Wanted to like this place, because I've always like Monsoon, but no go. Let me sum up: wrong food (brought by waiters who don't seem to be able to converse), no food (when I asked where my companion's lunch was, I got an irritated look; she said it would be "right out" when she obviously hadn't even placed the order yet), no apologies. Plus, what food we did get wasn't that great, the dumplings had something gritty in them. Too bad, because it's a great space in a good location. Won't be back.

Jpaul-- you're not in Dallas any more. Do what we do-- go out for a big bowl of pho for your breakfast. $5-7 most places.

I was in search of food yesterday, and the crowds at Skillet on Union looked like the kind that were going to linger oven their lunches forever. So I went around the corner and found the take-away hole-in-the-wall (actually, they have one forlorn chair on the sidewalk), Baguette, at Madison and 15th. I ordered the "in-house special" banh mi. Was it good? Does the sun rise in the east? Is the Pope Catholic? It was FANTASTIC, as long as you have a big appetite. The baguette was big, fresh, perfect. They stuffed it with the usual, plus. Three kinds of meat, hot peppers, cilantro, sauces. I inhaled it. And under five bucks. If they were open at night, and not just in the daytime, you'd never see me at a Dick's again.

Lenny's in Branford-- the double, for sure! This year I made a mistake and ordered them at Scoozi's in downtown New Haven. Yuck.

You will not find it. Your best bet is to go to Totto Ramen in NYC's Hell's Kitchen, and even that is not the real thing.

You know, it's not half-bad. The Korean people who run it are very nice and the food is okay. Still, W 32nd St in NYC is not that far away . . .. BTW, it you want bibimbap, go to Sushi on Chapel just a few blocks away . . . it's excellent there.

Great thread. Okay, I'm gonna say ALL New Haven pizza places are overrated. (I go to Grand Apizza when I need to, nothing special, no rep, no wait, no expectations) Plus, definitely Claire's and Pot au Pho. I'll add: Scoozi's (yuck) and Bangkok Garden (inedible).

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Bangkok Garden Restaurant
172 York St, New Haven, CT 06511

I agree with you about Guadalupe's-- what's happened to them? I've stopped going. They can't stay in business much longer.

You can forget Copperleaf. I called three times for a reservation, and they never called back. Online reservation system says "system down." So just imagine what the rest of their service must be like. Going to Ponti instead.

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Copperleaf Restaurant
18525 36th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98188

Agreed. It's like people on the New England chowhound board who ask where to go for lobster. No one raised in NE goes out for lobster-- we eat it at home. I feel sorry for the tourists.

Thanks. I called JMart last week, they said they didn't have them. I called Hong Kong, too, but they could not communicate in English. I will visit both of them today and see what the story is.

Does anyone know if I can buy shirataki (Japanese yam) noodles in New Haven? Thanks!

I went last week, too. Three of us sat at a table, two ordered the sashimi combo, one ordered the sushi combo. Nothing special. Service was attentive, but that was likely because one of us was the former teacher of the waitperson.

The steak.

Now that Limon's is gone (sigh), where can I get Turkish groceries in/near New Haven? Today's NYT has a Turkish recipe that requires pomegranite molasses. I need other stuff too!

Thanks to everyone for their advice. There is a limit, however, to how far I'll drive for two cups of rice. Found nothing at Whole Foods. I ended up WALKING to my local C-Town and buying Goya's Valencia Rice-- it worked fine!

I'm making paella soon, and I want to get the right rice-- i.e., something from Spain. Where can I find it in/near New Haven? Thanks

I was one of the original bartenders at the Northampton Fitzwilly's when it opened. Then I was briefly a bartender at the New Haven one, too. I enjoyed working at both of them-- icons of the 70s. Made better tips at Prince Rashid's in Hadley, MA-- anyone remember it?

Well, I hope you're wrong. I lived downtown (Orange St) for several years, and was glad to move to Fair Haven. I ate in East Haven last month, and did not "fit in" with the crowd there, either. (I'm black, and boy did they make me feel I was.) Actually, I'm surprised more restaurants haven't closed, given how bad the economy is. By the way, I've given up on Jenelle's. Last two times I was there, it was filled with young mothers with strollers and children and cell phones and the noise level was unbearable (no carpets, no drapes). It's become some kind of social center for "moms." Too bad. You're right, our options and fewer and fewer.

I disagree. I live directly across from Martin's on the other side of the river, and have eaten there often. The food is good, if not great, and Martin and his staff are excellent. It's just that winter is a tough time for a restaurant whose best feature is its outside patio. I'm worried-- with Geppi's closed (?), my neighborhood is at risk of having no nice places to eat. Martin, we're with you!

Went back yesterday for the second time. Once again, the deli was non-functioning. Half a dozen people waiting to be waited on, no numbers to take. One person behind the counter, back to us, putting sandwiches in boxes and doing her best, successfully, to ignore us. I gave up and went to Big Y for my sliced turkey, which was half the price of WF's anyway. Store manager, do you read Chowhound??

Hmm. The Milford Whole Foods is not enormous. Average to small for a WF. (Go to the original Central Market in Austin for ENORMOUS.) I was disappointed at the many things they do NOT carry (many cuts of pork, Shick razor blades, daikon, etc.) I hoped that with WF, I could go back to one-stop shopping. Not so.

I live in New Haven-- where's the closest place for good fried chicken and waffles??

I've been many times. It's excellent. The space is attractive and clean; the staff friendly; the sandwiches good, though some better than others. I'm not as enthusiastic about the espresso drinks, they're expensive and amateurish. Between that and the new Salsa on Grand, my lunches are now all taken care of. Martin's and Machu Picchu are for my dinners. Long live Fair Haven!

Jenelle's is on Front Street north of Grand, south of Lombard, set back from the street in the marina.

Any recommendations where to take nine people out for Thanksgiving in the New Haven-Meriden-Hartford area? One member of my party uses a walker and can't handle stairs. Thanks!

My parents live in York and when I visit they always want me to take them out to dinner at Warren's . . . and I do. Since they're locals we walk through the crowd. And I ALWAYS order fried clams. The salad bar rules, as well.

Don't even bother trying. I'm serious. If you're kosher, you're in trouble overall. Get some alder wood smoked salmon somewhere and have it with some fresh bread, lemon juice, maybe fresh pepper and sea salt. In your hotel room, reading the weekend papers.

I often go after dinner to the Sorrento Hotel on Madison St. It's not intimate, but I like the old-style hotel atmosphere. And congratulations on your marriage!

I'm not a fan of Dungeness crab. I live half the year in the northeast and run to restaurants on the CT shore when soft-shell crabs are in the season (spring).

That said, the east coast has nothing like geoduck in black bean sauce. I agree with other that the Chinese restaurants are the best overall for the money you'll pay. My favorite is very old school: the Sea Garden in the ID. Isn't there a branch in Bellevue as well?

Just back to Seoul from two weeks in Tel Aviv on business. What good food! You guys have it great.