There is almost always a favorite non chain restaurant place around where you live that specializes in some kind of food and is considered famous for it.
Today I tried an Italian hotdog from a place in New Jersey called Jimmy Buff's. Website: jimmybuff.com The place has been around since 1932, and has been all over the media winning awards. They were Gourmet Magazine, called one of the 500 best eateries in the country, and appeared on the Travel Channel.
What non chain restaurants are around you that you love? They don't have to be famous. But please be sure to tell everyone where its located, what you love about it, etc. If you can find and include their website address that would be great also.
For any foreign members who may not know what a chain restaurant is, it's usually a restaurant with the same name in many different locations either under shared corporate ownership or franchising agreements. Macdonald's, Pizza Hut, IHOP, Perkins, etc, are all chain restaurants.
We have a favorite in town that is called Strike and Spare, they serve up HUGE turkey sandwiches and other fare there. The cook like 7-8 turkeys a day there and the sandwiches are literally like 3-4 inces of pure meat. DELICIOUS. you have to try it someday if ever in Lewiston, ID.
When we used to stay in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines, my hubby and I would drive a few minutes to go to Clark, Angeles, Pampanga so we could dine at this special Italian restaurant called simply as 'C'. Their pizza is so delicious and worth the trip. In case you're in the area you could visit and try them.
to give you an idea, I searched for it on the web and this is what I got: http://restauranthopping.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-practically-eaten-in-almost-all.html
It's actually a Panizza and specifically the Kristina is the one I am talking about. just check on the blog site for further details.