My Top Restaurant Recommendations

My favorite part of exploring new places is discovering the best places to eat. I love finding a locally owned restaurant and supporting the community. But, it's hard to resist the biggest, most popular restaurants of every city. So, in no particular order, here are my top five favorite restaurants.

Photo by Zephyr Shultz

Photo by Rachel Orland

1) The Roof at Daytona Beach, Florida

I'm not sure if it's the ocean view or the permanently sunny, Florida weather you can soak in while you eat, but The Roof is my favorite place to go after a day at the beach. The food is classic American cuisine. I usually order chicken nuggets and fries, which are always above average. But, what really keeps me coming back is the amazing patio seating area. Sitting on the terrace, shaking the sand out of my hair, and looking out on all the surfers and swimmers complete my perfect beach vacation. It checks off two of my vacation criteria: sunny and instagrammable. Any picture with the sun setting on the ocean in the background is sure to make your social media feed dazzle. If you're looking for a picturesque beach town restaurant, The Roof will give you an experience you'll remember.

2) Rudy's Ristoante and Pizzeria in Closter, New Jersey

Rudy's pizza is hands down the best pizza I have ever had. But, this place made my list for another reason. My Dad grew up in Closter and lived just a few miles away from Rudy's. I remember him taking me there for pizza when I was really young. He told me it was the best pizza in the world. I was still under the impression that the Papa John's take out we got Friday nights was as good as pizza got. But when I picked up that greasy, cheesy slab of pepperoni pizza and folded it up just like he did, I realized Papa Johns might as well have tasted like the cardboard box it came in. It was an existential experience to eat that pizza pie, as my dad and grandma referred to it. I'm told that afterwards, he took me around New York City and to Central Park and to the top of the Empire State Building. Honestly, I can only remember the pizza. So yes, Rudy's has the best pizza in the world, but the fact that it was a part of my dad's life that he shared with me is what puts it on this list.

Photo by Rachel Orland

Photo by Rachel Orland

3) Hotel ManGaby in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Hotel ManGaby is the perfect hotel for being immersed in the Costa Rican culture. It's locally owned with incredibly friendly staff and is hiding an amazing restaurant. We ordered their ceviche (above, left) and the red snapper (above, right). I don't consider myself an adventurous eater. Until I went to college, the only vegetable I would touch were raw carrots coated in ranch. But the ceviche was so delicious that we ordered it several more times and tried to recreate it when we got home. The red snapper was flavorful, flaky, and overall phenomenal once we figured out how to eat it. I had never ordered fish that was not a fillet so having an entire fish, scales and eyes included, plopped down in front of me was slightly intimidating. My mother asked our server what the best way to eat it was. She was very polite and only chuckled slightly in what she probably found to be a hysterical situation. She showed us how to remove the skin and get to the meat. Once we got over our embarrassment of not knowing how to eat our food, we could fully enjoy the freshness and authenticity of our meal.

Photo by Rachel Orland

4) Hard Rock Cafe In Orlando, Florida

As a die hard Universal Studios fan, I am slightly biased when it comes to this restaurant. This is no mom and pop's, obscure cafe you only discover through locals. However, the Hard Rock chain is incredibly unique and the food is delicious. My friends and I would go after a long day of roller coaster-riding to chow down on their world-class burgers. We loved the cool, 80's rocker atmosphere and great food. With relics of rock gods throughout the ages, pieces of outfits, wigs, instruments, and classic rock hits playing nonstop, Hard Rock Cafe's never failed to provide an atmosphere unlike any other restaurant chain. Regardless of if you like rock music, any Hard Rock Cafe is well worth a visit in for a guaranteed great burger and good time.

Ruffrano's Hell's Kitchen Pizza in Manitou Springs, Colorado

Manitou Springs is an ideal vacation spot when visiting Colorado. It's a fun shopping strip filled with unique shops and restaurants. It's fun for a day out with friends or for a family trip. Ruffrano's Hell's Kitchen Pizza is just one of the many locally owned shops there. The pizza, while not quite on the level of Rudy's, is amazing after a long day of shopping around. They also serve delicious garlic knots. My favorite part of eating at Hell's Kitchen is their feature combo deal. You can get "one slice of pizza, three garlic knots, and a fountain drink all for $6.66".