Who would have guessed that when the movie Forrest Gump gave us Bubba Gump Shrimp that it would become a national chain of seafood restaurants?

Well, it is, and not only is the name fun to say, but the eating and drinking is fun and delicious, too.

You can open the experience with a non-alcoholic beverage, ranging from the Run Forrest Run (oranges, strawberries and raspberry yogurt), to the Jenny’s Favorite (cranberry juice, strawberries and raspberry yogurt), or the Speckled Lemonade, which is lemonade with strawberries.

Just like Forrest and Bubba dreamed of, the menu is filled with all kinds of shrimp delights.

For appetizers, there’s Cajun shrimp (Cajun butter sauce), ping pong shrimp (topped with mango pineapple salsa), popcorn shrimp and jumbo shrimp cocktail, or the Shrimper’s Net Catch—shrimps steamed in beer.

And if you think the shrimpin’ stops there, you ain’t seen nothin’. Forrest and Bubba thought up all kinds of tasty shrimp meals with the “fruit of the sea” fried, stuffed, baked, broiled and even tossed over some pasta. Whenever I go, I’m simple—I line up two beers and stuff myself with Mama Blue’s Southern Charmed Fried Shrimp—them’s good eats!

But don’t worry, there are a few other things besides shrimp, like the Director’s Cut ribeye, Mama’s southern fried chicken, sandwiches, salads and the Dixie Style Baby Back Ribs.

Forrest loved Jenny so much that he named all of his shrimpin’ boats after her, and dedicated a dessert to her that has become my personal favorite—Jenny’s Strawberry Dream. This dream starts with pound cake, and after the vanilla ice cream and strawberry puree, gets taken to a heavenly level by Jenny’s special sauce.

Forrest’s mama always had a chair at the table for hungry folks and so does each location of Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.

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In the old gold rush days of California in the 1800’s, miners would stake claims to areas they believed would deliver rich lodes of gold ore. If the claim went unattended for too long, others would come along and “jump” the claim, meaning they would literally steal rights to the mining area.

In 1977, Craig Nickoloff opened a restaurant that allowed diners to stake claim to favorite meals or jump his claim to good food, fun mining-oriented themes and atmosphere.

The atmosphere of Claim Jumper throws back to mining days with wood logs, natural rocks, fireplaces and pressed tin. The authentic log chairs help, too.

Some locations have wood-burning stoves with cooking on display to patrons.

Claim Jumper offers steaks, fish, chicken, baby back ribs and even grilled liver, but the most attention-grabbing items are the thematic ones, including the Whiskey Chicken (boneless, skinless breast with whiskey stuffing) and the Goldrush Chicken (chicken breast topped with sour cream, mushroom and onion sauce).

If you’re with a large party or just an animal, order the Ore Cart, which is a sampler of entrees, including rotisserie barbecued chicken, baby back pork ribs and beef back ribs.

To finish things up, you can take a gi-normous slice from their six-layer chocolate cake, called the Chocolate Motherlode Cake. I am a fool for chocolate and cake, and this has it all!

Or, go for something different with the Cream Cheese Pie, sitting on a Lorna Doone Cookie Crust. If you only have a little baby appetite left, order the World’s Smallest Sundae, which ain’t too small at all, made of vanilla ice cream, Helen Grace Hot Fudge, whipped cream almonds and a cherry on top.

The bar is called, appropriately, a saloon, and its menu features signature cocktails, a full bar selection and Claim Jumper’s own honey blonde beer.

If you’re not drinking, or you’re ordering for the kids, you can get a bottomless soda to accompany your meal.

Stake your claim and eat up!

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Today, many theme restaurants are going retro with a “50’s style diner.” But is was A&W restaurants, the makers of the famous root beer, which has been on the market since 1919 and is now the world’s top selling root beer brand in the world, that helped pioneer the concept of the 50’s diner. In fact, the restaurants’ website suggests the eatery launched the country’s first drive-in.

Today, A&W still brings nostalgia to many fans with its throwback menu and the restaurant’s commitment to car clubs, which began when teens would gather at local A&W restaurants to drive through and eat, or hang out in the parking lot, as “tray-boys.” hustled out to the car to deliver the food. (The tray-boys may have departed, and not all A&W’s boast the 50’s theme décor, with some locations instead opting for a more “up-to-date” look.)

But the menu remains constituent. A&W has basic American fare—burgers and fries, hot dogs and onion rings. The made-to-order food is served fast and the frosty mugs that they are known for are still slapped on the table with your drink. But the icing on the cake is dessert.

