Dig in to your city food search with these awesome online culinary guides.
When your stomach is grumbling, you may not feel inclined to debate dining plans. But if you are new to a city or have found an apartment in a different part of town, you might not know just where to indulge your taste buds.
Find your perfect apartment now!
Why not hop on the Internet and check out the food scene in your town with online guides and apps, like these fabulous foodie finders?
Whether it’s for a special occasion, holiday or just because, a dinner party is a great excuse to get together to enjoy the company of others, eat delicious food and perhaps indulge in a few adult beverages.
Hosting a dinner party in your apartment doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little creativity and DIY flair, you’ll have a great night with close friends.
Gather a list of guests and use our tips to help throw a glamorous dinner party in your apartment.
Start your apartment search today!
Guest List
Look at your space and figure out how many guests you can seat comfortably. You want to create a cozy, intimate atmosphere – not a space where your guests can barely move and are bumping into one another.
Dining Table
If you don’t have room for a dining table in your apartment, take advantage of furniture you already have in your space. Use a dresser, desk and other available tables in your apartment to create one large surface. Heights may vary, but knowing that things don’t have to be perfect will take a lot of the pressure off of the host/ess. If you’re inviting neighbors, don’t be shy and ask to borrow a few chairs for the night – and you can even ask very close friends attending to bring their own chairs.
Another important aspect to hosting a party is the seating arrangement. If you are having assigned seats, arrange it so your guests can be near someone new. Split couples up, and don’t sit your work colleagues next to one another. This will force your guests to mingle and break out of their comfort zones.
Décor
Keep your decor simple. Add bold-colored, low-profile floral arrangements to the dining table and throughout your apartment. Dim the lights and add a few candles to create an intimate atmosphere.
Food and Drink
Make sure you’re aware of dietary preferences and requirements in advance. You don’t want to prepare a large meal that only a select few of your guests can enjoy. If a guest has dietary restrictions that are unusual, feel free to ask for suggestions on what will work for them.
For your dinner menu, keep it simple and delicious. Choose dishes that can be mostly prepared ahead of time so you can spend more time with your guests and out of the kitchen. A sample menu could include a green salad, crusty bread and lasagna. Remember to not cook anything you’ve never tried before, and avoid potentially messy foods like spaghetti or lobster. If it’s easier, set up a buffet-style area so your guests can serve themselves. This frees up space on the dining table.
For drinks, provide bottled waters, sodas and beer to keep possible spills to a minimum. For adult beverages, you don’t have to get the most expensive bottle, but provide something that your guests will enjoy. Consider making a punch, like a champagne punch, that becomes your “signature cocktail.” When your guests offer to bring something, it’s okay to encourage them to bring a bottle of wine they like.
Be a Good Host
Prepare everything ahead of time in order to spend quality time with your party guests. Make an effort to connect with every guest, and be sure to introduce your guests to one another. Instead of just introducing your guests by name, add an interesting fact that could help jump-start a conversation. For example, “Joe, this is Jennifer. She just got back from a trip to Spain.” If you’ve invited a mix of work colleagues and personal friends, avoid talking only about work. Create conversations in which everyone can participate.
Photo credit: iStockphoto/arsenik
Use your waffle iron to whip up quick and easy recipes.
A waffle iron is handy, as you can whip up a fresh batch of homemade waffles any time you want. And if you’re feeling creative, you can toss in various fruits, chocolate or nuts into your waffle batter to spice things up. But did you know that a waffle iron can do much more? This useful kitchen tool can grill up a cheeseburger, bake cookies and even soft pretzels. Check out our top three picks for non-waffle recipes using your waffle maker.
