The MaiTai Tom Dining Guide:
In Search Of Excellence In Restaurants

MAITAI’S FOOD FOR THOUGHT

If there’s anything that Tracy and I like, it’s a good meal.  We will share our restaurant experiences as we discover new restaurants and revisit some of our old favorites.  Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, we’ll give you some ideas to chew on.


January 22, 2024

Azul Histórico – Mexico City

Stunning Centro Histórico Dining Azul Histórico – Mexico City April 2023 One of the best things about our marvelous Mexico City trip included the number of fantastic dining experiences we encountered, and we had many. After our first full day of exploring Mexico City’s Centro Histórico, it was time for […]
July 10, 2023

Mariscos del Patio – Mexico City, Mexico

Fresh From The Sea Mariscos del Patio – Mexico City Seafood – April 2023 We had many excellent meals in Mexico City, and one of our favorites took place at a family run restaurant in Coyoacán called Mariscos del Patio (Patio Seafood). Our good friends, who we spend many holidays […]
June 28, 2023

Taberna Moderna – Lisbon Portugal

Give This Lisbon Gem A Shot! Taberna Moderna – Lisbon, Portugal Portuguese (with a modern twist) – September 2022 Before leaving for Lisbon on our 2022 fall Portugal trip, I had jotted down “Gin and Tonic” on a piece of paper next to a restaurant named Taberna Moderna, but it […]
July 28, 2022

Dining In Northumberland, England

Bamburgh & Warenford RestaurantsDining In Northumberland, England We stayed in Bamburgh for three nights on our England/Scotland trip, and each evening we had a great dinner at three separate restaurants. Since they were so good, I thought I’d do one post that includes all three. The Lord Crewe Restaurant Although […]
July 9, 2022

Rustique – York, England

Très Magnifique! Rustique – York, England French • May 2022 Danny at our York B&B, St. Raphael Guesthouse, recommended Rustique near Clifford’s Tower for classic French bistro fare. After stopping by the restaurant, the only reservation available on Friday was for 5 p.m. and we felt lucky to get that […]
May 10, 2022

Mai Tai Tom & Tracy’s Best Burgers: 2021/2022

Caloric Burger Quest Mai Tai Tom & Tracy’s Best Burgers: 2021/2022 May is National Hamburger Month and, just for our loyal subscribers and readers, Tracy and I have consumed quite a few burgers throughout the past year, compiling a list of our favorites and adding a few extra pounds along […]
March 24, 2022

Fino Ristorante – San Francisco, California

Inviting Italian In “The City” Fino Ristorante – San Francisco, California Visited: February 2022 • Italian San Francisco definitely does not have a shortage of very good Italian restaurants, so to help us decide upon which one to visit, Tracy enlisted a friend who works in the city to aid […]
January 21, 2022

The Cave – Ventura, CA

Don’t Judge A Restaurant By Its Cover The Cave – Ventura, CA New American – Last Visit: November 2021 Following is the true tale of discovering a very good restaurant thanks to a passage in an engrossing novel, while making an embarrassingly expensive error when we returned for a second […]
October 14, 2021

Blairs – Silver Lake (Los Angeles), CA

Quintessential Neighborhood ItalianBlairs – Silver Lake (Los Angeles), CA Italian – Last Visit – August 2021 Blairs is the quintessential neighborhood restaurant, which has been nestled in the Silverlake community for 18 years. We visited about a decade ago, but for some bizarre reason never made it back. When friends […]
September 18, 2021

JOEY DTLA, Los Angeles, California

To Los Angeles … With Love … From CanadaJOEY DTLA • Los Angeles, California Delicious Cuisine For Everyone • Visited July & August 2021 Subscriber Garrett hit another one out of the ballpark with his recommendation for JOEY DTLA, our latest favorite restaurant. Garrett was the one who sent us […]
August 29, 2021

Parkers’ Lighthouse – Long Beach, CA

A Meal Fit For A Queen Parkers’ Lighthouse – Long Beach, CA Seafood – Last Visit: July 2021 Despite Tracy and I living in Long Beach for many years, we never made it to dinner at Parkers’ Lighthouse in Shoreline Village, located on the waterfront near the Queen Mary. Tracy […]
June 16, 2021

Bistro Maison – McMinnville, Oregon

A Parisian Evening In McMinnvilleBistro Maison – McMinnville, Oregon Visited: May 2021 • French I love French food, and both the look and the menu of what I viewed online of Bistro Maison in McMinnville, Oregon, enticed me.  It looked like a spot we needed to dine, so I secured […]
June 12, 2021

Alchemy Restaurant & Bar – Ashland, Oregon

Dinner In The GardenAlchemy Restaurant & Bar – Ashland, Oregon Visited: May 2021 • New American Cuisine Before heading up to Ashland, Oregon, I made reservations at Alchemy Restaurant & Bar, located inside the Winchester Inn. I perused the menu online, and although the menu was not extensive, it was […]