"Fine" Dining

🍕 Gino’s East of Chicago: Graffiti, Deep Dish, & Biscuit Crust 🧱 This week, we take a bite out of the legacy of Gino’s East of Chicago — a deep dish pizza joint started by cabbies and made famous by its buttery biscuit crust and graffiti-covered walls. With a flavor profile heavy on cornmeal and sausage (sometimes too much sausage), it’s one of Chicago’s big four pizza spots — but is it the GOAT? Joining me is actor and comedian Jacquis Neal (Dropout, Last Week Tonight) as we dig into this crusty cornerstone of Chicago culture, debate sausage autonomy, and marvel at how many cab drivers it used to take to buy property. Plus, Jacquis pitches his dream soul food/Chicago fusion restaurant, and we read some absolutely wild Yelp reviews — one featuring a “phat boi” pizza and another featuring a man’s descent into customer service madness. 🏙️ Born from Taxi Drivers with a Building They Didn't Know What to Do With 🧀 Biscuit Techniques & the Quest for Sausage Autonomy 🎨 A Deep Discussion on the Urge to Graffiti Bathrooms 📍 From Mag Mile to LA to Singapore 📦 Frozen Pizzas, Flopped Franchises, & a Surprise Comeback 🍕 Deep Dish vs. Tavern Style vs. NY Slice: The Ultimate Pizza Debate 🎶 A Soul Food Spot with Yacht Rock Vibes (Jacquis’s Dream Restaurant) 🌟 Yelp Reviews That Involve Slithering Pizza & An Argument with the "Manager " 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What’s your go-to Chicago pizza joint — and how much cheese is too much? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast 🔗 All links: https://www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Jacquis on IG: @jacquisneal | Website: jacquisneal.com Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van 👉 NEXT WEEK: We dig into our actual meal at Gino’s East. Did Michael’s cheese phobia survive? Or did deep dish change his life forever?

6 Aug 58min

🍽️ This Place Sure Had a Lot of Food Items Score a 1-out-of-10 🫠 This week, we return to Golden Corral - this time, to eat. Joined by comedian and podcast host Ben Cassil (@bencassil), I finally test the buffet itself, from rock-hard bread to surprisingly okay tacos. We found joy in the strawberry shortcake Fanta ICEE and the sheer chaos of none of the food being accurately labeled. Also, someone talked to their mom on speakerphone…from the toilet. This one had layers. 🍖 Ribs That Made Us Regret Everything 🍗 Chicken Fried Chicken That (Kinda) Slapped 🍞 Bread So Hard You Could Knock on It 🧙‍♂️ An All-Senior Magic Show (Is *THIS* Your AARP Card??) 🕹️ Claw Machines Everywhere 🧊 Strawberry Shortcake Fanta ICEE = Low-Key Amazing 🚽 Maybe DON'T Make Calls from the Toilet? 📍 Yes, This Was All Inside a Former Circuit City (But Who Is the Dreamer?) 📊 Golden Corral’s Final Score: Better Than Chili’s? 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever seen at a buffet? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast 🔗 All links: https://www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Ben on IG: @bencassil | Podcast: Live from the Big Apple Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van 👉 NEXT WEEK: We dig into the Midwestern legacy of Gino’s East of Chicago and how Chicagoans aren't just sitting around eating deep dish all the time.

