Your Guide to Authentic Regional Eats
American food is so diverse that it defies logical classification. But it is a joy to appreciate the country's bounty when you organize it by good eats that are unique to a city or region. That is the goal of the Roadfood Driving Tours: to guide travelers to the very best examples of legendary local dishes. We will be adding more, and we welcome your suggestions for new and different eating tours as well as nominations of Roadfood-reviewed restaurants that ought to be included. So whether you are traveling alone or as a family or want to get together for a specialty-focused Eat and Greet, please consider these delicious destinations.
29 MILES
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46 min
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by Michael Stern
A delicious day in Knoxville must begin in the Old City at Olibea, a cutting edge cafe where the biscuits are fallapart fragile and the breakfast meat of choice is house-cured pork belly. It’s on to Litton’s for Thunder Road burgers and Italian cream cake, then sensational soul food at Chandler’s Deli, and a late-night BBQ blow-out at Sweet P’s Barbecue & Soul House.
52 MILES
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1 hr 49 min
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by Michael Stern
While it is possible to eat well for days (weeks, months!) just walking around New Orleans, a car provides access to some of NOLA’s more far-flung culinary highlights. This around-the-city tour starts with the best beignets and cafe au lait at Morning Call in Metarie and ends with a legendary Italian feast at Mosca’s.
33 MILES
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54 min
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by Michael Stern
For barbecue, Birmingham is hard to beat. Roadfood favorites include Miss Myra’s Pit Bar-B-Q and Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q. It also is a great breakfast city, including blue-plate classics at Fife’s and artisan pastries with fancy coffee at the Alabama Biscuit Co. As a primary distribution center for southern vegetables, “The Pittsburgh of the South” (so nicknamed for its steel industry) boasts a few cornucopia-like cafeterias with literally dozens of good side dishes, Niki’s West being our favorite (for fantastic pies and puddings, too). A great eating day in Birmingham concludes with dinner at Bessemer’s Bright Star, a grand old dining room where seafood is impeccable, steaks are mighty, and desserts are outlandish.
18 MILES
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41 min
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by Michael Stern
America’s Byways® are a collection of 150 National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. The drive through Sedona’s Red Rock country is one of awesome scenery and good food served with old-fashioned western hospitality.
7 MILES
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20 min
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by Michael Stern
America’s Byways® are a collection of 150 National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. The Department of Transportation praises the byway around Lake Pend Oreille for its “abundance of recreational opportunities, postcard-quality scenery, and historical elements.” We like it for huckleberry pie, hearty diner breakfast, and four-star coffee.
163 MILES
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4 hr 9 min
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by Michael Stern
America’s Byways® are a collection of 150 National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. One of the most beautiful such roads also happens to be one of the most delicious: the drive along Oregon’s coast from Astoria south to Brookings. As described by the Department of Transportation, it “winds by estuarine marshes, clings to seaside cliffs, passes through agricultural valleys, and brushes against wind-sculpted dunes. Charming small towns, museums, state parks, overlooks, historic bridges, and lighthouses ensure a delightful journey.” We add only one suggestion: bring plenty of appetite!
71 MILES
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1 hr 46 min
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by Michael Stern
America’s Byways® are a collection of 150 National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. The Merritt Parkway of Connecticut is a rolling, limited-access four-lane with bridges that display beautiful Art Deco styling of the 1930s. Opportunities to eat well just off the road are plentiful, and short detours lead to New Haven’s legendary pizza and shoreline seafood as well. This tour includes only places within 3 minutes of the Parkway.
149 MILES
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2 hr 38 min
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by Michael Stern
America’s Byways® are a collection of 150 National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. The Department of Transportation describes the Loess Hills Scenic Byway through westernmost Iowa as “truly an American treasure.” The trip from Omaha, Nebraska, to Sioux City, Iowa, and over the border to Elk Point, South Dakota, offers Roadfood adventurers a bevy of unique local eats.
119 MILES
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2 hr 22 min
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by Michael Stern
America’s Byways® are a collection of 150 National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. The Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail from Toledo to Cleveland includes four memorable Roadfood restaurants.
307 MILES
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6 hr 2 min
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by Michael Stern
America’s Byways® are a collection of 150 National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.The Great Lakes Seaway Trail takes you through Niagara Falls and the 1000 Islands and into the vastly underappreciated regional-food bonanzas of Rochester and Buffalo, New York.
