Customer Reviews

Roadfood

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Few things can make the tedium of a long drive more bearable than the prospect of a decent place to eat along the way, and the restaurants listed in this guide are destinations in their own right.

Helpfully arranged by sections of the country, road food aficionados will find more than enough to keep them busy. Personally, I wanted to take off and tour Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, as well as old haunts in Virginia. Being in the opposite corner of the country, though, I found a number of interesting looking places here to check out (as well as one or two I've already been to, and so I can attest to the reliability of the Stern's reviews).

I should note, though, that family members in Cody, Wyoming tell me that Franca's, which the Sterns list in this book, has in fact been closed for several years. So *caveat lector.* Things can change quickly in the restaurant world. Nevertheless, this is both a great reference and a fun title just for entertaining (if stomach growl-inducing) reading. If you're out on the road, be sure to keep a copy of this guide in your glove compartment.

I have traveled with the Sterns for many years (virtually!) I have most of their previous books on regional food and their pages are ketchup, mustard and butter stained with notes scribbled in the margins. When I heard that they wrote another new and updated version, I ordered one just in time for this summer's 1000 mile New England odyssey, make that vacation. Every recommendation was right on - priced right and exactly as described. This is important to note because I know in their "Eat Your Way Across The USA" release of a few years ago there were many out of date references. (We were disappointed last year in Wisconsin as our search for a Bratwurst joint ended at a boarded up and abandonded store front.) Happily, this one seems to be more current and we have yet to find a dead reference. If you love to eat and love to travel, this is the book for you.

I always take this book with me when I travel by car. Without fail, it leads me to wonderful and quirky places to eat with Major Atmosphere which I never would have found otherwise. Local color plus. I do hope it will be updated and reissued.

I've read the Sterns' Roadfood/Goodfood series for years, not quite from the beginning, but almost. I have always regarded this series as more than a guide to great regional restaurants, but as an educational tool to the many differing regional cuisines in the United States. This latest volume in the series is as entertaining and mouthwatering as the previous editions, but seems to be lacking in some areas. Half the reviews are about places previously unreviewed and half are updates on old familiar favorites. It's understandable that many eating places listed in earlier versions of the book have possibly declined in quality or even closed, but certain genres of regional specialties have disappeared completely. Where are the best hot wings in Buffalo, the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago, or the best seafood places in Washington State? You wouldn't know if you just had this current version of "Roadfood". In my own state of Oklahoma, all the barbecue joints have disappeared, or at least that what you'd think by this book. Apparently all we like around here is hamburgers. Oh well, I'm sure they'll have a new printing in about five or ten years, so maybe some of these omissions will be corrected.

When the very first "Road Food" appeared more than two decades ago, it was an extremely useful find. We carried it with us on a trip through New England, and had a wonderful time seeking out many of the places mentioned.

Unfortunately, through the years, many of the great "mom and pop" places have disappeared, and the survivors have expanded, changed, etc. In addition, an ever-growing food culture (e.g. Food TV, Bon Appetit, internet food sites, etc.) have all visited many of these same places time and time again.
This is NOT the fault of the authors, but as a result, this edition of their book does not feel all that exciting because most of their "finds" have been so publicized that they've been overrun by tourists.

What readers miss are the discoveries and local legends, that made the earlier editions so much fun. Many of the current entries have been widely featured in various television shows, and can also be found in many books such as Fodor's and Zagat's-- making you wonder, what's the point here?

Here you will find short descriptions of many non-chain restaurants in out of the way places. Some complain that the food is predictably regionalized. Well, does one get hush puppies in Boston or Oysters in Nebraska? Of course it is sectional because that best describes our nation and its food character. The sad thing is that places like those described in the book are - or should be - placed on the Endangered Species List. On a road trip our west I said if I came to one more juncture with the same four or five places I was going to scream.

Needless to say the food in this book is not for those following the Atkins, Jennie Craig, or any kind of diet. It is filling, wholesome, fat food that tastes as good as it sounds. The real tragedy is that this book will entertain more by the reading than the actual eating. And, as another reviewer mentioned, this is not just a book on food - it is also a book about our great nation, its richness and diversity.

My wife and I do a lot of cross country motorcycling and this is a great book for anyone that likes the tastes of roadside America. We have tried several places in the book, from greasy spoons to ice cream and the book was always dead on with its reviews. If you are a fast food chain lover this is not a book for you. If you want down home, local fun stops then this is it. The only reason why I didn't give the book 5 stars is that the book's web site is more up to date and has more content than the book itself. Thus we tend to use the web site more often. See you on the highways and byways!

Good places to eat are hard to find. Finding an edible alternative to McDonalds or TGI Fridays is a must for long road trips. This book offers a list of good eats when you're a stranger in a strange land. The picks are generally pretty good although with I have encountered a few restaurants where I walked out wanting to write a stern letter to the Roadfood editors. But generally if it's in the book, it's a good meal.

The main problem is that the book is mainly city centric, and is a finite work. There are some cities, and large pieces of states that have no entries at all. And if you know an area well, you may disagree on which restaurants they should have.

Overall a nice book. If you use the roadfood web site, it has more listings.

Jane and Michael blow my mind!How they can cover so much of this country amazes me!! I am a South LA. native, but now live in CT.In the new 2002 Edition of "Roadfood" they reviewed my local favorite in my hometown, as well as the local "gourmet" hot dog vendor in my "adopted" town of 22 years!!! Both are A+ in MY book!!! Neither are fancy, gourmet food, yet there's something special about both!! They're a fun place to go with good food, no frills, smaller price tag, and NO GETTING DRESSED UP!!! Both may require a "wait" - NO reservations!! My daughter and I recently stood in line at the hot dog vendor on Patriots' Weekend for 30 minutes!! But the ONLY hot dog my daughter, who is 27, has ever eaten in her LIFE is Chez Leonard's!!!

I just love this book. We do some traveling, and when your out on the road, its potluck if you are going to get something tasty, or not. We have found a couple of places we have really enjoyed with this book. For many of you, I think you will discover places that are just down the road that you may have missed that you will enjoy as well. The layout is easy to read, the descriptions are right on the money, and the book is very enjoyable. Its one that you should definately check out.