Certain foods we tend to think we make better than anybody else. Sometimes we attribute the superiority of our dish to a secret ingredient. One of mine is parmesan cheese in my potato salad. Anybody else willing to share what... (46 replies, last updated by Sugar Jones January 25, 2007)

Hidden, because it’s tucked in the lower level of the St. Paul Hotel. M Street Cafe. Brought clients here yet again for lunch and was not disappointed. The St. Paul Hotel restaurant is very, very nice, but too loud for... (0 replies, last updated by rp1760 November 16, 2008)

What a hidden gem. In the back of a small strip mall, across from Home Depot and next to Sizzler and Arby’s, Piñon Bistro is a great place to dine. Owned by Terri Clements and Donna Fulton, originally from back east, Pinon... (3 replies, last updated by azvinesandwines March 12, 2009)

My husband and I were taking one of our Friday night food drives last year (we pick a neighborhood and go in search of new restaurant finds) when we discovered a hidden gem in College Point. At 1460 College Point Boulevard is a... (1 reply, last updated by j.knoesel May 1, 2002)

McCullough & Witt’s “Great American Foods Without Fuss”. The notes at the bottom of the pages giving sources for good ingredients, favorite brands, adaptations to the recipes, are an education in themselves, and... (207 replies, last updated by Father Kitchen November 24, 2009)

Is there a San Diego restaurant/cafe/bar that you’ve discovered or have regularly patronized that seems to fall off the radar? You willing to let us in on any hidden gems? A few months ago my wife and I stumbled upon "Crepes... (23 replies, last updated by nessy August 27, 2009)

In early September my wife and I were in Paris with two other couples & had some excellent meals at L’Atelier Joel Robuchon, Pierre Gagnierre, & Bistro duSommelier, but the one we are still talking about is Paris' Hidden... (31 replies, last updated by Joe Larkin August 21, 2009)

It has been two years since we visited Ithaca, but my wife and I found these places memorable... Just-A- Taste, 116 N Aurora St, near the commons. A wine bar with tapas sized portions. Most of their ingredients are from local... (6 replies, last updated by Solstice444 July 28, 2008)

terrific places that couldn’t make ends meet. And I like chefs to be able to afford proper ingredients (I pray every day for SEA Cambodian in Brooklyn to raise prices and buy decent meat and seafood). So I’ve changed... (4 replies, last updated by Jim Leff July 28, 2000)

Was re-reading question about desert-island picks below (okay, so we got off-topic)and was wondering about other Ottawa hounds' hidden gems – the spots that you wouldn’t find elsewhere. I’m thinking not just... (22 replies, last updated by cheesymama September 5, 2009)

Hello fellow Hounds: A dear friend took me to dinner this evening at a restaurant in Manayunk which she has been raving to me about for years – Grasshopper. A lovely little hidden gem at the western end of Main Street (4427... (13 replies, last updated by Jeff January 9, 2002)

Being new here I surfed around, but I kept seeing the same old, same old. I was hoping this board would provide insights on what I call the Hidden Gems. Places that never even heard of Zagat and Michelin is what you put on your... (52 replies, last updated by queencru September 20, 2009)

Tomo-E Bento 1569 W Redondo Beach Blvd Gardena, CA 90247 (310) 515-3964 Xlnt bento lunches with fresh ingredients...good quality food. In the same building as the old Aikane, across Denker from Spoon House. You won’t be... (19 replies, last updated by So Ho La December 20, 2007)

and not overcooked. We then had a beautiful crepe with strawberries and chocolate sauce. What was striking about the whole meal was the attention to detail and high quality of the ingredients. The menu itself is simple fare, but... (20 replies, last updated by souschef August 27, 2008)

June, from 12 – 2:00 p.m. Reservations are recommended. (416) 947-3361. Now....I am wondering if any of these other "hidden gems" are still around, since these posts were from 2005. (11 replies, last updated by lissah July 25, 2007)