Conestoga Steak House

Located at 6313 U S Highway 49, Hattiesburg, MS 39401. Open Tuesday thru Saturday at 5:30pm. From the unique rustic wood exterior of the building to the wait staff dressed in their Liberty overalls with red handkerchiefs, nothing is typical about Conestoga. The menu touts ribeye, sirloin, porterhouse t-bone, steak and shrimp, lobster and shrimp, prime rib, ny strip, etc. However, my favorite is the filet mignon with home-style fries. It literally cuts like cream cheese. The outside of the meat has slightly crusty bite to it, then the center melts away in your mouth. It is always cooked just how I order it. Their fries are freshly circular sliced Idaho potatoes that are fried crisp with a tender center. Of course, I can never finish it all because I have already ordered an appetizer of fried crap claws and indulged in the complimentary beer muffins. Those sweet crumbly bits of beer muffin goodness will be etched in your brain. They are gently sweet, yet have a subtle tartness from the beer flavor. Prices will range from $24.00 for a 8oz filet to $64.00 for steak and lobster. All entries come with beer muffins, salad, and choice of one side. Full bar.

Aymars

Located at 362 Shiloh Firetower Rd Foxworth, MS 39483. Open Thursday thru Saturday- at 5pm. Tip: bring a map! This tiny restaurant is in the middle of nowhere…literally. You might mistake it for someone's storage shed, but do not be fooled by appearances. Inside you will find an eclectic blend of seafood and steak menu items. Every week features a Thursday special and Friday- Saturday special that are not routine menu items. One week you may find a marinated ribeye with mushrooms, the next week may be fried soft shell crabs with crab and butter sauce. On the menu you will find an extensive fish list and steak list. The filet mignon is served with jumbo grilled shrimp in an auju that is so scrumptious you could easily drink. For an appetizer try the crab meat Kristi, eggplant, or crawfish pie. My favorite is the Kristi. Served on a giant clam shell, each bite is filled with lump crab meat surrounded by a creamy sauce of cheese. Each table is lined with freshly made garlic and butter bread crisps. Prices range from $18.00 to $24.00. For dessert be sure to try the Bananas foster or bread pudding. The owner, Aymar Dore', is a native of New Orleans and spend his career behind the stoves of some of New Orleans most exclusive restaurants. FYI: Mr. Dore' claims to be the inventor of bananas foster. I don't know about that, but if he isn't….. he should have been. It is the best this southern gal has ever tasted.

The Steam Room Grille

Located at 5402 I-55 North East Frontage Road Jackson, MS 39211. Open Monday thru Friday for lunch and dinner. Saturday is dinner only. This menu has nothing but certified black angus beef that is aged to perfection right in the restaurant. If you like lobster and steak, the fresh Maine lobster is at your fingertips. Just pick one from the live tank. The menu has a variety of lobster, seafood, and steak dishes. My favorite is the smoked filet covered in mounds of crawfish tails and shrimp, then covered with a cabernet au ju. The side items vegetables are steamed to a perfect tenderness and served with light butter sauce. The freshness and the quality of dishes here is really amazing. Complimentary with each entrée is a steamed batch of sweet garlic cloves and fresh French bread…..mouth watering. Full bar. Prices range from $22.00- $68.00.

Cowboy Jim's

Located at 186 Mississippi 35, Covington County Mississippi. Open Thursday thru Saturday at 4pm. Tip: no credit cards accepted. Atmosphere is spectacular. The bucolic setting is on a waterfront that overlooks a tranquil lake and the Bouie River. Massive live plants line the decks and paths. A live piano, jazz, or country music player churns out soft relaxing tunes. All of the steaks are grilled with a blend of mesquite wood chips over an open fire, producing a one of a kind flavor. Just be sure to save room for the homemade ice cream or strawberry shortcake. Prices range from $14.00 to $20.00.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is not only famous for the historical landmarks of Benjamin Franklin. Tourists find it irresistible to visit the city for the famous cheese steak. Named the number one sandwich on the East coast, many restaurants across the city of Philadelphia sell cheese steaks. Popular places like Jim's Steaks and Ishkabibbles located on South Street specialize in the cheese steak or cheesesteak. There are many shops located in every neighborhood in the city serving these tempting sandwiches. Center City and South Philadelphia spots are more distinguished than others.

