Daniel

Thanks for the kind words Jeff.. Lady D, This was my only experience here, so I dont know if anything qualifies.. However, nothing was outrageously spicy that I ate.. However, i would steer clear of the beef dish I ordered.. Katie, Thanks for your suggestions, if thats not the best Hot and Sour Soup.. Then I might have to leave for Philly tonight!! I really am looking forward to hitting up more spots in Chinatown.. Thanks for the suggestions..

Sunday night my girlfriend and I went here for dinner.. I was running a fever and was looking for some spicy food to kill my cold.. We had a really enjoyable dinner here.. I started with the Hot and Sour Soup.. This was truly the best version I have ever had.. It was excellent.. Next we had the spicy dumplings that came highly highly praised.. This did not disappoint.. Less spicy then I prefer (still fabulous) it came sitting in a sweet garlicy sauce. The pork inside the dumplings were really meaty and cooked to a perfect pink.. And eight dumplings for 3 bucks I think.. You cant beat it.. We also had the sliced conch in a very similar sauce as the dumplings.. However it was different.. A little less sweet.. The pieces of conch were of amazing quality. I often get chewy grisley pieces, this was not the case.. We then had the cellophane noodles with pork.. Along the lines of the Sichuan Dish ants climbing a tree. This had a really nice spice to it.. The cellophane noodles were a wide flat noodle, which is something different for me.. I liked this a lot.. Our last dish was a super spiced beef dish.. I am forgetting them name.. But it came in a saucy dish.. They then poured over top all this crushed red pepper.. It added a nice spice.. I really liked how the celery worked in this dish.. This restaurant is a gem.. Different then any other Sichuan Restaurant I have been to.. I cant figure out if they are Americanizing there versions or if this is the vision they have for there food.. Either way, it works, and I really liked it alot..

We were drinking pitchers of Saporro.. Which is 8 dollars a mug and 4 mugs to a pitcher.. They dont normally sell Pitchers of Sapporo so I was just adding the value in the most positive light Either way, I was drinking enough to still be a little hazy on the particulars.. Kirin is 15 bucks..

We have had these reservations for some time now and have anticipated coming here even longer.. Perhaps this is why we were so disappointed with our experience here.. Granted, its a fine restaurant, but based on Saturday's Dinner, it was not memorable in anyway.. The room is cute, crowded, with temperatures going from cold to stuffy and hot.. Even after bringing this to our waitress's attention, it wasn't fixed.. In fact, the woman sitting about 6 inches from us was putting her jacket on and off the entire evening.. We arrived for our 830 reservation and were seated immediately.. We ordered the 6 course tasting with the wine pairing.. The wine, was the highlight of the evening and I am not a huge wine fan.. We were given an amuse with a glass of Prosecco.. The amuse was really average.. They called it a Trout Baklava.. Basically, it was a fried trout salad rolled in a ball.. We were given two small balls and my girlfriend didnt even want her second ball.. I dont know why the called it Baklava.. I started with a frisee salad with poached pears,blue cheese, croutons and a wine vinegar.. Nothing too exciting.. Think of what you would expect and thats what the salad was.. Next came the Elf Mushroom Soup with Seared Duck Breast. The soup was a Brown Chicken Stock, or game bird stock.. It was average, had way too much Thyme in it for me.. In fact the thyme over powered the whole dish.. The duck breast was minuscule.. Three bites worth of well prepared duck.. The duck was skinless and very rare.. I didnt like how one dimensional the dish was because of the soft mushrooms too.. Again, not bad, but just eh.. Primi: Swordfish casoncelli with brown butter,pancetta and sage.. Basically it was swordfish dumplings in a brown butter sage sauce with pancetta.. The pancetta was the highlight of the dish.. I think it was either extruded or cut in perfect little strips.. However, i thought they were circular.. Very crispy and perfect.. The dumplings were also expertly done.. The brown butter sauce was nothing too special.. My local italian neighborhood joint makes a brown butter sage sauce that is far superior.. This was my favorite dish of the night.. Secondi: I got the Capretto or Baby Goat ribs spit cooked over mesquite for five hours.. This was served over polenta.. This dish was really embarrassing.. Firstly, the only flavoring used in the polenta was Philly Tap Water.. No butter, no salt, nothing. Secondly, I have had Goat prepared several ways.. My favorite being at Coopers BBQ in Texas.. This was an ok version. But it was served with no seasoning, no sauce, just the two really small ribs and bland polenta.. I could have had a better goat dish at a take out place. The desserts were another highlight besides the wine.. I also tried the things my girlfriend received.. The Guinea Hen Terrine was my favorite The sweet onion crepe was too oniony, had no truffle presence, and was below average.. Spinach Gnocchi, which wasn't gnocchi at all was very good.. It was more of a malfatti..Served with the same brown butter sauce as I had on my swordfish.. And her venison with licorice powder served with a cold fennel salad wasnt too good.. I didnt like venison served on a cold creamy salad that had too much dill in it.. Dinner came out to 360 bucks before tip.. I thought the portions were tiny, the ingredients inexpensive, the meal over priced and over rated.. Dont think I am calling this place bad.. But I based on my experience, I would go to many, many different restaurants before I went back here.. The husband and wife sitting 6 inches to my right, who actually interupted us to say "I have been listening to your conversation all night and was wondering where you guys are from" Loved there meals.. So, this is just my opinion..

