sohjyu's Profile
Help - Brown Sauce from Chinatown restaurants with Roast Pork [moved from Manhattan board]
Do you mean roast pig (the kind w the crispy skin)? It's sweet, brown, and kind of thick, not too salty? That's called Hoisin sauce. When I use it as a dipping sauce, I usually just take that and thin it out w a bit of water.
Mommy and Me NYC Weekend
OMG. Mars2112 is still open??? It's so bad, I would've thought it closed down ages ago! Don't go. Waste of money and waste of time!
Fun dinner in Midtown East?
I've always enjoyed:
Sakagura (Japanese sake bar, awesome small plates, great dessert)
Don's Bogam BBQ & Wine Bar (Korean BBQ)
Pera (mediterranean)
Asia de Cuba (Asian fusion)
East Buffet
My family and I go to the East in Elmhurst for convenience. But we usually don't go for buffet, we just go for dinner, a la carte. Food is decent.
For buffet, we went to the Minado in Long Island a few weeks ago. I was quite impressed. Great selection of sushi (for a buffet), and other food was good, too. They have a crepes station (which my husband tried), a noodles station, a skewers station, etc. Dinner was $30+.
No Roast Goose?
I assume you're looking for the Cantonese style roast goose? In all my years of living in NYC, I've never seen roast goose at a Cantonese restaurant that serves roast meats. It's usually (delicious) roast duck or squab. Let me know if you ever find it.
Sripraphai overrated
We always go back to Sri because the food's consistent, their bathrooms are usually clean, they're somewhat kid friendly, and we're lazy to try other places. We always order:
- bbq pork tenders, fantastic
- masaman w beef
- drunken noodles w chicken
- pad see eow w pork
- green papaya salad
Have been to Zabb and Chao Thai. Will definitely try the others listed here.
Need TAKEOUT (lunch) ideas near 6th and 40th for quick cheap yummy bite to eat!
Szechuan Gourmet (39th b/n 5th and 6th)
Kati Roll (also 39th b/n 5th and 6th)
Pan Fried Noodle Search
Joe's Shanghai has a version of "pan-fried noodles" that are not the usual yellow super thin type of noodles (that you would find in a standard wonton noodle soup say at Big Wong). It is also not the flat, wide rice noodles either ("ho fun" that you would find in a beef chow-fun).
Joe's Shanghai's is a white noodle, kind of thick, not too thin, and deep fried, served with a meat/veggie combo sauce over the top which then makes the noodles tender enough to eat. These are yummy (the noodle, I mean, I don't remember the sauce).
Although if you're looking for not-deep-fried but stir-fried white, flat, thin, narrow, rice noodles, you may be looking for Kway Tiao (what I consider the Chinese version of Pad Thai), at least that's how I've seen it in restaurants in Chinatown. If so, then I think Bo Ky has it, too. Although in Malaysia or Singapore, Kway Tiao can be narrow or wide.
unique wings? "hidden" wings?
My favorite wings in the city are still from Dinosaur BBQ.
But, some of the most unusual...
- went to a happy hour where we had chicken wings without the bone, and it's literally the middle section of the chicken wing (not the drumette), and they took it and chopped off the ends where the bones meet at each end (so you're left with the two remaining pieces of bone which are parallel to each other), and then removed the remaining bone, and then what's left is cooked and served. I thought it was such a waste of a chicken wing, but this was truly boneless chicken wings (and not just white meat that they say is boneless wings!). Anyway, it was tasty enough, and unique enough that I remember it still, but they were small bites. I think the place is La Fonda del Sol by Grand Central.
- the other one is from a trip to Kyoto. We ate at a random casual japanese place, and we got the japanese style chicken wings (which I usually don't like), but these were served with a sprinkle of sugar (mixed in w a little bit of salt), and a drizzle of sweet soy sauce. I didn't think I would like it when they brought it to the table, but it was good! But I digress.
- Have you ever had Cantonese style duck wings? They're typically braised in a five spice/soy sauce type of marinade. Yummy! Sometimes, I've seen them at Big Wong in Chinatown, pre-packed in the white plastic to-go containers by the cashier.
- There's also Malaysian style wings, they're fried I believe, had it at Nyonya on Grand St, I think, also pretty good.
Chinese Banquet in Flushing?
Hi. Since this is for a birthday/b-mitzvah, I would suggest the shrimp with candied walnuts or peking style pork chops, very popular with kids. Maybe chicken with cashew nuts. Would NOT suggest sharks fin soup (too expensive) or other chinese delicacies such as abalone (would be too weird and would not be appreciated anyway) for the children.