The cheese steak is not actually what it is named to be. It is a sandwich with chopped steak cooked on a grill top and topped with Cheeze Whiz; American and provolone play as substitutions. The Philadelphia cheese steak is truly one of the most beloved foods available in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

According to Philadelphians, the “Philly Cheese Steak” is not authentic unless made in Philadelphia and made with the correct roll and steak. The roll is genuine because it must be the correct length and soft. Many restaurants in Pennsylvania imitate the cheese steak but have failed to please because they are not truly “cheese steak makers.”

Besides other South Street restaurants, the legendary Pat's King of Steaks was the first to sell the sandwich. During the 1930s in the Italian section of South Philadelphia, brothers Harry Olivieri and Pat Olivieri were hot dog and sandwiches vendors. Tired of making the same food every day, they decided to try something different. A cab driver passing by smelled the aroma of the cheese steak and insisted for a sandwich. Not knowing what to charge, the brothers sold the sandwich for a nickel. The cab driver enjoyed the sandwich and influenced the brothers to sell them.

In 1940, the brothers open Pat's King of Steaks at 1237 East Passyunk Avenue in the Italian Market; a must see area. The 24 hour business has been there ever since. Many years later Kraft introduced Cheez Whiz, the cheese spread. It was added to the cheese steak and made it to what it is today. Geno's, the rival shop across the street is also open 24 hours. For 40 years, the two shops hold a friendly competition to win the title of best cheese steak in town, with Geno's founder, Joe Vento, claiming it was he, not Olivieri, who first added cheese to the sandwich.

The main floor was decorated beautifully. It was a darker room, but with the soft lights and the candles lit, it made for a romantic evening. Smoking was not allowed. The servers were very nice and respectful. Looking at the menu, there was a wide variety of foods to choose from. The prices were great as well. I expected a restaurant this nice to be a little pricy. It did not take long for our food to arrive. I ordered chicken strips, french fries, and a salad. My boyfriend ordered a steak. Everything was cooked just as we ordered, and tasted great. Throughout the meal, the servers made sure we had everything we needed, and the atmosphere remained calm and romantic.

After our meal we headed upstairs, where an unknown band was playing music. There was definitely a different atmosphere upstairs! Basketball games were on the televisions. The band was rocking out on one side of the room, and a full bar was on the other side. We sat at one of the smaller tables, listening to the band and enjoying our favorite beverages.

I was very impressed with this restaurant. It seemed suited for people of any age. The customers who did not want to be around smoking or drinking did not have to. This was a great place to eat for a special occasion, a dinner meeting, a Christmas or birthday party, or just to hang out with friends to drink a beer and watch their favorite team play sports, and still watch their budget. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone.

Ruth’s Chris elegant fountain of water at the entrance sounds similar to the steaks you are soon to hear sizzling on the plates as you are being escorted to your throne. The Palms with its big city glitz and colorful, cartoonishly drawn characters of more of the city’s elite drawn throughout reminds you that you are eating at one of the best the city has to offer. But how do these three stacks up to each other? Come along for a journey as I try to cook up my best comparison of the three.

Let us first venture to into the Palm. This place for fine dinning, located down town San Antonio, still has that New York artsy feel to it. As you walk in you see why it is a favorite among the writers and artistic type. There are the cities news makers drawn through out in cartoon fashion on the walls. A sense of playful elegance surrounds you as you take your seat.

