Escapes

OFF THE FOODIE PATH

New York, Chicago and LA have no monopoly on great eating. Try one of these other gourmet destinations—and see its sights.

When it comes to restaurants, we

Bergenites are spoiled. There are fine spots here—and a culinary capital right across the Hudson. But if we limit our gourmet travels to the most obvious dining hubs, we miss out. Other cities—including the five described here, listed east to west from Portland to Portland—are also rewarding places to take your taste buds for a visit. And when you’ve finished eating, there are local attractions to check out too.

PORTLAND, MAINE, POPULATION: 66,706.

The taste: When it comes to a foodie scene, this small New England city punches above its weight. You’re not wrong to expect topflight lobster, oyster and scallop dishes—this port city benefits from the nearby, seafoodrich northern Atlantic Ocean. With an abundance of fresh fish, restaurants specializing in Asian cuisine are surefire hits. But that’s not all: You’ll find plenty of skilled bakers (Warning: Montreal-style bagels rule here!), craft brewers and other culinary pros here as well. After meals: The waterfront is full of working fishing wharves and former warehouses that have been converted into trendy shops and restaurants. You can appreciate other old and historic buildings in the city’s West End, where Victorian-era homes such as the Victoria Mansion museum, stand. And if you’re a fan of lighthouses, the Portland Head Light and Bug Light structures along the harbor are worth a visit.

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. POPULATION: 137,041.

The taste: New Orleans may be everyone’s Dixie culinary go-to, but South Carolina’s largest city isn’t far behind. Charleston is proud of its local Lowcountry cuisine, a variety that closely resembles Cajun cooking and features an abundance of fish, shrimp, crabs, oysters and similar creatures of the sea. And you can’t go wrong with either boiled or fried seafood— the dishes are delicious. Shrimp and grits, long considered a simple breakfast combo, is a city staple, and chefs here often give the dish a boost by adding pimento cheese, veggies and herbs. Many of the city’s trendy eateries and Food Network favorites are also known for warm buttery biscuits (smothered in sausage gravy), barbecue and she-crab soup—a creamy bisque with a splash or two of sherry. After meals: Take a walking tour to burn off calories and to see the city’s centuries-old mansions and cobblestone streets. From the 10-acre Waterfront Park and its famed pineapple fountain to the 14 painted homes of iconic Rainbow Row, there are plenty of sights to enjoy between gourmet delights.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. POPULATION: 301,286.

The taste: Folks here enjoy Midwestern-style comfort foods, so it’s not a surprise that the Steel City’s restaurants pack their menus with big servings and flavors. The most iconic eatery in town is Primanti Brothers, a sandwich shop whose over-the-top creations earned it an “American Classic” designation from the James Beard Foundation. Beyond sandwiches, the city has a diverse assortment of restaurants specializing in Greek, Spanish and other Eastern European cuisines. (Pierogies are a must-try!) After meals: Art lovers will appreciate a stroll through the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Andy Warhol Museum as well as the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. And it fits that the city where Heinz ketchup was created is home to the Big Mac Museum.

TUCSON, ARIZONA. POPULATION: 545,340.

The taste: You’ll get a true sense of Southwest flavor in this city, just 70 miles north of the border. Much of Tucson’s cuisine is influenced by Mexico—restaurants with tasty mole and distinct mesquite tastes are abundant. But there’s more to eat than tacos and enchiladas: The growing food scene has attracted top Japanese and Chinese eateries as well as farm-to-table restaurants. After meals: A desert landscape dominates the area, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do in town. Saguaro National Park is home to majestic saguaro cacti and ancient petroglyphs, while the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a showcase for the land’s unique gardens and wildlife.

PORTLAND, OREGON. POPULATION: 650,380.

The taste: Personal finance site WalletHub ranked this Pacific Northwest burg the No. 1 foodie city in the U.S. based on affordability, availability and diversity. While the city doesn’t have a signature dish like Boston’s clam chowder, it has emerged as a dining destination because of its experimental and fusion restaurants and the large selection of hipster menus in town. On one side of the city, you’ll find places serving a mashup of Thai and Southern barbecue, while a mainstay like Voodoo Doughnuts draws locals and tourists alike with inventive flavors such as bacon and bubblegum. After meals: The Portland Japanese Garden and the Lan Su Chinese Garden are oases in the middle of a fast-growing city, as is the International Rose Test Garden. This garden within Washington Park justifies Portland’s nickname as the City of Roses with more than 10,000 rosebushes of roughly 650 varieties—it attracts 700,000 visitors each year.