Dak Index Spring/Summer 2009

Tired of pretentious, overpriced restaurants that are really just marketing ploys? So are we. Good Eats profiles our favorite restaurants, places that offer consistently good food at reasonable prices (with and without atmosphere!). We welcome your comments.
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Many hotel restaurants are “just okay”, or so we thought when taking some associates to dinner during a conference this past summer in Chicago. A notable exception is NoMI, in the Park Hyatt Chicago. Walk past a rooftop bar and a comfortable lounge, and enter a beautiful dining room with great views. Terrific food and impeccable service!

NoMI Restaurant
Park Hyatt Chicago, Seventh Floor
800 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.239.4030

We had the unique experience of a post-Katrina visit to New Orleans for a Board Meeting, hosted by a native son who runs a major liquor wholesaling business. He knew every restaurateur in New Orleans, and the keynote dinner was at August, conveniently located in an historic building outside the back door of the Windsor Court Hotel, a very nice boutique property. The food, wine, service, and ambience were phenomenal, with a focus on the freshest local ingredients; you can’t miss at August with Chef John Besh at the helm.

August
301 Tchoupitoulas Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
504.299.9777

If you’re in the Kiawah area for a golf retreat or a second honeymoon, make a beeline to Hege’s. Your expectations for a restaurant located inside Freshfields Village may not be high but rest assured that you will be extremely impressed by the cuisine, ambiance, service, and value. Whether you sit at the bar or in the dining room, it’s well worth the visit.

Hege's Kiawah
Freshfields Village
275 Gardner's Circle
John’s Island, SC 29455
843.768.0035

One of our loyal Index readers, Jay Vinson, sent us an enthusiastic recommendation for Karam’s in San Antonio: “It’s a place the locals like to keep to themselves,” he said. If you’re craving authentic Mexican food in an authentic Mexican setting, stop by Karam’s. You may be lucky enough to hear the “fantastic one-man-band that jams during dinner.”

Karam’s Mexican Dining Room
121 North Zarzamora Street
San Antonio, TX 78207
210.433.0111

The Jersey Shore… overrated for some, nirvana for others. If you happen to be in Atlantic City, we highly recommend PRIMAVERA inside Caesar’s Palace Hotel & Casino. Although not the typical value play we prefer in the DAK Index, we were impressed by the service and food, and the prices weren’t outrageous. The veal chop was extraordinary, the best ever; the pasta dishes and other “secondi” were all well received and the ricotta cheesecake was tops. Our servers were polite and efficient, and Maitre d' Michael Freedman will take care of you, high roller or not! For reservations call 609.348.4411

Primavera at Caesar’s Palace
2100 Pacific Avenue
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
609.348.4411

In this day and age of national chains, when it comes to steakhouses we prefer one that is unique to a particular city. While The Palm, Smith & Wollensky, Ruth’s Chris, Fleming’s, Morton’s, et al are certainly safe and fairly consistent, they can suffer from "generica" (features of the American landscape that are pretty much the same no matter where one is).
With that, we recommend Mastro’s City Hall Steakhouse in Scottsdale. If you’re in the Phoenix area for business or pleasure, it is a fun, lively place with serious attention to food and service. The bone-in filet is always on the menu, unlike at most chains. Mastro’s will hit the spot whether you order at the bar, want to entertain a client, or enjoy the evening with a friend.

Mastro’s City Hall Steakhouse
6991 E. Camelback Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480.941.4700

If you’re in Philadelphia and want a quick, inexpensive, and delicious lunch (or dinner), the Sang Kee Peking Duck House is a real treat. Dining at Sang Kee, which is a tradition for many Philadelphians as well as out-of-towners, is particularly satisfying on a cold winter day, as their noodle soups (with duck, pork, or both) are phenomenal. Their extensive and inventive menu goes beyond traditional “Chinese food” to also include more adventurous options. Not “suited up”? No problem – you can wear your workout clothes or blue jeans.

Sang Kee Peking Duck House
238 North 9th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-925-7532

Outside the center of London, just a few blocks from the fabled Abbey Road studios, is a great casual restaurant – The Salt House. One of the new breed of “gastro-pubs” in London, where the food is the star over the beer and ale, Salt House has delicious treatments of fresh local food – try the English Pea & Mint soup, the cod (best ever), or the lamb chops. You will leave happy and, atypical of more expensive restaurants, with a few quid left in your pocket! Walk a few blocks on Abbey Road and pick up the Beatles vibe at the studio before cabbing back to your hotel. The Salt House is a treat.

The Salt House
63 Abbey Road
London NW8 0AE
011-44-207-328 6626