bd's Mongolian Grill at 1854 Coventry Road, Cleveland, Ohio.

We've been coming here since it was b.d.'s Mongolian Barbecue, and it continues to be one of the highlights of my year. It's just plain fun to assemble a collection of ingredients, watch the expert grillers, and try something that's never been made before. Experts will make several small bowls, go easy on the sauce, use ingredients from the salad bar, and know that you can't use the rice from the table. I particularly love making different themes: Mediterranean shrimp with no sauce (!), spaghetti and meatballs, spicy "Chinese", etc. They have a good beer selection if you have to wait, but given the all-you-can-eat nature of the place, you won't want to buy drinks, appetizers, or dessert once you're seated. I've been at least a dozen times, and I still have never looked at a dessert menu. Parking is a bit challenging right next to the restaurant, but bring quarters and park in the Marc's lot across the street (keep going until you see the 6-hr signs, 1 hour is not going to be enough time to get in and out.)