After leaving the Apple store we passed by and saw some empty outside tables so we decided to stop for dinner. There is very little outdoor dining in the area and it was a beautiful night so with the kids in tow we grabbed a table and enjoyed a pleasant evening.The setting reminded me of many of the sidewalk meals we enjoyed in Barcelona last April. All the stores are closed so it is actually quiet and laid back, outside. We started with excellent crusty bread and some wine. For apps we has a tuscan tomato soup, hearts of palm salad, baked clams (not enough lemon or garlic) and fantastic octopus. The octopus was meaty and dressed with lemon,oil and red onion, it disappeared in a hurry. For mains we had a ricotta gnocchi which was the pasta special, pasta carbonara, branzino and pappardelle with veal ragu. All were very good with nice but not overwhelming portions though they will do half orders upon request. We finished with some cheesecake and gelato that were once again very good. A nice surprise was when George Poll and family were seated next to us and we got a chance to make small talk with him. He was very gracious, didn't work the room or crowd. He sat, ate and then left. So, all in all, a delicious meal enjoyed outside on a beautiful night.

Silverjay,
nice list, a ton of good suggestions. But............
I have never thought much of the beef served at Srip and can't think of one dish they make with beef that is worth ordering. It may not be authentic,but to me the Penang Curry at Srip is better with pork. I think the last time the delicious Fried Soft Shell Crab has been under ten dollars was when Srip was one narrow storefront. I remember that for a long time it was the it was just about the only dish on the menu over ten dollars. I am one of the Drunken Noodle fans and though it may lack "Wok Hay" I still love the dish and when eating with a group I need a noodle dish to round out the meal. As for sator bean, my experience with durian was enough to scare me away from anything to stinky to be served indoors.

Could not agree more. I was there early Saturday morning and sat outside with my son and enjoyed a fantastic chocolate croissant and almond cream pastry with juice and coffee. Quiet street, perect weather, delicious food, worth at least one breakfast/brunch for a visitor to Delray.

Sator bean! aka stink bean. I tried to order at the Queens location and they said it was take out only, and I never got to try it. BTW, the penang curry is a favorite but I get it with pork.

Hi Janie. The Long Island board has suffered the same fate as the dinosaurs. Wiped out by a cataclysmic event. In their case it was a meteor, in our case it was a "board reorganization". We were not that prolific beforehand but now it is all but gone. Anyway, I still regularly enjoy Srip East after years of patronage at the Original, and have posted such thoughts. What I like, they do well. Red and Panang curry, soft shell crab with the mango side, curry puffs, drunken noodles and a few other items. Combined with dessert at Hildebrants down Hillside, a place your kids would love, it is still more then worth a trip.

I will be back this Saturday, with my 11 yearold son so we may do the "tasting menu" but 16 plates is an awful lot for him. I was happy with my selections last time and would like to explore the menu on my own but 16 courses for $100 might be to good a deal to pass on. I'm leaning toward my own tasting menu for the two of us. So, is it still $100/16 and $125/20? Any other combo? Have they added anything new that is a can't miss? if any other 'hounds are there, gives us a wave.

Been down here forever..........

1 Xian for lamb dunplings in hot sauce. 106 Mosco for the usual fried dumplings with, sadly,watered down Siracha.
2. Nom Wha for dim sum, excellent food in a cool old style joint.

In what area do you live? You should not have to go far to find an excellent one. I love Bagel Hut in Great Neck and ask for and receive one,"well done". They also will let me know what is hot out of the oven. Also for western Nassau people is Utopia Bagel in Queens(on the boarder of Bayside and Whitestone). If you search Chowhound you well find it is loved and adored by many. I have become more of a fan recently and the accolades are well deserved.

Katz's sandwich looks slightly smaller, to my eye and stomach.

I had the Mile End Reuben yesterday and it was delicious. It was also small, in fact I would describe it as tiny. With fries a drink and pickle is was a full meal. Most importantly it was delicious. I agree with you Bob, it is different then Katz's. Two differnet animals,both are awesome. For what its worth,I still love Katz's, and the sandwich is slightly smaller and still to big for mere mortals.

I have passed that place a million times on my way to All American and shamefully, never tried it. What do you recommend to eat there?

At the new Southern Spice the owner is always present. The food has gotten better though the samosa chaat, my usual favorite starter, is still mediocre. Most everything else is quite good. I do miss Spicy Mina though.

Mumbai Xpress and the nearby Usha Foods are excellent though both require a car to get to.

If you are limited to Bayside, and you want Greek, I would also go with Avli on Bell.

Janie, are you thinking of Lido Kosher Deli? It fills a need on the way back from the beach. Just a guess but is Ben's Best to grimey for you, is that the reason for your dislike of the place?

Nope, just a bar for people waiting for a train, terrible. I suggest you repost with more information about where you will be in the city and you will get some suggestions. Maybe something in Chelsea and then short walk or train ride to Penn. Or, I would suggest Hill Country. Excellent food, family friendly and maybe a ten minute walk to Penn.

