Some restaurants don’t have diners — they have devotees.
These singular culinary institutions, both Michelin quality and quirky cult classics, are at the top of the list of a destination’s main attractions. Inside, a simple meal becomes an experience and checks off travelers’ bucket lists. And groups have a distinct advantage when visiting because they can often bypass long lines and sample several of the restaurant’s most famous dishes at once.
Whether they’re famous for their quirky atmospheres, illustrious television appearances or mouthwatering signature meals, here are some restaurants where groups can share a meal and travelers can share an experience.
Casa Bonita
Lakewood, Colorado
With an 85-foot pink tower rising against the sky, Casa Bonita certainly cuts a memorable figure in the Denver suburb of Lakewood. The Mexican restaurant is known not only for its eats, but also the immersive entertainment it offers, from cliff divers and mariachi musicians to magic acts and puppet shows. The interior is designed to mimic a whimsical 19th-century Mexican village, complete with a 30-foot waterfall, palm trees and the mysterious Black Bart’s Cave. Now owned by the creators of Comedy Central’s “South Park” series (the restaurant was prominently featured in a 2003 episode of the show), Casa Bonita is a rite of passage for Colorado residents to visit and a status symbol for tourists to get in.
The most famous menu item is the all-you-can-eat sopaipillas, drizzled with honey. Popular mains include the green chile brisket and pork carnitas tacos, as well as chicken and cheese enchiladas. Recent upgrades to the menu include adding cocktails and beer, and all dishes are served with chips and salsa, as well as the beloved bottomless sopaipillas — just raise the flag on the table to get another basket.
Katz’s Delicatessen
New York City
Proudly snagging the title of New York City’s oldest deli, Katz’s Delicatessen is a kosher-style deli famous for its massive sandwiches and its signature counter service. Founded in 1888, the Lower East Side deli serves an estimated 70,000 pounds of meat each week and is consistently ranked among the city’s top delis and must-visit restaurants for visitors.
Katz’s is known for its pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, which can be served on deli rye or club bread. Other famed sandwiches include the Reuben and brisket sandwich. The deli’s potato latkes, square potato knish and bagels with cream cheese are other signature menu items. New York cheesecakes, babka, rugelach and black-and-white cookies make up the deli’s delectable dessert selection.
Groups can step right up to the counter and order like a New Yorker. Or there’s table service for groups between 10 and 20 to reserve, a private dining room that seats up to 30 guests, and a semiprivate dining area for 50 guests. Groups can order from a sampler menu to get a taste for the broad range of deli delicacies.
Patti’s 1880s Settlement
Grand Rivers, Kentucky
In the small town of Grand Rivers, Kentucky, at the north end of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, one eatery-turned-attraction draws an estimated 350,000 visitors each year. Patti’s 1880s Settlement is more of a village than a just restaurant, with a large dining room, a gift shop, mini golf and lodging. Staff wear period clothing reminiscent of the 1880s, but Patti’s good cooking is timeless.
Its house specialty? A 2-inch thick charbroiled pork chop, served with two Southern sides and the restaurant’s signature flowerpot bread and strawberry butter. Beyond the pork chop, Patti’s is also known for fried catfish, its own Hot Brown, and a selection of chicken and beef entrees, which can be served Oscar-style. Its “mile-high meringue” pie turns plenty of heads, but the signature “sawdust pie” — consisting of a mix of coconut, graham cracker crumbles and pecans topped with sliced bananas and whipped cream — has racked up awards for Patti’s.
Twede’s Cafe
North Bend, Washington
The 1990s television series “Twin Peaks” only aired for two seasons, but its surrealist and eccentric elements instantly earned it a cult following. The show was filmed partially in North Bend, Washington, where a diner then known as Mar-T Cafe was used as a film location for the pilot episode. It became the show’s fictional Double R Diner, a favorite spot for some of the series’ main characters to grab a bite. Today, the diner is known as Twede’s Cafe, though it maintains the look from its “Twin Peaks” appearances, drawing fans of the show from all over the world.
Among the show’s characters, the diner was known as a great spot for a cup of coffee and a slice of the cafe’s signature cherry pie, which visitors can still order today. Other popular menu items include all-day breakfast items like hash browns, biscuits and gravy, and pancakes. The menu also offers a range of burgers and fries, as well as hot and cold sandwiches, homemade soups, and even vegan and gluten-free options. The restaurant’s many pies can be shipped and enjoyed across the country, but the cherry remains the fan favorite.
Franklin Barbecue
Austin, Texas
In a city known for its culinary scene as much as its vibrant music scene, there are many barbecue restaurants to choose from. But Austin’s quintessential barbecue joint is unquestionably Franklin Barbecue, which began in 2009 as a small trailer on the side of an Austin interstate. Now known for its scarcity as much as its low-and-slow, oak-smoked brisket, the restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until it sells out, usually by mid-afternoon. To snag a bite of the melt-in-your-mouth brisket, many join a famously long line before dawn.
Groups have the good fortune to skip the line by taking advantage of the restaurant’s many catering options, including full-service catering for groups of 50 or more. Smaller groups can pre-order 5 pounds or more of barbecue to eat off-site. Alternatively, Franklin Backyard, the restaurant’s new venue, is a private event space that groups can book. An evening restaurant buyout is also an option for groups wanting to taste the legendary brisket without devoting their morning to waiting in line.
Wall Drug Store
Wall, South Dakota
Each year, an estimated 2 million visitors winding their way through the Badlands stop at Wall Drug Store in the tiny town of Wall, South Dakota. Originally, the store attracted visitors by offering free ice water. Today, it’s one of the state’s most popular attractions, offering delicious homestyle meals, family-friendly entertainment and plenty of souvenirs to choose from.
Its restaurant features a Western art gallery with more than 300 original Western-themed oil paintings, the largest collection of its kind in the country. It has room to seat 500, so groups are easily accommodated, and the menu features breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some of Wall Drug’s most famous items include homemade donuts that pair perfectly with 5-cent coffee, hot beef sandwiches, and buffalo burgers and hot dogs. There’s also a soda fountain ice cream shop open seasonally that serves soft-serve and traditional ice cream and old-fashioned sundaes, shakes and floats for a sweet finish to any meal.
