3. Polly’s Pancake Parlor (I may never make it here since I really have no desire to visit but you never know- it’s close enough to RI)

Just curious why you have no desire to visit Polly’s.

Just noticed your comment.
 
You know, it’s not really “Polly’s” that I have no desire to visit as much as it’s actually “Northern New Hampshire“. I’ve been in Rhode Island for 10 1/2 years and haven’t made it north of Concord NH. It seems that most Rhode Islanders when they actually leave the confines of this state (and foxwoods) will make their annual vacation track to Northern NH so it kind of left me with a stigma.
I would never go go out of my way to go to Northern NH just to visit Polly’s, however if I ever find my self in Northern NH for whatever reason I would certainly check it out

Hope to visit Stroud’s. Lived Mosca’s and Phillipe’s for atmosphere and Oysters mosca may be the single best meal Trudy and I ever had together.

As near as I can tell, here are the basic “secrets” of Polly’s:
 
1) Made from scratch, all high quality, fresh ingredients. No shortcuts.
2) They make the pancakes at a somewhat higher temperature than is commonly used, giving it a slightly crisp, very thin outer layer.
 
Bart

This was a difficult poll to answer, and I really had to ponder the choices. Every one of them is a place I crave to visit based on reviews and discussions. I chose Strouds because I have yet to find outstanding fried chicken  both locally and while traveling.

Your approach in your initial post highlights exactly what is wrong with the current poll: why should you need to choose only one of these places?  Ranking them in order of personal importance would give a much clearer picture of which places are more of a draw over others and would, I think, give a far different result than the one currently shown.
 
The way it should work is that voters would assign a rank, one through ten, that would then be averaged into the total.  I know that’s an unreal expectation for the poll, but if you’re going to ask that kind of question there should be a better way to calculate the results.
 
Just my two cents.
 
Buddy

Just watched “Man VS Food” and they did a feature on Strouds.
They claim that Skillet frying is what makes the difference in their chicken and I can believe that! Great lookin’ Chicken!

We found Polly’s Pancake Parlor to be way over rated / quite expensive.   There’s way too many better pancakes served around New England to make any special trip to Polly’s.

Cliff, have you been to all ten?  I picked Camp Washington because it’s one of the two I’ve yet to visit (the other is Philippe).  I love all eight that I’ve visited, but I’d rank them:
 
1. Pepe’s
2. Mueller’s
3. Polly’s
4. Stroud’s
5. Mosca
6. White House
7. Doe’s
8. Wilkes
 
Actually, I just realized that I haven’t been to the original Doe’s yet.  I’ve visited the Little Rock and Oxford (now closed) restaurants.

I picked Louie Mueller’s.
 
The White House Sub Shop jumped out at me, but I’ve had plenty of subs, so I chose on the basis of what I haven’t had that looks and sounds really great.  I’ve not had Texas brisket and hot links, and the photos here on Roadfood.com look great.
 
Some of the other stuff may be great, but I just don’t relate to them right, maybe.  I don’t think I’ve ever had fried chicken in a proper restaurant.  Cincinnati chili just doesn’t look like a destination food to me, although I’ll be sure to try some when I get around to going to Cincinnati.
 
Now if Peter Lugar’s was a choice…..

Stroud’s widens it’s lead.[:o)]

Since I had already visited 7 of the 10 restaurants, I only factored in the 3 I didn’t visit since the poll reflects places that you WANT to visit which  why I selected Mosca

just naked boosterism on my part. I’m not likely to make it to any soon.:)