Off The Beaten Track, Chef Recommendations, Places to eat, Best off the beaten track restaurants, Top 15, List, New York, Boston, Manhattan, Queens, The Berkshires, Massachusetts, Los Angeles, California, New Orleans, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington, Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, Chef Cesare Casella, Gabe Thompson, Chris Santos, Joe Ogrodnek, Bill Telepan, Josh Whigham, Zak Pelaccio, Jamie Bissonnette, Alfred Portale, Kerry Simon, John Besh, Adolfo Garcia, Jose Garces, Tyson Cole
New York - Manhattan
Who: Chef Cesare Casella (Salumeria Rosi in New York)
Where: Devi (8 East 18th Street, New York, NY 10003, T: 212.691.1300, view map)
What they love: “It's this great Indian place run by two brothers. You can enjoy great Indian flavors with really good service.”
Who: Chef Gabe Thompson (dell’anima, Anfora, L’Artusi in New York)
Where: Shanghai Cafe (100 Mott Street, New York NY 10013, T:212.966.3988, view map)
What they love:“The soup dumplings and sticky rice are amazing.”
Who: Chef Chris Santos (The Stanton Social in New York)
Where: The Burger Joint (Parker Meridien Hotel, 119 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019 T: 212.708.7414, view map)
What they love: “I love the whole burger experience, so it's always a lot of fun to go the Burger Joint in the Parker Meridien with someone who has never been.”
Who: Chef Joe Ogronek (Anella in Brooklyn)
Where: Sake Bar Hagi (152 West 49th Street, Lower Level, New York, NY 10019, T: 212.764.8549, view map)
What they love: “They are open late and always packed. Try the eel tempura with plum salt.”
Who: Chef Bill Telepan (Telepan in New York)
Where: Yakitori Totto (251 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019 T: 212.245.4555, view map)
What they love: “Really adventurous would be the raw chicken.”
New York - Queens
Who: Chef Josh Whigham (The Bazaar by Jose Andres in Los Angeles)
Where: Kabab Cafe (25-12 Steinway Street, Astoria, NY 11103, T: 718.728.9858, view map)
What they love: “Northern Egyptian style food, 12 seats and chef Ali tells you the menu. I remember eating brains, heart, testicles, tongue and lamb cheeks. If you want a unique dining experience, this is the place.”
Who: Chef Zak Pelaccio (Fatty Crab, Fatty ‘Cue in New York)
Where: Tandoori Hut (119-04 94th Ave, Jamaica, NY 11419, T: 718.850.8919, view map)
What they love: “ Fresh, balanced Northern Indian cuisine… it’s a real find.”
Austin
Who: Chef Rene Ortiz (La Condesa in Austin)
Where: G’Raj Mahal (91 Red River, Austin, TX 78701, T: 512.480.2255, view map)
What they love: “It’s cute and awesome. It’s an Indian food truck with table service in the backyard of a house in East Austin.”
Boston
Who: Chef Jamie Bissonnette (Torro, Coppa in Boston)
Where: Gourmet Dumpling House in Chinatown (52 Beach Street, Boston, MA 02111 T: 617.338.6223, view map)
What they love: “The tripe tongue and tendon salad. This is my go to. Soup dumpling are great. The best choice for offal in Chinatown.”
Denver
Who: Chef Eric Skokan (Black Cat in Boulder, CO)
Where: Sabor Latino (4340 West 35th Avenue, Denver, CO 80212, T:303.455.8664 view map)
What they love: “It is a total hole in the wall place that serves the best Latino food for 200 miles in every direction. If you’ve never tried a pupusa (national dish of El Salvador) with loroco, it is a must.”
Kansas
Who: Chef King Phojanakong (Kuma Inn, Umi Nom in New York)
Where: B & C BBQ (355 North Washington Street, Wichita, KS 67202, T: 316.263.8815, view map)
What they love: “Where else can you pick up a few antiques in the front and have some amazing BBQ in the back? I had a great meal with family and friends.”
Las Vegas
Who: Chef Kerry Simon (Palms Place, Cathouse in Las Vegas & LA Market, Simon LA in Los Angeles)
Where: Joyful House (4601 Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas, NV 89102, T: 702.889.8881, view map)
What they love: “Was introduced to this place by Jean-Louis Palladin.”
Los Angeles
Who: Chef Jimmy Bradley (The Harrison, The Red Cat in New York)
Where: Philippe’s French Dip (1001 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, T: 213.628.3781, view map)
What they love: “One of the best sandwiches ever made.”
Who: Chef Jon Shook (Animal in Los Angeles)
Where: Ruen Pair (5257 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027, T: 323.466.0153, view map)
What they love: “For late night Thai.”
New Orleans
Who: Chef John Besh (Besh Restaurant Group in New Orleans)
Where: Orient Dong Phuong Restaurant (14207 Chef Menteur Highway, New Orleans, LA 70129, T: 504.254.0296, view map)
What they love: “The Vietnamese restaurants are cooking up some of the best foods I've ever eaten, period. It's really an insiders only world.”
Who: Chef Adolfo Garcia (Rio Mar, A Mano, La Boca Steakhouse, Gusto in New Orleans)
Where: Angelo Brocato’s (214 North Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119, T: 504.486.1465, view map)
What they love: “Sicilian pistachio gelato or Zuppa Inglese gelato. Oh, and squeeze in a cannoli, trust me.”
Miami
Who: Chef Michelle Bernstein (Michy’s, Sra. Martinez, Michelle Bernstein’s at The Omphoy in South Florida)
Where: La Camaronera (1952 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33135, T: 305.642.3322, view map)
What they love: “For Cuban seafood.”
Philadelphia
Who: Chef Jose Garces (Garces Restaurant Group in Philadelphia and Chicago)
Where: The Oyster House (1516 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, T: 215.567.7683, view map)
What they love: “The Oyster House does a fantastic job of shucking and serving some of the freshest ones in Philadelphia.”
San Francisco
Who: Chef Nathan Foot (Northern Spy Food Co. in New York)
Where: Turtle Tower (631 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109, T: 415.409.3333, view map)
What they love: “Northern Vietnamese food. Roasted chicken, sauteed beef, light broths.”
Seattle
Who: Chef Tyson Cole (Uchi, Uchiko in Austin)
Where: Shiro's (2401 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 T: 206.443.9844, view map)
What they love: “It’s off-the-hook adventurous and delicious. Live uni right out of the shell, and prawns straight out of a live tank were the sweetest thing I've ever tasted. Incredible!”
Just because they're big cities, doesn't mean you can't find out of the way places. We asked chefs the subjective question: "where they like to eat off the beaten track?"
Here are 20 restaurants you may or may not have already heard about.
“OFF THE BEATEN TRACK” RECOMMENDATIONS
August 19, 2010
