Posted on 11/02/2006 8:38:56 AM PST by Responsibility2nd
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- When it comes to eating out in the United States, Texans do it the most, New Yorkers pay the most, and Italian is the country's favorite cuisine, a study showed Wednesday.
Zagat Survey released its "America's Top Restaurants," a guide covering 1,389 eateries in 42 cities, which is based on 21 million meals worth of experience by more than 123,000 people.
It found that during 2006 restaurant openings have been far outpacing closings and that the cost of a meal increased 2.8 percent, less than the 4 percent rise in the country's Consumer Price Index.
"These are happy days for food lovers -- this marks another year where restaurant quality, diversity and value have improved across America," Tim Zagat, chief executive officer of the survey, said in a statement.
The survey showed that 83 percent of people eat out as often or more than they did two years ago and that people in Houston, Texas, eat out the most at 4.2 times a week, followed by the Texas cities Austin and Dallas-Ft. Worth, where residents dine out four times a week.
Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Miami come next, with people eating out 3.8 times a week.
In New York people eat out 3.3 times a week, which the survey said could be due to the high cost of dining there -- the city is the most expensive in the United States with an average meal costing $39.43.
"Sadly its the same old story across the country when it comes to service," the Zagat Survey found. "72 percent of diners say service is the greatest irritant when it comes to eating out."
Nearly a third of diners said Italian food was their favorite, with American food coming in second at 16 percent and French third at 12 percent. But when Japanese, Chinese and Thai were combined they ran a close second with 25 percent.
`snort` Yeah, right.
Real Men Don't Eat Quiche.
However, BBQ is much better in Austin than in Dallas.
...still looking for a great Mexican resteraunt here.
I got one of those books and there was not one restaurant in San Antonio in there! And everyone knows we have THE best Mexican food!
French food?! Nah.
No Place Better.
Whatever.
French food is bland.
Slightly off topic post here, but I thought yawn EFFING kerry said that everyone in America was in soup kitchen lines. How can we possibly afford to eat out?
LOL!
Leo's (sadly now closed) had the best Mexican food in Houston. The inner sleeve of the ZZ Top album 'Tres Hombres' depicts one of the plates. Billy would go in there, but not to eat. He would order an ice tea, but brought his own plasticware and sugar.
food ping
Mi Terra's in San Antonio's El Mercado used to be good, but the last few times I ate there, it was grissle city.
Taco Cabana is now better than Mi Terra
I'm all ears when it comes to Billy Gibbon inside info like you just shared with me.
I always use the inside cover of Tres Hobres as an example when illustrating a Tex-Mex feast. That inside cover makes my mouth water.
It was fantastic on Labor Day weekend. Did you order something like the 'Cabrone Grande Especial', the 'Cidad las Grissle', or the 'Gringo burger', by chance?
Well, if you count French Onion Soup...
It was the chili con-carne that they topped my dish with. It seemed like 60% gristle, and it happened on two back to back occasions.
In Austin:
Fonda San Miguel: Excellent Fine Interior Mexican Cuisine
The Habanero: Best Spiced meats.(think Southern New Mexico, Juarez, El Paso)Best Beans and Rice, Best Gordita
El Chile: Great Interior Fusion
El Michoacanna: Best Breakfast, Chickory Coffee and Handmade Tortillas, Real Hamsteak and Real Chorizo
Maudies: (stick to the one on south lamar) Best Enchiladas, Best Frozen Margarita, try the straight plate with Verde Sauce.
El Chilito: Best Fast Food, the puffy taco!
Curras: Best Tamales, really good margaritas. A fusion of interior and tex mex.
Changos: Best Tacos Al Pastor. Handmade tortillas pressed and cooked at the time of order.
Las Manitas: (breakfast only) Great Coffee, Great Huevos Mexicanas.
Luna el Sol: (breakfast only) Chori-Migas!!
Azul Tequilla: Good all around inexpensive.
Famous names to watch out for:
Matts El Rancho: Old El Paso right out of the can.
Nuevo Leon: Something tells me this place used to be really good before they got so large. Now it is Sysco Food Service and a layer of clear grease on top of every plate.
Chuy's: Tex Mex Classic, meaning you will have to dig through an inch of Jack Cheese before you find your food. (plus they will call the cops on their patrons ;)
Polvos: The food is really good, but the service needs to improve. A Brunch favorite, but if you sit on the patio, get under the awning and go ahead and get your own chips and salsa.
Las Manitas: yes on both lists. Eat there at lunch, avoid the pork...
Trudy's: Best Mexican Martini in town. Have two, then the food is fine... everything is fine.
-- lates
-- jrawk
But none of it compares to the fare back in New Mexico.
If you walked away from a french restaurant thinking french food is bland, it was poorly made. We can bash the french all we want (and it is fun), but well prepared french food ain't bland.
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