Furious Flav-or

We did Little Saigon for lunch today. Flavette had the roast pork/cha gio/noodles special, while I did bahn xeo and bun bo hue, with cafe sue da. The bun bo hue was strictly prefab broth, and a disappointment. Still gotta go to Washington Ave. and other points in South Philly to get it done the "right" way, and at that I just about have to beg for the blood tablet, etc. The banh xeo was a bit better, but decidedly shrimp-deficient. Flavette reported that she enjoyed both the pork and the cha gio better than she had at other places. Happily, the iced coffee was freshly made and worthwhile. Dessert was a palmera apiece (elephant ears) around the corner from the convenience store next to Sol del Peru. They were surprisingly good, with a nice, light and airy hojaldre, if a bit less sweet than I like, but that's the Mexican way, and their tastes predominate around here in certain things. Interestingly, the guy behind the counter is half-Spanish, half-German, and we had a nice conversation about the World Cup activity coming up soon in Europe.

Three questions 1. There's a new Korean supermarket in Upper Darby called H-Mart? If so, where is it? 2. Where is Little Saigon? 3. What's the name of the Korean snack shop in the old White Tower across from the trolley tracks? If you're not sure of addresses, just tell me what it's near or directions from 69th St. Station

I guess tonight's the night, then, for all of us in the boonies. Going into the city just isn't that convenient any more. Anybody down for a last hurrah?

Do they do sit-down?

Title says it all. I've been to Maggio's. It was "okay." Pizza at Scoogi's in Flourtown is supposedly excellent, but a bit away for my purposes. Suggestions? C'mon, clubbers, a little help here.

You definately need to explore the area. Mariachis in Phoenixville, La Mixteca in Kennett Square, Taqueria Michoacana and Mexico Lindo/Tata's in Norristown all beckon with, IMHO, more and better.

Funny you should say that. It occurred to me that our runaway waiter might have told the kitchen to "stick it to that wine bucket bitch on Table 23". ← We went to Tifco last night, while we were out that way buying a wedding shower present at Bed, Bath & Beyond. I took pains to carefully tell the guy out front (I assume he's either the owner or the manager or both, late 40s, glasses, smiles a lot) in the simplest terms that, while I'm capable of ingesting fire, I didn't enjoy it in the rabbit dish that I had the last time, especially when it made the food unenjoyable. His reaction was pronounced. "Runaway waiter" took orders for a scallion pancake, cantonese beef stew, and the #45 chicken dish back to the kitchen. He conveniently forgot to bring us the sodas that we ordered, which, of course obviated his need to half-scream at me "NO REFILLS! EACH ONE YOU PAY!" like he did once before. The food came out quickly and was absent the decidedly hellfire and brimstone nature of past offerings. Frankly, I think "runaway waiter" is family of some sort, because I couldn't imagine any other way that such an unfriendly, surly, and inattentive member (the member, in this case) of waitstaff would survive elsewhere. Great food, yes, but inconsistent, and with a cast, pardon the horrible non-pun, from a movie adaptation of a Sax Rohmer novel. Funny note: Before we sat down, I confirmed at the front door that they close at 9 pm. A four-top and a two-top come in at 8:45 pm and the waiter informs them that they close at 9:30 pm.

Do be careful. If you think that the Guizhuo (sp.?) Chicken (which Flavette had) was punitive, you might just find the hot rabbits a death sentence. I had it the last time I was there, and I barely made it through the dish. It was so heavily spiced as to be almost inedible, which would have been less of an issue if I weren't already treading through a minefield of bony little rabbit parts. Part of me almost begins to think that the place is getting amusement from seeing just what stuff we're made of. EDIT: I knead too laern too tyep