Also, keep in mind that a lot of the standard chinese banquet food consists of whole chicken or whole fish, which has a lot of bones. May want to avoid these if the guests are not used to it.
If a lot of the guests are children, you would probably not need the standard 12-14 courses that a banquet provides. And if it's lunch that you're looking for, you also don't need that much food.
Reserving some tables and pre-ordering is definitely the way to go. Private rooms are also more costly.
Review - Casa de Elian (Forest Hills)
We tried this place a few months ago. We phoned in our order for pick-up. The food was good, better than expected. We were told that the menu changes every week. It's worth revisiting. We tried the taco sampler (fish taco was the best), the guac ($7 - decent), the grilled corn ($3), the tilapia entree ($14) and a chicken entree ($14) (the tilapia was better). Did not get dessert.
At the time, they had no highchairs available for children...
Chinese Caterers
Hi. Congratulations first of all! Must be so exciting!
DECOR
The traditional Cantonese restaurants will usually have the red and gold decor because of their symbolism for good fortune and happiness.
Last year I attended a small banquet at a Chinese restaurant in Manhattan called S. Dynasty. It's on the 2nd floor, and is part of a hotel. I think it would meet your expectations with the decor, it's not gaudy at all. From what I recall, the food was decent. Don't know the price.
http://www.sdynastyny.com/default.aspx?cmd=photogallery
I also know that Harmony Palace in the Manhattan Chinatown (lower east side) was renovated within the last 2-3 years, so you might want to check out that place, too. I think the decor is somewhat updated, so might not be as gaudy as some of the older restaurants. I have not been there since the renovation.
There is also a Chinese restaurant/catering hall in Flushing, by Linden Blvd. I've heard that the decor is somewhat more westernized (but does not mean it's not gaudy). Sorry, don't know the name.
Also, I don't know how many guests you're inviting... Usually the layout of Chinese restaurants consist of one main dining room, and depending on the size, may seat 25-50 tables (250-500 guests). If you don't have enough guests to fill up the whole restaurant, typically, the restaurant will partition off your party, so the other tables can be filled up for walk-in dinner guests.
There are some restaurants (the ones I've seen are in Queens) that have actual party rooms away from the main dining room. These rooms are usually small, and accomodate anywhere from just 2 tables to 5 tables. The catch is that it's more expensive to book these rooms. If you do go for one of these, make sure the rooms are well ventilated.
PRICE
In terms of price, many restaurants will work with you and tailor the menu to fit your budget. The reason why banquets are so expensive is because the food mostly consists of Chinese delicacies like shark fin soup (which is at least $25 per bowl/person), abalone, sea cucumber, etc. The other dishes on a banquet menu such as shrimp with walnuts, stir-fried lobster with ginger and green onion, steak, fried rice, whole chicken, etc, only cost about $15-$20 per dish. If you're concerned about price, definitely consider asking them to take out some of the chinese delicacies and replace it with other less expensive dishes. Typically, the banquet menus at restaurants are preset, with varying price levels. Some do allow for substitution.
OTHER THOUGHTS
The typical Chinese restaurants will ask you to pay with almost all cash (yes, even for a $20,000+ banquet).
The sticker price of the banquet will typically include tax (if you pay with cash).
Tips and service fees should be negotiated up front, also paid with cash, this varies greatly between restaurants (typically 18-25%).
Prices do not include alcohol.
Ask what else the price includes (I know the East on Kissena Blvd has a package that included the wedding cake and an ice sculpture. This is NOT typical.)
Book the restaurant early, especially for large weddings, and especially if the banquet day falls on an auspicious day (per the Chinese lunar calendar).
Check out the bathrooms (I hate bathrooms in Chinese restaurants).
Check out the changing room for the bride.
Ask about parking.
Down a hidden staircase in Chinatown, Eisenhower-era American food
My friend recommended this place to us, and my husband and I loved it, until they changed owners and the name changed from Win(g) Sing to Win Luck, although the Chinese name is still the same. Now the food is ok, but not the same. Our favorite dish was always the baked pork chop over rice (breaded and fried pork chop, cut up into strips, on top of fried rice, then topped with a ketchuppy tomato sauce, then baked). This type of cuisine is HK cafe style Western food (aka ketchup=spaghetti sauce). These and other places like XO serve the HK style milk tea, which are not the same as the typically milk teas served at Chinese bakeries (where the tea comes from a tea bag). They cater to HK natives. Prices are generally reasonable.
Best Vietnamese in NY (both cheap and fancy)?
Sapa serves French Vietnamese fusion which is quite yummy. I don't recall pho on their menu, but it's a good restaurant nonetheless (good food, atmosphere, etc.)
