Eat Your Way Across the U.S.A., Revised Edition

This is a book for people who like regional cooking and road trips, more or less in that order. My wife and I took a cross country trip from California to Pennsylvania and back, with this book at our side, and its restaurant/diner/take-out recommendations took us off the beaten track into culinary adventures we still talk about. We found the Sterns about 90% reliable in their choices, with a few wonderful picks that more than made up the difference. As fans of regional BBQ, we were delighted by a variety out-of-the-way, down-home purveyors of this mouth-watering soul food, from Oklahoma to Arkansas to (even) South Dakota. Our favorite wide-spot-in-the-road place served up both meat and coleslaw on the same bun, with a side of beans; across the street were fresh-baked pies still warm from the oven. Perhaps the most enjoyable discovery (thanks to the Sterns) was the dining room of the Inn at Pleasant Hill, near Harrodsburg, KY, where the lemon pie was beyond description, and after the meal, at sunset, we took a leisurely stroll around the tranquil grounds of what once was a large, thriving Shaker community. The book has handy regional maps, for finding those towns you've never heard of, and the descriptions of each establishment are pretty accurate (I found only one place that was not what I expected). The listings were largely up-to-date; only one restaurant had moved, which I found out when I called for directions. (In fact, a cell phone is definitely a plus for finding some places.)If you're looking for something near where you live, this book may disappoint you. It will probably list the places you already know (e.g., in Los Angeles, Du-Par's at Farmers Market and Phillipe's downtown). The West Coast, for that matter, seems somewhat under-represented. But if you're willing to get off the interstate far from home and take your chances, the book is an enjoyable adventure guide. Two recommendations: Take along a books-on-tape copy of Kerouac's "On the Road" and a cooler for left-overs -- some places haven't heard of portion control.

I travelled across the country (OK, just from New York to Montana, to Nova Scotia, and back) with this book and found it absolutely indispensable. Not only did it tell us both places to stop on our way across Wyoming for milkshakes, but it made sure we knew in advance to go to Rapid City, SD for good Georgia barbecue. Not every restaurant in the book is an absolute winner, but you can usually tell by the description whether it's a must-see, or just a better than average chance at obtaining passable food on the road. It's important to keep in mind that the food in this book is road food. That's not a problem, but if you are the type of person who can eat too much fried chicken and meatloaf, you might want to bring another book with you as well.

I'm on the road 365 day a year, and acclimating to new surroundings is a survival skill I've learned over the years. When I roll into a new town, the first things I do are: buy a map, find a Post Office, a decent grocery, a good gym, the quickest route home from my work and call all the recomendations in the Stern's witty and unfailingly accurate guide for directions. I've not had a bad meal yet, and the person who gave me the book at the start of my tour told me the same thing. If you travel a lot, and you can't face another Applebees/McDonalds/Denny's/SouperSalad et.al. then this will steer you right to where you and your stomach want to be. It's just indespensible! Their descriptions of "shatteringly crisp fried chicken" and "glorious sloppy joes" are enough to cause you to drool embarassingly. But don't worry, the places in this guide are used to Pavlovian patrons! Enjoy.

I'm always leery when out-of-towners write about Louisiana cuisine. But the Sterns pleasantly surprised me with solid reccomendations and knowledge of the exact places to eat, especially in New Orleans. When I travel I usually take the Sterns' advice and I have yet to have a bad meal. I raise my cup of gumbo to them!

I have been using the Stern's books for years to find unique eating places serving regional food. Even my kids like most of their choices. They don't just leave an impression on their stomachs, but also in their imaginations. I think they've done a good job of updating the book, down to adding a restaurant I was about to write to them about. If you want "fancy places" this book isn't for you. If you want real stuff, this is the source. R. Jeffs