Somehow this thread seems to have wandered back and forth a bit. For decent campus pizza, try Allegro, near Penn: http://www.campusfood.com/restaurant.asp?campusid=1&restid=2 As a family, we've always gone to Celebre's, in the Packer Park shopping center, just south of the Walt Whitman bridge complex and a block and a half west of Broad. Cons? Chickie and Pete's makes parking almost impossible, and any event at the stadiums makes it even worse. Pros? The 'za is mind-blowing (thicker than a NYC napolitana, primo toppings, and a gravy like I've never had on a pizza elsewhere, ever), and there's a Termini's pastry shop right next door with cannolis. Now that I've wandered back and forth myself, I think that the weakest and easiest response is this: there really is no fixed Philly pizza tradition, except for the fact that most of the late-night stuff available downtown is horrible. That, I think we can agree on.

If this is the location that I'm thinking of, it's like a door or two south of The Trophy Tavern. Nothing ever seems to make it in that location, but I wish them luck. It might be worth a stop one day.

It was raw and cooked beef. The kid at the hibachi station was moving from raw to cooked product with a brush — slop, slop, slop on the raw, and then sticking the brush back into the sauce, and then slop, slop, slop on the cooked. That requires two brushes or some sort of a sterilizing insert and a cranked steamer, or something. La Michocacana doesn't get any more of my money, BTW. I shouldn't have to part with a $20 bill to cover the tip and check to get a decent if not spectacular lunch in a taquería. It was more fun when it was edgier and less tourist-friendly. Nowadays it's either Phoenixville and Mariachis or Mexico Lindo/Tata's on the other side of Norristown.

Update: Went and did it tonight with Flavette. The only pics that were taken were of the buffet area from across the dining room and a shot of their brochure and a half-dead plate of crepes. Eventually they'll get here. I had/sampled udon soup (okay), hibachi steak (after I straightened out the cook via a manager on a serious cross-contamination issue in front of my eyes, they're still learning), shrimp sui mai, pork gyoza dumplings, various sushi, sashimi, BBQ chicken and pork, ceviche (no lime or cilantro present !?), beef tataki, teriyaki beef, prawns with langustine tail, and a pair of mini crepes, one blueberry, the other raspberry, dusted with chocolate and dolloped with crème. The crepes were good, although the person making them didn't quite understand the proper sequence and timing. Hey, it's the second night, you're going to have crepes that are ice-cold in the center, you know? $27.50 at night on holidays, $25.00 otherwise, less for lunch, Mother's and Father's Days are dinner menu all night long. Bring your Spanish, as you may need it with line people. The waitstaff is about 90% Asian, though.

What is a watery burger? Except for that - whatever it means - the rest of your description sound like a place to visit for sure. ← The whole thing was a sog-fest, from bottom of bottom bun to top of top bun.

Update: The sign in their window indicates that they're opening on the 13th of February. Perhaps this'll be the only thing that keeps me out of Star East.

Wow, Holly, these burgers must be good, $145 for one burger?? Just kidding, the website forgot the decimal points. Gotta tell you, from the pictures, they don't look good enough to rate 5 grease stains. That is high praise indeed but tell me what makes them so special? ← You should see my pics of White Manna burgers then. Beauty is in the eye of the eater. I show the burgers as they come off the grill to the customer. Restaurant verite. Why better. Toasted buns, hand formed patties in the area of 1/4 lb, a glisten of grease on the bun crown, slightly squashed from the grill iron. Classic and the way a hamburger was meant to be served. So many of the designer burger places don't even make the effort to toast the buns. But the only way to understand and appreciate what a burger should be is to do as Charlie Mummer says and head to Charlie's. The bars and restaurants do eight ounce burgers not because it is a better burger but because they can't charge $7.95 for a proper quarter pound burger. The mache, the goat cheese, the fois gras and all the other frills - build the perceived value and the size of the check. Same reason those places don't offer cups of soup anymore. ← Sorry, but our impression (ex-Delco, lived there for 10 years) of Charlies was meth den-cum-carnival sideshow. The burgers were greasy, watery, and served up by someone who looked to either be on work release, or an escapee. Don't agree with you on this one, Holly, oh my God, no way. Chacun a son goût, je suppose.

