If you don't love a good diner, then just get out of America right now. The greasy spoon is a proud U.S. tradition, serving up strong coffee and good pie to weary travelers and late-shift workers. Ally's Comfort Cafe has the feel of a café more than the roadside diners of yore, but all the diner hallmarks remain. The menu is varied but consists mostly of casual, familiar fare: sandwiches, soups, burgers, and breakfast foods. A rotating offering of lunch specials ranges from quiche to pot roast. There's also evidence of South Florida's influence in the mahi mahi fingers and the matzoh ball soup. But perhaps the most diner-like part of Ally's is right in the name—it's so comfortable. The kids can fill the pages of coloring books as their adult minders linger over coffees, and single diners can even select from an offering of books to read while they eat. No one will rush you out of Ally's.

Readers' choice: Lester's Diner

Bagels, like pizza, are one of those things that people just love to say you can't get down here. And just like with pizza, that's a load of BS nostalgia for New York. It's not the water and it's not the air, and it's not something magical in that one place that was your favorite spot. There are lots of good bagels in the world, many of them outside of the five boroughs. The one thing that matters most in creating a traditional NYC bagel is that it is boiled. Most of your modern and chain bagel spots use a machine that steams the bagels, rather than giving them a traditional boiling. This actually is hard to find outside of New York, but you will find it at Bagels and a Whole Lot More in Coral Springs, where they give each dough loop a proper boil in the kettle. It's that boiling step that gives bagels their shiny exterior and that soft chew. While you're there, grab some egg platters or sandwiches with Boar's Head meat.

Readers' choice: The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co.

In theory, buffets should always be awesome. You're stuffing your face with your favorite food mere minutes after parking your car. Fantastic! The only thing that can ruin the buffet experience is, well, the food. Nothing is sadder than walking into a poorly lit dining room full of chafers that have obviously gone untouched for hours. This is a tragedy that never happens at Shin Ju in Coral Springs. The place is glorious, filled with fresh, amazing, well-prepared Japanese cuisine—as in, 45 kinds of fresh sushi prepared right in front of you, and hot dishes offered of all kinds ($11.95 for lunch, $18.95 for dinner). Because the staff is attentive and the dining room is constantly full, the food on the line never sits there for long.

The words "bar food" usually conjure up visions of chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, and quesadillas. But at Southern Railway Taphouse located inside Off the Hookah, executive chef Alain Brodeur says he just tries to make regular food better—and that starts with his mac-and-cheese egg rolls. He improved on mac and cheese by sticking it inside a fried egg roll, drizzling a sweet and salty maple bacon jam on top, and accompanying it with a slightly tart bacon sour cream for dipping. Guess you could say he's "raising the bar."

When the weather is hot and you're craving seafood, Coconuts will provide. From coconut shrimp to lobster rolls to raw bar options, the bounty of the sea is on full display here—as are cabana-style frozen beverages with generous rum floaters. But there's one landlubber departure that should be noted here, and that's the wings. While the conch fritters or peel-and-eat shrimp might call to you, go with the jerk chicken wings. The island influence is in full effect, with allspice and Scotch Bonnet peppers in the mix, as well as optional spices like cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom. And since jerk is a dry rub, you won't find yourself dripping in sauce.

There's a saying that goes, "Nothing good happens after 2 a.m"—and no good dining, especially. Except at Sushi Song. Every night of the week, chefs are slicing up sushi to order. With locations in Deerfield Beach and downtown Fort Lauderdale, this establishment offers the feel of a big-city late-night scene. The atmosphere is dim and cozy with candles and brick walls. The sushi is fresh and creative, with options ranging from straightforward nigiri to over-the-top signature rolls such as the $15 Japan Red Hot (shrimp tempura, cucumber, and jalapeño topped with tuna, black tobiko, and house special sauce) and the A1A (Maine lobster, avocado, cilantro, and spicy mayo topped with seared wild salmon and special sauce). This place proves eating late at night doesn't have to mean you're stuck with Papa John's.

