23 22 Restaurants I'd like to see come to the Montgomery/Prattville area...
Montgomery, Alabama seems to be 10 years behind the rest of the country on restaurants and retailers (we just got our first Target, Best Buy, and PetSmart 2 years ago.) While good restaurants spring up periodically, they are usually shut down with a year or two, victims of the "it's too pricey" syndrome this city seems to have. A few manage to hang around (La Jolla, Dawsons, Casa Napoli, The Olive Room, Vintage Year, City Grill) but we consistently lose great restaurants for lack of business (Felix's, Copeland's, Serrano.) We like good food and will even occasionally drive to Birmingham, Atlanta, or (less frequently) Mobile or Pensacola to hit favorite restaurants of ours, but life is changing and I'd rather go around the corner than across state lines to find good food.
Without further ado, 23 22 Restaurants I'd Like To See Come To The Montgomery/Prattville, Alabama Area:
- Copelands: After a failed attempt on south East Boulevard, perhaps they could be convinced to try again, perhaps on the east side this time. It appears that Copeland's has now pulled of Alabama altogether (Montgomery, Birmingham, and Mobile) leaving Pensacola as the nearest Copeland's. Oh yeah, and bring back the Pork LaBoucherie. A guy can wish, right?
- P.F. Chang's: Excellent, affordable American-Chinese cuisine, nice decor. Good quality Chinese food.
- Red Robin:
This might actually happen as a new RR recently opened in Newnan, GA.Excellent hamburgers and sandwiches, endless fries. We're getting a Red Robin, opening sometime in January/February 2007 timeframe at Eastchase! - Bennigan's: Traditional American fare, sandwiches, soups with an Irish flavor. Good neighborhood bar and restaurant.
- El Chico: American-Mex, but better than any of the flavor-deprived mexican being served in this town today, nearest ones are in Mobile and Nashville.
- Other Raving Brands franchises: We already got multiple Moe's and a Doc Green's on the way. How about Mama Fu's Noodles, Planet Smoothie, and Shane's Rib Shack?
- In-And-Out Burger: Excellent West Coast burger chain, always smiling, gracious staff and prompt service of great food. Imagine!
- Old Chicago: Great pizza and well over 110 beer choices.
- Baja Fresh: The franchise recently entered and exited the Atlanta market, so Montgomery luring this consistently flavorful and fresh Mex star is probably a long shot.
- Mimi's Cafe: French-inspired american food.
- Noodles & Co.: Various noodle dishes, from Mac and Cheese to Asian noodle dishes. Same idea as Mama Fu's, a noodle house.
- Houlihan's: Several locations in Atlanta
- Cozymel's Mexican Restaurant:: Great Chicken and Carnitas Fajitas. Steak Fajitas so-so. Nearest one might be Memphis
- Bahama Breeze: Island food and drink. Long lines/wait, get there early. Birmingham or Atlanta
- Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy: Great Mexican food, all around. Memphis/KC/OKC are the closest ones.
- Houston's: Up-scale sit-down American dining in a beautiful decor. Several locations in Atlanta.
- Uno Chicago Grill: Chicagoland dining with new creative twists. Formerly Pizzeria Uno.
- On the Border: Good chain Mexican
- Buca di Beppo: Southern Italian food served family-style in large, delicious portions. So clean they take you on a tour through the kitchen on your way to your seat.
- Qdoba Mexican Grill: Similar to Moe's and Chipotle, San Francisco-style burritos with tons of flavor and spice.
- First Watch: A small chain of health-conscious and delicious breakfast treats in a relaxing evironment
- Marie Callendar's: Home-cooked comfort food and great pies.
- Cheesecake Factory: Great cheesecake (50 different varieties and a highly diverse menu including Asian, Mexican, Italian, American, Cajun, and Spanish choices to meet everyone's needs. Their menu is a small book. The nearest ones are in Birmingham and Atlanta.
Yeah, they are mostly chains, get over it. These are the good chains. Ah, if any 3 of these came to town, I'd be much happier about the dining scene in Montgomery.
I figure we could afford to lose some T.G.I.Friday's, Ruby Tuesday, Chili's, Applebee's, and O'Charley's, we'd have room for some new, good restaurants.
Tags: elchico review copeland's redrobin comments bennigan's mexican future montgomery business restaurant food and drink service al casual chain society development economic on the border good growth quality old chicago p. f. chang's buca di beppo alabama suggestions dining blog weblog restaurants prattville food red robin ideas