Where to Eat in Swing States, Early Primary States and More!

When I tell people I liked the food in Little Rock more than the food in Southern California, they are often surprised. Thinking about it, I can't really compare the two objectively because I had such excellent guides in Arkansas. Similarly, now that I'm in Minnesota (I'm exhausted just reading this. Someone hire me for good post-2020!) I'm on the hunt for neighborhood go-tos as well as places to eat as I travel about the state. And I thought, "Everyone should be as lucky as I was with my crew in Arkansas!" So, I've crowd sourced places to eat in early states, swing states and more. This will be an evolving list so please feel free to comment with your faves! Huge thank you to all my many friends both real and Internet for contributing.


Key:
Bold-I have personally eaten there, CAN CONFIRM.
Italics- Vegan or vegan-friendly. (Not exhaustive, these are just places I know for sure are vegan friendly)
"" Are comments for contributors
() Contain comments from yours truly

Early States:

Iowa
The Cafe, Ames
Downtown Deli, Ames
Fuzzy's Tacos, Ames
Great Plains Pizza, Ames
Hickory Park, Ames
The Spice, Ames
Whitney's Ice Cream, Bettendorf
La Tavola Italian, Burlington
Jay's Homestyle, Cedar Falls
Taste of India, Cedar Falls
Irish Democrat, Cedar Rapids
Cabin Coffee, Clear Lake
Rice House, Clear Lake
30 Hop, Coralville
La Vecina, Coralville
Monica's, Coralville
Scratch Bakery, Coralville
Vesta, Coralville
La Prairie French Bakery, Des Moines
Mars Cafe, Des Moines
St. Kilda, Des Moines
Zombie Burger, Des Moines
Dubuque Mining Company, Dubuque
Mario's, Dubuque (It is ALWAYS someone's birthday in there. They are constantly singing happy birthday)
Salsa's, Dubuque
Schera's, Elkader
Blackstone, Iowa City
Blue Bird Diner, Iowa City
Brix, Iowa City
The Cottage Bakery, Iowa City
Dumpling Darling, Iowa City and Des Moines
Goosetown Cafe, Iowa City
Hamburg Inn No. 2, Iowa City "For the pie shakes" (Famous popular stop for Presidential candidates because of the coffee bean poll)
Her Soup Kitchen, Iowa City
Java House, Iowa City
The Mill, Iowa City "Get the Nachos" (Also best option for day drinking)
Oasis, Iowa City (This came up from multiple sources and remembering how good it is,I almost jumped in the car.)
Pagliai’s, Iowa City (Guys seriously this is the best pizza I have ever had in the Midwest)
Pullman, Iowa City
La Regia, Iowa City
Short’s, Iowa City "Get the burger or black bean burger"
Stella's, Iowa City
Trumpet Blossom, Iowa City
The Vue, Iowa City
Rudy's Tacos, Waterloo

New Hampshire
The Friendly Toast, Bedford and Portsmouth (Had one near my college too! The stuffed french toast is the best brunch I've ever had)
Crust and Crumb, Concord
Dos Amigos, Concord
Margaritas, Concord, Exeter, Nashua, Portsmouth
Vibes, Concord
The Works, Concord and Portsmouth
The Bookery, Manchester
Cafe la Reine, Manchester
Gyro Spot, Manchester
The Puritan Backroom, Manchester
Noodz, Manchester
Portland Pie Company, Manchester
Red Arrow Diner, Manchester "Get the poutine!"
Hart's Turkey Farm Restaurant, Meredith
Parker’s Maple Barn, Mason
Ava Marie’s Chocolates, Peterborough
Bagel Mill,Peterborough
Fezziwigs, Portsmouth
Popover's, Portsmouth
Tuscan Market, Portsmouth
Kashmir, Salem
Tilt'n Diner, Tilton

Nevada
Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas
Habaneros, Las Vegas
Capriotti's, Las Vegas

South Carolina
Fruit Punch, Anderson "Get a bird dog. It’s a hot dog with chicken fingers, bacon, honey mustard and cheese"
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit, Charleston
Bowen's Island, Folly Beach
Pita House, Greenville

Swing States and other states in which contributors have worked

Arizona
Horsemen Lodge, Flagstaff
America's Taco Shop, Phoenix

Arkansas
Doe's Eat Place, Little Rock (BEST tamales)
Lost Forty Brewery, Little Rock
Sims BBQ, Little Rock
Slim Chickens, Little Rock
Three Fold, Little Rock

California
Georgia's, Anaheim (In the Anaheim packing district. Get the spicy chicken sandwich)
Grow, Anaheim (Get an iced lavender latte and the avocado toast)
Mendocino Farms, Multiple locations (Everything is delicious but I am partial to the chicken caesar salad)
Cafe Moulin, Laguna Beach "Get the French hotdog, only available at the Laguna Beach location and only in the summer"
Two Saucy Broads, Fullerton (Best pizza in Orange County)
Christaki's, Tustin (Sit down place. Best gyro in the area)

