Top Flint Restaurant Named by Trip Advisor Is Nearly 100 Years-Old

Recently, Trip Advisor/Stacker published a Top 30 Ranking for Flint's Best Restaurants according to their users. The number one spot was not a chain restaurant of which a few ended up on the list.

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Which chain restaurants are ranked best in Flint by Trip Advisor?

• There were a few making the list, including Red Robin (Miller Road) at number 27. BD's Mongolian Grill was #26, just down the road. Famous Dave's ranked number 22 while Olive Garden (also Miller Road) ranked the highest of the four chains at number 18. Not too shabby.

Which locally owned Flint restaurant is rated best by Trip Advisor users?

• The big winner has been around the Flint area since 1931. They now have four locations and authentic family recipes at Italia Gardens are still served today. Their website even claims they're the first Italian Restaurant to open in Flint.

• If you've had the popular mostaccioli, wood fired pizza, chicken piccata or any of their breads -- you know it's authentic. That's not all they do either. Rib Fest anyone? If you ever want to feel like you're dining with them back in 1931, they do a 35-cent pasta night each Wednesday, too. And... look at these Lasagna Rolls.

Which characteristics contribute to ratings?

Those include Quality of food, service, value and atmosphere. Certainly, price plays a roll, too.

Plenty of fantastic local, Flint spots made the Top 5. Soggy Bottom, Redwood Steakhouse & Brewery, Starlite Coney Island, Flint Crepe Company and Blondie's Food and Spirits. Mario's and Luigi's each made the list for Italian spots, too. Congrats the entire Top 30.

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