SaxChik

i've had good meals at alma de cuba. i like their yaca frita. i'm sure my fondness has been well lubricated by their excellent black cherry caipirinhas.

i saw han dynasty was #43 on philly mag's top 50 restaurants.

having just moved to west chester, dr sax and i tried mabel's on market street early in december. i had the bbq'd brisket, baked beans and sweet potato pie. dr sax had bbq'd chicken, collard greens and some sort of starch (can't remember exactly what he had). i thought the food was really good! the brisket was tender, the sauce was good and the beans were OUTRAGEOUS! you need to like sweet baked beans, but i thought they were fabulous. i need to go there and see how they cook things next time (dr. sax brought in take-out). i will go again soon and post pics and more reviews.

you are correct, sir. it does, however, last about 15 days.

we just moved to west chester this weekend. i'm gonna miss living within walking distance to han dynasty.

the high street caffe in west chester had a wild game & wine dinner last night. while some of their game wasn't all that wild, the food and wine were quite tasty! i apologize for the bad quality cell phone pictures ... course 1 - smoked buffalo sausage server on top of baby arugula tossed with crumbled chevre, carmelized shallots finished with a wild boar bacon vinaigrette wine 1 - dr. konstantin frank semi-dry riesling (finger lakes, NY) the sausage was "beefy" and spicy and the dressing had a nice sweetness to it. the riesling was a good riesling, but a little too sweet and heavy for this dish, IMHO. course 2 - ostrich roulade stuffed with black mission figs, prosciutto and gorgonzola drizzled with cherry gastrique. wine 2 - lapis luna zinfandel (CA) this was perhaps my favorite dish of the meal. it had all sorts of tastes going on ... savory, sweet, salty, sour. course 3 - elk medallion served with black trumpet truffle tasso jus wine 3 - vina robles red 4 (paso robles, CA) the dish was ok. IMHO, elk and it's like are better in stews or cooked slowly to tenderize them. the dish included a biscuit of some sort, as well as nice and spicy tasso bits. the wine, however, was FABULOUS! very rich with an interesting vanilla finish. i need to find out the vintage so i can get a few bottles. course 4 - apple wood smoked wild boar chop served with brandy chipotle demi glace over sweet potato smash. wine 4 - luigi bosca malbec (DOC mendoza) the boar chop was tasty, but the demi glace was the star of this dish! i felt very savage chomping on wild boar bones. course 5 - flourless chocolate torte topped with balsamic raspberry sauce wine 5 - graham's 10yr port i love flourless chocolate torte and this torte did not disappoint. the tartness of the raspberries and the tanginess of the balsamic vinegar were a good match for the sweetness of the chocolate. the port was a sweet ending to a good meal. all in all, while half the game was not that wild, the food and wine were good and the atmosphere was festive and friendly. it was $65 p/p + tax & tip.

just a note that this place is still around and was pretty crowded when we went on saturday. their carnitas al pastor is EXCELLENT, as is their guacamole, which i think they chop up to order. the horchata isn't on the menu, but they have it if you ask. it was really really good saturday. they don't put fruit on their flan anymore, just a dollop of whipped cream. yummmmy. i think they're closed on wednesdays and close around 8pm on the days they're open. they also take credit cards now (they were cash-only last time we went).

Last time my cousin from LA visited, we took him to Amada for dinner. He said it was the best meal he's eaten all year (and he eats out in LA often). He comes from a whole family of chefs and does some cooking himself (my aunt and uncle are caterers and his two brothers are chefs), so he's particular about his eats. Where would you suggest I take him to top his Amada experience? I was thinking Osteria or Snack Bar, but I haven't eaten at either of those places, so I can't make an educated decision. You guys are my personal Zagats, so guide me well! We'll more than likely be going out on a Friday night, if that matters.

dr. sax and i had to take our cat to the veterinary referral center in malvern on rt 30 for surgery today. he's recovering nicely and doing well. the VRC is located between maddie's and the classic diner. i had never eaten at the classic diner before, so we opted to go there (it was about 11am). it was pretty packed for 11am on a friday. they only do breakfast and lunch. we opted for breakfast, since we're both big fans of eggs benedict. i ordered the classic, dr. sax ordered the salmon. wow. some of nicest, tastiest eggs benedict i've ever had! the eggs were poached perfectly (not too hard, just runny enough), the ham and salmon were plentiful and the hollendaise had a hint of something spicy in it (i don't think it was mustard, it had a red peppery bite at the finish). both dishes were served with fried potatoes ... full potato-size slices, fried up with sea salt and seasoning on them. the only downside of the place was it was FILLED with yuppies (some of them not so young) making business deals, loudly talking on their cell phones, bragging about their german sports cars. i just wanted to eat, not wheel and deal. i'll have to go back at a different time and see how if their clientele is any less ... uptight. anyway, their menu has a whole slew of things i'd like to try and the waitstaff was great, so i'll definitely be back. http://www.theclassicdinerpa.com/