Ham and Cheese Panini (adapted from Foodie with Family)
2 slices of sturdy bread
1 tablespoon softened butter
6 thin slices deli ham
2 thin slices provolone cheese
1 fistful baby arugula
Thin slices sweet onion, to taste
Dijon mustard, to taste
Mayonnaise, to taste
Preheat your waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Spread the Dijon and mayonnaise on one piece of bread, and then arrange three pieces of ham on the bread, as well as one piece of cheese. Add half of the arugula, last piece of cheese and the remaining three slices of ham. On the remaining piece of bread, spread more Dijon and mayonnaise and then top the sandwich. Butter the top of the bread.
Hold the sandwich together and carefully invert it onto the waffle iron so the buttered top is facing down on the iron. Quickly butter the other piece of bread and close the waffle iron. Toast the sandwich until it has a panini appearance and the outside is crispy with a golden brown color. Use tongs or a spatula to carefully remove the sandwich from the waffle iron.
S’moreffles (adapted from Waffleizer)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2/4 teaspoon salt
7 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces, chilled
1/3 cup honey
5 tablespoons vanilla extract
Pinch of cinnamon
Chocolate pieces
Marshmallows
Mix the dry ingredients. Add the butter and rub together until the ingredients are coarsely mixed. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, honey and vanilla. Add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients until a dough forms. If it looks like there’s too much liquid, slowly add in more flour, up to a half cup. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least two hours.
Preheat your waffle iron. Roll out the dough on a floured surface. Cut the dough into squares, about 4 inches on each side. Add each square of dough to the iron, and cook for three minutes. Set aside the waffled graham crackers.
To make s’mores, place one waffled graham cracker onto the waffle iron, and top with chocolate and marshmallows. Place another waffled graham cracker on top, and then close the waffle iron to allow the heat to melt the chocolate and marshmallows, about one minute.
Calzone (adapted from Rachael Ray)
1 cup fresh ricotta
Handful of parsley, chopped
Handful of basil, chopped
½ cup provolone cheese, shredded
2 cloves garlic, minced
Fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
1 round pizza dough
Salt and pepper, to taste
Extra virgin olive oil
Water
Preheat the waffle iron to medium-high heat. Mix together ricotta cheese, parsley, basil, provolone, garlic, salt, pepper and a little olive oil together in a bowl. Split the pizza dough in half, and roll into an 8-inch round. Spread half of the cheese mixture all over the dough, leaving about a ½ inch border. Lay a few slices of mozzarella across one side. Rub water around the edge of the dough, and fold the dough over and crimp the edges.
Lay the calzone in the waffle iron and gently close it. Do not apply pressure, and let the calzone cook until the crust turns brown.
Repeat the above steps for the other half of the pizza dough. Serve with marinara sauce.
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/RonBailey
If you’re a vegetarian, there are still many great meat-free dishes to enjoy on Thanksgiving.
This Thanksgiving, if you’re a vegetarian, give thanks for the fact that you can have such a healthy and delicious meal that you won’t even think twice about the fact that it’s sans turkey. Here’s how.
Roasted Delicata Squash Salad (adapted from Chow.com)
With all the meat, cream-based casseroles and starchy vegetables abounding, salads can get lost in the Thanksgiving shuffle. So start your meal off with this light and healthy squash salad that’s as delicious as it is beautiful.
1 medium delicate squash, seeded and sliced into ½-inch-thick rings
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing
4 ounces spinach, washed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces
1 large shallot, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1/3 cuproasted and salted pumpkin seeds
2 ounces shaved ricotta salata
Vegetarian Stuffing (adapted from Epicurious.com)
Swap out your boring, meat-based stuffing for this hearty and savory vegetarian stuffing that highlights fresh, seasonal ingredients.
2 sticks salted butter
3 tablespoons fresh, chopped sage
1 large white onion, chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
3 stalks celery, finely chopped
2 cupscremini mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can vegetable broth
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 loaf day-old French bread
½ cup dried cranberries
Root Vegetable Gratin (from Eating Well)
The rich flavor of the Gruyere cheese brings out the nutty notes of the root vegetables in this delicious gratin.
