Chowhound.com

[sugarmamma]

Do any of you use this great resource?

I use this website for travel as well as restaurants in my own backyard!

I don't think I have ever been steered wrong in about 50+ recommendations I have followed (well there was one place that shut down )

Chowhound Boards - Chowhound

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Never heard of it!! But thanks so much for sharing!

[capt_noonie]

I'm a member (are you surprised LOL), but got the feeling most on there are really pretentious, and I haven't really been on too much. When I posted a new thread about cheap and good eats in vegas, they just said, do a search, that topics been discussed so many times before. uhm yeah I already did a search and what I was looking for didn't come up so I asked?! Most posted on Vegas were about splurge-y places, not what I was looking for.

I prefer to look for new restaurants using yelp.com. I have found I have disagreed with some highly rated places, and liked other places not very highly rated, but at least I feel like they are more honest and not the I'm-more-of-a-foodie-than-you-are attitude.

[capt_noonie]

Just took a peek at chow again, yup, I still get the same vibe.

[sugarmamma]

see I usually find the hole in the wall 1 star places that I LOVE on there. Maybe it's luck of the draw......

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by sugarmamma

see I usually find the hole in the wall 1 star places that I LOVE on there. Maybe it's luck of the draw......

Well La Fondita (the huitlacoche place) barely has any reviews on yelp, but their food is really good. They are usually busy in the mornings, I don't go until late lunch. But I think most their customers are older people, mostly Mexican, and I kind of doubt they use yelp, so yea many times lack of reviews or bad reviews doesn't really mean much.

There was this asian buffet that was highly rated, we went there and it sucked. Then there was one that wasn't so highly rated, and we actually really enjoyed it!

Oh there is a burger place called the Habit, don't know if they are a chain or not, but they have the BEST tri tip sandwich, and it's only $6 bucks. I don't care for their burgers, taste just like a Double Del cheeseburger from Del Taco (in their defense, the price is not bad about $3.95 for a burger). But the tri-tip! Actual big pieces of steak that they know the correct direction to cut it so it pulls apart when you bite into it. Grilled sourdough bread, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, mayo and peppers on the side They have the option of bbq or teriyaki sauce, I say NO WAY! Don't need it. If you want, A1 with Cholula also on the side. I love that they have Cholula and not Tapatio.

So, add this to your list...
Best steak sandwich: The Habit, Fullerton, CA, $ that's right one dollar sign.

[sugarmamma]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Well La Fondita (the huitlacoche place) barely has any reviews on yelp, but their food is really good. They are usually busy in the mornings, I don't go until late lunch. But I think most their customers are older people, mostly Mexican, and I kind of doubt they use yelp, so yea many times lack of reviews or bad reviews doesn't really mean much.

There was this asian buffet that was highly rated, we went there and it sucked. Then there was one that wasn't so highly rated, and we actually really enjoyed it!

Oh there is a burger place called the Habit, don't know if they are a chain or not, but they have the BEST tri tip sandwich, and it's only $6 bucks. I don't care for their burgers, taste just like a Double Del cheeseburger from Del Taco (in their defense, the price is not bad about $3.95 for a burger). But the tri-tip! Actual big pieces of steak that they know the correct direction to cut it so it pulls apart when you bite into it. Grilled sourdough bread, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, mayo and peppers on the side They have the option of bbq or teriyaki sauce, I say NO WAY! Don't need it. If you want, A1 with Cholula also on the side. I love that they have Cholula and not Tapatio.

So, add this to your list...
Best steak sandwich: The Habit, Fullerton, CA, $ that's right one dollar sign.

OMG I love tri tip!! That sandwich sounds AMAZING! Sourdough and steak onions and peppers were MADE to be together

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I'm a member (are you surprised LOL), but got the feeling most on there are really pretentious, and I haven't really been on too much. When I posted a new thread about cheap and good eats in vegas, they just said, do a search, that topics been discussed so many times before. uhm yeah I already did a search and what I was looking for didn't come up so I asked?! Most posted on Vegas were about splurge-y places, not what I was looking for.

