It's Time Again for Comfort Food

When the end of Daylight Saving Time jerks us back into extended evening darkness and the weather shifts from temperate to downright cold, our bodies crave increased sustenance and satisfying warmth. It's the time of year for comfort food – flavor-rich soups and stews, slow-cooked meats, and casseroles made extra appealing with lush sauces and added calories.

Across the country, attentive restaurants take the autumnal cues and dress their menus with these hearty, eminently soothing concoctions, inviting folks to partake of the bounty of the season and the promise of continued satiation.

In the spirit of culinary good will, we offer some of our favorite restaurants from around the country that allow you to savor both the kitchen's expertise and nature's delicious abundance. Whether they're downhome diners or upscale bistros, they know the power of feel-good fare and are well-practiced in delivering it in signature style.

• Dish – Valparaiso, IN
   Expect Italian sausage-and-veal meatloaf, pot roast, and baked macaroni and cheese with ham.
• Kroll's Diner on Main – Bismarck, ND
   Look for liver and onions, homemade pastries, and German-inflected dishes.
• Mother's Bistro & Bar – Portland, OR
   Try pierogis, steak frites, roasted chicken, and a daily macaroni and cheese.
• Glider Diner – Scranton, PA
   Sample roasted turkey, fish and chips, and veal parmesan.
• Massey's Restaurant – Fort Worth, TX
   Consider chicken-fried steak, fried catfish, and pies.
• S&S Diner – Miami, FL
   Treat yourself to meatloaf, creamed chicken on toast, and spaghetti with meat sauce.
• Thelma's Kitchen and Rib Shack – Atlanta, GA
   Ask for fried chicken, Brunswick stew, and sweet potato pie.
• Cafι Hon – Baltimore, MD
   Anticipate roasted half-chicken, four-cheese lasagna, and pork chops with applesauce.
• Bistro Le Cep – Houston, TX
   Indulge in coq au vin, slow-braised beef short ribs, and onion soup.
• Amy Ruth's – NYC, NY
   Dine on oxtail stew, chicken and waffles, and red velvet cake. 

And should you find yourself compelled to simply nest, we share a few of our best recipes for enjoying at home. Stir them together, let them simmer, and then take delight in the scrumptious fruits of your own labor.

• Chicken and Dumplings  – Southern Living, November 2001
• Classic Beef Stew  – Jane Kirby, Real Simple, March 2004
• Divine Macaroni and Cheese  – Southern Living, December 1999