I normally wouldn't review a chain restaurant of this sort, but Outback does some things really well and are worth telling. First, I love the fact that the servers get on your level (most of the time) when taking your order. Second, Their service is consistently good wherever I go. Third, the pins your see on their shirts represent compliments they receive from customers. So, if you get someone whose shirt seems overloaded with pins, consider yourself lucky. The main reason I wanted to write about Outback is their hot wings, or as they call them, Kookaburra Wings. Whatever you do, don't call them buffalo wings because they are not. Instead of the butter flavored hot sauce indicative of the buffalo wing (originating at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY) the Kookaburra Wing is laden with spices that give this mouth watering food its signature flavor. This appetizer, that I usually get as an entree, is nothing but drumettes (the meatier part of the wing.) Their homemade blue cheese gives the wing even more kick and for some extra heat I dip my wing in red pepper flakes. Delicious.

Not to be confused with Ted's Montana Grille on West End in Nashville, this restaurant does some things like no place else. When you walk in, the first thing you will smell is their famous rotisserie chicken. The next thing you will notice is that their kitchen is in the middle of the restaurant, not hidden behind a wall. You can see everything, and I find this to be a testament to the quality of their work. Their salads are served on a chilled plate and you would not believe the difference this makes. Before your meal they serve Mexican fire bread which is corn bread served in a small cast iron skillet. It's called "fire bread" because of the jalapeños. Despite it's name, the fire is tame enough for even the most tender of tongues. On a busy night, all the servers work to make sure you are enjoying yourself and have plenty of what you need. What also impresses me is that at the end of your rib entree you don't get a wet nap sealed in an impenetrable wrapper, but rather you get a nicely folded cloth napkin on a plate that has had hot water added to it. Very refreshing. It's the little things that make the biggest difference at this unique establishment. Every Tuesday night is all you can eat rib night and I try to make it there for this special evening every few months. These ribs are served St. Louis style with a dry rub that is better than Memphis' acclaimed Rendezvous Restaurant. Make sure you get them dry with sauce on the side. Anybody can make a good sauce but it takes a real restaurant to make a rib that can go naked. Their Heath Bar Crunch Ice Cream dessert is incredible as well.

Wow. A great restaurant for good country cooking. There are so many meats, sides, and desserts to choose from, you will have a difficult time choosing what to get. It's all seasoned to perfection so taste it before you salt it. Also, there's a second location at the Farmer's Market so you'll have plenty to do after lunch. A great place to visit especially on the weekends when the flea market is happening. FYI: I had the pork chop today and even though it is beautifully fried with a gravy that's not to be missed, the flimsy fork and knife wouldn't cut loaf bread and the bone was hard to get around. Somewhat frustrating but when you are able to get a bite, it's great.

Most of us are familiar with Subway so think of Sky Mesa in that fashion only instead of sandwiches and chips it's burritos and nachos. You choose your tortilla (honey wheat, jalapeño, spinach, etc.), you choose your meat, and you tell them what you want on it. Then, you get a freshly made burrito the size of your forearm. Make sure to ask for it grilled, and get the combo because there are five different homemade salsas waiting for you on the salsa bar. Something to keep in mind. Don't put items that are soupy or really moist on your burrito (black beans, salsa, melted cheese.) Too much moisture makes it fall apart leaving you with a mess that must be eaten with a knife and fork. I'm not 100% sure but I'm confident that the hot sauces on the tables are just Tabasco Sauce. How good is it? As a comparison, Sky Mesa is immediately beside Quiznos. While I was eating, ten people came into Sky Mesa and none went into Quiznos. With items like grilled chicken and pico de gallo, it is possible to make a pretty healthy burrito. They do have other items besides burritos. They just started serving tamales made by some locals. Don't miss the Smoked Jalapeño Salsa and Hot Sky Mesa Salsa (you have to ask for this.)

A four story restaurant with a kitchen on each floor that is simple and southern. Before going to Savannah I heard a great deal about the long wait. Well, at 1pm on Sunday afternoon, I walked right in to the buffet. The food wasn't anything you couldn't get at a church potluck but since most restaurants don't serve this, The Lady & Sons is a jewel.

Malita and I ate here with her college roommate. She lives in Maryville and I can see why. It is a beautiful town with rich offerings in art, music, and theater. (Or maybe I was just there on the right weekend.) In any case Tomato Head is a great restaurant with a clever name and equally clever t-shirts. I plan on getting one during our next visit. I was not thinking straight and ordered Malita the wrong meal. When she told our waitress this she took it back and replaced it with the correct order. It was my mistake but they fixed it. Now that's service! So, I got to try the chicken burrito, chicken quesadilla, and my pizza. All were fantastic. The burrito was big and messy but the salsa and blue corn chips made you forget about that pretty quickly. The quesadilla wasn't toasted but in all three things I tried, you could taste the natural goodness (that Tomato Head prides itself on) bursting through. Don't miss the number four pizza with capers, sun dried tomatoes, and lamb sausage.

