When Nancy Fuller first visited this spot, she asked for an oyster dish with “oomph.” Owner Joe Fierro served her the New Orleans Oyster Po-Boy, which left her hooked. This monster of a sandwich comes loaded with fried oysters, house-brined pickles, and flavorful morsels of pork belly and bacon.
The brother duo behind The Carving Board is changing the sandwich game with innovative creations like the Spaghetti Meatballwich. Sliced meatballs are smothered in garlic marinara sauce and melty mozzarella cheese, then nestled between two crunchy slabs of baked spaghetti in place of bread. Jeff Dunham was impressed. “This is genius,” he gushed. “I have never had anything like this.”
When Mardi Gras rolls around, Aarón Sánchez makes a beeline for this bakery that serves an over-the-top version of that seasonal staple known as the king cake. The dough is slathered with a sweet coating made from brown sugar and cinnamon, baked until golden brown and then sliced in two. Sandwiched between the halves of the cake are rich layers of salted caramel, dulce de leche, sliced bananas, mascarpone cheese and chopped pecans. There are also plenty of savory options that are worth trying; the artichoke dip is one of them.
Ice cream lovers in search of an over-the-top dessert should dig their spoons into The Kitchen Sink at this old-timey spot in South Pasadena, Calif. A monstrously huge (and delicious) creation, this next-level sundae features a gallon of ice cream, eight toppings, banana, brownie chunks and an entire can of whipped cream.
A gas station’s cafe may be the last place you’d expect to fill up on gourmet eats, but that’s what you’ll find here. Guy Fieri is a fan of the bread pudding served with a scratch-made cognac sauce, while Jeff Mauro favors a spicier treat: a Bloody Mary garnished with fried chicken, bacon and more.
Craving a mouthwatering taco or two? Head to this unassuming eatery and order the Carnitas Tacos. These tasty beauties are filled with shredded pork that is first roasted and then quickly seared to give it a bold crispiness before being piled onto corn tortillas and dolloped with cool guacamole.
This modern American restaurant delivers an ultra-decadent spin on the classic chocolate chip cookie. Instead of regular chips, this cookie features rich chunks of Belgian semisweet chocolate. A quick turn in the oven results in an extra-crisp exterior that gives way to a gooey center. The cookie is baked and served in a miniature skillet, and comes topped with a scoop of vanilla gelato drizzled with chocolate syrup and flanked by two mounds of whipped cream.
This Compton location is closed, but you can still get Bludso's craveworthy 'cue at the Hollywood locale. The joint serves up Texas-style barbecue like the ribs with a side of spicy barbecue sauce that won over Guy Fieri. Owner Kevin Bludso really goes all out at the holidays with deep-fried turkeys injected with a decadent concoction of butter and seasonings, which he refers to as “liquid gold.”
When Bobby craves steak, he heads straight to Wolfgang’s, which boasts a truly delectable selection. The rib-eye steak features impressive marbling and a stunning caramelized crust, while the porterhouse is served in tantalizingly thick slices painted with a rich mixture of butter and meat juices.
Don’t let the tiny size of this eatery fool you. It delivers a mighty wallop of meaty goodness with its Mega Threat sandwich. This super-stuffed beauty features American cheese and numerous meats (including slow-roasted beef, turkey, ham and sausage), which come piled high on a tasty roll.
Satiate your craving for barbecue with a stop at Kreuz Market, where you can dig into a heaping plate of succulent meats. They’re seasoned simply with salt and pepper, which lets the oak-wood-smoked flavor shine through. Spareribs, sausage, brisket and turkey are all included in the BBQ Meat Platter.
This upscale farm-to-table steakhouse offers a diverse menu of umami dishes. Opt for the indulgent Super Steak, Rossini Style. This dish is composed of a well-marbled dry-aged New York strip steak that is grilled until charred on the outside and pink on the inside. The meat comes adorned with pan-fried foie gras and black truffle sauce.
This unique Mexican-Asian fusion joint started as one of the top food trucks in California, but Komodo's bold-flavored cuisine became so popular that a brick-and-mortar location was opened to keep pace with demand. Any of the tacos, burritos or rice bowls are sure to satisfy, but one particularly filling option is the Brutus Salad. You won't find a bit of lettuce in this "salad"; instead, crispy fried Tater Tots are topped with tender steak and jalapeno aioli.
An unexpected find in the midst of the tony Long Island getaway known as the Hamptons, this rustic spot has a down-home feel and a menu of comforting barbecue dishes to match. Katie Lee, for one, can’t resist the Buffalo-style fries. These hand-cut beauties are fried until golden and crisp, then blanketed in a creamy housemade blue cheese dressing and a Buffalo sauce that Katie says has a “wonderful tang.”
Stop by this old-school Hoboken joint to listen to some Sinatra on the jukebox while savoring classic sandwiches. A must-try is the cheesesteak: a grilled slab of marbled rib eye is topped with melty American cheese and caramelized onions, then piled onto a sliced hunk of bread from a local bakery.
Make restaurant favorites at home with copycat recipes from FN Magazine.
Let Guy take you on a coast-to-coast tour Friday at 9|8c.