Kensington Deli, few places I have disliked more. Do they actually cook anything? Last time I was there everything either came out of a Hebrew National bag or from a huge plastic tub. They don't even have real plates or silverware, everything was plastic. At Deli King the chicken in a pot is a favorite in my family and while the meats come out of bags as well, they do cook other food and have all the Ashkenazi classics. I fill the deli meat craving in the city or at Ben's Best. I am curious, has Kensington Deli changed?

I was a little underwhelmed by Mara's on my last two visits and only dined there because my son was at a nearby gym party and I had some time to kill. The food was decent, but did not justice to the great food of New Orleans. Barbeque and Biscuits is a N.O. type joint in Mineola and my one meal was respectable but no better then Mara's, though it was just one meal so I will return, has anyone else tried it?

Sripraphai WP v. Woodside, interesting question. I started at Sri Woodside when I learned about it from Chowhound and it was one small narrow room serving great Thai, but I had such limited knowledge and experience with Thai, what did I know? Well I do know what I like and as it grew and became overcrowded the food remained excellent, to my taste. Many 'hounds have moved on to other Queens Thai joints, some I have tried and enjoyed. At the end of the day I still love many of the dishes at Srip/ WP and remain loyal. Fried soft shell crab, fried watercress salad, curry puffs, pannang, or red curry, pork leg, and drunken noodles are just some of my favorites. I still don't like their deserts so we go sit at the counter at Hildebrants and enjoy the ice cream.

I was at Lola a week ago and sat at the bar and enjoyed a new menu item, Korean fried chicken. Delicious, perfectly fried, juicy and with a little spice. It came with a boring rice cake and a perfefect rendition of the papaya salad served with the fried soft shell crab at Sripraphai. Not surprising as Chef Ginor is a big fan of Thai cuisine and eats there. With an ice cold beer and an order of super thin french fries, it was a terrific snack.

Duh, Gastronomos, have you been to the Williton branch of Sripraphai?

............. and try Erica's suggestion of Market Bistro in Jericho.... and some North Fork joints...... and Mirabelle........
and some pizza... and some Indian............and yes, LI is no food heaven, the best thing about it is the proximity to the greatness of Queens............. and report back!

Peace to you.

In six years you have posted approximately 35 times and other then your two recent general complaints it is been virtuually nothing but trashing Greek restaurants. Your other post calls for food fit for human consumption, Have you tried the aforementioned restaurants? If not, why not? In last Friday's Newsday there was a story of a Long Island restaurant with a chef nominated for a James Beard Award, maybe you should start there. By the way, Lupa is one of your favorite restaurants? Really? It's not even one of Mario's favorite restaurants.Yes I have been there.

Lamb Dumplings. They just added them to the menu at Bayard street, I know because I go there once a week. Fantastic. Six plump thick skinned but tender dumplings bathed in a hot and sour puddle sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds and some slivers of green. Slow burn/tingle.

Indeed, Dough is the best. It was shocking how good they were. I gave up on Doughnut Plant on the LES, though many swear by them. Dough blows them away. Sadly I can't think of a place on the Island. Now that you put it out there, lets see what comes back, I'm going to do some sampling.

They have a slice storefront next to the restaurant. You can even get a mexican coke to wash it down with from the the bodega down the block. When they are right, which is most of the time, they are as good as anyone.
edit: well as good as any place not named DiFara. It is for me, Dom and then all the rest. I have him booked for a Tuesday party that has me as excited as any meal I have ever anticpated.

Fiza Diner on Hillside ave. It is a dirty restaurant in a DiFara way. Tables to eat at but nobody to clean them. Sink in the corner, right in the seating area. Serve yourself box freezer that looks like the one from Texas Chain Saw Massacre next to the tables that is half full of kulfi pops. Just downright grimey. A little while ago they renovated and moved out the sink but the food service situation remains the same. Dirty greasy crumb covered tables with plastic water jugs.Great tandoor dishes and fantastic keema. Big choice of vegetables as well as brain dishes for the adventerous. Even the people behind the counter look like they could use a shower or at least some clean clothing. I get everything to go.

Really? Not a place for burgers? They make one of the best burgers, anywhere. With the side of fries, creamed spinach and a cold draft it is one of the all time best burger meals. You live on the North Shore, check out the Great Neck branch on a quiet afternoon for lunch.

Well, Ben's is better than the Kensington Deli in Great Neck and I have had many a solid deli meal there. My older family members that live in the area are regulars and Ben's supplies what is often under appreciated, a tasty reminder of the past and something you just can't make at home.

Wineconsul, how did it go?

Centre Pizza, eh. Gino's on Middleneck right in town is just as good. Grimaldi's in the shopping center next to Fairway and the movie theatre just off the LIE is better. Nothing wrong with the place but I don't see it as any better then any slice joint on the island. Now, not sure how you feel about Five Guys, but I like them as far as fast food burgers and they are in the same strip mall as Centre Pizza.

Peter Luger for the burger.
Lola,though no lunch on Saturday.
Kensington Deli, not a big fan but you can get all the traditional items.
Miraku for excellent sushi.

Enjoy