ISO restaurant for private party, ADA accessible, vegetarian options:

Thank you, everyone. My sister seems to be choosing btwn Fork and JGDomestic, which I'd never heard of before it was rec., so thanks very much.

myra in Philadelphia

ISO restaurant for private party, ADA accessible, vegetarian options:

Sorry I don't know but I think moderately priced and 25 to 30? It seemed that the other qualities were paramount, wheelchair accessible.

myra in Philadelphia

ISO restaurant for private party, ADA accessible, vegetarian options:

My sister just tasked me with this question for a party she wants to host, and I am mulling it over. So far I thought of Fork, but I know Chowhounds have lots of ideas. Any suggestions? Thanks!!

myra in Philadelphia

sour cherry juices compared

Thanks. I've tried Knudsen's and I agree--very good. And I will look into Cherry Republic. Thanks for the replies.

myra in General Chowhounding Topics

sour cherry juices compared

Has anyone taste-tested some of the gazillion sour cherry juices and juice concentrates that are for sale? I've tried Cheribundi, which tastes great, very $$$, and Smart Juice, much less expensive, which tastes okay, not as excellent. I mixed them. I'd like to find sour cherry juice (usually called tart cherry juice or Montmorency cherry juice) that tastes good w/o added sugar. I tried Lakewood's (??) and that was not good--mixed juices, and didn't taste like sour cherry. All these juices are quite expensive, but there are big health claims (e.g., Dr. Oz) for sour cherry juice, for arthritis pain, antioxidants, and even melatonin, for sleep aid. Can anyone contribute information on what they've tried and liked? Thanks.

myra in General Chowhounding Topics

Sunday lunch or brunch in Pottstown and environs?

Thank you both for the replies. We ended up having lunch in Phoenixville at the Sly Fox Brewery/Pub. We shared the beer sampler, which we liked, and had lunch, which was okay, for my husband, and not so okay for me. The chicken Caesar salad had grilled chicken breast that was overcooked to the point of not being worth eating. Since we don't know the area, and it was raining, it was fun anyway. If I lived nearby, I might go back for the beers and get to know what's good on the menu (my husband had chicken wings and fish tacos, and those were good.) I rec. the beer sampler!

myra in Pennsylvania

Sunday lunch or brunch in Pottstown and environs?

On Sunday, we're going to an afternoon performance in Pottstown, an area we don't know at all. Can you rec. restaurants in Pottstown or not too far from? I thought we'd go early, wander around and have a bite before the performance. We'll be driving from Philadelphia.

Thanks.

myra in Pennsylvania

Any suggestions in or near the Philadelphia Museum of Art?

I'm wondering how Granite Hill is, and where people like to eat in the neighborhood of the Museum.
Thanks.

myra in Philadelphia

unfriendly service leaves bad taste in Ambler

I don't think this discussion has cost them customers at all. Most people wrote about how much they enjoy and appreciate Saffron, so it was wonderful publicity for them.

myra in Philadelphia

unfriendly service leaves bad taste in Ambler

I am amazed, sort of flattered and also embarrassed by the wealth of attention and consideration that my post received. I don't think I've ever written anything else that received close textual analysis. I must sound obnoxious, and I didn't mean to, so it's unfortunate.

myra in Philadelphia

unfriendly service leaves bad taste in Ambler

Thanks a lot for your responses. I found them informative and useful. i think maybe you're right, I was expecting too much. I'm not eager to go back there, but now I know what to expect.

myra in Philadelphia

unfriendly service leaves bad taste in Ambler

Last night we had an odd and unpleasant experience at Saffron in Ambler. The food was okay--a not so good potato dosa, but decent tandoor chicken and a very nice vegetable dish. After dishes were removed from the table and we were offered desserts, I asked if they would remove bits of food that had fallen to the tablecloth, thinking that they'd overlooked this. But they essentially refused! Ordinarily this would happen, without a patron asking for it, in most restaurants. I ended up asking for an extra napkin and cleaning it myself. I won't go back. Despite convenient location, decent food, low prices--it was unpleasant. (They also requested that we pick up our knives and forks and hold them while they changed plates--but I've encountered that before, so I wasn't too surprised: often it's finer and more expensive restaurants that include fresh cutlery in the service.)

It seemed like the owner or manager thought I was asking for something that was beneath him rather than normal. It wasn't a huge mess--just a few crumbs of food, and a stray pea. Bring your own scraper.

myra in Philadelphia

Sakura in Chinatown--Excellent Meal

thanks so much for posting this. I'm still interestied in seeing what qi cai looks like fresh. I looked at some seed company websites and didn't find it, but I'm still hoping.

myra in Philadelphia

Sakura in Chinatown--Excellent Meal

We had dinner with guests from Atlanta. We enjoyed it so much, including very nice pacing of the dishes, not slapping down everything at the same moment, as many Chinese restaurants do. Very nice and healthy dishes, not fried or steeped in oil (though of course fried and steeped in oil can be delicious). The best dishes: an appetizer of chicken in wine sauce, very plain and light; soup dumplings or juicy buns, a novelty for our guests; pea shoots (also a novelty for them); fish fillets with Shanghai vegetable qicai--this was really great, so light and perfect for this weather. I don't know what qicai is--can anyone enlighten me? I thought it was cilantro, but others thought it was cilantro plus something else. And eggplant in garlic sauce, also beautifully prepared. The children had sashimi, egg drop soup, eggrolls, and tasted the rest of the food, and they seemed very happy too. Oh--we also had shumai, which they made stuffed with rice, not pork--a nice surprise, but verging on bland, and regular potsticker style dumplings, also good. What a nice place!

myra in Philadelphia

cafe at 20th and 2nd Avenue for Sunday brunch or coffee?