3 pounds assorted root vegetables (beets, carrots, parsnips, rutabaga, turnips, etc.), peeled and cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cupthinly sliced shallots
1 1/3 cupslow-fat milk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups finely shredded Gruyere cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cupfresh whole-wheat breadcrumbs
Glazed Lentil Walnut Apple Loaf (adapted from Oh She Glows)
Whether it’s smoked, roasted or deep fried, everybody knows that turkey is generally the main focus at Thanksgiving. As a vegetarian, you could spring for the Tofurky, but why not grace your table with this hearty lentil loaf instead? You won’t even miss the meat.
Loaf
1 cupuncooked green lentils
1 cupwalnuts, finely chopped and toasted
3 tablespoons ground flax plus ½ cup water
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ cups diced sweet onion
1 cupdiced celery
1 cupgrated carrot
1/3 cuppeeled and grated sweet apple
1/3 cupraisins
½ cup oat flour
¾ cup breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
Balsamic Apple Glaze
¼ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons apple butter
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Photo credit: iStockphoto/NWphotoguy
What’s even better than Thanksgiving dinner? The Thanksgiving leftovers. But if you’re worried you’ll get bored eating the same meal for a week straight, mix things up with these unique recipes. (And no turkey tetrazzini is involved!)
To add this infographic to your site, please copy the embed code from the above box and paste this code on your site.
“This turkey will not die today!” Make a stand for your own non-traditional celebration of thanks this season.
If you are planning to host a Thanksgiving meal in your apartment this season, get creative with a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner that will surprise your guests and cater to family and friends with special food preferences.
Set a diverse buffet
One of the main reasons people stray from traditional Thanksgiving traditions is to satisfy the dietary needs of a everyone at the table. If your guest list includes vegetarians, vegans or gluten-free friends – or foodies! — you can still create a delicious dinner that suits all of their tastes. The key is to provide options.
Seafood is a great alternative to turkey, and some vegetarians are open to eating fish. Prepare a tasty Thanksgiving salmon with cranberry sauce or autumn spice scallops. For a truly vegetarian Thanksgiving, shoot for scrumptious veggie entrees like butternut squash baked risotto or a mushroom tart. Preparing pumpkin pie can be bewildering when you are crafting a gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner menu, but there’s always gluten-free pumpkin cheesecake with a gingersnap crust to save the day!
Don’t let special diets intimidate you. Have fun experimenting with your dinner menu and create a new tradition that’s both healthy and yummy.
Plan a faraway feast
As Thanksgiving is an American holiday that celebrates our first settlers, an obvious way to mix things up this year is to give your Thanksgiving dinner menu an international twist. A Greek lamb roast, Italian turkey sausage lasagna or Indian shrimp vindaloo is guaranteed to spice up the flavor of your feast.
Take your Thanksgiving dinner on the road with a visit to a local restaurant. International restaurants are often open on Thanksgiving Day, so keep your kitchen clean and drive your family to the neighborhood Chinese, Indian or Korean spot. Plus, eating out means you don’t have to cook Thanksgiving in a small kitchen!
Or you can go big with your holiday vacation plans and travel farther afield for a real non-traditional Thanksgiving out of the country. Viking River Cruises offers spectacular European holiday excursions that feature fabulous meals and seasonal market shopping.
Give thanks without the focus on food
Some of us dread Thanksgiving because we are watching our weight or trying to stay healthy. Grandma’s decadent turkey dinner is simply too tempting! Removing the food focus from Thanksgiving is a great alternative. After all, there are fun ways to savor the spirit of the holiday without destroying your diet.
If the temptation truly is too great, you might skip the family meal, but offer to host a post-dinner game night at your house. That way you can still see your loved ones and share what you are grateful for over a game of Scrabble instead of stuffing. Other healthy options include planning an afternoon walk in the park or meeting everyone for an evening movie.
