For five good friends heading East to West, there's nothing more rewarding than a delicious meal after hours of sitting in a van together.
1) New York, NY- Café Cluny
To start the trip off right, we began our day with a beautiful brunch at this adorable restaurant in the West Village. The food and service are of the finest quality, but it's still totally affordable. We were greeted by perhaps the friendliest hostess in all of Manhattan, and seated in a sweet little booth by the window. The coffee is delicious and strong, and they serve everything from French toast to a Breakfast Sub. They are known for their light and fluffy herb-roasted potatoes, so don't forget to ask for a side.
2) Albion, MI- Alice's Diner
Breakfast is very important to us, and as soon as we walked through the door of Alice's Diner, we knew we'd come to the right place. The florescent lights keep the small room bright and the windows look out onto the street. Our waitress was incredibly friendly, and our coffee cups were never empty. No pancakes here, but delicious eggs of all kinds make up for it, as well as biscuits and gravy! Our local friends told us about some secret items, like a huge veggie omelet that's not on the menu. A legitimate diner, for sure.
3) Chicago, IL- Boiler Room
There are a million places to eat in Chicago, but we had a particularly enjoyable dinner at Boiler Room in Logan Square. This bar/restaurant takes beer and pizza to a whole new level. They have a huge list of amazing beer, and even some Jameson on tap! The pizza has thin, crispy crust and any topping you can think of. The Cuban came with ham, chicken, and PICKLES! Delicious. Make sure to get a whiskey soft-serve ice cream cone after dinner.
4) Minneapolis, MN- Bryant Lake Bowl
This place has everything you could ever ask for: Cheap Bowling, delicious microbrews, and pub food of the finest caliber. Much of the fare is made from organic ingredients, and they make a bunch of their sauces and dressings from scratch. The pulled pork sliders and mock duck rolls are not to be missed, as well as the homemade Green Goddess dressing that comes on the house salad. This place was featured on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," but it doesn't really fall into any of those categories. It's delicious and cozy, and an awesome place to hang out for the night.
5) Iowa City, IA- The Wedge
Getting close to the middle of the country and feeling pretty tired, we decided to order some pizzas from the Wedge. SO GOOD. One pizza had pistachios and pesto. Another pizza was called the Taco and had pieces of chicken, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, and tortilla chips. Need I say more?
6) Omaha, NE- Mother India
This tiny restaurant served up some of the best Indian food any of us have ever had. An older Indian man and woman run this place, only seating about 8 tables at a time. The curries were amazing, and the naan was that perfect mixure of fluffy and crispy. Try the Chicken Tikka Makhani and the Saag Paneer. They have some pretty amazing traditional desserts, too.
7) Denver, Colorado- Pete's Kitchen
The walls of Pete's Kitchen are covered in certificates awarding them the title of Best Late Night Diner for many years in a row. Located on the newly hip Colfax Road (apparently the longest paved road in the U.S.), this establishment caters to lovers of milkshakes and burgers. It's greasy food with no apologies, and they do it right. Great service, plenty of items on the menu to choose from, and an awesome diner vibe.
Taos, New Mexico- Leonora's Hot Tamales
Somewhere off the side of the road in the magical and quirky town of Taos, you'll find Leonora selling pipin' hot tamales out of a mobile cart. These are legit. Served in the husk and filled with everything from cheese to green chiles and pork, this New Mexican specialty is the perfect snack when walking around town. We enjoyed them so much that we bought a bunch more and took them home to make a meal out of. Perfect with a southwestern style salad and some cold, cheap beer!
9) Tuscon, Arizona- B Line
This place has got it all. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a fantastic Happy Hour. We went here for lunch on Halloween day, and the staff was bubbling with excitement from being dressed up. Even the chef was wearing face paint. The service was impeccable (free coffee and iced tea refills!) and the food was delicious. Try the tuna sandwich with a side of the tortilla soup. Amazing.
10) San Francisco, California- Comstock Saloon
After a long journey, we decided to reward ourselves with some fancy cocktails and delicious fare at one of our favorite Bay Area bars. Esquire named this hidden gem one of the top bars in America, and we have to agree. The drinks are creative and presented like a gift. Think cucumber garnishes and recipes with elderflower liquor. As for food, our favorite is the Fisherman's Breakfast (but for dinner): pan-seared trout, hash browns, sautéed chard, and one egg sunny side up. And they have live jazz!
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