Dining Outside the Home: Sevens Restaurant and Steakhouse in Clear Lake, Iowa! In a town that became famous over a tragic event—a plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP “The Big Bopper” Richardson in 1959—everyone pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and dedicated a monument to these great musicians. Still known as the town where “The Day the Music Died”, Main Street has been revitalized and cultivated as a hub for tourism, art, and music transforming it into an appealing and popular vacation destination. Sevens Restaurant and Steakhouse is a full menu eatery that offers one more reason to stop by. A few steps from one of the biggest lakes in northern Iowa, Sevens makes summer-at-the-lake a memorable and delicious experience.
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Dining Outside the Home: Cazador Mexican Restaurant in Ankeny, Iowa!
Dining Outside the Home: Cazador Mexican Restaurant in Ankeny, Iowa! Where do you go when the outside temp is rising to 100° with a heat index even higher? You head straight to a Mexican cantina where the margaritas are golden and the hospitality is family-friendly. In a place where there is standing room only, the staff bustles to and fro keeping the cafe-style corn chips and spicy rich salsa spot on until the main course arrives. It may be located in middle America, but the menu is authentic south-of the-border when it comes to authentic Mexican food. And we should know. We’ve stopped here faithfully on our trips up north for the past five years. Cazador rates an all-star rating, in my opinion.
Dining Outside the Home: Galo’s Italian Grill in Richmond, Indiana
Dining Outside the Home: Galo’s Italian Grill in Richmond, Indiana! Without the cost of a plane ticket, you can be swept away for a taste of Italy. The journey winds through the countryside of Tuscany with fine wines born of the Sangiovese grape to the imported pastas of the outer regions. Choose linguine, penne, or capellini. Twirl the pasta against the curved indentation of the plate or use a spoon like an expert. Homemade breads drenched in herbed olive oil are too tempting to resist. If it’s seafood you desire, the portobello mushroom cap stuffed with lobster and shrimp over a bed of risotto is enough to make you sigh. Perhaps there’s room for dessert if you stop right now. Cannoli for two. Yes, please.
Dining Outside the Home; 110 Grill in Nashua, New Hampshire
Dining Outside the Home: 110 Grill in Nashua, New Hampshire! Turning the corner into Summer makes a restaurant with outdoor seating that much more desirable, especially on comfy cushions around a fire pit. As the sun cools down and the taste buds heat up, gathering with that special someone for a leisurely meal, trendy conversation, and innovative cocktails suddenly becomes high on the list. After all, you deserve it. Choose something interesting as a starter appetizer, fresh from the garden salads, or a main course favorite of the chef. Then be sure to leave room for dessert. To repeat myself…you deserve it!
Dining Outside the Home: Petey’s Summertime Seafood in Rye, New Hampshire
Dining Outside the Home: Petey’s Summertime Seafood in Rye, New Hampshire. Sometimes you just need to go to the shack. The seafood shack, that is. Located right across the road from the beach, on the scenic route through New Hampshire, sits a casual restaurant that practically never closes. Petey’s is famous for the freshest seafood, generous portions, and the best clam strips my husband has ever eaten. If you don’t believe him, drive by sometime. The parking lot is always full. Always. I’m a lobster-lover, so I’ve tried everything from a cracked lobster dinner to lobster-on-a-stick, with drawn butter of course. The juicy, tender, bite-size chunks can almost make me swoon. They practically come from the ocean to the table. Sound like Paradise? Pinch me, I must be dreaming.
Dining Outside the Home: Atlantic Grill in Rye, New Hampshire
Dining Outside the Home: Atlantic Grill in Rye, New Hampshire! Patio dining is such a plus this time of year. The sun is warm, the coastal breeze is cool, the drinks are perfectly chilled, and the seafood is spot on. For starters, the buttermilk-fried calamari set the tone for generous portions. The rich cherry peppered marinara sauce was a condiment companion that released the flavor within. Chunky Seafood Chowder was next on deck. The first slurp from the bowl was enough to see why it was tagged “award-winning chowder”. It was thick and creamy with a blend of clams, scallops, shrimp, lobster, and haddock. Definitely five-star, in my opinion. The Sandwich Board proclaimed the Lobster Roll as Maine tail and claw lobster on a brioche bun. It was indeed. No fillers here, folks! The entire meal left us feeling overstuffed. Pamper yourself and enjoy the seafood.
Dining Outside the Home: Abby Lane in Boston, Massachusetts!
Dining Outside the Home: Abby Lane in Boston, Massachusetts! Located in the heart of the Theater District of Downtown Boston, this neighborhood restaurant opens its wall of sliding windows to make the open-air dining room an inviting experience. Each unique crafted cocktail delights the palate with signature favorites like The Abby: a blend of fresh lemon, elderflower liqueur, and grey goose la poire topped with a splash of dry sparkling bubbly. Yes, please. Every seat offers a perfect vantage point of the chef’s kitchen where top-notch skills make cooking look effortless. It’s easy to turn off the cell phones and mingle with others. You never know when a celebrity may pop in. At the table next to ours Julian Edelman, of the New England Patriots, dropped by for an appetizer sampler. Memories are made of this! For an atmosphere of warmth and cheer, take a walk to Abby Lane.
Dining Outside the Home: The Library Restaurant and Pub in Indianapolis, Indiana!
Dining Outside the Home: The Library Restaurant and Pub in Indianapolis, Indiana! It’s not every day you can have dinner in a new age French chateau surrounded by impressionist art. Step inside past the elegant Venus’ fountain into a European world others simply dream about. Inhale the exceptional aromas that drift by on open platters for hungry patrons awaiting that first bite. House specialties are worth exploring. The grande finale to a fabulous meal is the Venus Delight! Indulge in this crisp pastry shell filled with vanilla bean ice cream overflowing with cinnamon apples sautéed in a brandy reduction sprinkled with toasted walnuts. What a romantic dessert perfect for sharing. Bon Appétit!
Dining Outside the Home: Gulzar’s Indian Cuisine in Richmond, Indiana
Dining Outside the Home: Gulzar’s Indian Cuisine in Richmond, Indiana! Picture this: It’s one of those days where sunbeams dance over striped umbrellas and the breeze is gentle enough for a meal on the patio. The aroma of freshly baked bread, or naan, drifts throughout the area enticing customers with pungent undertones of curry and turmeric. With attentive customer service, each guest feels like family at Gulzar’s Indian Cuisine restaurant. The lunch buffet is an authentic diversity of grains, fruits, meats, vegetables, and spices. Options are available for “dialing up the heat a notch or two” for those willing to experience flavoring beyond the norm. Begin with appetizers and work your way through to dessert. If you’re looking for adventure or the allure of dining among friends, a rich history of Indian food awaits you at Gulzar’s Indian Cuisine.
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