I'm from out of town, I have to meet a friend there (near a memorial event), so recommendations would be very appreciated. Thank you.

myra in Manhattan

Dutch friend asks for a diner

Our friend visiting from Europe wants to try a diner. I couldn't search it, but I know there must be some good ones in Philadelphia. Any recommendations? I'm not sure what she has in mind, I have to say, but I think the diner vibe is somehow what interests her. And I'd prefer good cooking, too.

Thanks,
Myra

myra in Philadelphia

Seeking Fujianese cuisine:

Does anyone know of a Fujianese Chinese restaurant in Philadelphia?

Thanks. (I'm reading a book about Fujianese immigration to U.S., so I got interested.)

myra in Pennsylvania

Just so-so in Chestnut Hill...

I think Avenida is really promising. the fish soup was very nice this evening, and their interpretation of Caesar salad quite good. But beware of parking in the Brewer's Outlet lot. We parked there, assuming it was alright, and the server came to warn us at 8:45 that they would be towing cars at 9 p.m.; one of us scurried out to move the car. They intend to establish permission to park there, but as of this evening, permission had not yet been granted.

myra in Pennsylvania

New Year's Eve in Philadelphia

Has anyone been to a restaurant on New Year's Eve past and thought it was particularly nice, a great deal, or very satisfying in the general ambiance and attention to good food? I'm looking for $60 per person or less.

myra in Pennsylvania

Xochitl, Las Bugambilias, Lolita--which do you prefer?

the title is the message--choosing a Mexican or Mexican-inspired restaurant., and hoping for recommendations.

Thanks.

myra in Pennsylvania

Just so-so in Chestnut Hill...

And we like Geechee Girl Rice Cafe., also on germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy. Very nice touch with vegetables, too. Last time I was there, outstanding greens, delicious carrot and parsnip puree, wonderful hominy with mushrooms (as a side to scallops). I didn't taste my friends lamb chops, but she was very pleased with them.

myra in Pennsylvania

Abate Fetel Pears

I recently discovered this is our favorite pear, and I wonder if others have tried them and where to get more. Once they were available at Weavers Way Food Co-op in Mount Airy, and once I found them at Whole Foods. I'd like to get more--any leads?

thanks

myra in Pennsylvania

Aman's in East Norriton.

I rec. Bhagya's Kitchen, 1010 E. Willowgrove Avenue in Wyndmoor, for great Indian take-out. Many people get take-out from Tiffin, justifiably popular. I think Bhagya's is even better, but take-out only.

myra in Pennsylvania

brunch in university city, Philadelphia?

Our cousin is visiting and wants to meet for breakfast or brunch on Sunday a.m., somewhere in University City (she's staying at the Hilton). I could only think of White Dog Cafe, because I seldom brunch, and seldom go to University City. Could you please rec. additional potential brunch spots? Thanks.

myra in Pennsylvania

Can only find lowfat buttermilk?

Merrymead Dairy makes good whole milk buttermilk. Weavers Way Co-op carries it.

myra in Pennsylvania

new Mt. Airy vegan/African restaurant?

Has anyone tried Black Olive restaurant on Mt. Airy Avenue near Germantown Ave.?

myra in Pennsylvania

Mt. Airy Ave. new restaurant?

It looks like a new restaurant might be opening on Mt. Airy Avenue, just off Germantown Ave. I could see the signs said "Opening August 10" (I think) but I couldn't see any details. Does anyone know more about it? The space is around the corner from NXNW.

myra in Pennsylvania

why is service at Le Virtu so bad?

Four of us had dinner there last night, and the service is oddly offhand and inconsiderate, especially considering the food prices. The food is good and interesting and a bit subtle, and the servers are a bit hopeless, both amateur and a little indifferent. Stuff like two servers asking what kind of water we wanted and then not bringing it, and when we asked for water, saying, More water? to our empty glasses. Giving the take home containers to the wrong people. Taking forever to bring wine, when we can see the server standing and chatting. If they could get the service together, it would be a very nice restaurant, loudness notwithstanding (I think it's the tiled floors, but we had to shout to converse.) I wish them luck getting the service together, really a pleasant place with a very good chef. I guess it would help if we complained, instead of leaving the standard 20%, but then to complain is to detract further from our own pleasure in going out.

myra in Pennsylvania

Shabu Shabu/Hot Pot

If you want true shabu shabu, you might need to go to a Japanese restaurant.

myra in Pennsylvania