You have to try the root beer float, which is A&W Root Beer, of course, blended with vanilla ice cream. Or you can sample the Polar Swirl, which is vanilla ice cream blended with Oreo cookies, M&Ms or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

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Of course, living in California, Texas, or any of the other states adjacent to Mexico is ideal if you like Mexican food. But there are also chain restaurants such as Cozymel’s that offer traditional Mexican favorites that are authentic and delicious.

Cozymel’s will allow you to sit right at your table and watch fresh guacamole being made, providing an experience that is about as close to a trip to Mexico as you can get without crossing the border.

The kitchen at Cozymel’s is always open for you to take a peek. Stand anywhere near, and you’ll get a nose full. When you do look and examine the swirling margarita machines, you have to feel the Mexican experience.

The sights of cooking and the sounds of real margaritas set the stage for the real reason why Cozymel’s can be called authentic—the food.

You can go straight to whatever you recognize and are comfortable with, but if you do that, you may as well get fast food that is supposed to be Mexican, but is rarely found south of the US border.

Cozymel’s offers distinctive sauces and spices imbedded with cooking in their grilled beef and chicken, slow roasted pork and fresh seafood.

Experiment a little. Try the Yucatan Especial, for example, which is a combination of shrimp and scallops tossed in an authentic creamy Cancun Sauce.

Cozymel’s is experimenting, too, adding new items such as the Pollo Poblano and Salmon Tropical, which they say explore the delights of Mexico.

Accent your food choices with Cozymel’s unique tropical drink specialties, including the Maya Rita, the Cozy On The Beach, and the Margarita Sampler.

Don’t leave Cozymel’s without trying the Platano Parfait, which is, yes, you guessed it—banana…something. This dish is Cozymel’s signature homemade banana pudding layered with crushed vanilla wafers, fresh sliced bananas and real whipped cream.

If you don’t plan on traveling to Mexico any time soon, Cozymel’s is the next best thing.

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Here’s a powerful idea: A restaurant with good food, centered around good music, with paraphernalia from Rock legends and icons, many of whom have actually been to the establishment to eat.

The idea is real and began in the 1970’s. Two Rock fans opened an American-styled diner in London that was so cool that it attracted the likes of Eric Clapton.

Clapton frequented the establishment and befriended the owners. He garnered a regular table and in exchange gave up a guitar, which was placed prominently on the wall. A week later, Pete Townshend of The Who sent one of his guitars to be honored like Clapton’s.

Those two donations sparked a trend that continues to today with more than 70,000 items, including guitars, drums, pianos, harmonicas, microphones, shirts, pants, scarves, shoes, handwritten lyrics, cars, bikes, a bus and assorted Rock memorabilia.

The collection is now the most valuable of its kind in the world and continues to grow, adorning the walls of more than 130 Hard Rock Cafes, Hotels and Casinos around the world.

Rest assured that the Hard Rock Cafe doesn’t place everything on the Rock memorabilia. The food is darn good, too.

The appetizer menu is hearty and varied, with chicken wings and onion rings, but also with different items such as the shrimp tacos, Torpedo chicken tenders (boneless seasoned breaded chicken strips) and the Santa Fe Spring Rolls, stuffed with chicken, spinach, black beans, cilantro and cheddar cheese.

If you’re hungry or with a large group, cut down on the decision-making with the Jumbo Combo, featuring the most popular appetizers, including the ones named above plus potato skins, all served with four different sauces.

For the entree, you can jump right into their famous 10-ounce hamburger, named so because, well, it’s actually 10-ounces. This is not a burger for the faint of heart or the small of stomach.

They have a variety of burgers, from the hickory barbecue burger to the bacon cheeseburger, and the veggie burger made of vegetables, cheese and spices.

For sides, you can try the sweet potato fries, the twisted Mac and Cheese (which is also available as an entree with chicken) or creamed spinach.

The Hard Rock Cafe has standard bar and grill menu offerings, but with some of its own signature items, including margarita popsicles that ain’t for the kiddies.

Rock on.

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Many of the most famous restaurants are established in the names of fictitious characters. McDonald’s, for example, was not named after the man who launched it into a national chain.

However, there really is a McCormick and a Schmick’s.

Since teaming up in the early 1970s in Portland, Oregon, Bill McCormick and Doug Schmick took their concept of high-end seafood establishments to more than 50 locations across the nation.

And, this dynamic restaurant duo is serious about seafood, assuring that each location offers customers a change in menu twice each day. Those changes are designed to reflect the freshness, variety and regionalized offerings that McCormick & Schmick’s presents in order to stand out in seafood.

In terms of freshness, McCormick & Schmick’s offers a selection of over 30 items that have come into the restaurant the same day.