30 Juli 1h 10min

🥩 Golden Corral’s 100-Year Plan & Dumpster Drama 🗑️ This week, we dive into the sprawling buffet empire that is Golden Corral. From hygiene scandals to military youth camps, this chain has been through it all and somehow, it’s still opening new locations. Joining me is Ben Cassil, host of Live from the Big Apple, to help unravel the chain’s bizarre history, including its long-standing relationship with the troops, a giant brawl over steak, and a game of hide-and-seek with their meat because of an impending health inspection. Plus, Ben pitches a Discworld-themed restaurant, and we dig into some unhinged Yelp reviews from our local Golden Corral. 🏢 A CEO with a 100-Year Plan 🫡 Ties to the Military (We Support the Troops) 🎤 If You're Jeff Foxworthy...You Might Be a Buffet Spokesman 🍫 Goodbye, Chocolate Fountain (We Hardly Knew Ye) 🗑️ “Dumpster Gate” & a Protected Whistleblower 🎸 Why the Founder is NOT the Lead Singer of Tool 🪄 A Discworld Restaurant That Lives in Our Heads Now 🌟 Yelp Reviews That Made Us Question Reality 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever seen at a buffet? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast 🔗 All links: https://www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Ben on IG: @bencassil | Podcast: Live from the Big Apple Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van 👉 NEXT WEEK: It’s finally our turn to experience the buffet ourselves. We eat at this Golden Corral (that definitely used to be a Circuit City) and let’s just say... it wasn’t great.

23 Juli 1h 4min

🍑 Better Than Chili’s? We Finally Taste Jollibee 🍗 This week, we're putting Jollibee through the Chili’s Test. From sweet pies that taste like vacation to spaghetti that... didn’t, we finally try the food and decide whether this beloved Filipino chain lives up to its reputation. With special guest Jason Patrick Galit (JPG) guiding the way, we get the full experience, even if we have to be Sweaty Little Boys in the process. It’s juicy fried chicken, a peach mango hand pie that has haunted my dreams (in a good way though), and one very loud iPad kid. 🍗 Fried Chicken That’s “Better Than It Should Be” 🥭 A Hand Pie So Good It’s Worth a Detour 🍝 Spaghetti That Scared Michael, Then Surprised Him 📱 iPad Kid & The Chuck E. Cheese Content FOMO 🇵🇭 Adobo Rice = The Ultimate Chicken Chaser 🪑 Why the Waiting Area Feels Like a Dermatologist’s Office 🎮 Packing Bowls Like Filipino Babies 📊 Jollibee’s Official Score: Is It Better Than Chili’s? 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What’s your Jollibee go-to order? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, AND NOW PET PHOTOS): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast 🔗 All links: https://www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 JPG on IG: @SpeakerJPG | Website: https://www.intermyth.org Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van 👉 NEXT WEEK: I'm heading to Golden Corral to explore its history, legacy, and wild Yelp reviews with comedian Ben Cassil before reviewing it in Part 2.

16 Juli 1h 16min

🍗 Jollibee Is a Filipino Treasure 🍗 This week, we dive into the sweet, crunchy, culturally iconic legacy of Jollibee, the Filipino fast food chain with a bee mascot, a cult following, and a spaghetti recipe that would confuse most Americans. But to millions of Filipinos, it’s more than just a restaurant—it’s home. Joining me is Jason Patrick Galit (JPG) from InterMyth, who grew up with Jollibee and has the love to prove it. From his first spaghetti to a fried chicken hand towel, this episode is deeply personal as he offers a lot of amazing insights into Jollibee's cultural significance. 🍝 Sweet Spaghetti with Hot Dogs: Where It Came From 🇵🇭 Jollibee = Cultural Ownership & Diaspora Pride 💃 A Bee Mascot That's Slightly H*rny 🎤 The Chicken Outage That Brought a Country to Its Knees 💥 A Deep-Fried Hand Towel Can't Ruin Jollibee's Image 🍞 Michael's Garlic Bread Spaghetti Sandwich Recipe (!!!) 📱 Benny Blanco Got Dragged for Disrespecting the Bee 🤝 How Jollibee Connects Families Across Generations 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What was your first Jollibee experience? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast 🔗 All links: https://www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 JPG on IG: @SpeakerJPG | Website: https://www.intermyth.org Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van 👉 NEXT WEEK: We taste the real deal—fried chicken, spaghetti, palabok, and more—as we visit Jollibee in-person to see how it stacks up to Chili’s.

