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Restaurant-Inspired Recipes

Welcome! On this site, you'll find flavorful, restaurant-inspired recipes made easy for busy, passionate home cooks.

Fall Recipes

  • Kale caesar salad in a blue bowl with butternut squash and pumpkin seeds.
    Fall Kale Caesar with Butternut + Crispy Parmesan
  • Homemade maple vinaigrette in a mason jar. Spoon and fresh thyme on the side.
    Homemade Maple Vinaigrette (Better Than Store-Bought!)
  • Salad with smoked chicken, grapes and pecans in a bowl.
    Harvest Salad with Smoked Chicken 
  • Roasted delicata squash served on a platter with pomegranates and pumpkin seeds.
    Autumn Roasted Delicata Squash (Easy Recipe!)
  • Blackened steak sliced on a cutting board with garlic butter.
    Perfect Blackened Steak (With Easy Chef's Tips!)
  • A chicken pot pie in a cast iron skillet with a puff pastry crust.
    Light and Flaky Chicken Pot Pie (Puff Pastry Crust)
  • Up close shot of baked mac and cheese with breadcrumbs.
    BEST Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese (w/Crispy Topping!)
  • Butternut squash risotto in a bowl with fork topped with crispy sage, pine nuts and parmesan cheese.
    Baked Butternut Squash Risotto with Crispy Sage Brown Butter

Game Day Recipes

  • baked sheet pan pizza with rustic parchment paper sliced with sausage, onions and chard.
    Sheet Pan Pizza with Sausage, Smoky Gouda & Greens
  • Sticky-sweet chili wings with sauce on the side sprinkled with chives.
    Quick, Sticky Sweet Chili Sauce (Great on Wings!)
  • Buffalo chicken meatballs in a skillet with one in a spoon topped with blue cheese and chives.
    Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with Honey Garlic Buffalo Sauce
  • Cheesy garlic bread half cut on a cutting board.
    Cheesy Garlic Bread (Better Than Takeout)
See more Game Day Foods →

Latest Recipe

Homemade balsamic vinaigrette in glass dressing jar with a spoon and lemon wedge on the side.

Your New Favorite Balsamic Vinaigrette

Suzie J.
November 5, 2025

This restaurant-style balsamic vinaigrette is sharp, garlicky, and perfectly emulsified. It's a salad staple from my former pizza parlor that I still make regularly (but in much smaller batches). I’ve taught countless people how to make this dressing over the years. A classic restaurant-style balsamic vinaigrette relies on emulsification: a slow, steady drizzle of oil…

Continue Reading Your New Favorite Balsamic Vinaigrette

Recipes by Category

A bowl full of green salad served with dressing on the side.
A jar full of salad dressing.
Bowl full of soup topped with bacon and cheese.
A plate of chicken served with a salad.
A cut loaf of bread served with butter.

Find a Recipe:

Popular Recipes

  • Flat iron steak on cutting board
    How to Cook the Perfect Flat Iron Steak in Cast Iron
  • A jar of dressing topped with herbs and served with a salad and a lemon
    Easy Restaurant Style Ranch Dressing Recipe (5 minutes)
  • Chicken Wings on baking sheet
    Fall-off-the-bone, Crispy, Baked Chicken Wings
  • Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
    The Ultimate Steakhouse Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe
  • A white dutch oven filled with homemade crushed tomatoes and a wooden spoon showing the texture of the tomatoes.
    Easy Crushed Tomatoes at Home (No Peeling + Freezer Friendly)
  • Crispy Smashed Potatoes
    The Best, Crispy Smashed Fingerling Potatoes
  • Easy chili in a bowl topped with cheddar cheese and green onions.
    Dad's Easy Chili Recipe (With A Classic Secret Ingredient)
  • Cooked Shrimp on a metal plate with a spoon holding a shrimp. Shrimp topped with parsley and lemon.
    How to Cook Pan Seared Shrimp Perfectly Every Time

Main Dishes

  • Four images of zucchini recipes including a soup, bread, salad and casserole to showcase the versatility of zucchini.
    20+ Delicious Ways to Use Fresh Garden Zucchini
  • Peach BLT Sandwich with peaches, bacon and mayo with chips on rustic background,
    Crazy Good Peach BLTs
  • Easy Chicken Chimichurri Meatballs Over Zoodles and Burrata
  • Fourth of July Menu Ideas for Your Backyard Bash
See more Main Dishes →

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A picture of a woman drinking a cocktail in a restaurant.

Hi, I'm Suzie!

I'm the recipe creator, photographer, and official taste tester here! I create everyday recipes inspired by dishes I've had from my favorite restaurants around Sonoma, Napa, and beyond.

Learn more

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2025 The Virtual Caterer

As an Amazon associate, I may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, but I only share products I truly think are worth it...and ones that make food more fun. I'm grateful for your support! ~Suzie

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