Colorado
La Caretta, Colorado Springs
Poor Richard's, Denver
Charlie Brown's, Denver
City O City, Denver
Denver Beer Company, Denver
Denver Biscuit Company, Denver
Lechuga's, Denver
Pablo's Coffee, Denver
Rosenberg's Bagels, Denver
Sam's #3, Denver
Santiago's, Denver
Sassafras, Denver
Vital Root, Denver
Watercourse, Denver

Delaware
Capriotti's, Multiple locations

Florida
Publix, Multiple locations (Yes, the grocery store. I left this in because people are obsessed with their subs)
Four Rivers Smokehouse, Multiple locations
Satchel's Pizza, Gainesville
Basilic Vietnamese Grill, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Alter, Miami
The Big Pink, Miami
Garcia's, Miami
Monty's, Miami "For Happy Hour"
Prime Fish, Miami Beach "Bottomless brunch"
Kadence Sushi, Orlando
Carmine's, Palm Beach Garden
Columbia Restaurant, St.Petersburg and Tampa
Wright's Gourmet House, Tampa


Michigan
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor (Have not eaten there but have gotten a gift basket from them and made their mushroom soup recipe)
Anchor Bar, Detroit
Slow's BBQ, Detroit

Minnesota
Matt's, Minneapolis "for the Juicy Loosy"
Mucci's, Minneapolis (favorite rec I've received so far in MN. The bucatini, focaccia and tiramisu are especially delicious)
Safari Express, Minneapolis "For the camel burger"
Canadian Honker, Rochester
Lifestooshort, Rochester
Nupa, Rochester
Hunan Garden, Rochester
Bloedows Bakery, Winona

Missouri
Gates, Kansas City, "burnt ends, plus they have the best sauce"
Jack Stack, Kansas City "cheesy corn bake"
Joe's, Kansas City "burnt ends, pulled pork, fries"
Q39, Kansas City "pork ribs"

North Carolina
Fiction Kitchen, Raleigh
Happy & Hale, Raleigh
Rise, Raleigh (I'm obsessed with their creme brulee donut and I don't even like donuts. Also their biscuits are baking goals)


Ohio
Melt, Multiple Cities
Swenson's, Akron "LeBron took Amy Schumer and co to Swensons, so it's good enough for me!"
Campus Pollyeyes, Bowling Green
Yours Truly, Chagrin Falls "the Killit Skillet is the best hangover food on the planet"
Side Quest, Cleveland
Slyman's, Cleveland
Sweet Moses, Cleveland
West Side Market and Greenhouse Tavern, Cleveland
Jeni’s Ice Cream, Columbus
Katzinger's Delicatessen, Columbus
Little Palace, Columbus
North Market, Columbus
Old Skool, Columbus
Schmidt's Sausage Haus, Columbus
Tony Packos, Toledo

Pennsylvania
Bird in Hand Farmer's Market, Bird in Hand
Hibernian Cafe, Drexel Hill
Klein Farms, Easton
Tomato Pie Cafe, Harrisburg
Cocina Mexicana, Lancaster
Prince Street Cafe, Lancaster
Sprout, Lancaster
The Vandal, Lawrenceville
Dim Sum by Jane G, Philadelphia
Han Dynasty, Philadelphia (MaPo Tofu and the DanDan Noodles are both excellent)
Jim's Steaks South Street, Philadelphia
South Philly Barbacoa, Philadelphia
Tony Luke's Sandwich Shop, Philadelphia
Jimmie John's, West Chester "Not the sandwich place!"

Virginia
Bodos Bagels, Charlottesville
Okra's, Manasaas (My husband's favorite)

Wisconsin
The Vegetarian, St. Croix Falls
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry, Madison
Graze, Madison
Ian's Pizza, Madison
Monty's Blue Plate Diner, Madison
The Old Fashioned, Madison (the CHEESE CURDS you guys)
Pel'meni, Madison
Weary Traveler, Madison
Tornado Room, Madison
Sobelmans’s, Milwaukee "for burgers and Bloody Marys"
Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee "for Friday Fish Fry"
Kopp’s, Milwaukee "for frozen custard and burgers"


This list is far from exhaustive even within my own brain so please get at me with your suggestions! And/or comment below if you are looking for a place to eat in your turf. Maybe someone has been there before!

Today In Voter Suppression: North Carolina 12-Year Old Is My New Hero

A 12 year old from North Carolina SCHOOLS legislators on voting rights. I don't have much to add here except, I'm glad she's on our side.

I've Been Meaning to Talk to You About That

My Quick and Dirty Thoughts on What's Been Happening in Election and Advocacy News

Oh my God you guys, I miss you so much! I seriously think about blogging the way you think about cupcakes when you're on a diet: I can't have it and I want it all the more!!! The good news is operation no-blogging-until-I-finish-finals is working. I have one paper (on the definition of women's political participation as a human right) left, plus a whole bunch of editing. However, the list of things I want to blog about has been stock piling out of control and before they become irrelevant and/or consume me, I wanted to share them with you. Below are some articles and issues I've been collecting along with one or two of my witty and incisive comments each. Hopefully this will tide us all over for the next couple of days. Here we go!

