4 restaurants you’ve been dreaming of while deployed
SUMMARY
The last month of deployment can either drag slowly on or fly by, depending on how you keep your mind busy. If you're looking for an escape from the drudgery, keep yourself distracted. And there's no better way to keep your mind off the present quite like imaging all of the food you'll eat when you arrive stateside. America is the melting pot of all the world's cultures, which also means we have the very best of the world's cuisine.
I can guarantee you, based on personal experience, that the question of, "what're you going to eat first?" will come up. If you're looking to start the discussion off with a delectable imaginary dining experience, fantasize about the spots on this list:
'Murica!
(Pinch Kitchen/Facebook)
Pinch Kitchen — Miami
Restaurants overseas never perfectly nail the taste of American cuisine — and I do not mean fast food (admittedly, foreign countries can't get that right, either). If you're lucky enough to be stationed in Florida, or you're planning on using some of your post-deployment leave days down south, make sure to stop by Pinch Kitchen in Miami, Florida.
They take American classics and add a dash of this and that to really bring out the taste in the classic meals we love. Now, before people start saying that hamburgers and hotdogs are not American because they originated from Germany, I'll say this: Just like we did to the moon, we put our flag on them and now they belong to us.
Two executive chefs, John Gallo and Rene Reyes, put every effort into ensuring the food is perfect, the ambiance is unpretentious, and the place is filled with all of our favorite beers.
This is a piece of art that you're encouraged to eat. What a concept.
(Delmonico Steakhouse)
Delmonico Steakhouse — Las Vegas
If Vegas is in your future, do not miss Delmonico Steakhouse. The genius in the kitchen is Emeril John Lagassé III who, as you might know, had his own show on the Food Network. This restaurant is more upscale, and I'd strongly recommend taking someone you're more serious with than that stripper you just met thirty minutes ago.
Regardless, the filet mignon and other steaks here are so good you'll wish you were exclusively carnivorous. Treat yourself to a quality meal because you've earned it. Vegas has buffets and deals around every corner, and there are plenty of comfort foods for after you have stumbled out of the casino (and almost married that stripper I told you not to take to the Steakhouse while successfully evading capture from the police and being black-out drunk). So, take some time to enjoy a meal that isn't self-served, warrior.
It's a family restaurant... I swear!
(Twin Peaks, Front Burner Restaurants, LP.)
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is a sports bar that started in Texas, but now has franchises all over the U.S. and is the primary competitor of Hooters. They serve beer at 29 degrees and have a made-from-scratch menu that includes American favorites, like burgers and nachos. It's themed like a hunting lodge and goes to great lengths to put forth a degree of manliness, like offering "man-size" 22oz beers.
It's a wholesome family restaurant with friendly waitresses that will make sure your table receives the attention a patron deserves. The themed events are fun and, sometimes, they have bikini car washes. The best part is that new franchises are opening every year so you won't have to travel far if you're lucky.
Worth every penny.
(Sushi Iki)
Sushi Iki — Los Angeles
Sushi Iki is in Los Angeles County, not the city itself. It's in what the locals call "The Valley," a barren wasteland of broken dreams. Just kidding — the Valley's fine. It's just really far from Hollywood, Santa Monica, or anything LA you've seen on television. However, don't let the distance from your hotel deter you from this place; the sushi is legendary.
The variety of fish and shellfish served here can't be found in just any sushi restaurant, and some are prepared so fresh that they were alive when you walked in the door. This is an expensive restaurant, but if you find yourself in L.A. this is one of those places you should not miss. Expect to pay around 0 per person for the full experience and for something modest.
