Where to eat in America?

[beequeen]

We'll be traveling through the US on I-80 in December and wonder if anyone can recommend places to eat, good local specialties/holiday foods to try.

[shaja]

Can you narrow that down? I-80 is the second longest interstate in the country and runs the entire width from New York to California. Unless you're going to spend a week or more to drive the entire thing, it would be helpful to know which state(s) you'll be traveliling in. There are regional differences even within the various parts of the Midwest, and what I'd recommend for Illinois will be very different from someone's recommendations for Iowa or Ohio.

[beequeen]

We'll be entering in Vallejo, and if weather permits, not leaving the interstate till 4 days later in Youngstown, Ohio. That encompasses Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and most of Ohio.

[Stan]

I've done the trip many times CA to Iowa. Here are my stops.

Winnemucca, NV Las Margaretias for Mexican or Ormachea's Dinner House for Basque

Salt Lake City has many good places.

Rawlings, Wy Either Aspen House for upscale or Anong's Thai Cusine.

West of Des Moines in Waukee, IA Rube's Steakhouse

West of Iowa City in Oxford. Augusta. Iowa City has many great places.

You'll be lucky to get good food along I80 so I wouldn't be too hopeful for "holiday specials".

[Davydd]

The Augusta Restaurant in Oxford is outstanding. It is owned by Louisiana expats forced out by Katrina. Not only do they bring an unusual Louisiana inspired menu to Iowa but they adapt well enough to Iowa to have won the Iowa Pork Producers Association best breaded pork tenderloin sandwich in 2008.

[PitLab]

FYI, Rawlings makes baseball mitts, Rawlins is in Wyoming! I love Wyoming but Rawlins is not one of my favorite places. Except the Aspen House which is a real sleeper. Great atmosphere in this old house and surprisingly good fish although the steak is dynamite.

[Stan]

"FYI, Rawlings makes baseball mitts"

The discussion was food along I80, so a leather glove came to mind ;-)

I was also thinking that a Winter trip should include better places to get stuck. If I was going to get stuck in Wyoming on I80 Rawlins would be my first pick.

[PitLab]

I'd push on to Laramie.

[Stan]

Are you really planning to drive 2500 miles in the winter in 4 days with time to chow?

[Cookiefiend]

I-80 in Indiana -

Sahara in Michigan City. An unusual mix of Mediterranean and Indian food. The baba ganouj, ensalada avocado, spinach pies, stellar gyros and the famous dates.... mmmm

http://www.sahara-restaurant.net/Saha...

[Davydd]

I have one strong recommendation, the Farmer's Kitchen in Atlantic, IA. That is midway between Des Moines and Omaha. I've been there and can attest it is worth the stop. Here is a feature report on it in the Iowan magazine.

http://www.iowan.com/good-medicine.cfm

[shaja]

I hve to agree with Stan; you've planned a very long trip during a potentially weather-dicey time of the year. Be careful and watch the weather forecast daily. Depending on snowfall, you may encounter closed roads in the Rockies. Also, trying to get through the Chicago area will take you a good three hours because of traffic unless you are going through around 3 am

That said...

We have driven the Cleveland, Ohio, to Chicago, IL section many times. We also did Erie, PA (picked up 80 in Cleveland) to west of Iowa City, Iowa, in one day, and that was a seriously looonnnngggg day.

My best advice (which you don't have time for) is get off the Interstate and experience America and our regional food at its best on our side roads and small towns. For example, in Indiana US Highway 20 runs nearly parallel to 80 and will take you through Amish country. Stop off in Shipshewana, or try Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury.

West of Iowa City, Iowa, are the Amana Colonies which collectively are a national historic landmark of seven villages. We liked The Ronneburg for authentic New World German; other family like the Ox Yoke. And you must stop at Maid Rite once in Iowa for the classic loose meat sandwich.

At first glance, I-80 through Illinois won't look like much. But, if you take a look at some of the bigger towns (Geneseo, Princeton, Annawan) you will find some nice locally places. I'm talking places where people will take the time to talk with you, serve a piece of homemade pie and make you feel welcome.