Think outside of the box of stuffing this year and plan a non-traditional Thanksgiving meal that will make this holiday unexpected and memorable.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Everett Collection
California’s healthy, eco-friendly mentality is so prevalent that it spreads to practically every aspect of the lives of its residents, so it’s no surprise that some of the best vegetarian restaurants in the country can be found in this sunny state. If you want your plate to be filled with healthy, meat-free options, check out these vegetarian restaurants in California.
Rutabegorz
Formed in 1970, Rutabegorz was a small “hippie joint” that only served coffee and desserts. Since then, it has grown into one of California’s most popular health-conscious restaurant chains. Now, with three locations to serve local vegetarians, vegans and health nuts, Rutabegorz serves good, fresh food at decent prices. The Orange location is quaint and cozy, in a converted old house, and the menu is massive, but locals swear by the Southwest Quinoa Bowl, chock full of fresh vegetables. Or, try the Peasant Mushrooms, a hearty creation featuring mushrooms stuffed with a vegetable medley of zucchini, bell pepper and carrots, topped with melted cheese.
Where: 264 North Glassell St., Orange, CA 92866
Elf Café
Intimate and elegant, Elf Café is perfect for a special occasion dinner for those who enjoy vegetarian cuisine. The menu is heavily influenced by Mediterranean culture, with offerings like the Vegan Shwarma Sandwich, Spicy Moroccan Kale Salad and Moroccan VegetableTagine. Make sure to make reservations in advance, as this popular spot can fill up on nights and weekends.
Where: 2135 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
Evolution Fast Food
If you’re looking for good, healthy food fast, check out Evolution Fast Food. The concept of a gourmet fast food place may be foreign to you, but we can guarantee that you’ve probably never seen a gourmet vegetarian fast food restaurant. Evolution offers a selection of gourmet burgers, wraps, sandwiches, fries, smoothies, shakes and desserts made with no animal ingredients, refined sweeteners or artificial flavors. Additionally, the restaurant is plastic-free, as all containers and utensils are made from non-bleached paper or biodegradable food starch.
Where: 2965 5th Ave., San Diego, CA 92103
Noble Vegetarian
This little hole in the wall Asian fusion restaurant is a little out of the way for centrally located Sacramento residents, but it’s worth the drive. Primarily drawing its inspiration from Vietnamese cuisine, Noble Vegetarian is known for its faux meats in standout dishes like Orange Vegken, Roti Drumstick and Ruby Pearls. The mock chicken, beef and pork is so delicious and convincing that even those of the carnivorous persuasion sing its praises. Make to save room for a slice of their Vegan Sheese Cake – you won’t even miss the dairy.
Where: 5049 College Oak Drive, Sacramento, CA 95841
Source
Known as one of the best vegetarian restaurants in San Francisco, Source believes in serving hand-selected, quality organic food, with a menu comprised of vegan and vegetarian handcrafted sandwiches on freshly baked bread, healthful salads brimming with delicious ingredients, unique casseroles and hearty brick oven pizzas. If you’re on a raw diet, choose offerings like the Live Lettuce Taco or the Live Platter, featuring hemp tabouli, marinated mushrooms, green goddess salad, lettuce tacos and living chips.
Where: 11 Division St., San Francisco, CA 94103
Photo credit: iStockphoto/Ildi_Papp
Whether you’re looking for fast and cheap, mid-range or fine dining options, Sacramento, Calif.’s got them all.
Looking for good eats in the capital of California? Whether you’re looking for fast and cheap, mid-range or fine dining options, Sacramento, Calif.’s got them all.
Eating on the cheap
When what you want is good, old-fashioned, excellent home-style cooking, look no further than local favorites like Plates and Mo Mo’s Meat Market. While they may not be fancy, these food destinations have online reviewers raving.
Located in the Tahoe Park neighborhood, Mo Mo’s is your best bet for barbeque in Sacramento, serving up hot links, ribs and pork. Just choose two, three or four different meats for your plate and pony up a surprisingly paltry amount of cash. Most entrees are under ten dollars here.