As for variety, the menu will be updated based on the incoming fresh deliveries, with more than 80 items for customers to choose from. That’s a pretty serious commitment to offering something for everyone.

And, since McCormick & Schmick’s is national, each executive chef takes advantage of the varieties of fresh seafood in the waters closest to their location, ranging from the Pacific Northwest to the Atlantic Ocean. The varieties also include unique species from international waters.

If you see something on the menu that you want to try, but aren’t certain about, just ask. The wait staff at McCormick & Schmick’s is trained to be virtual encyclopedias of seafood information.

Personally, I like the fact that the restaurant is high-end, but presents one of the most reasonable Happy Hour bar menus to be found. In Manhattan Beach, California, for example, the Happy Hour menu will offer oyster shooters, fish tacos, spinach and artichoke dip, steamed mussels and half pound hamburgers from their regular menu, but for $1.95 during Happy Hour.

Thank you Mr. McCormick and Mr. Schmick.

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Big Bad Los Angeles just has to be different. Whether its glittery Hollywood, the impractical car culture, or the seedy back alleys no one wants on the news, the city has its own style and its own way of doing things.

In 1985, the city even launched its own way of doing pizza with California Pizza Kitchen (CPK). Founders Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax created their original BBQ Chicken Pizza and the divergent pizza menu caught on.

Now a national sensation, California Pizza Kitchen has people open to Thai Chicken and Jamaican Jerk pizza. Since Californians can be so health-conscious, CPK offers several vegetarian pizzas, including the Vegetarian with Japanese eggplant (offered on honeywheat dough), the Five-Cheese & Fresh Tomato and the Goat Cheese with Roasted Peppers.

But pizza just wasn’t enough, so CPK assembled a divergent variety of pasta, salads, and tasty desserts.

Start your CPK experience with some very different appetizers, including two of my favorite appetizer superstars, the Singapore Shrimp Rolls, with broccoli, Shiitake mushrooms and of course, sautéed shrimp; and the Lettuce Wraps, filled with minced chicken (or shrimp, or both), Shiitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, green onions in a soy ginger sauce, and of course, wrapped in lettuce.

Pick out your favorite pizza or experiment with something new—that’s part of the fun of CPK.

Then, finish up with dessert. I recommend the Chocolate Banana Royale Cake, which is moist chocolate cake layered with banana cream and topped with chocolate mousse. The drizzle of banana cream sauce and CPK’s own triple-thick hot fudge set this little piece of heaven off just right.

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What if you could eat and drink to contentment and then play some of your favorite games without leaving the building? In the 1970’s two men named Dave and Buster asked themselves the same question.

In Little Rock, Arkansas, Dave had a gaming establishment right next door to Buster’s restaurant. They noticed that people would go back and forth between the two, and in 1982, they went to Dallas, Texas to open up the very first Dave & Buster’s.

Now, the concept of great food with big fun has taken Dave & Buster’s locations across the nation and around the world.

If the decision on appetizer to order is more than you can handle with the wide variety of selections, just point to the Trio Appetizer, a sampler of Buffalo wings, potato skins and chips with cheese.

For the entrée, make certain to order one of the “Power Combos,” which gives you an entrée and $10 in game tickets for only $14. The Power Combo includes one of nine selections, such as a fried shrimp platter; Goldfingers (fried chicken strips), Jack Daniel’s BBQ chicken; Philly cheesesteak, blackened chicken pasta, parmesan crusted chicken scallopini, parmesan crusted chicken Caesar salad, a doublke cheeseburger; or half a rack of Jack Daniel’s BBQ ribs.

Finish your meal in comfort and step into the Million Dollar Midway, featuring more than 200 of the latest games. Then, step into the Winner’s Circle, exchanging the tickets you’ve won at the games for your selection from hundreds of prizes.

In addition to video and interactive games, Dave & Buster’s also has billiards and shuffleboard tables.

Eat hearty, have a drink and then play the games work of your meal it off a little.

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There is nothing more American than apple pie. Marie Callender’s specializes in apple pie and then some.

The legacy started in the early 1940’s when Marie began delivering pies to local Orange County restaurants. By the end of that decade, Mrs. Callender opened a wholesale pie shop. By the 1960’s, she opened pie and coffee shops, which soon began offering a full restaurant menu.

Today, Marie Callender’s restaurants offer classic American food, as well as their own signature items, including the now-famous pot pies, Ginger Teriyaki Salmon, St. Louis Bourbon BBQ Ribs and Gorgonzola, Pecan and Field Greens Salad.

In case you are all about the veggies and salad, each location features a salad bar with home-style soups, the signature cornbread, and all the standard salad fixins. Many of the locations offer an all-you-can-eat Sunday Brunch Buffet.