Do they use Sichuan Pepper Corns.

Someone has mentioned this restaurant last week. Has anyone been here? I think the standard for most people in Manhattan is Grand Sichuan..

Capogiro, Dinics, Pats and Bassetts I would have known about..

Stayed at the Loews Hotel with only a minor incident.. Only had to do one room change.. On one of the nights. they booked us in a room that had two double beds.. We ate at Vetri, Sichuan Tasty House, Dinics, Pats, Steve's, Moriarty's,Sarcone's Deli,Bassetts and obviously Capogiro Gelato.. I have already gotten im's from the girl this morning wanting to mail order there Fig Gelato..

Just came back from a couple of nights in Philly.. We stopped by here three times during our stay.. In are defense, it was a 5 blocks away from our hotel.. We loved this place.. Today we had there fig in the same cup as the walnut.. Both were fantastic and it was a joyous combination.. They had Mamey yesterday which was great. We also had the rosemary, honey, and goats milk.. The people behind the counter are so friendly and are quick to give a sample.. This place is great..

Basically, the manager lied to me over the phone on three occasions.. In truth, the table he reserved for us, was the same table that a party of 12 had for 8:15... I called too many times for it to be a mistake.. He admitted over booking to me.. We drank 17 pitchers at 35 bucks a pitcher with free appetizers.. I thought it was handled poorly because he took too long to be honest, but we ended up having such a good time, I'm over it..

Hi John, This is such a fun blog and you have covered food from so many sides.. What have are you doing with those cucumbers? Those guys are so cool.. Good luck with dinner tonight, it sounds like its going to be amazing.. And show us that pork already!

This was at like 4 am last night.. A bowl of frosted flakes with coco lopez, heavy cream, and milk.. Armagnac in a microwave reheated cup of coffee.. Oooooof.

Went there last night and it was almost a complete mess.. I had a table of 10 booked and confirmed about 5 times.. Basically, they decided they were not going to seat us.. They kept us at the bar for over 2.5 hours.. We had a firm 845 reservation and we did not sit until 11 something.. On a different note, they were keeping us at the bar and giving us free drinks until we sat... The 10 of us drank 2 big bottles of sake and close to 12 pitchers of beer while waiting and easily another 7 during dinner.. I could not believe they intentionally did not seat us.. Letting other parties of 10 and more sit before us.. They gave us free apps, free drinks, and free desserts.. We were all wrecked and what I thought what was going to be a quick bday dinner turned into a 7 hour night... It was alright though, you wont hear too many complaints from this crew with a free bar.. On a food note, the place was average.. We ordered most of what was on the menu.. I really liked the pork and tongue dishes the best...(Raji, I stopped ordering for the table early and completely forgot the harami..) I was surprised at the poor quality of the scallops..The smores and banana with ice cream and melted chocolate sauce were fun desserts...