As always when I indulge at one of these fine places I order the filet mignon and lobster. The large (4-8 pound) Nova Scotia lobsters simply melt in your mouth. It’s hard to even dip it into the buttery sauce out of fear of losing some of the lobsters’ flavorful taste. The steak however leaves something to be desired. They sear their meat at The Palm. I find the steak to have a bit of a sour tang to it. Although good, I would prefer my steak charred. A little less New York ritz and more Texas ruggedness would suit my palette more.

Ruth’s Chris steak house is next on the royal binge. With its classy southern Louisiana charm this place is better then The Palm. It has more of a classy atmosphere with its fountains and low lighting. Simple classiness I guess you could say. It shows off none of its high class clientèle like most fine dinning establishments. Ruth’s Chris also sears its meat, however it is great.

Nothing is left to be desired here. When your fillet is served it is served sizzling. Your plate screams fresh from the broiler to the table. The taste is mouthwatering! Another of my favorites here at Ruth’s Chris is the dessert. The flourless chocolate cake is like nothing you have ever tasted before. It is a rich chocolate dish that bites at your salivary glands. If you order this dish it is a must you order the King Louis XII cognac to help cut through the mouthwatering experience. When you are eating the finest, drink the finest! For our final endeavor we are dinning at my personal favorite; Morton’s. You are sure to know who the big spenders are eating here. As you walk into this restaurant located next to the Alamo the first thing that you see are the wine lockers. Mahogany and brass shout out the names of former mayors, Spurs players, actors, high powered lawyers, the list goes on. Their personal wine is at the ready. The smell of meat charring shouts out to you 100% USDA PRIME!

This Chicago steak house has plenty of down home Texas ruggedness. The fillet here is simply unbeatable. It is charred to perfection on the outside, with a warm pink center and smothered in Bearnaise sauce. The Bearnaise sauce is a buttery sauce made with egg yoke, butter and tarragon. It brings out the flavor of the meat unparalleled in any other sauce. It is also fantastic poured over the fresh asparagus, asparagus that is colossal in size. If it is your first time eating here you must ask for “the show”. They will bring you a tray and personally show you each cut of meat and vegetable to inspect along with the lobster, still alive of course. It will be a show you surely get and a show you won’t soon forget.

For dessert I suggest you try the chocolate lava cake with a nice cold frosted glass of milk. The whole experience is regal. Simple Midwestern charm at it’s best.

My dad always told me that it only cost a little more to go first class. First class dinning is what all three of these restaurants have to offer. So depending on your style or the occasion there is something for everybody. From east coast glitz and glamor to southern charm and Midwest ruggedness it is all there to be sampled. Weather you like seafood or steak, simple or elegant you are sure to satisfy your taste and desires at one of these three fine dinning establishments. My personal favorite as I mentioned above, Morton’s “The King of Steak House’s” .

Mollejas (ARGENTINA)

This food from Argentina is made from the Thymus gland of young calves, and is served especially with lemons!

Reindeer Steak (CANADA)

How about trying out a little bit of reindeer meat from Canada, for a change, eh?

Nopales (MEXICO)

If you are in Mexico and want to eat something local but vegetarian, try out their special cactus salad.

Kim Chee (KOREA)

Want to go veggie in Korea too? Then just try out some of their fermented cabbage. It is very sour and actually tastes a lot like vinegar.

Ika Sashimi (JAPAN)

In Japan, besides eating the food, watch out for its preparation, because the live squid is normally kept in a tank underneath the table at restaurants. Upon the arrival of a customer, there is a special ceremonious “Squid Dance” performance by the waiters where the live squid is cut up in front of you, then taken for cooking.

PATATJE OORLOG (HOLLAND)

The English translation of this dish from Holland means “war chips”. They are fried potato chips served with mayonnaise, tomato ketchup, garlic sauce and peanut-butter. It apparently gets its name because a war breaks out in your stomach when you eat it!

FUFU (GHANA)

People in Ghana simply relish this local dish made up of beaten yam fried in groundnut oil, and eaten especially with peanut butter