Pacific Grill is gone. that's a bummer.

my parents used to live in the mt. laurel/medford area. a few of our favorites are: pacific grill in mt. laurel, which serves a creative selection of asian fusion and it's BYOB. http://www.pacificgrill.com/home/con_home.html tarantella ristorante in medford. i'm pretty sure it's still BYOB, but they also sell a local vineyard's wine. big portions of well-made italian cuisine. they don't take reservations, so get there early. http://www.medfordmenus.com/menus/tarantella.htm for dessert, try dolce crema in moorestown. it's no capogiro, but what is? http://www.dolcecrema.com/

moya was very nice. it's a small, brightly colored (yellow and orange) byob with local art on the walls. the art last evening was abstract, painted by the hostess. the menu was fairly standard issue ... salmon, steak, scallops, chicken, pasta. while there was not a heap of creativity, the food was nicely presented, plentiful in portion size very tasty. for appetizers, dr. sax had a nice feta cheese salad (greek salad-like) and i had crab cakes. there were two good size crab cakes with a nice remoulade-like dipping sauce and an endive salad with a creamy vinegary dressing. for dinner, i had the duck special (duck with cherries and brandy) and dr. sax had the scallops. there were a LOT of scallops and duck on our plates. the sides were some so-so mashed potatoes and broccoli with lime that dr. sax liked a lot. there are only a few upscale places to eat in jim thorpe and this place should be high on the list.

their sushi is not bad. their wasabi shumai are great and pack quite the little punch!

we're going to give moya a try. i'll report back.

i think you might be thinking of the sunrise diner. ←

My hubby and I are headed up there this weekend for a belated anniversary getaway. We're staying at a cute little B&B we've frequented before. Wondering if anyone knows any good dining establishments in that area we can go for dinner. I've found some stuff on the web, but first hand recommendations are more reliable.

i have two to add ... oaks deli on egypt road (right off 422 at the oaks exit) makes AMAZING pizza. i highly recommend their cheesesteak hoagie pizza. bring your appetite! Oaks Italian Deli 1601 Egypt Rd Phoenixville, PA 19460 (610) 666-0280 the next is kabuki, japanese in KOP. it's on 202 (the southbound side) right before the dekalb pike split going north on 202. they have the freshest fish in the area, IMHO. the food can take a while, but it's worth the wait. Kabuki Japanese Restaurant 180 E Dekalb Pike King Of Prussia, PA 19406 (610) 878-9203

if you need good directions (or a dining partner), you'll be back out in my necka da woods again.

8:30 in the morning and i'm STILL full! that was a fabulous dinner and great fun. i haven't pigged out like that (both literally and figuratively with all that pork belly) in a long time. to enhance jeff's commentary, the three cup chicken was made with a cup of alcohol (i'm guessing rice wine?), a cup of sesame oil and a cup of soy sauce with some sugar to sweeten it. it was quite tasty! did i mention how happy i am that i live close enough to walk to this place? hope everyone made it home safely in the downpour!

the indian grocery store in exton is owned by the same people that own the himalayan restaurant in malvern (in the great valley shopping center on the corner of 30 & 401 ... has a wachovia bank, taco bell/kfc, subway, etc in it). could be where the samosa are from. i'm excited about the asian market. i just bought an electric fondue pot for a party i'm throwing in september and i wanna try some szechuan hot pot in it. speaking of chinese, in the same shopping center mentioned above is my absolute FAVORITE vegan chinese restaurant called the su-tao cafe. they do buffet for lunch and dinner ever day except sundays (i think). you won't miss the meat even if you're a serious carnivore.

dr. sax and i hit las compadres for dinner on friday night. we started with guacamole, which was made to order. it consisted of chopped up avocados, tomatoes, red onions, cilantro and maybe lime juice. it wasn't the all smooth and creamy guac, it was the kind of guac that had nice chunks of each ingredient so it was extra fresh tasting. dr. sax had the chicken enchilada platter, which included three enchiladas which looked to be covered by lettuce, sour cream and queso fresco. it was paired with the rice and beans shown in percy's pictures. i had the carne al pastor ... marinated pork sauteed with pineapple and onions. the meat came out on the plate, paired with rice and beans. on the side were warm corn tortillas to wrap the meat in. it was delicious! i also had horchata and we shared the flan for dessert. it was the best mexican meal i've had outside of south philly. they don't take cards, tho, so if you go, bring cash. i really need to start carrying my camera on me.

sounds like you needed to invite peter piper over for that meal. ;-) glad they're adding "the good stuff" to the regular menu. now if i can only get them to automatically give me chopsticks, i'll be happy. we truly need to plan a large gathering at this place. the back rooms with the lazy susans would make for a good time.

