One-Hit Wonders
The topic of the day, boys and girls, is One-Hit Wonders. John L. e-mailed me this idea, which I love, but it would have to be a joint effort. I could never come up with ten on my own. But I like his:
What about top ten one-hit wonders: Restaurants that do only one menu item well; but that one item is worth return trips.
One-hit wonders probably tend to be lower-scale joints. Taverns come to mind. And the one-hitters are very likely to be comfort foods that make health-votaries gag. Eg: I love the wings at Becks in Sykesville, but everything else I've eaten there was second-rate at best.
The fries are great at the Midtown Yacht club ... all else, suspect to convicted. Etc.
OR (variation on a theme) ...
(John Makely/Sun Photographer)
...Restaurants that make one thing so well you can't bring yourself to order something else. Pad Thai at Ban Thai is one of mine. I've actually ordered one other dish there, it was delicious, but not good enough to make me order anything but the pad thai since. I don't get there frequently enough to risk going with any but a sure thing. Cioppino at Brass Elephant: As long as they have cioppino on the menu I may never eat another entree at the B.E.
The photo, by the way, is of the Midtown Yacht Club, and is so old the owners (pictured) have probably redecorated and sold the place. But it was all we had.
Comments
I love the Supreme Feast at the Lebanese Taverna Cafe in Annapolis. While I am sure that other dishes are great, after traveling that distance I want to make sure that I enjoy the dining experience. I once tried the quarter chicken but was underwhelmed with the spicing of the dish so I returned to what I knew to be wonderful and have had it at least once a month for the last three years.
Posted by: Regina | October 18, 2007 9:15 AM
The wings and buffalo tenders at Kislings - I'm pretty sure any wing aficionado would be impressed with Kislings.
Posted by: Andy | October 18, 2007 9:32 AM
"The fries are great at the Midtown Yacht club ... all else, suspect to convicted."
hysterically true. and am i the only one who notices how expensive just a beer is there?
that being said, the peanuts always bring me back...
Posted by: ryan97ou | October 18, 2007 11:01 AM
I was just at Nam Kang and enjoyed a nice, hot, spicy bowl of jampong, a seafood and homemade-noodle soup off the back page of their menu. It's so good that I can't bring myself to order anything else, and I never do that.
Posted by: dancing monkey | October 18, 2007 4:22 PM
My favorite one-hit wonder was the late great Angelina's. My advice to anyone going was "Order the crab cake. Don't order anything else. If you don't want the crab cake, don't go."
Posted by: Jon Parker | October 18, 2007 6:40 PM
I have to disagree about Midtown's food. I am somewhat of a regular there, so I've eaten most of the menu. And while nothing is particularly outstanding, it is all more than passable pub food.
Although yes, beers are a bit overpriced. That's why it pays to know people.
Posted by: Me | October 19, 2007 9:34 AM
midtown's food is good, period.
Posted by: keith and laura | December 12, 2007 7:01 PM