Pop Culture Cuisine

Well another year has come and gone and Pop Culture Cuisine is officially a two years old!  This year our lives have changed dramatically in many ways, including the addition of a new family member.  We also may not have traveled as far as in the past, but Adam and I still love finding new ways to seek out culinary hot spots wherever our travels take us.  We have compiled a list of some of our favorite and not so favorite spots to share with you with links so you can read our reviews for yourself.  We STILL love food and hope to continue to share lots of great finds with you all along the way.

Signature Dish:

1. Al’s Beef’s “Italian Beef Sandwich” – Chicago, IL

2. Kim & Scott’s Café Twist’s “Twist Your Own” – Chicago, IL

3. The Varsity’s “Chili Dog” – Atlanta, GA

Taste:

1. Hot Doug’s – Chicago, IL

2. Al’s Beef – Chicago, IL

3. The Depot American Diner – Chicago, IL

Ambiance:

1. The Walnut Room – Chicago, IL

2. Slow’s Bar-BQ – Detroit, MI

3. Lynn’s Paradise Café – Louisville, KY

Service:

1. Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap – Joe and his staff – Chicago, IL

2. Kouzzina – John – Orlando, FL

3. Emeril’s – Spencer – Orlando, FL

Price:

1. The Varsity – Atlanta, GA

2. Al’s Beef – Chicago, IL

3. South Side Soda Shop – Goshen, IN

Overall Top 5:

1. Al’s Beef – Chicago, IL

2. Hot Doug’s – Chicago, IL (A VERY close 2nd place)

3. The Walnut Room – Chicago, IL

4. Kouzzina – Orlando, FL

5. Emeril’s – Orlando, FL

Top 5 Biggest Letdowns…Not worth the Hype:

1. The Whale’s Rib – Deerfield Beach, FL

2. Brennan’s – New Orleans, LA

3. Camp Washington – Cincinnati, OH

4. Graeter’s – Cincinnati, OH

5. The Loveless Café – Nashville, TN

Best of the Rest…Honorable Mention:

Most Fun – Kim & Scott’s Café Twist – Chicago, IL

Most Memorable – Kouzzina – Orlando, FL

Most Worth the Wait – Hot Doug’s – Chicago, IL

Most Outrageous Dish – Bub’s Burgers – Carmel, IN

Best Excursion – Epcot International Food and Wine Festival – Orlando. FL

Best Sandwich (Burgers Included) – The Depot American Diner – Chicago, IL

Best Sweet Treat – Emeril’s – Orlando, FL