When you think about why you want to live in this part of the country, you probably think along practical lines — good schools, a comparatively low cost of living and a strong sense of community.

But there is something else that is just as important to enjoying day to day life in this region. The food.

In Northeast Tennessee, if you find nothing else, you will find variety. So, with that in mind, here’s a guide to good grub.

FAST FOODWhether for lunch or for a quick dinner between piano lessons and baseball practice, fast food fills a need each and every day. Like the rest of America, the national fast food chains are here and are successful. But you can also get a taste of the region without taking a lot of time out of your schedule.

The most well known of the locally owned fast food places is Pal’s, with 17 locations, for now.

It has been serving its famous “sauce burgers,” chili dogs and trademark burger, the “Big Pal” for nearly half a century.

Other fast food restaurants unique to the area are:

Hot Dog Hut
105 E. Sullivan St., Kingsport

Dairy Cup
Mount Carmel

Dairy Hart
200 Silver Lake Road, Church Hill

Purple Cow
1648 E. Stone Drive, Kingsport

PIZZAAnother staple of most modern diets in America is pizza. Again, most of the national chains are here. But the region is also lucky enough to have some folks who have selected the region to open and operate pizza places. One popular spot in Kingsport is Rush Street Neighborhood Grill on Stone Drive. Other notables are:

Greg’s Pizza
Johnson City109 Broyles Dr., Johnson City
766 West Elk Ave., Elizabethton

Holiday Plaza
109 Broyles Drive, Johnson City

Buck’s Pizza
1704 W. State of Franklin Road, Johnson City

Chef’s Pizzeria
254 New St., Kingsport

Italian Village
Fort Henry Mall, Kingsport

BARBECUERidgewood Barbeque at 900 Elizabethton Highway in Bristol, Tenn., has been a mainstay of local dining since 1948 and is just about always crowded. For directions or more information, they can be reached at 538-7543.

However, when you’re in the South you can find good barbecue at lots of places. You can’t go wrong with any of these choices:

Pratt’s Barbeque and Catering
1225 E. Stone Drive, Kingsport

Dixie Barbecue Company
3301 N. Roan St., Johnson City

Firehouse Restaurant
627 W. Walnut St., Johnson City

Red Pig Barbecue
2201 Ferguson Road, Johnson City

Sharon’s Barbecue and Burgers
301 W. Center St., Kingsport

Skoby’s Pantry
1001 Konnarock Road, Kingsport

SEAFOODThe landlocked Tri-Cities isn’t a bastion of seafood, but there are a handful of local choices:

Riverfront Meat Fish & Seafood
1837 Netherland Inn Road, Kingsport

Fisherman’s Dock
1728 E. Stone Drive, Kingsport
315 Park Blvd., Rogersville

Harbor House
2510 N. Roan St., Johnson City

SOUTHWESTERN & MEXICANA growing Hispanic population means a growing base of really good Southwestern and Mexican restaurants. For the area’s best chili rellenos, go to Chaco’s Southwest Grill — 1237 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol. Other choices include:

La Carreta
4252 Fort Henry Drive, Kingsport
2008 N. Eastman Road, Kingsport
1001 E. Stone Drive, Kingsport
1336 S. John B. Dennis Highway, Kingsport
329 8th St., Bristol, Tenn.

El Matador
2904 Bristol Highway, Johnson City

El Chico
2929 Kingsport Highway, Johnson City

Little Mexico
1205 N. Eastman Rd., Kingsport

Amigo
1705 W. Market St., Johnson City
3211 Peoples St., Johnson City
W. Jackson Boulevard, Jonesborough

El Pueblito
120 E. Main St., Rogersville

ITALIANThough the Tri-Cities is a continent away from Rome or Venice, it doesn’t lack for quality Italian food. Two good, family-owned choices are Amato’s and Alta Cucina. The latter is at 1200 N. Roan St., Johnson City. Amato’s features a varied menu and is located at 121 Jack White Drive, Kingsport. Giuseppe’s, listed in the Fine Dining section, is another Italian staple.

Other choices for cuisine Italiano include:

Motz’s
4231 Fort Henry Drive, Kingsport

Raffaele’s
4309 Fort Henry Drive, Kingsport

FINE DININGWhether you are looking for a romantic table for two or a place for a special family meal, there are a variety of restaurants that offer an upscale atmosphere and cuisine to match. Choices include:

Skoby’s
1001 Konnarock Road, Kingsport

Harmony Grocery
1121 Painter Road, Jonesborough

The Vinyard
603 Gate City Highway, Bristol, Va.

Galloway’s
Inside the Carnegie Hotel, Johnson City

Troutdale Dining Room
412 Sixth St., Bristol, Tenn.

Café Pacific
1033 W. Oakland Ave., Johnson City

Bistro 105
105 E. Main St., Jonesborough

The Peerless
2531 N. Roan St., Johnson City

Giuseppe’s
2539 E. Stone Drive, Kingsport

The Meadows
Located in Meadowview Conference Resort and Convention Center, Kingsport

HOME COOKIN’If there is anything that Tri-Cities restaurant cooks do as well as any mom, it’s down home cookin’. The choices are many:

John’s Resturant
1212 E. Main St., Rogersville

Wright’s Country Cuisine
109 Jack White Drive, Kingsport

Katty’s Korner
245 E. Center St., Kingsport

Mickie and Myrtle’s Family Restaurant
5314 Kingsport Highway, Gray

The Mountaineer
190 S. Central Ave., Church Hill

Chuck’s Drive In
840 Industry Drive, Kingsport

Neicy’s Corner Café
Inside Kingsport Inn
700 Lynn Garden Drive, Kingsport

Amanda’s Picnic Café
Located in Day’s Inn
Lynn Garden Drive, Kingsport

Jan Mar Restaurant
114 Broad St., Kingsport

Mama’s House Buffet
2608 N. John B. Dennis Highway, Kingsport

Skip’s Diner
106 Kaywood Ave., Mount Carmel

Whitney & Co.
207 Main St., Mount Carmel

My Little Buddies
139 New Beason Well Road, Kingsport

Bessie Stringer’s Buffet and Steaks
104 Indian Center Court, Kingsport

DELIThis isn’t New York, but you can at least duck inside one of the many Tri-Cities delis and pretend for a while as you stare at your corned beef on rye. Some of the choices are:

Poor Richard’s Deli
825 W. Walnut St., Johnson City

Poor Richard’s Uptown
106 E. Mountcastle Drive, Johnson City

Jersey Mike’s
214 Mountcastle Drive, Johnson City
1127 N. Eastman Rd., Kingsport

Deli Sandwich Factory
1308 E. Stone Drive, Kingsport

L.E. Clark Grocery & Deli
2645 S. Wilcox Drive, Kingsport

C&M Market & Deli
3337 E. Stone Drive, Kingsport

Schlotzsky’s Deli
1789 N. Eastman Road, Kingsport

ECLECTICIf you’re looking for something a little different — or a lot different — here are a few options:

Cootie Brown’s
(New Orleans subs and pizza)
2715 N. Roan St., Johnson City

FiFi’s
(Mediterranean)
803 W. Walnut St., Johnson City

Sophisticated Otter
(Restaurant & brewery )
400 Ashe St., Johnson City

Heavenly Gyros
(Mediterranean)
1735 W. State of Franklin, Johnson City

The Crazy Cajun
(Cajun)
5358 Kingsport Highway, Gray

CHINESE & JAPANESEThe possibilities for a Chinese or Japanese meal are immense here. If you’re a newcomer to town, you can be almost guaranteed that a neighbor on either side of you can recommend a restaurant that is nearby.