Heather McMahon and Sam Morril Reveal Their Essential Road Trip Eats

No one understands America’s landscape quite like touring comedians who spend their lives on the road. The good news is that they’re not just collecting heckler stories, they’re also mapping out the best bites in every city. On Absolutely Not!, Heather McMahan—who claimed, “My hobby is restaurants,”—and comedian Sam Morril went on a deep dive of their favorite road-trip eats, and we’ve compiled their must-visit food destinations into a handy list for you. Next time you’re road tripping, here are the stops worth exiting the highway for. 

Washington, D.C.: Martinis at Old Ebbit Grill

“Look, I love a dive bar,” said Sam, “but every once in a while you gotta get martini drunk.” The capital’s oldest bar delivers sophistication with American classics like Oysters Rockefeller, all within walking distance from D.C.’s iconic monuments. Sam’s verdict? “It’s such a f***ing good time.”

New York City: Rigatoni a la Vodka at Monkey Bar

This NYC steakhouse earned Heather’s praise for pasta that’s  “perfectly sweet, not too spicy” alongside “one of the best martinis I’ve ever had.” A steakhouse connoisseur, Heather revealed her ideal order: “Any day of the week, I want a dirty martini, a shrimp cocktail, and a wedge.” Monkey Bar, on 54th St between Madison and Park, does them all well.

New Haven, CT: Pizza at Pepe’s or Sally’s

“There’s something about the Connecticut pizza. That sh*t’s, like, on another planet,” said Sam. When these two comedians are in New Haven, they don’t just have one favorite spot. These two pizzerias, located across from each other, are mandatory stops for Heather and Sam. Their recommendation? Don’t choose—try both. 

Chicago: Tavern Style Pizza From Lou Malnati’s

Heather and Sam both say NO to Chicago’s famous deep dish pizza. “It’s like eating a quiche, it’s too thick,” said Heather. Instead, Sam recommends Lou Malnati’s tavern-style thin crust pizza. One crucial tip from Heather: dine in for the full experience. When her team sends pizzas backstage after her shows, “I won’t get off stage for another like 45 minutes and then I get off stage and it’s hard as a rock so I have never been able to enjoy a Lou Malnati’s pizza. You have to time it perfectly, or you’re f***ked!” 

Atlanta: Italian food at Yeppa & Co. – and a mysterious new Peruvian restaurant.

Heather’s hometown of Atlanta has a great food scene, but her favorite spot is Yeppa & Co. in Buckhead. “The only thing we eat is Italian. We eat Italian seven days a week,” she said. Yelp reviewers praise the fantastic service and even better pasta. 

Sam and Heather teased  an “amazing” new Peruvian restaurant in A-town, but they didn’t drop the name. We respect gatekeeping in this case.

Memphis: Biscuits at Sunrise Memphis

This quick-serve diner bills itself as the “Best breakfast in Memphis,” but Sam went further in his praise. “Best breakfast in the country. I said it. It’s that good!” Heather agreed with a loud, “YEP.” Sam warned that you might be waiting a while for their famous Rooster breakfast sandwich—“It’s legit a line,” he said—but it’s worth it. “We hit it every time.”

Check out the full episode for even more food and drink recs, plus behind-the-scenes gossip from the life of a comedian on the road.