes De Luxe in Iowa City, IA roadtips.blog/2026/06/15/c...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Went to this Italian restaurant on a Sunday night thinking it would be laid back, but the place was packed. Got squeezed in at the bar and had a meal that the bartender said was the best thing not on the menu. It was OK - Tony Di Napoli in New York City. roadtips.blog/2026/06/12/t...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Like some start-up restaurants, this Mexican restaurant came from a popular food truck which opened a brick-and-mortar location in the Quad Cities last fall. Like the food truck, the food at the restaurant was outstanding - Mi Oaxaca in Silvis, IL roadtips.blog/2026/06/10/m...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

On the hunt for the best Cuban Sandwich in Tampa, many locals said that the one at this 111-year-old bakery was their top choice - La Segunda Bakery in Ybor City, FL roadtips.blog/2026/06/08/l...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Walking through Old Montreal, we happened upon this pub that looked like they had taken it from a small town in England and put it in Montreal. Everything about the place was great - the food, the service and the ambiance! Wolf & Workman roadtips.blog/2026/06/03/w...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Sometimes finding a good restaurant on the road is a crapshoot. My colleague and I were on the hunt for Thai food while in Southern California, and we found a gem in this place. It wasn't fancy, but the food was great - Royal Thai Orchid in Orange, CA roadtips.blog/2026/06/01/r...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

A number of cities are famous for sandwiches or specific types of foods, and Fort Wayne, IN is known for their sausage rolls - basically a type of calzone. Road Tips got to try one at a popular local watering hole and came away pretty impressed - Laycoff's Tavern roadtips.blog/2026/05/28/l...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

This place was touted to have the best burger I've ever had. While the burger was very good, the fries were better. This legendary mid-Manhattan restaurant is better known for the famous people they've served over the years - Joe Allen in New York City. roadtips.blog/2026/05/26/j...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

While hunting for another restaurant in the Tampa area, I drove past this place that said, "Prime Burgers/Craft Beers". A couple days later I stopped back into this unique restaurant that features memorabilia from the 20's and 30's - Ford's Garage in Brandon, FL roadtips.blog/2026/05/18/f...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

This Manhattan pizza/craft beer joint was started by a former NYPD captain who is also a character actor who has been seen on stage, television and the big screen, along with his friend who was a former corporate executive - BarDough in New York City. roadtips.blog/2026/05/13/b...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

In SoCal earlier this year, I found a great place for barbecue with delicious sides and a wide selection of craft beers, all in a laid-back atmosphere - Smoqued California BBQ in Orange, CA. roadtips.blog/2026/05/11/s...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Some companies don't allow their employees who travel to keep their hotel points or airline miles they've accumulated. Mine does and I just hit a significant number of points for the first time in my traveling career. roadtips.blog/2026/05/08/i...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Had this music-themed burger joint on my list of restaurants to visit for quite some time and finally got the chance to go there recently. The wait was well worth it. And the free cookie was a nice touch - BRGRBELLY in Chicago. roadtips.blog/2026/05/06/b...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

I was coerced to go to a ramen bar a couple months ago. I'm not big on ramen, but I figured I could find something on the menu. What I got was shockingly outstanding! Neotokyo in Montreal. roadtips.blog/2026/05/04/n...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Southern California - especially Orange County - has a number of great craft breweries or brewpubs. During a recent visit, I visited three of the better ones along the La Palma Beer Trail in Anaheim. roadtips.blog/2026/04/30/b...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

In the Tampa Bay area, I was on the lookout for an authentic Cuban sandwich and was told to go to the oldest restaurant in Florida that has been serving Cuban and Spanish specialties since 1905 - Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, FL roadtips.blog/2026/04/27/c...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

My wife suggested we try this Italian eatery, but it turned out that the service and amenities were a bit choppy. Then we found out why later - they had only been open for a month. But the food was outstanding! Osteria Novella in Madison, WI roadtips.blog/2026/04/23/o...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Diners and delis are the backbone of New York City's culinary scene and this particular diner happened to be one of the more popular ones in Manhattan. But the sticker shock was substantial! Brooklyn Diner in Times Square. roadtips.blog/2026/04/20/b...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

A beer aficionado's heaven! This Tampa Bay-area spot features over 500 different styles and brands of beers, a great burger, and an interesting backstory of how a dream came true for the original founders - World of Beer in Brandon, FL roadtips.blog/2026/04/16/w...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

This place turned out to be the offshoot of one of my favorite Italian restaurants that had closed in 2021. But with a new chef, it didn't stack up to its predecessor - Zia's Social in Chicago. roadtips.blog/2026/04/13/z...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

There are Wisconsin supper clubs, then there is this place in the Dells that has been family-owned for over 80 years and is housed in a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired building serving exceptional food - The Del-Bar in Lake Delton, WI roadtips.blog/2026/04/09/t...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

This Southern California Mexican restaurant has been family-owned for over 60 years and served some of the more authentic Mexican food I've experienced - Tlaquepaque Restaurant in Placentia, CA roadtips.blog/2026/04/06/t...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Playing hooky from a trade show to go watch some college football, this dive bar turned out to have a pretty good pizza and a nice selection of craft beers! Bryan Street Tavern in Dallas, TX roadtips.blog/2026/04/02/b...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

On the lookout for a breakfast spot in Madison, WI, my wife found a popular local place known for their locally-sourced, organically-grown foods. While I was sort of uncertain about what I had, but my wife absolutely loved hers - Marigold Kitchen roadtips.blog/2026/03/30/m...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Out in the D.C. area for a trade show last fall, I got together with some former colleagues for dinner. We took a blind leap on a local Italian restaurant and it definitely did not disappoint - Gregorio's Trattoria in Potomac, MD roadtips.blog/2026/03/23/g...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

A visit to this SoCal brewery that was started 12 years ago by brothers-in-law who direct-delivered their beer to homes when they started out. They've expanded over the years to now two restaurants and a taproom - Riip Beer Co. in Huntington Beach, CA roadtips.blog/2026/03/19/r...

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Road Tips @roadtips.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

A visit to this "hip" place that turned out to be more drink-centric than a food destination. Even though the food menu was minimal, the whimsical decor - known as "Victorian Steampunk" was worth the visit - The Hip-Stir in Marion, IA roadtips.blog/2026/03/16/t...

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