Plates Café is another unique eatery, staffed by residents of a local shelter. The workers learn marketable skills while serving up comfort foods like pulled pork on jalapeno biscuits, sweet potato fries with sea salt, and a variety of sandwiches and salads. It’s a cheap meal that supports a good local cause.
The best food in the mid-range
According to Time Magazine, Sacramento is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. A glance at some of the most-loved mid-range-priced dining options in the city may help you understand how the city claimed that title.
Whatever kind of international fare you’re looking for, you’ll find it in California’s capital. For vegan and vegetarian dishes with a southeast Asian flair, there’s Andy Nguyen’s. If cabbage rolls and schnitzel sound good to you, try popular Midtown joint Café Marika. Spanish tapas, fruity sangria and live music are on the menu at Tapa the World. And Centro Cocina Mexicana, a staple on the Sacramento dining scene for 20 years, serves up fresh Mexican dishes and over 150 tequilas.
Splurging in Sacramento
Some of the country’s best restaurants make up the fine dining scene in Sacramento. Expect to pay a premium but enjoy a unique dining experience –assuming you can get a reservation — at these popular spots.
Downtown Sacramento’s Ella Dining Room and Bar, which has been called one of the United States’ most innovative restaurants, is helmed by celeb chef Randall Selland and serves family-style portions of fine, locally-sourced fare. Biba Ristorante Italiano is also helmed by a famous chef, Biba Caggiano, a TV show host and author. Biba’s is known for serving authentic Northern Italian dishes. (Tip: try visiting the restaurant during the week to sample its affordable prix fixe menu.)
Looking for more?
Still hungry to learn what else you can chow down on in Sacramento? Try scouring your favorite online review sites for tips on Sacramento’s best restaurants. Also, visit local foodie dining resources like SacFoodies, Munchie Musings, and the Sacramento Food Blog on Urbanspoon.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / 2578521
Oregon is a state that loves its beer. In fact, there are currently 120 brewing companies operating 153 brewing facilities throughout the state, and beer connoisseurs from across the world pay homage to this magical brew at the Oregon Brewers Festival, the largest collective of independent craft brewers in the United States. Portland has more breweries than any other city in the world at 51, and countless brew pubs where you can sample the region’s finest. We’ve rounded up our favorite brew pubs in the City of Roses, so pull up a well-worn bar stool and wash down great grub with the best local brews at these establishments.
Horse Brass Pub
This authentic, British-style neighborhood watering hole in Southeast Portland is a local favorite for its 29 years in business and its more than 50 beers on tap. You’ll find traditional British offerings like fish and chips, bangers and mash and kidney pie. And while there are a great number of Portland beers offered here, the Horse Brass Pub is perfect for spending a chilly Thursday evening sampling local beers from Oregon breweries that don’t have brew pubs in Portland.
Where: 4534 Southeast Belmont St., 97215
Tugboat Brewing Company
Housed in an antique watch repair shop, the Tugboat Brewing Company is a delightfully unassuming, small yet unique microbrewery. Tucked away on a side street in downtown, Tugboat has a comfortable, worn in atmosphere, with bookshelves stacked to the ceiling and oil paintings hung on the walls. The pub features a rotating variety of beers on tap, including Extra Special Bitter, an IPA, Cask Stout and Hop Red.
Where: 711 SW Ankeny St., Portland, OR 97205
Kennedy School
Owned by Mike and Brian McMenamin, two brew pub pioneering brothers who own nearly 20 properties in Portland, the Kennedy School is a restored 1915 elementary school that has been converted into a hotel, a brew pub, a theater and a concert space. The Concordia Brewery is found here, housed in a former girls’ locker room. Wood-burning stoves create a nice ambiance, and the scholastic décor touches really make the brew pub stand out, like the nonsmoking Honors Bar and the smoking Detention Bar.
