Off the beaten path restaurants

A friend and I are looking to make a weekend trip to have an incredible dinner. We’re interested in “off the beaten path” areas and restaurants that might be a little challenging to get to, but are well worth the effort. Examples include Blue Hill at Stone Barns in NY, Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, or Milkweed Inn in Michigan.

Was hoping to get some great ideas from this group of awesome chef projects that are worth the travel. Geographically, we’re hoping to be south of Chicago all the way down the the Gulf and no further west than Colorado (mid-atlantic coast okay).

Thanks!

Canyon Kitchen near Cashiers, NC https://lonesomevalley.com/cashiers-nc-restaurant-2/
Need reservations months in advance but their takeout option was very good.

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https://www.oadguides.com/lists/north-america/top-restaurants/2021
Here is a long list but you can cherry pick. From OAD assembled by Steve Plotnicki who some may remember from EBob
Lost of places and I am not endorsing.

If I’m not mistaken, the Blackberry Farm restaurant(s) are only available to registered guests of the property. I know that it was only listed as an example, but I wanted to clarify for others.

Blue Hill and Stone Barns is wonderful and easy to get to.

Catbird seat in Nashville?

George

I’d go to the newly reopened and reimagined Kitchen Table in London. A bit far, but worth the travel.

The Willows Inn on Lummi Island (Washington) fits your bill.

Amazing restaurant. Mark is spot on, as usual.

A bit north of Chicago so it may not work, but a classic supper club. https://www.ishnala.com/
Another fun one is in Ashcroft outside Aspen. https://pinecreekcookhouse.com/

Also, though Healdsburg isn’t exactly off the beaten path, there’s SingleThread. And in Elk, CA there is The Harbor House Inn.

I think the request was to stay East of Colorado…

You’re seriously recommending this place ?

I would think the people on this board would be a little less quick to just swallow whole whatever the media feeds them.

Never been to this place but I am very intrigued:

Litchfield CT

I suppose we can wait for the outcome of the (thus far non-existent?) defamation/libel lawsuit, then. I’m sure the article has had a huge impact on their business so if it’s all lies and conjecture the restaurant would surely have a good cause of action against the NYT.

To get back on topic: https://www.stadtlanderseigensinnfarm.com/.

Thanks for all the input ya’ll! Our first choice was Milkweed Inn in Michigan (run by current chef of Elizabeth in Chicago) but getting in takes about a year, so we’ve instead decided (in part out of laziness) to eat our way through the Detroit food scene. I spent a lot of time there in 2019 and some of the restaurants are really stellar. I think Selden Standard and Grey Ghost will be on the list, and we may go drink all the Dominus at Vertical downtown. Not as off the beaten path as originally envisioned, but it’ll be an amazing weekend.

Thanks again!

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