i've heard from several korean friends that woo rae kwan wasn't by any means the best korean around, but that the food was generally solid and that their selection of banchan was a standout. i've never had anything but very friendly service there, and last time we were there with a group of people they brought out more banchan than i've gotten pretty much anywhere else, including such specialties as the hot dog with kimchi and the whole pickled fish... ← Sorry, wasn't making negative comparisons, just stating observations about Nagwon, since it rarely gets mentioned. We didn't have the great banchan experience at Woo Rae Kwan to which you refer, though. It was at best perfunctory.

FYI, Xochimilco itself was replaced by an Ecuadorian joint last I knew. It's called Galapagos, and the food is pretty good. We wound up there having Thanksgiving dinner last year — don't ask, long story. Some of the appetizers are a bit strange in comparison to what one might expect, but I've been told that it's pretty authentic.

I didn't dig on Woo Rae, and I'm wondering how they're shoehorning a market in their old spot now. Nagwon, however, has good food, isn't stingy on ban chan, and the people who run it are super friendly.

The Poconos? Hardly. This pretty much describes the region: http://www.insiders.com/poconos/graphics/pocol1.gif Try looking here: http://www.poconox.com/poconoforums/showthread.php?t=98

I'm pretty sure that's Cambodian, and I can't think of the name. I first had it up on Old York Rd., north of Rockland at a little hole in the wall on the right hand side going up the street. Not PP, but an even smaller place.

There's been a Primo's for at least five years on 2000 block of Chestnut ← Thanks for validating what's left of my suburbia-addled Philaconsciousness, however … Hate to disagree, but Marra's ain't the happenin' joint that it once was. The last time I was there, I ordered mussels fra diavolo, and got something that tasted and looked like it came out of the bottom of the dishwasher. ← Marra's is good for certain things. The pizza is good, and usually the standard issue "Mussels Red" or "Mussels White" are good. Sorry to hear yours were sub-par. Are the Mussels Fra Diavolo a menu item that isn't the usually Bucket 'o Reds? If so, then that might explain it. Nothing else on the menu is any good except for maybe the antipasto salad, and even that has suffered over the years. ← I'd agree, but fra diavolo is just a heated tune-up of "red," really. Surely that's not a stretch?

There's been a Primo's for at least five years on 2000 block of Chestnut ← Thanks for validating what's left of my suburbia-addled Philaconsciousness, however … Hate to disagree, but Marra's ain't the happenin' joint that it once was. The last time I was there, I ordered mussels fra diavolo, and got something that tasted and looked like it came out of the bottom of the dishwasher.

How long has it been since you dined in town, Furious? Cuvee Notre Dame has been out of business for about two or three years, ever since its proprietor, Michel Notredame, skippped town and rent payments in the dark of the night. ← Damn, damn, damn. At least three years since I've been there. How did that escape my notice? Did something worthwhile go into the spot at least? Hoagies: Primo's, on Ritner near 15th in South Philly, also, apparently, on Chestnut near 21st. Steaks: Jim's, on South St. And yes, I admit, I've become terribly provincial in my advancing senescence.

"Hello? Pretense Patrol? I'd like to report a crime …" There are two decent Belgian spots in town, Monk's (16th and Spruce) and Cuvée Notre Dame (17th and Green). Cuvée does really, really decent moules et frites and waterzooie. Monk's also makes great burgers. For wings, in town, so to speak, try Moriarty's at 1116 Walnut; they're good, and huge. Tony Luke's on Oregon Ave. (http://tinyurl.com/a9pwv) is a great stand-up joint for sandwiches and has negative pretense.

That's like going out in the North Woods and picking a favorite star out on a clear night. Whaddaya like? Got much time for that lunch to travel to the extreme ends of town? Concerned by the idea of moderately dangerous dining?