Mussels marinara, linguine with everything that swims, Frank Sinatra blaring in the background. Locals love it, and so will you. The Taj Mahal of barbecue. Spicy hickory-smoked ribs are the pig's proudest moment. Charleston's soul-food secret can't claim a fancy address and doesn't serve liquor.
Dinner brings fried catfish nuggets, crawfish pie, and turtle soup.
A gracious old inn with no reservations, no menus, and communal tables. Folks drive the 70 miles north from Atlanta for warm cornbread, cracklin' fried chicken, creamed corn, and cobblers. Mark Militello is still turning somersaults at his just-revamped North Miami original. The Bahamian conch with vanilla-rum sauce and napoleon of sweet plantain with Cuban braised pork are as impressive as ever. Where Miami's Hispanic elite meet to eat black beans and glamorized Cuban classics.