I prefer to look for new restaurants using yelp.com. I have found I have disagreed with some highly rated places, and liked other places not very highly rated, but at least I feel like they are more honest and not the I'm-more-of-a-foodie-than-you-are attitude.

I love chowhound! But, I also find it extremely pretentious. Also, they tend to ridicule anyone who may be against, say, foie grois or veal . It's their choice to eat that stuff, of course, but there's no reason for not trying to understand/respect why some people are against it.

[sugarmamma]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I love chowhound! But, I also find it extremely pretentious. Also, they tend to ridicule anyone who may be against, say, foie grois or veal . It's their choice to eat that stuff, of course, but there's no reason for not trying to understand/respect why some people are against it.

Wow.....I feel like I've been reading a different board

I have found mostly down to earth people looking to eat THE BEST and (mostly) CHEAP food they can find.

I haven't really looked in about a year ~ have things changed or am I just using different search criteria I wonder

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by sugarmamma

Wow.....I feel like I've been reading a different board

I have found mostly down to earth people looking to eat THE BEST and (mostly) CHEAP food they can find.

I haven't really looked in about a year ~ have things changed or am I just using different search criteria I wonder

Well I just peeked on it the other day. These were some of the recent threads: Would you eat at a place that has misspelled words on the menu? Do you not like it when the waitstaff recognize you? Is it rude to not speak the native language in another country? What qualities of a chef do you not like?

I read a bit, rolled my eyes and clicked on the little red circle in the top left corner. and came back to YT!

Even when I search for hole in the wall places, they still have to throw in a bit of "oh it's good/authentic but not as good/authentic as the place in (for example) Oaxaca, that's REAL mole there" or something to that nature. Just bragging about where they've been and how many times the went, how much the spent.

[capt_noonie]

Also noticed several threads about their distaste for Olive Garden. I know it's not the best, but they're really beating a dead horse with those.

[sugarmamma]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Well I just peeked on it the other day. These were some of the recent threads: Would you eat at a place that has misspelled words on the menu? Do you not like it when the waitstaff recognize you? Is it rude to not speak the native language in another country? What qualities of a chef do you not like?

I read a bit, rolled my eyes and clicked on the little red circle in the top left corner. and came back to YT!

Even when I search for hole in the wall places, they still have to throw in a bit of "oh it's good/authentic but not as good/authentic as the place in (for example) Oaxaca, that's REAL mole there" or something to that nature. Just bragging about where they've been and how many times the went, how much the spent.

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Also noticed several threads about their distaste for Olive Garden. I know it's not the best, but they're really beating a dead horse with those.

That stuff is all true. I guess I just tend to overlook it to find the "hidden gem" posts that are there somewhere too.....I've found a few

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by sugarmamma

That stuff is all true. I guess I just tend to overlook it to find the "hidden gem" posts that are there somewhere too.....I've found a few

There are def a lot of 'hidden gems' there, those are the threads I really like. Especially when people get into the minutiae of something....like, white rice vs. off white rice (I'm kidding) or something. No really, I love those minutiae threads!

[capt_noonie]

LOL I saw a few more. A mayo debate. Why cheese can not be next to mayo. Why are sandwich places putting cheese on the TOP when it so CLEARLY belongs on the bottom of a sandwich? LOL!!! I thought I was anal.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

LOL I saw a few more. A mayo debate. Why cheese can not be next to mayo. Why are sandwich places putting cheese on the TOP when it so CLEARLY belongs on the bottom of a sandwich? LOL!!! I thought I was anal.

LOL! Yes, it's stuff like that...some of the debates haven't been useful to me in terms of actually using the info - but they're totally fun to read, bc chowhounders love splitting hairs.

But, other hair-splitting threads were right in line with what I was thinking (obsessing about) in my brain.

Also, really like CH for getting opinions on things like knives, espresso machines, or whatevs bc so many of them have tried the best stuff.