Date with vegetarian
I agree that you don't have to go to a vegetarian restaurant to have a date with a vegetarian. But it depends on what kind of vegetarian your date is... One of my vegetarian friends loves Gobo and EN (Japanese). He is also a vegetarian who eats dairy (cheese and eggs), and enjoys eating at Basta Pasta, Craft, etc... I also agree that Indian and certain Asian cuisines are very vegetarian friendly. In NY, you can almost go to any restaurant and they will cater to the needs of a vegetarian.
Weekday Dim Sum: World Tong or Jade (formerly Gum Fung)
My in-laws are taken w/ the East Buffet in Elmhurst (near Queens Blvd, by the Commerce Bank and the Hess station). Besides buffet, they serve regular a la carte dim sum - the dining room for that is on the 2nd fl. Recently, they're offering select $1 items on weekends (yes, Sat. and Sun.), which are self-serve - you go to the self-serve area (in the back to the right when you walk in on the 2nd fl), and my husband loves the deep fried mini- roast pork buns. There are a total of 10 items on the $1 menu. Also on the $1 menu, a fish paste pancake w/ lotus root, bbq beef short-ribs, and the mango pudding are quite nice. Also, they have porridge w/ peanuts and dried bonito for $1 a bowl, although I didn't try this, my husband thought it was nice.
On the regular menu, the shrimp noodles and beef noodles are yummy, as well as the shrimp dumplings. The beef in the beef noodles is not the standard minced beef, they're slices of beef.
My in-laws and us also frequent this restaurant for their regular buffet and hotpot buffet, more out of its convenient location. Both are ok, standard, not spectacular.
ISO: Best Wedding Reception Halls in Queens
Are you referring to a Chinese banquet hall, type?
Ollies42 Sichuan Restaurant
One of my friends heard about this place and brought me there. Since then, I've been back several times. Dishes to note include one with fish fillet in a Sichuan style spicy sauce, served in a metal wok over an open flame, there are two versions of this: the more expensive (and larger) one has silken tofu (recommended), and the less expensive (and smaller) dish is served w/ napa cabbage. Both are good, but I love the tofu.
The other dish is fatty pork sliced thin, stir-fried w/ leeks in a spicy oil - the fatty pork which looks like bacon doesn't taste fatty at all, it's chewy (and yummy).
Yuzu-mania
Ooh, I love that condiment. At Go in the East Village, they serve a dish with eel over rice, served with a green tea soup that you pour on top of the bowl. It's lovely, and they serve the yuzu kosho on the side as a condiment along with pickled daikon and wasabi.
What and Where is the BEST mushroom dish in town?
The vegetarian Asian-style restaurant Gobo has a great king oyster mushroom dish, the mushrooms are sliced like wedge shaped french fries, then dipped in flour (or maybe corn starch?), and seasoned likely with salt and pepper. The texture is meaty, and so yummy!
Ditto the mushroom medley at Craft.
At Inagiku (Japanese restaurant at the Waldorf), they have these maitake mushrooms that are cooked on a hot stone. They're warm, slightly crispy, and have a slight grilled flavor, and they're fantastic. Served with lemon juice and salt. It's appetizer size and about $10, but yummy!
There was also this chinese restaurant on Broome (forgot the cross-street) called Funky Broom or something, they serve small shitake mushroom caps, dipped in corn starch, then fried, seasoned w/ salt and pepper. They were a bit salty at the time that I tried it, but it was a refreshing change from the standard salt and pepper squid that you always see on chinese menus.
CRAFT..what to order??
Ooh... I loved that place. Been there once. We ordered lots of veggies because we had two vegetarians w/ us. At the time, we had mushrooms (they made a medley for us), the fairytale eggplant (very cute), etc... For appetizer, we had Foie Gras Terrine & Wild Huckleberries (very rich), the Beets and Tarragon salad (yummy). For entree, the meat eaters ordered mostly fish, all superb, so can't help you there. For dessert, the cheese selection was most memorable.
International Dumplings - need info urgently
In Chinatown area - for Cantonese style dumplings - XO on Hester between (Elizabeth and Bowery?) or Big Wong on Mott between Canal and Bayard has yummy wonton and other dumplings. There's also a Chiu Chao restaurant (forgot the name) on the corner of Mulberry and Bayard that serves dumplings made from fish paste, I believe they're called fish dumplings on the menu - it's the restaurant that sells all the duck in the front.
Ditto Mandoo Bar for Korean style dumplings - my favorite are the Baby Mandoo and Kimchi Mandoo.