Make your lunch or dinner selection and set it off with a glass of wine or beer and finish it with coffee, but don’t ever be foolish enough to leave Marie Callender’s without a slice of pie. With more than 30 varieties of handmade pie, you will certainly find one to choose a slice from or to take home whole.

At the restaurant made famous by its pie-making skills, you’ll find cream pies, fruit pies, meringue pies and even sugar-free pies. The selection may vary by location, but you can be delighted by the traditional Apple, Berry and Cherry, or non-traditional Kahl-a Cream Cheese, Razzleberry and Sour Cream Apple pies.

Not only can you take the pies to go, Marie Callender’s has boxed lunches to go. If you need to plan a big company meeting, a party or any other big event, order boxed lunches. Each box has a variety of sandwiches, croissants (served with tuna, ham, chicken salad or turkey); baguettes with roasted turkey, or ciabattas with roasted turkey. The sandwich boxes include fresh fruit and a slice of pie.

You can also get a chicken sesame salad or chicken Caesar salad. The salad boxes are accompanied by fresh fruit and a cookie.

You don’t even have to go into their restaurants to enjoy their good food, Marie Callender’s now serves up some of the classic meals in the frozen food aisle of your local grocery.

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Outback Steakhouse is an Australian themed restaurant that features American style cuisine. The first Outback Steakhouse was founded in Florida, and there are now Outback Steakhouse locations scattered all over the world.

When you enter the establishment you are immediately greeted by the Aussie-themed décor. Outback Steakhouses are inviting and a bit playful. Boomerangs, kangaroo images, fish and cattle horns adorn the walls. The atmosphere in the restaurant is rustic, yet comfortable. When you first walk in you may surprised by the notoriously accommodating hosts that greet everyone with enthusiasm as they hold open the front door.

When you head to Outback, you can start with a filling appetizer if you have enough heads in your party. Kookaburra Hot Wings, Shrimp on the Barbie, Crab Cakes, Bloomin’ Onions and Aussie Cheese Fries are best consumed in a group setting. If you’re with a smaller group, you can always request a half order of the bacon-covered Aussie Cheese Fries.

Outback has a solid selection of beers, wine, and cocktails. Domestic and imported beers, (including Fosters of course), are served in the frostiest mugs you’ll ever hold. The wine list is serviceable, but the cocktail creations are top notch. From 4pm to 6pm on the weekdays, Outback has reduced prices for beers and margaritas. The same is true on the weekends from 12pm to 4 pm. If you’re looking to get your drink on, Outback is a jovial spot to watch a sporting event or just kick back with friends.

The menu at Outback features affordable dishes with plenty of side order options. The salads at Outback are mammoth, and the small house salad that come with any entrée is particularly satisfying (think homemade salad dressing, cucumber chunks, plump freshly- baked croutons and shredded cheese sprinkles). The barbecued shrimp, ribs and chicken breast dishes are mouth-watering. There are quality seafood and pasta options as well, but the real reason to visit Outback is to enjoy a big steak.

Outback steaks are USDA choice cuts that are seasoned with a unique blend of 17 spices. Every cut is hand–trimmed and seared to perfection. The Outback Special is a juicy center cut top sirloin that is available in nine and 12-ounce portions. The Prime Rib cuts are slowly oven roasted, and the Center Cut Filet, Rockhampton Rib-Eye and Ayer Rock Strip are all particularly tender.

For those who have a huge appetite, the 20-ounce Melbourne porterhouse is like eating two steaks at once. All steaks are served with your choice of soup or salad (Caesar, House or Bleu-Cheese chopped) and an additional side. The side dishes offered include: jacket potatoes, fresh steamed veggies, Aussie Chips (fries), roasted garlic mash potatoes, sweet potatoes, and fresh steamed broccoli. Grilled shrimp or Alaskan King Crab can also be added on to your entrée for an additional charge.

Outback serves delicious black bread with butter to every table. There are reduced rates for cut lunches (burgers and other grilled sandwiches), and there’s also a Joey’s menu for kids under ten years old. Sinful desert options are available as well. If you’re in a hurry, take advantage of Outback’s curbside take-out. All you have to do is call in your order, pull up to the designated pick up spot, and wait for your food to be delivered straight to your car. It’s a quick and easy way to grab a nice steak dinner.

Outback Steakhouses feature friendly ambiance, fresh food, quality beverage choices and great side dishes. The prices are affordable, the take out is convenient and the service is noticeably upbeat. Whether you’re dining with friends, family, or just picking up a meal for yourself, Outback is a solid dining choice that’ll give you options.

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