Coop’s Place is the right answer: local, with a vibe to match, some of the best food in town and a staff that is casual yet proud of the place. When asked what the special is, Steve, our bartender, said Yes, I recommend the food here, all of it. When pressed, red beans and rice with fried chicken came out. Java welcomed the dog friendly atmosphere and the picture of Coop’s dog above the fireplace, so we stayed a good while into our first night in the Big Easy.
Rain greeted us in the Sunshine State – we were told that the downpour was the first in a long, long time and that ‘they needed it’, so we were content to wait it out. As the storm passed we headed to a Jacksonville institution, Sliders, and had the namesake (aka oysters) brought out by …
When you roll into Atlanta at 3:22 in the morning on account of your DD wanting to avoid Atlanta traffic the next day, and you’re hungry or looking to check something out, there is only one right answer: The Majestic Diner. You never know who you’ll meet, what’ll be going on, or which girl may grab your waiter when you ask to take his picture, but the food is good, the people are friendly and there is always a story to be told.
After a late night in Denver we paid an early visit an old friend at a Boulder institution, Moe’s Broadway Bagels. Without seriously consulting the menu, we asked for large cups of hot coffee and the house specialty. The brew was superb (and much needed) and the bacon egg and cheese was every bit as good as we hoped for. Moe’s hit the spot, and will continue to hit the spot every time we’re in Boulder.
Sundance is every bit the dream Robert Redford intended, and The Owl Bar more than fits in. It's a restored 1890’s watering hole and original Rosewood Bar of Thermopolis, Wyoming, frequented by Butch Cassidy’s Hole-In-The-Wall-Gang. In a town where being outside, especially by day, is a calling, The Owl Bar has a lure all its own. So we got an early jump on the night and eventually settled in to the blues rock, and the burn barrel out back, which excused us for the daylight hours we spent drinking local beers indoors. Every bar should offer something so generous.
We got to Santa Fe and had dinner at the Shed, known for the best local food around; Our new friend (and waitress) chose the #10 with red and green chile sauce for us. She also talked to us all dinner about Santa Fe and things to do here. We couldn't break it to her that (like always) we were just passing through!