i FINALLY made it to amada! my cousin flew in from LA last night for a short 18 hour stint in philly. my sister, her fiance, and i came out to meet him. i won't bore you with details (i think most of the menu has been covered in depth on this thread), but this is a rundown on what we ate (the english version): garlic shrimp serrano ham & melon ham croquettes 3 flatbreads ... shrimp, chorizo & white bean puree shortribs, horseradish, parm & bacon artichoke, wild shrooms, black truffles & manchego almond crusted goat cheese with tomato & basil beef tenderloin and foie gras roast pork halibut fish and chips tuna for dessert: churros rice pudding crema catalana mixed berries with sweet cream sorbet we managed to clear EVERY plate. the meal was excellent. i was a little worried when we first walked in, as they had live flamenco music which was really loud (very good, mind you, just loud), but it didn't last long. it added a nice authentic touch to the meal. my favorites were the melon with serrano ham (they sugar the melon then crisp it like creme brulee), the artichoke flat bread, the pernil, and the ham croquettes. i wouldn't knock the goat cheese. it was a little pedestrian, but tasty and a nice creamy contrast to the other dishes we got. i really liked the crema catalana. overall, i'm very happy we finally made it there and my cousin (who eats out in LA a lot) said it was the best meal he had all year.

they have some nice rooms in the back with the round tables and lazy susans for a big group. i'm in if you're going!

tonight is my last night in ATL for a conference. i must say i had a very nice food experience here! we arrived on saturday. we went to redfish creole on the east side for dinner saturday night. i really liked the decor of the restaurant. they had a margarita made with fresh strawberry puree for their drink special, so i had one of those. my husband had a local atlanta beer. i had the cajun seafood pate for an appetizer and jambalaya. my husband had the creole ceviche piquant and the crawfish etoufee. i admit, we have an excellent cajun/creole place where i live in PA, so i'm a little biased, but we really enjoyed our meal. his etoufee was especially tasty. they make a mean roux! they had a bread pudding with currants and a dark rum sauce that was TO DIE FOR! 7 out of 10 on the lauren-meter. sunday, we went to the globe for brunch. my husband said the decor was like eating at ikea. i kinda liked it. it was one of the better breakfasts i've had in a long time! i got their "blue plate"... which was 3 eggs, potato latkes (which they served with apple butter), toasted banana bread and i had them substitute chicken apple sausage for the bacon. very nice! fresh squeezed oj, too. the husband had a smoked salmon and egg sandwich that looked tasty. 7 out of 10 on the lauren-meter. sunday night, it was off the sweet lowdown (the site has music, so turn down your volume) for some southern food. i went with my husband and two other people. i had she-crab soup and fried chicken with mac and cheese. unfortunately, i was not too impressed with this place. it was ok. nothing to write home about. 5 out of 10 on the lauren-meter. monday, i lunched at the vortex in little five points (atlanta's funky section). really good burgers and really nice people! made me wanna get more tattoos and piercings. monday night i went to a cocktail party at the four seasons. my friends and i were hungrier than the hors d'oeuvres they were offering, so we went to park 75, the four season's restaurant. they had a $65 tasting menu that we decided to go for. they started us out with an amuse bouche of fig marinated in balsamic vinegar with foie gras mousse. mmm. i had an appetizer of foie gras atop a wonton-like crisp and strawberry rhubarb. that was followed by wagyu shortribs over smoked gouda grits with mushrooms and a trio of honey panna cotta with berries. O-M-G. it was AMAZING. i told the waiter to tell the chef the ribs gave my tongue an orgasm. perhaps a little much for the south. 10 out of 10 on the lauren-meter. tonight, we went to ecco for dinner, which is part of a series of restaurants owned by the same people. it was a veritable feast for the senses! i wasn't starving and they offered tapas-like portions, so i picked three. i started with fried goat cheese and honey. they took balls of goat cheese, dipped them in a very light tempura batter, fried them, then drizzled them with honey and cracked peppers. it was like eating greek loukoumathes filled with cheese. WAY YUMMY! next, i had chirizo with pears and hard cider. the spiciness of the chirizo was a lovely match for the sweetness of the pears. last, i had the garlic shrimp. this was shrimp bathed in garlic and oil with hot spicy pepper and a bay leaf. it reminded me of a good szechuan garlic sauce. i was sopping the sauce up with bread. for dessert, i asked to sample their ice cream. they came out with a very generous scoop. it was burnt honey ice cream with gorganzola cheese. you wouldn't think it would be good, but the flavors were so layered, it was amazing! it started with the sweetness of the honey, then the burnt taste, followed by the creaminess of the ice cream, finished with the salty-tang of the cheese. really good. my friends had riccotta fritters with framboise sauce (the lightest, best donut holes you've ever eaten) and an olive oil pound cake with rosemary ice cream. not very sweet, but light and really delicious! 9 out of 10 on the lauren-meter. i basically blindly picked these restaurants doing web searches and reading a little off e-gullet and was overall very pleased with the food in atlanta! if you're here visiting for a conference or whatever, please take some time to wander off the beaten path a little and i guarantee you'll be rewarded! starting tomorrow, we go back on the diet!