phungi

Here is the link

I dont' know if this is local or not, but I do not think it is far from 11th and Liberty. While staying at the Westin near the stadium(s), I wandered into Sammy's Famous Corned Beef while in Pittsburgh and had an excellent sandwich.

WOW! We had a group of 24 or so, packed in to two tables. We had a specially prepared banquet-style 10-course meal which was considered "table-style" in that the platters were prepared for a table (or 10 or so). Giant plates of Pork, Chicken, Beef, Duck, Flounder, some kind of foul (with the heads), Shrimp, and a large platter of absolutely delicious cantonese Lobster... I wish I thought to take pictures of every course. The cost was about $600 or so per table, which amounted to 50-ish per person, although it was picked up by the organization (we were all in town for a Board meeting). I specifically asked our "contact" if this was available to the general public and he said you have to order the special banquet style meal for the table. BYOB was a nice plus. Whew, I need a nap!

Thanks to you both for the quick feedback and the correct spelling. It was presented to me as a "place owned by a friend or a friend" and while it still lacks the luster of NYC fine dining, it is nice to know that it has been visited, reviewed, and listed on the web (is eGulleted a verb?). Also, thanks for the honest and direct feedback about what I intended to be a joke. I never thought or meant it to be disparaging, but perhaps I simply didn't think, period.

I am coming to town from Philly for a Board meeting, and someone planned a group dinner at Hee Win Lai restaurant in Chinatown, 32-30 Pell St. I can't find anything in terms of on-line reviews or even listings, and fear I may be eating kung pao kitty. With all the fantastic dining options, I am not sure why anyone would plan a dinner in an unknown venue in Chinatown. Is anyone familiar with this locale, or am I better off heading to Brother Jimmy's on my own tab?

I fear that even the most positive reassuring review will not alleviate the unsettled feeling I get when I think about eating "tribe" or "innards"

Thanks, now I have to stop and pick up some Bassett's banana on the way home after I pick up take-out from all the other suggested locales from the various forums!

I have not had the lobster at Bookbinder's but I cannot imagine it competes with The Palm's lobster. The lone lobster I had at the Palm (on someone else's tab) was perfectly cooked, absolutely delicious, and I had an unobtrusive personal lobster-cracking assistant every step of the way.

I drove past on the way home and a hand-scrawled sign in the window said: "Due to emergency, Zeke's will be closed for a few days." Maybe this will motivate me to call ahead to try Debreaux's.

After having lunch at Zeke's a few weeks back, I have stopped by twice to pick up ribs for dinner, and they were closed. Rather than stop by again, I called (several more times) before going there and no-one has answered. Anyone know what is going on with what I thought would be my new favorite local BBQ locale? Worried in Wynnewood...

My Thai is a great find. The My Thai soup was excellent, and tasty spicy, and the curry chicken was also delish. And, a party of 9 with about 6 drinks and 6 desserts was about $210 with tip.

thanks! curry is always a fall-back favorite!

I am meeting a group at My Thai tonight and cannot find any reviews other than Zagat. There is very little in the eGullet archives, so I was wondering if anyone knewof published reviews or had an informal review to post. Thanks!

I'm going to Taconelli's this weekend for what is becoming an annual birthday gathering, and we reserved four dough (for four people). I always order one white/spinich/tomato, and some other assorted red pies with various toppings. I am curious what is/are your favorite Taconelli's pie(s)?

In an effort to keep this thread on the front page, I went to Steve's (on Bustleton Ave.) today for lunch. The steak was exactly the kind I like, not chopped, big slabs/chunks of meat. Usually, this makes a jucier steak, but it was a little on the dry side, so I have a feeling I did not get their best product today. However, the roll was excellent and the fried onions were cooked just right, making it a very tasty steak sandwich. Also excellent were the spicy fries with dipping cheese. If you have never been there, it is worth the trip for a unique delicious cheesteak. Overall, the meat was tender, earning it a 1-toothpick rating (which is nice).

was there a Hillary's on Old York Road and 73? I recall several different restaurants at that locale...

I forgot about Headhouse square... what was the name of that Steak place that was quite forgettable?

Is that a mac and cheese recipe you are willing to share?

so a birthday ritual has become an evening out with friends at Taconelli's, which among my crowd is considered good eating... is there any compelling argument to switch the festivities to Lombardi's this year?

Zeke's has a small dining room. I hear it used to be a fast food restaurant, but you cannot tell from the inside.

finally got some lunch-time bbq... went to Zeke's and was not sure what I was going to order until I saw a pulled pork sandwich being served. I got one to go (no sides, as it looked huge) and spent the better part of a half-hour enjoying what amounted to an open-faced platter on a bun it in my office. the bbq is the real deal, smoked and tasty, with an excellent home-made sauce (that you can get as mild, hot or mixed; I went with the mixed). Several people have peaked into my office to comment on the wonderful smell. Zeke's is very much a "smoke house in the park" type of business, and Zeke even pulled off his gloves to work the register, which amounted to a wad in his pocket. The question now is not "will I go back" but it is "will I go back to pick up some ribs for tonight."

I still smile and shudder when I think of the old dude singing Mick Jagger with his shirt unbuttoned... they did have some great mussles...

funny thing about memories from yester-year... I also have some hazy college-age memories of meals from Le Bus (the Bus and then the Sansom Street locale), Troy's (oh that hand-written menu), Ronnie's Sandwich Shoppe (now Billy Bob's? 40th and Spruce) and the Wurst house (something about the mushrooms I ate made the place/plates seem magical).

Ye Olde Ale House, corner of Red Lion road and Roosevelt Boulevard... I know there are other locales, but this one had the train set... And of course, who can forget Pavio's, corner of Bustleton and Byberry, perhaps not known for its culinary skills, but home to many a Wedding and Bar Mitzvah affair in the 1980's...

I don't know if this will qualify as "greatly missed" but there was a restaurant called "The Open Hearth" which served fresh hot loaves of bread to your table... that was as good as it got for a kid being dragged out to dinner. Mind you, it was no Heroburger, Gino's rectangular answer to the Whopper...