Funny review from Gawker.. http://gawker.com/news/meatpacking-distric...akan-203861.php "Design a space so garish that it would make a Gotti feel gauche. Bump up prices to beyond what the market would bear, so that the suckers who celebrate the Meatpacking District would feel privileged to pay outrageous sums for Molto Mario's scraps and innards. "

Thanks Raj, I can always count on you..

Going here tonight with a group of 10.. Has anyone been here? Can anyone suggest there favorite thing.. I was told by the hostess that they can sit us in the back at two tables, is the seating going to be ok.. Thanks.

The majority of Fast Food customers are children? I tried to view stats and couldnt find a demographic of there customer.. As I am sure you can guess, I dont think its Fast Foods job to raise children..

Your points are generally well-reasoned, except I don't agree that with this example at least, the government is telling the individual what to eat. They are talking about a ban for restaurants, in which people do not generally have a clue of they are eating transfats or any other kind of fat. The product is generally invisible, leaving people without a choice. That is precisely why I think this is different. My understanding is that this does not include supermarket purchases in which transfats are clearly labeled. I suppose an alternative law would be to require menu labeling of items with trans-fats and how much. The other irony is that there really is little if any culinary advantage to using or eating trans-fats. ← The major fast food chains do have the nutritional value of its products posted on websites and in the restaurants..

I must say, I have been tempted lately by those slider commercials.. But I have also been suckered by Info-mercials,Olive Garden Commercials,and A Red Lobster Commercial in College.. All have been disappointing, but I want to like everything.. If the circumstance presents itself, I would like to try it..

Actually, it is appropriate but, we dont need to get into it.. If an owner wants to have smoking in there place, you can choose not to come in.. No one is forcing you to work or patronize that place.. But this has been done to death And we are on to the next Government intrusion now. Its just another step in the slippery slope the title asks about..

Well if busboy says my argument is glib, it must be without him even having to explain it. I feel this law is a direct attack on the Fast Food Industry.. Although, there are many restaurants that will get caught up in it, its roots are in Fast Food.. Once you proove that the food is dangerous, now all you need to do is proove that someone might have known it was.. Next thing you know Chester Cheetoh was this dubious ploy to brainwash and kill our children.. They already did that to Ronald.. Chicago is trying to do the same thing, but they are more specific.. They actually state that this law would only apply to companies with annual revenues of more than $20 million.. Just like Chicago's attempt to raise minimum wage solely on big box stores.. What was the point of that? To protect the public from discount stores? Its just a way for government to interfere in business. Plain and simple.

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But wont it have to involve new FDA rules on food ingredients ? We are talking going after some of the largest, richest companies in America with the best connected lobbying groups in Washington DC. Cant it really be done without getting watered down till its meaningless ? ← No, it doesnt have to involve the FDA rules..As the smoking ban doesnt come from any federal guideline. The lawyers behind this know exactly who is involved.. There is a movement in America to demonize big business.. Whether its Big Tobacco, the Food Industry, or the Wallmarts.. They go head hunting.. They put some poor slob against a huge faceless, mean corporation, and some jury is bound to give them a few million.. Its not really about protecting people with laws.. Its about making tons of cash off of mean old corporations..

They will just use the same guidelines set up by the smoking ban. How many people on here ignored The Smoking Bans infringement on the Owner's Rights, just because they didn't like smoke. Well, here they go again. And yes everyone can make an argument that TransFat is unhealthy.. But again, its not the point. Government is a living thing who's natural instinct is to grow.

Went to Francesco's.. It was fun..The food, an average Red Sauce Joint... On Par with Basillico's out of Rosemont Area... We had a lot of fun.. We ordered the Salad, the Clams, a Cheese Stuffed Pasta with a mushroom red sauce and red snapper Vesuvio.. Everything was average until the tasteless Vesuvio.. We waited 10 minutes at 9'o clock on a Saturday... A beer and the house wine was $7 or $10 bucks.. Me and my Dad just hung out for awhile.. The company was the best part...The two of us in a rental car, blind as bats, made our way home...