Lakeview Marina

Went to lunch yesterday at the "Marker 2 Grille" at Lakeview Marina located near the Tri-Cities Airport. I've always heard about the marina, but never visited. What a great find! Wonderful food, terrific view! The outdoor pavillion is huge - I imagine it's a lot of fun at night! From their Facebook page: "THE REGION'S LARGEST & BEST LAKESIDE DECK on BOONE LAKE! featuring GREAT LIVE ENTERTAINMENT DAILY & FANTASTIC FOOD!"

Click here to view their FB page, which has a map with directions and restaurant hours.

Ridgewood Barbecue

I'm venturing into some dangerous territory here. Forget Chevy's, apple pie and hot dogs, in this area barbecue is king. People will defend their favorite Barbecue joint as if it were a family member. So having acknowledged the danger and sensitivity (yes, even the peril) of rendering an opinion on this subject, I'd like put forth my humble opinion (and simple truth)...the hands-down, greatest barbecue to be found anywhere on this planet is at Ridgewood Barbecue near Bluff City, TN. Thank you.

If you're visiting the Tri-Cities and can only visit one restaurant, look no further. The homemade sweet and tangy barbecue sauce will change your life. The pork sandwich itself is smoked and succulent (maybe I should write reviews for a living), and not dried out like other places (I'll refrain from naming names). I like to start out with the Blue Cheese and Crackers for an appetizer. You're saying, that's weird -- to which I say, this is no ordinary blue cheese dressing. Trust me. For the main course, I order the barbecue pork sandwich, complete with cole slaw on the sandwich. It comes stacked high and falling out the sides. The homemade fries are delicious -- and big enough to easily be shared by two or three. The baked beans are out-of-this-world-amazing.

If you go during peak meal times, expect to wait (As well as have a tough time finding a parking spot). I recommend going early or after the main rush -- but even then it'll be crowded.

Their hours:
Monday thru Thursday, 11 am to 7:30pm
Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 2:30 pm; 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
It's closed Sundays and most holidays.
Their address: 900 Elizabethton Highway, Bluff City, TN 37618 (map here)
Their phone number: 423-538-7543

For reviews, directions and discussion from barbecue aficionados, click here and here.
To learn about the history of Ridgewood, click here.

Pal's Sudden Service

Why they don't have Pal's Sudden Service restaurants all over the country, I don't know. Here's yet another reason to love northeast Tennessee. If you've ever visited this area, you've probably seen the distinctive blue-box buildings with huge fiberglass hamburgers and hot dogs on top (click the link above to visit their cool website). There are a total of 21 Pal's in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virgina. Above is a photo of the very first Pal's which opened in 1956 in Kingsport, TN. It's still open today, but unlike their other restaurants which are only drive thrus, the original requires that you go in to get your "Big Pal," "Frenchie Fry" and "Peachie Tea - Light Ice."

About the photo...I took it yesterday, but thought it was a little boring (or maybe I was just bored) so I doctored it up in photoshop to try to make it look more like an old postcard.

Directions: If you want to visit the first Pal's, you'll find it at 327 Revere Street in downtown Kingsport, TN. Click here for a map. While you're downtown, check out the interesting stores and sculptures on Broad Street and the historic Church Circle.

Update...(8/24/08) I've recently discovered the perfect excuse to make a special trip to visit the 'original' Pals in Kingsport -- it's the only Pals location where you can order a peanut butter milkshake, made with loads of real peanut butter while you wait. Mmmmmmm.

Update...(8/15/09) Check out Earl Carter's photo of another Pal's landmark in Kingsport, TN.

Altitude affects attitude

 

Asheville, NC is such an odd city -- what I mean is that it's really an odd mix of things: It's Southern -- and yet it also seems Californian. It's earthy and rugged, and yet cosmopolitan and refined. It's a tourist town, but not overdone or gimmicky. It's an old town, but still very hip. You'll see a mix of people as you walk down the (patchoiuli-scented) sidewalks -- business people, street performers, tourists and college kids. Asheville is a great place to take visitors who love to shop and eat -- who love art galleries and antiques, brew pubs and live music, the Biltmore and the Blue Ridge. Here are my favorite places in Asheville (so far)...

1. Biltmore Estate (see Thursday's post)
2. Grove Park Inn (see tomorrow's post)
3. Salsa's (Mexican Caribbean restaurant downtown by the square). Honorable mentions...The Mellow Mushroom, Doc Chey's Noodle House, and the Barbecue Inn. It's really unfair to even begin to mention restaurants, there are dozens of great locally-owned establishments.
4. 16 Patton and the Blue Spiral (art galleries -- again there are many others)
5. Grove Arcade and Kress Emporium (Both housing many interesting shops)
6. St. Lawrence Basilica (beautiful Catholic Church with amazing architecture)
7. Mast General Store -- something for everyone.

If you've got a favorite place to visit in Asheville, post a comment and let us know! Here and here are the best guides to Asheville I've found.