On our trip to Savannah, we didn't know where to go, but this place was listed in a top 10 so we tried it. We were not disappointed. It is in a beautifully restored mansion and the dinning hall on the second floor is unbelievable. The chef has been on Iron Chef a number of times. Don't miss the scallop/shrimp fettuccine (can't remember what it's called). Also, their chocolate cake is wonderful. The icing, if it's not, certainly tastes homemade. I usually have ice cream with my cake but it would only distract from this three layer culinary triumph. Their sirloin steak is a must as well.

A charming restaurant in an old part of Georgia. The building has a proud history dating back to the Civil War. Their food is delectable and you can sit inside or out. Don't miss the steak or lobster ravioli.

There seems to be two to three restaurants on every block in the downtown area of Chattanooga. There's also a theater, discovery museum, and the aquarium is there so the setting is outstanding for an afternoon and evening of fun. When I heard that the owner of Easy was also the chef, I knew it would be great. He didn't disappoint. I had the shrimp with sweet onion rings. I expected a few shrimp and some dainty sides, but what I got was a large pile of beefy shrimp, homemade rings, and the most unique cole slaw I've ever had. They were excellent. Don't miss the bread pudding.

The setting was superb although it did need some background music. I hate that nervous clanking of dishes sound. I went here because I haven't had Indian food in about nine years. Sitar didn't disappoint even for a buffet. Unless you're in the area or really jonesin' for some curry, I'd stay in town and eat at a Mexican joint. Don't miss the lunch buffet. You get to try a variety of things if you're unfamiliar with Indian cuisine.

Steamboat Bills is a serious Cajun restaurant. Not to say that those who don't appreciate creole will leave hungry, but the flavors are as though you're on the Gulf coast instead of the shores of Drakes Creek. If you want to do some boating, pull up to the dock that's across the street and take your cooler up to Bills and have them fill it full of crawfish. They're seasonal so call first. It even has a steamboat model in the middle of one of the dining rooms. If you don't live in the immediate area, it's definitely worth the drive. Not To Be Missed: The shrimp is big and breaded the way it should be. The bread pudding is excellent, and the gumbo is so flavorful that you'll be reminiscing about it days later.

T's just down the street from Vanderbilt Hospital and Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. If there was a reason to be glad you're at either, this is it. I'd heard a lot about this place so I tried it and was not disappointed. I had the pepperoni calzone; a favorite dish of mine as it gets to the heart of what a pizza is. It was compacted with cheese and the crust was crisp and soft in all the right places. The garlic enhanced the already mouthwatering flavors brought on by the sauce served on the side. Don't miss the pepperoni calzone and the outside tables on a comfortable evening.

During the high season in the Smokies, this is a great place to eat. It's large so they can handle the crowds, getting you in and out. The servers know what they're doing and are always pleasant. The server my wife and I had ten and a half years ago on our honeymoon still works there in the same section. However, because of the size of the restaurant, and speed they are working, extraneous requests can become problematic. Although, they will certainly do their best. The entrees are ample with choices of sausage, bacon, country ham, or all three. You also get eggs, grits, gravy, biscuits pancakes (which were a little dry) and a small orange juice. If you're not that hungry, they have meals without the pancakes and grits. Sit down and enjoy the complimentary muffins (not sure of the flavor, but they have pecans and are delicious). Also, make sure they bring you a dish of their maple butter. It's the creamiest butter I've ever had and really compliments the muffins. If you can't decide among the meats, their is a platter with all three. Otherwise, get the sausage. It's thick and spicy.

I had the fish and chips and Malita had the chicken strips; two standard meals that can be messed up pretty easily. They did them quite nicely though. Neither were greasy and their homemade honey mustard, b-b-q, and tartar sauces added a lot of flavor.

The atmosphere is very nice with comfortable chairs and a genuinely friendly staff. It's located right across from the aquarium and offers a nice view of the downtown area. There's a deck as well for when the weather is nice. Original (for sale) art decorates the walls. I saw a Monet inspired piece and a summer piece with kids playing in a water fountain. The scene was normal but with a touch of artistic elegance that made it very interesting. Also, the painting with a girl jumping off a diving board had been sold. The local art is just one sign that something special is happening here. 212 Market Street is Tennessee's first Green Certified Restaurant. The cup that Mason drank his sweet tea out of was actually compostable. They grow much of what they use and buy as much as they can locally. I had the coffee seared duck. It had a nice tang and was presented rather beautifully atop spinach and sweet potatoes. The bread they served before your meal was good, but it did taste like it was a little old. The homemade butter made up for it a little. Malita's filet (appetizer portion) had a blue cheese olive cream gravy that went really well with the beef. The potato strings were also an excellent side. Don't miss the flourless chocolate cake.