Keith

Asian, but thanks anyway.

Keith

NeoPatrick

OK. I thought since you specifically mentioned "on the way" across the state which is through the Indian reservation, that you meant. . .oh well, never mind.

But my favorite stop is also on Tamiami Trail -- not far before reaching Miami and just before the big Indian Casino. It's a hole in the wall, Bar-B-Q joint with outside picnic tables under chickees (palm thatched shelters). Really good. I'm not sure it has a name, just a big sign that says "BarBQ" on top.

Tell your friend to save the craving for Indian for another trip to somewhere else.

Keith

Except she lives in Naples and none of her family are interested in Indian Food.

I did get a couple of leads in Fort Lauderdale on Roadfood.com

Keith

NeoPatrick

Yes, I realized she lives in Ft. Myers. I just meant she needs to save that craving for when SHE goes somewhere else -- like I do for when I go to London.

Foley

A word of caution for Daine C: I am just back from 18 days in Naples. I was armed with restaurant quotes from this forum. Campiellos was rated the best. I went there twice (Fridays, dinner) but preferred Bleu Provence, to which I went four times. Bleu Provence was not mentioned in the forum but was recommended by local snowbirds of my own vintage.
Campiellos is for those who want to party and maybe even pick up a date. People are two-deep at the large bar and it is very difficult to get a reservation. It is probably the place to be seen in Naples. The food and service were ok.
Bleu Provence is quiet and refined by comparison with good French cooking.
Neither will suit DianeC as they are not “medium priced”.

bobrad

Neo could you have been referring to Rib City on North Tamiami ?

NeoPatrick

Oh heavens no!!!
I'm talking about a barbeque place that is on the western fringes of Miami, on Tamiami Trail, US 41.

NeoPatrick

Karen, I need to go back to Bleu Provence, and it is only a couple blocks from me. My two experiences there were not good -- a horrible surly waiter who told us at least twenty times that we were in for the best meal we'd ever eaten -- hey let us decide. I had a featured lamb shank which I wanted to be fall of the bone delicious. I could barely cut it with a sharp knife and it was tasteless -- and it cost something like $28 -- for a lamb shank! One night they kept apologizing for the kitchen. We must have waited at least an hour between first and second course. Frieds did the "special fixed price dinner mainly because of the spectacular dessert on it, which the waiter said you couldn't order ala carte. Then when it was time for dessert, he informed them they were out of it and they could substitute one of the regular desserts.

By the way, there is another French restaurant in that area -- closed during the summer when the owners return to France. It's called Lafayette and is on 13th Avenue South. Just as expensive as Bleu Provence, but with really wonderful food and pleasant servers. Their cassoulet is fantastic as is their rack of lamb with those amazing au gratin potatoes.

You are right about Campiello, except for one thing -- it is only hard to get a reservation last minute. I usually book them on Open Table up to a couple days ahead with no problem.
Those of us who make a reservation and book a table for dinner at Campiello are not there to "party and pick up a date". What an odd statement to make about a place just because their bar is busy with people who didn't book a table.

Ann41

I've been to Calistoga many times because my 2-year-old loves it, but the food is simply not very good, and the coffee is actually bad. And I'm no food snob. So now I go and let her gnaw on a bagel while I drink a bottle of water.

I've tried the salads and sandwichs and have never finished any of them, and I always clean my plate!

Ann41

Isn't it called Sushi-Thai, not Thai Sushi? Regardless, I thought it was fin-the Thai food. Not great, but not bad. The food at Thai Basil was very bland--basically the worst Thai food I've ever had. I'll have to try Siam Thai, though.

NeoPatrick

You apparently haven't eaten at Thai Basil. You might not like the food there, but there is no way you could call it "bland" as they ask you how spicy you want it. If you ask for the spicy, no one could ever under any circumstances call that food "bland"! I normally like mine pretty spicy, but at Thai Basil I couldn't possibly ask for it "spicy".

NeoPatrick

Oh, and I won't touch your comments about Calistoga. If you don't like any of the salads or the sandwiches, well, heaven help you if you say you're not a food snob. That's true. A food snob knows good food. It is cheap, fast food for God's sake. What are you looking for? Where else can you get a quarter wedge of very fresh, crisp iceberg lettuce with a wonderful creamy blue cheese dressing. Or a very fresh baby spinach salad with gorgonzola, apples, and candied walnuts in a balsamic vinagrette. If you don't like such things, that's one thing, but everything they serve there is fresh, and well prepared -- not a five star restaurant, but miles and miles above other similarly priced fast food places. Please tell us what you DO like -- MacDonald's? Taco Bell? Wendy's? For the same price for lunch, I can't imagine anyone thinking those places might be better. But I'm willing to hear of anything else that is, within the same price range.

Ann41

The menu at Calistoga's SOUNDS great, but unfortunately they don't deliver. My husband will eat just about anything (except McDonald's) and he now refuses to go to Calistoga for anything but bagels. Panera's a lot better.

For lunch, I like places like Panera and Sunburst. Just give me a decent turkey sandwich, and I'm happy. Unfortunately, Calistoga can't do that.

I have eaten at Thai Basil--twice, because I wanted to give it a fair shake. And it's bland. Simple as that.

NeoPatrick

Well, I will admit one thing about Calistoga. It's very difficult these days because it is SOOOO popular. I stopped at about 2 PM last week to grab a quick sandwich and the lines were out the door -- thank goodness they are very organized and move pretty quickly -- they had four cashiers open, and now they're adding another one outside. Obviously the masses totally disagree with you about the quality. Frankly I wish the quality would slip a little so I could get in and out quicker. You are absolutely the FIRST person I've heard from who doesn't absolutely rave about the quality and the flavor of Calistoga.

But of course if you're looking for plain turkey on plain bread, then Calistoga is NOT the place for you, so I do understand.