Obama-rama:
Marshal Ganz from the "too good to accept Nancy" Harvard Kennedy school talking about values vs. issues for FOCS the New Organizing Institute. I'm not always a fan of the hippie-dippier aspects of the Obama campaign, but I love this because it highlights the impact and importance of empowering volunteers to take agency not just in the context of the campaign but in their own lives.
DNC Director of technology, Bryan Whitaker, on the role of technology in President Obama's election. I love this article because it gives credence to contributions and advances made from 2004 to 2008 that made the historic use of technology on the 2012 Obama campaign possible.
Jim Messina on what's next. My favorite part of this interview is that he distinguishes between what is an isn't transferable from OFA 2012.
Speaking of technology...my friend posted the Dole Kemp website on his facebook wall recently. I'm sure the Clinton '96 site was equally visually appealing. I believe the term the kids use is LMFAO.

Today in Voter Suppression:
Voter ID bill passes North Carolina house. Booooo!
Nebraska decreases in-person early voting by five days.
Conservative Colorado Group Photoshops Out Minorities In Mailer Opposing Pro-Voting Legislation Wow. Tell me that part again about voter ID laws not being racist?
Trevor Potter of Stephen Colbert/John McCain fame makes the case for electronic voter registration. Yes!
Oregon Secretary of State pushes for automatic voter registration. A thousand times yes!
Florida bill lowers the mandated number of early voting days and hours, expands the number of early voting sights Oh, Florida...
Special interests and conservative Democrats are going after fusion voting and the New York State Working Families party, again. Fusion voting is such a good idea. You know you're doing it right when the real estate lobby hates you. For more info on why I love Fusion Voting and the Working Families Party and what those things are, click here.
And....This.

Women:
People keep asking me what I think of those new Dove commercials. Here is what I think.
Women and organizers are both socialized to say "yes" when someone asks us for something, even at the expense of our own professional priorities. Great piece by friend Cole on the right way to say "no" when someone asks you for a favor.
Lindy West's response to men asking for 'the rules' after President Obama called Kamala Harris a hottie. Is it possible to get naked and roll around in a blog post? Because that's how much I loved this. For the record, I don't think what President Obama did was that bad, but I do understand where the people who do are coming from. It's all about privilege, a topic I've thought a lot about in grad school and intend to explore on this blog going forward. Seriously, read this piece. Lindy West NAILS IT.

Candidates:
Super PAC, Ready for Hillary started galvanizing support and heavily hinting at a Clinton 2016 run. People ask me if I think she'll run all the time and I always say I hope so, but after the way the media treated her in 2008, we sure as s**t don't deserve her.
In a case of art imitating life, the Onion agrees. I thought they were supposed to do satire...
Anthony Weiner is considering a run for mayor. He acted like an idiot, but I still don't think he should have resigned. I also don't think he should run for mayor.
Roll Call reports that the Hawaii Senate race is split along Clinton/Obama lines. It's called a primary, you assholes, it happened in 2008. Find something else real and not baselessly damaging to the Democratic party to report on.
Speaking of Fusion Voting and Working Families Party, did I mention I'm going down to South Carolina to volunteer for Colbert-Busch? I am.
Because her opponent does crazy things like debate cardboard cutouts of Nancy Pelosi.
Oh, and posts the phone numbers of voters who call his office. I'm not gonna say I've never fantasized about doing this, but that's what a GFY list is for.

Advocate from Where You Stand:
Ignore the tone of this article by John Hawkins who once asked me if I was going to "accuse him of patriarchy" after he pointed out that I was the only woman a panel we both sat on. (Well, now I am...) Kid wears shirt with pro-gun slogan on it to school. Kid gets in trouble. Hundreds of classmates wear shirts with pro-gun slogans on them the next day. Good for them. If anything we should be encouraging kids to engage in the process. I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Momsdemandaction.org came up with these moving and provocative ads in response to the absolutely insane failure of the gun control last week. Well, damn.
Everyday Sexism Project launches in the USA. The project gives women a space and a voice to identify the myriad ways that male privilege impacts our lives on a daily basis. I'm already blowing up their twitter feed.

Republican Operatives:
Gingrich campaign worker charged with blackmailing women, dressing up as an elephant. Argh! You're making us look bad!
Former Pawlenty aid supports equal marriage. My friend who tweeted this article editorialized, "If I had a dollar for every Republican staffer or former elected who supports gay marriage..." So, true! It's clear the direction we're going on this issue...now can we just get there?
Because speaking of which...The FEC ruled that same-sex couples can't give to campaigns like straight couples. The FEC's hands were tied. They were just interpreting a shitty, discriminatory law.

And that, my friends, is what I have to say about that. As I signed my email to my volunteers the night before the Iowa caucus, see you in victory!

(Hopefully this goes better...)

Campaign Love And Mine,

Nancy