It can be a chain, a mom and pop, or a local legend–there’s enough variety in restaurant choices to find favorites nearly everywhere! Here’s a quick update of some our recent encounters that we loved enough to recommend.
First, if you find yourself in Galveston, Texas, visit Gaido’s Restaurant along the seawall. We have this restaurant on repeat, and always get some version of their crab-stuffed shrimp.
Indulge in an appetizer from Gaido’s, too, like the breaded onion rings, above.
We mentioned chain restaurants, so First Watch gives you an opportunity to find one of the more than 500 locations across 29 states. We love their seasonal menu items, and this delicious sugar-rimmed drink was from their Fall line-up.
While Gaido’s is a local institution, Mama’s on the Hill, in St. Louis, Missouri, is all that and more to the people of St. Louis. It’s a family-owned restaurant that serves great pasta in an area where great Italian food is supreme. Try their Tortellini a la Pappa, with prosciutto and a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.
Finally, we come to a homegrown favorite and a twist on avocado toast, found at JW’s Kitchen in Southwest Missouri. It’s in a trendy area called Farmer’s Park, and it lives up to the promise with a fresh version of Neighbor’s Mill bakery’s multi-grain bread, topped with pickled onions, egg, radishes, and lots more. Great for brunch or any time of day, particularly when paired with one of their fresh juices, like the combo of beet, cranberry, and more pictured in the background.
Restaurants are doing one of three things right now: innovating, recovering, or closing. Go support your local favorites and prevent that last from happening!
