Carney's - West Hollywood, CA

If you have ever driven along the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, two of the most recognizable landmarks both share a Western theme.  One is the cowboy-themed Saddle Ranch, which has been featured on VH1, while the other lies right next door.  Carney's sits as an old rail car-transformed-into-a-restaurant, undoubtedly a factor that led me to grow fond of it as a youth.

Carney's offers up casual cuisine, specializing in chili burgers, hot dogs and sausages, though they do offer a few other options.  The prices are quite cheap, especially given the location.  A burger is under five bucks, even with chili on it, and comes with lettuce, cheese and a thickly sliced tomato.  It can also be enjoyed with a view of one of the most well-known stretches of road in the world.

As for the food, so far I have tried the chili hot dog, chili cheeseburger, and chili cheese fries.  The chili cheese burger is my typical go-to when at Carney’s.  I recommend getting a double as the patties can be a bit thin, but two patties will solve the problem.  To perfectly describe a Carney’s burger, think of it as the spot that you might end a long Saturday evening.  The burger comes with a heavy slab of chili, thickly sliced tomato, lettuce and onion.  The chili is usually pretty good, though can occasionally fall on the mushy side.  Keep it mind though, that is not a frequent occurrence.  Overall, a nicely sized, tasty burger that reminds any westerner of an In-N-Out burger plus chili and minus the secret sauce.  

The chili cheese dog is a steamed stretch dog.  On the downside, it disappointed me to see that the hot dogs are precooked and sitting in a steamer until ordered.  On the plus side, once the toppings are added, it turns out that does not make much of a difference.  The hot dog features a nice layer of chili, onions and mustard.  Despite being quite messy and prone to falling apart, it actually tastes pretty good.  The fries are about as thick as a McDonald's fries, but a little crisper.  They are a little bland flavor wise, though that can be slightly improved with a little chili and cheese.  The fries are topped with a layer of chili then a few slices of American cheese and then another layer of chili.  Although I am a bit turned off by the fact that the cheese is merely a few slices, the chili on top does help to melt it.

Martell's Tiki Bar - Point Pleasant, NJ

Anyone who has ever spent time at the Jersey Shore already knows about Martell's, the legendary tiki bar at Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant.  As a youth, Point Pleasant was my favorite beach on the Jersey Shore and it was almost like a family tradition to always stop at Martell's while there.

Martell's is right on the beach, and the tables are always packed, as is the bar.  Over the summer, I stopped with my Dad to have a few drinks and grab some lunch on our way back from Atlantic City.  The sun beat down as we enjoyed a bucket full of ice cold Coronas.  The waiter was terrific, hustling and always there when we needed him despite numerous tables to tend.  Between the people watching, nice beach flanking the bar and the often-live music, this makes for a perfect place to hang out on a bright summer day.

For lunch, I was craving a kids classic so I went with a grilled cheese.  The grilled cheese arrived in a basket on top of some fries.  Although grilled cheese is not the most complex dish to make, I had no complaints.  There was enough cheese, most likely two slices of American melted perfectly, and the bread brown without burning.

Martell’s is always a scene on the weekend, when the Shore crew and weekend visitors flock for a party.  During the summer months, check the calendar and take a trip to Point Pleasant for a wild weekend.

Wendy's - Chain

Everyone has their own opinions about what the best fast food restaurants are.  Some swear by McDonald's, while some claim Burger King's burgers are incomparable.  Others claim Wendy's has the freshest products and best variety.  So this write-up will probably do little to sway any opinions already out there, simply deliver my take on the fast-food chain founded by Dave Thomas.

To start off, when dining in the restaurant, one thing that separates Wendy's from the rest of the fast food pack is the level of cleanliness and a more upscale design when compared to other fast food restaurants.  While many burger fast food places offer similar menus, mixing chicken sandwiches, burgers, chicken nuggets, and fries as the main staples, Wendy's seems to stand out in this regard.  Aside from these offerings, they also offer items such as baked potatoes, chili, and a mixture of salads.  However, one interesting thing is that it does not have a signature burger, like McDonald's Big Mac and Burger King's Whopper.

In my most recent trip I decided to opt for the Asiago Ranch Chicken Club.  I took mine with Spicy Chicken as opposed to the regular.  As far as fast food goes, this was one giant sandwich.  The taste was excellent, with the cool ranch offsetting the heat of the chicken perfectly.  The fresh lettuce and tomato added some flavor, as did the few slices of bacon.  Other thing that distanced this sandwich from its chicken counterparts at rival fast food spots were the size of the chicken and the quality of the bread.

Wendy's fries are also among the best fast food fries available, about even with McDonald's.  A bit thicker in size and cooked with a slight crisp, the fries do require a bit of salting, but aside from that are pretty tasty.  The baked potatoes come can come served a few different ways, with cheese, broccoli, sour cream, butter among the options.  I must warn that if you get it with cheese, while it can be good, it comes extremely cheesy.  My usual preferred way is with butter, but the cheese and broccoli option can be enticing at times.  Although this is not a gourmet potato and can sometimes seem a little watery, it is pretty good and a nice alternative to fries at times.

Wendy's remains one of my favorite fast food chains and the Asiago Ranch Chicken Club is a great addition to their lineup.  Next time you are looking for something quick and convenient, give it a shot.