Readers' choice: Lester's Diner

Since 1949, this family-run establishment has been serving locals and tourists alike. Fire nearly destroyed it not once, but twice—first in 1964 and then again in 2011. Both times, it was rebuilt. Today, this institution stands as the "Oldest Steakhouse in Broward County," or so the Studiale family—fourth-generation owners—claims. Which is all well and good, but the food is what counts. This is a true steakhouse, with large, high quality, excellently prepared steaks streaming out of the bustling kitchen at surprisingly reasonable prices. Go for the brochette of filet mignon for $19.95, or share a New York Strip for two for $46.95 if you're looking to live the high life on a budget. Even the 25-ounce porterhouse won't break the bank at $33.95. For a dollar more, get the Maine lobster instead. While the prices are reasonable, they don't skimp on the service. The staff is professional, decked out in crisp white shirts and long black aprons. They will wheel carts tableside for your perusal. And as for dessert, go for the Key lime pie. You're eating in a Florida landmark, after all. Have some respect.

If you've ever driven down the rapidly developing stretch of Federal Highway that wends its way through downtown Boca Raton, the Little Chalet has surely caught your eye. It glows softly like, well, a little chalet that has been plucked off a Swiss mountaintop and plopped onto the corner of SE Fifth Street. This is no cheap date spot, but if you're looking to wine and dine your lover, this is the place to do it. Start your meal with the raclette, a traditional Swiss dish made by melting the side of a hard wheel of cheese and then scraping it off onto a plate of pickles, onions, and potatoes. Make sure you share it, though, because it's going to be a dairy-heavy evening. The Little Chalet's specialty is fondue. The fondue dishes run the gamut from appetizer shareables to entrees complete with filet mignon. There's even a prix fixe choice called the Fondue Experience that includes three courses—appetizer, entree, and dessert—for either two or four people. If that sounds like way too much cheese for you, no worries—non-fondue entrees are also available, including almond-crusted sea bass and slow braised short ribs. Consider going back to the fondue for dessert, though. Few things are more romantic than dipping various sweets into melted chocolate; that's Rom-Com 101.

Chicken wings, collard greens, crispy fried conch, and gooey mac 'n' cheese, all washed down with a cool, dewy glass of sweet tea. These are the foodstuffs of high-calorie dreams, best enjoyed around a table of laughing family and friends. Owned and operated by Tiffany Wynn, Food Heaven is just that: a small slice of culinary bliss tucked away in a North Lauderdale strip mall. Opened in April 2015, it aims to preserve recipes gathered over six generations and across three families with strong Southern roots. Staff serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner for every appetite seven days a week, all from scratch. For lunch, try the fried and smothered pork chop ($5.99) with a side of conch balls (six for $5). At dinner, try the conch and shrimp ($18) or the 10-ounce lobster tail ($22), both served with rice and a choice of two sides, from candied yams to fried okra. People also rave over the shrimp and grits ($13, grilled or fried) and the homemade red velvet cake ($3) for dessert. For those times when you prefer your food to feel like a big, warm hug from grandma, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better spot.

You just spent the last half-hour eating some of the best barbecue in Texas. You knew you came to the right place as soon as you walked in. A familiar, dusky smell filled the air as beef cooked in the smoker. Country tunes played. Cowboy references hung on the walls, and the menu looked like it came right out of Cookie's chuck wagon. Homemade smoked brisket, shredded pulled pork, and rib racks all done the right way, just dry-rubbed and smoked. The barbecue sauce on the tables was for city slickers. There were some fancy fixin's, too. Texas brisket BBQ beans. Brisket truffle bacon mac 'n' cheese. Fried okra WITHOUT the dipping sauce, because dipping it just wouldn't be right. Even homemade rustic apple pie and homemade ice cream for dessert. But after a full plate and full belly, it's time to hit the dusty trails. As you step out into the sun and look around for your trusty steed, you realize you don't own a horse. You drove. And you're at Chef's Kitchen and Smokehouse in West Palm Beach, not Texas. But it sure felt that way for a spell.

Readers' choice: Tom Jenkins' Bar-B-Q