9 Juli 1h 7min

🌭 Nathan’s Famous: One Glorious Glizzy Soars Above the Rest of the Menu 🌭 We went to the original Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island to find out: is this historic wiener mecca actually good, or are we just chasing a bump from a bygone era? Comedian Marty Cunnie returns as my hot dog soulmate to break down every last bite — from snappy glizzies to horrifying frog legs that still haunt my digestive system. We did not eat 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, but our bodies definitely thought we did. 🍋 The Coney Island Shandy (Beer + Lemonade = Perfection) 🥵 Nathan's Is Serving Boyfriend D*** 🦴 Frog Legs = Bone-Filled Betrayal 🥹 The Milkshake Was... Kinda Warm? 🍟 Crinkle-Cut Fries: Very Potato-Forward 🎶 “Now That’s What I Call Hot Dogs” Plays on Loop 🏖️ Beach Vibes, Soft Rock, & Absolutely Weak Wi-Fi 🍔 The Burger Had the Texture of Wet Cat Food 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Would you order frog legs at a hot dog stand? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast 🔗 All links: https://www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Marty Cunnie on IG: @martycunniecomedy Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van 👉 NEXT WEEK: Sweet spaghetti, fried chicken joy, and chaotic mascots — we’re headed to Jollibee.

2 Juli 52min

🌭 Nathan’s Famous: The Hot Dog Empire with a Big Secret 🌭 This week, we dive mouth-first into the greasy, glorious history of Nathan’s Famous, the iconic hot dog brand that gave us Al Capone’s favorite beach snack, a gluttonous holiday tradition, and the most American sporting event of all time: the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. From shady police bribes to feeding royalty to Joey Chestnut’s triumphant return after an Impossible controversy, this episode covers over a century of beef, buns, and barfing-for-glory. Joining me is comedian Marty Cunnie (who saw Chestnut live in action!! I'm fangirling). 🍺 A President Served Nathan’s to the Queen of England 💵 Bribing Cops Was Just Good Business 📉 The Hot Dog Eating Contest Origins Are a Complete Lie 🏆 Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Wrestling Vibes & Wet Buns 🇺🇸 Chestnut Returns for His 17th Mustard Belt 📺 Netflix’s “Unfinished Beef” Wasn't Canon 😬 Coney Island: Hot Dogs, Broken Glass, & Weird Tits 🏠 Marty’s Dream Restaurant Is Just His 3AM Apartment 💬 COMMENT BELOW: How many hot dogs is too many? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast 🔗 All links: https://www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Marty Cunnie on IG: @martycunniecomedy Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van 👉 NEXT WEEK: We review the original Nathan’s Famous location in Coney Island to see if the dogs are still worth the pilgrimage — or if the legend should stay in the history books.

25 Juni 49min

🍗 Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken: Nothing Was Bad?! 🍗 We went to Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken—and literally nothing made it into the “Not Good” category. Nothing! Comedian and improviser Dave Theune (St. Denis Medical, NBC/Peacock) joins me to talk about his first foray into eating dark meat, crispy fried okra, spicy batter, and the kind of service that borders on too attentive (but we loved it). The waiter even coaxed out my Star Wars hot take. Is Gus’s better than Chili’s? That’s the question. But when a fried pickle almost takes me out in the opening minutes, it’s going to be a wild ride to the answer. 🍗 Juicy, Spicy, Championship Chicken 😇 Service So Good It’s Practically Flirting 🥒 A Scalding Pickle 🥧 Dessert: Chocolate Chess vs. Pecan Pie 🎵 Steely Dan Energy Without Steely Dan 🚽 The Most Secure Bathroom in LA ☕️ Unsweetened Tea… a 10/10?! 📈 Did Gus’s pass the Chili’s test? 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Is Gus’s your go-to for fried chicken? Or does your loyalty lie elsewhere in the Southern fried pantheon? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🔥 Patreon (Bonus reviews & exclusive content!): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, cursed Yelp reviews, Star Wars hot takes): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast 🔗 All links: https://www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎭 Dave Theune’s series St. Denis Medical – now streaming on Peacock Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van 👉 NEXT WEEK: I head to Nathan’s Famous to learn the history of their fabled hot dog eating contest.

18 Juni 59min