I love most restaurants but like everyone else, a few stand out in my mind as favorites. Additionally, getting a good deal is always a bonus.

The places I mention below prove that food doesn’t need to be fancy to be good. It can be as simple as putting love in your pies, adding whimsy to hot dogs or cooking a burger just right — all of which will have people coming back for years to come. 

My favorite dining experiences in 2011:

Stella’s Hamburgers, Bellevue Neb. — At the restaurant, I ordered a burger with bacon and pepper-jack cheese with sides of homemade onion rings and kettle chips.  The burger was cooked perfectly and was so juicy; the bun was fresh and the sides were awesome.  Everything worked together in perfect harmony to create this one great meal. 

The service at Stella’s Hamburgers was fast and friendly in a casual setting. The little restaurant and patio fill up fast and having to wait is common practice but well worth it.  I think I’m still having dreams about that burger. 

A Slice of Pie, Rolla Mo. — Here I ate a piece of key lime pie, which was the best piece of pie I have ever had, I think.  With a perfect, crumbly graham cracker crust, tart tangy key lime filling and a huge dollop of homemade whipped cream with a graham cracker crumble on top, it was like a little slice of heaven. 

A Slice of Pie typically has lines out the door and sell whole pies like they are going out of style. There are over 30 varieties and all are made in-house the day they’re sold (you can actually see the ladies in the back room making pies while you are standing in line).  The small dining space with few tables makes carry-out an easier option, but if you do grab a table it is fun to listen to the local gossip for a bit. 

Charlie Gittos, Downtown St. Louis, Mo. — I love risotto and have still never found any that tops the seafood risotto from Charlie Gittos. Scallops, shrimp, mussels, and clams are mixed in with a creamy parmesan risotto. Served steaming hot, it is nearly impossible to let it cool down before digging in. A burnt tongue is a small price to pay for savoring this delicious dish. 

Dog Nuvo, Downtown Kansas City, Mo. — The Dog Nuvo has 10 varieties of hot dogs on the menu and are always switching things up. I tried  the Kansas City dog, mozzarella and potato pierogies and the truffle and asiago potato chips.  The house-made dog was topped with Kansas City-style BBQ burnt ends (meat cut from the point half of a smoked brisket) in a fresh poppy seed challah bun. The sauce on the burnt ends was sweet and a little spicy getting all those taste buds working. 

The pierogies came with an out-of-this-world tomato jam for dipping, and the potato chips were packed with flavor and crunch. With all the different kinds of hot dogs offered at Dog Nuvo, I’m eager to go back and try them all, which I am sure, are just as good as the one I ate if not better. I can hear the Mac n’ Cheese dog calling my name. 

I am looking forward to discovering new favorite places to eat  in 2012!