Price: 5.5

Asiago Ranch Chicken Club: 8

Fries: 8

Baked Potato: 4.5

Overall: 7

South Street Steaks - Bethesda, MD

Going to school at the University of Maryland, I first experienced South Street Steaks one day when craving one of my favorite foods...of course, a philly cheesesteak.  College Park had a place that I had heard good things about and despite being very picky when it comes to finding an authentic cheesesteak, I decided to give it a try.  Unfortunately, the College Park location has since closed, but South Street can still be found in Bethesda and Gaithersburg, Maryland.

A very casual place, South Street is great for pickup or a quick lunch.  What I love about South Street is the fact that they, unlike so many other places, offer whiz as a cheese option.  Blending a little of the two main Philly staples, they chop the steak up, similar to Pat's, while putting the cheese directly on the roll, as Geno's does.  The rolls are amoroso rolls, imported from Philly.  While these cheesesteaks are not quite as good as those from Philly, they are some of the best outside of Philly.  The whiz stays nice and liquidy, offering a great complement to the generous portions of meat packed into the roll.

Although the fries are nothing to write home about at South Street, the burgers are actually quite tasty should a cheesesteak not be what you are looking for.  The prices at South Street are also quite reasonable and perfect for the lunch crowd.

South Street is one of my favorite restaurants in the vicinity of College Park, and one of the few that I would drive half an hour every once in a while.

Roll: 6

Meat: 7

Cheese: 9

Price: 9

Overall: 8 

Pat's King of Steaks - Philadelphia, PA

Ever since trying Pat's for the first time, I have been loyal to Geno's.  However, one day, while driving down to Maryland, I was faced with a difficult decision.  On one hand, my beloved Geno's had a massive line that would have taken about 45 minutes to get through.  On the other hand, Pat's stood across the street, with no line at all.

Despite the tough decision, I ended up deciding to give Pat's another shot.  After giving some advice to an out-of-town family on "how to order a cheesesteak," I ordered my own Whiz Without.  Unlike Geno's, Pat's chops their steak up and puts the cheese on top of the meat instead of directly on the roll.  
Unfortunately, this makes the cheesesteak suffer, given that the cheese gets cold quicker and does not stay in liquid format as easily.

While the roll is good and very similar to the ones used at Geno's, I prefer the meat at Geno's, which has a little more fat on it, making it juicier.  I also prefer the slabs of thinly sliced steak, rather than the chopped up steak that Pat's uses.

Although the size of the line can vary, it is usually pretty easy to find parking nearby.  As the originator of the cheesesteak, I will give it credit for inventing one of my favorite foods.  However, their current name takes it a bit far, suggesting being the King of Steaks, which currently should rightfully belong to its cross-street rival, the neon-lighted Geno's.  Nevertheless, this cheesesteak is above average, just not when compared to other Philly locales.

Bread: 8

Cheese: 7

Meat: 7

Price: 5

Overall: 6.5

Timmy Nolan's - Toluca Lake, CA

Having arrived out in Burbank a couple days ago, I was looking for a couple local places to catch some sports, chat with the locals and grab a beer or some food.  Within walking distance from my Grandmother's house lies a small Irish Pub named Timmy Nolan's.  Being the closest place that seemed to offer a combination of the three, I figured I would give it a shot.

With my Grandmother heading to bed early, I ventured over to watch some of the Angels game one night.  Timmy Nolan's offers an impressive array of beer, with a broad blend of domestics and imports.  After settling in for a few minutes with a beer in front of me, I soon found myself immersed in conversation with both the people around me and the friendly barstaff.  Being a somewhat small, neighborhood-style pub, many of the patrons seemed to already know each other.  In fact, on return trips, I was remembered by the bartenders, making it a very welcoming place.  Although Los Angeles gets a reputation for having people who present a "fake" persona, I have found the people at Timmy Nolan's to be very genuine, and the conversation is always something new and interesting.  With an eclectic variety of patrons, you could meet anyone from a construction worker to an artist to a businessman, with a journey to this local pub.

One day, while there, I found myself faced with some hunger.  Taking a look at the menu, I was impressed by a more expansive selection than one would typically find at a bar.  On top of that, the food was more than just the typical burgers, with some specialties (especially Irish ones) on the menu.  After brief contemplation and some advice from the owner/bartender, Dennis (a really friendly guy), I settled on the Irish Stew.  About 10 minutes later, I had decided that whenever I eat at Timmy Nolan's, I probably will not be too adventurous with the rest of the menu.  Why?  The Irish Stew is to die for!  This is something i could easily order every time.  Arriving in a sourdough bread bowl, the hearty stew blends beef cubes, carrots and potatoes.  The beef is perfectly cooked and practically melts in your mouth.  As a whole, the combination works so well together that when you finish the serving you find yourself wishing for more.

The drink prices could be better, but are not outrageous, especially given the superior selection when compared to most bars.  An impressive selection of Irish Whiskey's will also appease any liquor connoisseur.  I have nothing but praise for the food and my Grandmother enjoyed the Fish and Chips when we returned another time.  Compound these with the friendly staff and this is a perfect place to stop by, grab a drink and have a nice conversation when in the Toluca Lake neighborhood.

Atmosphere: 6.5

TV's: 7 (Large, about 4 of them)

Beer Selection: 8

Price:  5.5

Irish Stew: 9

Overall: 8