In the west end of Halifax at Westcliff Restaurant you will not find sliders or fancy organic hamburgers. What you will find is a true old fashioned burger. When you walk through the doors off Oxford Street and look up at the old fashioned menu board, complete with plastic ice cream cones decorating the wall, you will feel like you have gone back in time. Westcliff Restaurant is the real deal. The prices on the menu are so competitive, this will complete your sense of time travel. Who sells milkshakes for under $2 these days? The Westcliff Special (soup, toasted chicken salad, fries and rice pudding) is only $5.50. I ordered a bacon and onion cheeseburger with the works, a side order of onion rings and a chocolate milkshake for just over $7. Incredible. The locals are very aware of what a gem they have in their midst. At noon hour there were barely any seats left, everyone patiently waiting for their lunch order in their favourite hangout. The restaurant is as unpretentious as it is a good deal for food. You have knickknacks decorating the window sill and even a giant rabbit hanging out beside the chip stand. Articles about the restaurant are proudly displayed, as well as newspaper clippings showcasing local sports hero Sidney Crosby. This is definitely not a modern minimalist restaurant but one with a ton of charm. The hamburger was dense and meaty, covered in flavourful goodness. The French fries were typical but the onion rings melted in my mouth. Even more than a hamburger, you can tell how authentic a “dinner” style restaurant is by their milkshakes. My chocolate shake was dense, creamy with a lot of vanilla to go with the chocolate. Delicious! What a treat. It has been a long time since I had a good milkshakes and theirs was wonderful. This restaurant has been a local hangout for 11 years and I can see how it quickly became a home away from home for many in the neighbourhood. Next time I go back I am going to time travel back to my childhood and order their old fashion banana split for only $2.99. You need to upgrade your Flash Player to 9 or greater Westcliffe Restaurant‎ 3089 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS B3L 2W8 (902) 454-8140‎ Suzie Ridler is a foodie, writer, photographer and self-taught cook and baker. She creates joy through making food and sharing her kitchen stories on her blog . Related: Chuck, Anthony and Seafood: My Perfect Day at CATCH Fest, N.S. Dangerously Delicious: Susie’s Shortbreads, Halifax New Guest Blogger...

On my latest trip to New York City, I noticed an interesting phenomenon: eateries that specialize in one dish . Perhaps inspired by the runaway success of Gray's Papaya (a fast food joint that sells hot dogs and juice), and a creative response to the sky-high rents in Manhattan, these small, quirky eateries are focusing their efforts on doing one thing very well. Here are three of my favourite specialty eateries in NYC - all of which are also great for anyone looking to eat on a budget . Rice to Riches 37 Spring Street Think you know rice pudding ? Think again. This cute and irrevently-decorated eatery in Nolita will make you rethink the under-appreciated dessert. Here, rice pudding is displayed and served much like ice cream. The flavours (all of which have funny names) range from Old Fashioned Romance (traditional rice pudding) to fruity and dessert-inspired flavours like Rest in Peach, Surrender to Mango, Fluent in French Toast, Sex Drugs and Rocky Road, and so many more. Rice pudding can be enjoyed au naturale or topped with tasty extras like nuts, coconut, or even pound cake. My favourite part about Rice to Riches are the cheeky signs that say things like "No Skinny Bitches" and "We Got Your Weight Watchers Right Here". I split the smallest size (around $5) with a friend and it was the perfect amount for two people. Macbar 54 Prince Street After a long day of walking around New York City, carbs are a necessity, and cheese sweetens the deal. Macbar, a restaurant specializing in mac and cheese , has both in spades. The menu includes gourmet options like Mac Quack (duck confit, fontina, and caramelized onions) and Mac Lobsta (fresh lobster, cognac, and mascarpone) alongside more traditional Four Cheese and Classic mac and cheese. Macbar is truly a mac and cheese mecca. Medium and large sizes are served in a container shaped like a macaroni noodle and (perhaps best of all) the dining room is also designed to look like a noodle, with curved, processed cheese-coloured walls. At $6-$9 for a meal that'll keep you full for hours, this is a great value in NYC. Pommes Frites 123 2nd Ave. At Pommes Frites, the magical combination of fried potatoes and dipping sauces come together with delicious results. The East Village eatery specializes in hand-cut french fries served with one (or many) homemade sauces, which range from flavoured mayos (rosemary garlic, smoked eggplant, pomegranate teriyaki, etc.) to various hot sauces and cheese sauces. The amptly-portioned fries...

Las Vegas has its share of great food experiences. On a recent trip with my colleagues (Mia from HGTV.ca and Blogger Elana ), we dined at some of the best places in the city (like Guy Savoy's two Michelin-star rated resto ). On one day in particular, we enjoyed a great lunch and dinner experience with unique points of view. Above, from left to right: the poolside view at Simon; THEhotel sign lit up. Simon at the Palms was sunny, bright and had an amazing view of their spectacular pool. The Mix at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay was 40+ stories above the strip with an amazing view. Our lunch at Simon was light and fresh with lots of great seafood and sushi options. And to top it all off we were presented with an obscene bowl of pink cotton candy (see the gallery below). Dinner at The Mix was elegant and rich. I'm still dreaming about that shrimp cocktail! You need to upgrade your Flash Player to 9 or greater Related: Restaurant: Guy Savoy's, Las Vegas Restaurant: Moriarity's, Edmonton