Here we go, as promised
The Top 10 New Restaurants of 2011 (10-6 are in no particular order 5-2 are the top 5 but are in no particular order #1 is # 1) 10. Paradise Pups Des Plaines IL 
I have two regrets all based on 20/20 hindsight.
1- Only finishing half of my meal
2- Not being able to share a meal here with
Buddyroadhouse all because I had to have my first butter burger at
Solly's Grill. If I knew that my experience at
Solly's was going to be less than impressive (butter on a burger is complete overkill) I would have done things differently. The classic Chicago dog is top notch and the burger with merkts cheddar is probably about as top notch of a fast food style burger that you will find anywhere.
9. Nick's Kitchen Huntington IN 
Besides winning in the pie category, the Breaded Pork Tenderloin is nothing short of perfect. I wouldn't hesitate to say that I have reached BPT nirvana at
Nick's Kitchen. This is the BPT that I will measure all others to even come close to compare to. And with a fine hostess/proprietor like
JeannAnne, Nick's Kitchen sets the example of what every
Roadfood establishment should be.
8. Kopper Kettle Morristown IN 
I did not include photos of the entire meal- just the highlights. Sitting down to a classic Sunday dinner of Hoosier Pan Fried Chicken should be an experience that every Roadfood enthusiast should undertake. Not only was the meal at
Kopper Kettle almost flawless (I'll forgive them for the fact that their sugar cream pie was a mere shadow compared to that at
Nick's Kitchen) but their classic atmosphere was one of the best of 2011.
7. O'Connell's St Louis MO 
This is what every roast beef sandwich should strive to be- pink, melt in your mouth tender and flavorful. Pared with a side of au'jus this is pure roast beef heaven.
6. Breitbach's Country Inn Balltown IA 
The oldest restaurant in Iowa survived not one but two fires in recent years. Having rebuilt twice, I'm glad they did. Although I did not include photos of the entire meal, Breitbach's heartland salad bar is the largest I've ever seen and one of the best. Their bacon wrapped Iowa chops are pure porcine pleasure.
5. Farmer Brown's Steakhouse Waterloo NE 
This old school steakhouse is what every steakhouse should strive to be. This meal was nothing short of perfect, everything from the crusty loaf of homemade bread, to the crisp salad with house dressing and blue cheese crumbles to the unique regional side of spaghetti and sweet marinara to the crispy hash browns and fork tender prime rib.
Farmer Browns is an asset not only to Steakhouses but
Roadfood in general in the Omaha area.
4. Babushka's Kitchen Northfield OH 
Having previously received a nod in the soup category. The sandwich is also truly something else. Slow roasted pork and gravy loaded with sauerkraut and sauteed onions sandwiched between two potato cakes and topped with sour cream and sided with small dumplings. My only disappointment is that I completely finished my sandwich and could have kept on eating this beautiful masterpiece.
3. Redwood Steakhouse- Anita IA 
With a "you just don't see this anymore" relish tray and a Windsor Style Pork chop that just screams "oink" when you take each bite- it's no wonder that Iowa is the pork capital of the nation. Kudos to
Ayersian for this fantasmic discovery.
2. Jozsa Corner Pittsburgh PA 
Alex Jozsa Bodnar is a passionate man, and his passion reflects in the meals that he prepares at this reservations for 4 or more only Hungarian Restaurant in Pittsburgh. With a parade of flawless courses that seem endless (and trust me, you don't want them to end) its places like
Jozsa Corner that makes the
Roadfood experience so special.
and the # 1 new restaurant of 2011 is... Gene and Georgetti's Chicago IL 
Three words-
Shrimp De Jonge And there you have it - the best of 2011
One more "bonus" category.....