Where: 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland, OR 97215
Gasthaus Pub
The official brew pub for the Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, the Gasthaus is tucked away in a chic industrial center on the east bank of the Willamette River. Widmer is best known for its Hefeweizen, an unfiltered wheat beer, but the pub has nearly a dozen beers on tap, ranging from Drop Top Amber, Widberry and seasonal selections. Round out the experience by noshing on elevated pub fare like local sausage fondue, smoked blue cheese-spinach dip and classic burgers .
Where: 929 North Russell St., Portland, OR 97227
BridgePort BrewPub
One of the most famous craft breweries in the United States, BridgePort is famous for its India Pale Ale, which has won a number of awards in the United States and internationally. Its stellar brew pub is housed in the brewery itself, a former rope factory in Portland’s trendy Pearl district. The menu is fresh and inventive, with offerings like the roasted citrus pork sandwich, freshly baked pretzels and vegan three bean chili, and the expansive wrap around patio is perfect on a warm summer day.
Where: 1313 NW Marshall St., Portland, OR 97209
Photo credit: iStockphoto/stu99
Long Island visitors and residents can get their seafood fix year-round at a number of markets and restaurants.
Long Island, N.Y. is a great place to nosh on fresh seafood, as it’s practically jutting out into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to the delicacies you can enjoy every August at the Long Island Maritime Museum’s Seafood Festival, Long Island visitors and residents can get their fix year-round at the following seafood markets and restaurants.
Cor-J Seafood Corp.
Being at Cor-J Seafood Corp. is kind of like stepping into a traditional open air food market, with customers milling about asking about the goods and proud vendors displaying their catch of the day. Those who are squeamish might want to avoid this seafood market, as it’s not uncommon to see whole fish being brought through the back door, then washed, sliced and filleted right there in front of the customers. But if you’re looking for the freshest seafood in Long Island, this is the place to go.
Where: 36 Lighthouse Road, Hampton Bays, NY 11946
Atlantic Seafood Fish Market
After a fun day at the beach, Atlantic Seafood Fish Market is the perfect place to unwind with good food and good company. As youwalk infrom the parking lot, you might think this unassuming place is just a seafood market, but it’s also a restaurant serving up cheap and fresh seafood. Make sure to bring cash for the tip – they don’t allow gratuity on credit cards. For something a little different, try the lobster pizza, or stick with the traditional steamed seafood platter. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
Where: 125 Main St., Center Moriches, NY 11934
PJ Lobster House
As the name implies, lobster is king at PJ Lobster House, and this casual and comfortable restaurant specializes in live lobsters and stock sizes up to three pounds. Their fresh fish market receives deliveries seven times a week to ensure high quality and freshness in each meal. The restaurant often offers daily specials, including an all you can eat lobster buffet on holidays and an all-inclusive prix fixe special on Sundays.
Where: 1 N. Country Road, Port Jefferson, NY 11777
B & B Fish & Clam Co.
This quaint mom and pop seafood shack is as unpretentious as it gets, but the place is always packed. You won’t find linen tablecloths and finechina. Instead, their signature dishes are served on plastic plates, and the décor is decidedly minimalistic. It’s clearly all about the food at B & B Fish & ClamCo., and favorites include the thick and hearty clam chowder, perfectly shucked oysters and the mussels cooked in white wine sauce.
Where: 179 Merrick Road, Amityville, NY 11701
South Bay Seafood Co.
It may take you a while to find this seafood shanty, as it’s tucked off a back road next to a car wash with not a lot of distinguishing signage, but once you do, you’ll be glad you went to the trouble. While South Bay SeafoodCo. is certainly not a dine-in place (the only seating is outside), it is great for those wanting fresh seafood to bring home and cook as well as those looking for a freshly prepared meal to take out.
Where: 683 S. Country Road, East Patchogue, NY 11772
Photo credit: iStockphoto/LanceB