URBANSUBURBAN's Profile
Authentic Asian Noodle Houses
Thanks all for the suggestions. I'll certainly give Katy's a try and report back. Thanks again.
Authentic Asian Noodle Houses
Fair question - to clarify my request I'm looking for a place that makes in house hand made noodles. I don't have any examples in Chicago which is why I'm asking. A couple places hounds may know are Tanpopo Noodle Shop in St. Paul, Xi'an Famous Foods in NYC and Kam Hong Garden in LA.
The reason I mentioned Joy Yee and Penny's is that is where locals directed me in the past when I asked. I thought I'd bring it to Chowhound to see if I can actually find what I'm looking for.
Thanks for the help.
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Joy Yee
1221 W 33rd Pl, Chicago, IL 60608
Authentic Asian Noodle Houses
Hello all Chicagoland foodies. Live in Milwaukee and frequent the wonderful dining options in Chicago. Thanks to your kind and helpful posts over the years we have dined exceptionally well in your world class city.
The one area that we have not been able to crack is authentic asian noodle houses. We've been to Penny's & Joy Yee's and while enjoyable I would not say they overwhelmed us with authenticity. Any thoughts on this would be of great value!
As a side note, don't be afraid to frequent the dining scene in my fair city either! It's a short drive or train ride and there are many great places worth trying!
Thanks in advance.
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Joy Yee
1221 W 33rd Pl, Chicago, IL 60608
Madison WI area business dinner
The places you list are SOLID. Two places that have had mixed reviews are Sardine (www.sardinemadison.com) and FRESCO (www.foodfightinc.com/fresco.htm).
Sardine offers a rare dining opportunity with a view of Lake Monona. This restaurant is from the folks at Marigold who do very good work. Only dined once and thought the experience was OK but not wow. Friends who I trust have eaten since and think it's outstanding. Others think it's snooty and overpriced (this is Madison afterall).
FRESCO is on the rooftop of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art on State Street. It offers an amazing view of the Capitol especially in the evening when lit. I enjoyed my experience here while my dining partners were not overly impressed.
Good luck and let us know what you decide and your experience.
Oconomowoc, Wi
Yes Golosi's Gelato in Oconomowc is still running strong (www.foodspot.com/golosi). I particularly enjoy their amaretto cookies and whiskey gelatos - and I'm not a drinker! They also serve a nice lunch and light dinner.
We were in NYC not too long ago and tried a two of the highly recommended gelato shops and frankly we believed Golosi was equal if not better. This is a true treasure of the area and not to be missed.
Mexican in Waukesha County, WI
Littlechi, I know this is a very late reply but I believe there are a few decent Mexican restaurants in Waukesha Co. La Estacion is a decent restaurant and not a bad find, however I believe there are other worthy options.
First in Oconomowoc I would give Fiesta Cancun a try (www.fiesta-cancun.com) this is solid although not spectacular Mexican restaurant. Nothing too authentic here but a decent option with good Fish Tacos and some good flavors.
I really like Taco Amigo in Pewaukee/Waukesha (www.foodspot.com/tacoamigo) this is really good Mexican restaurant. Been around for a long time and still owned by the same family. Not fancy at all but good.
Lastly, a relatively new addition in Waukesha is El Sol De Mexico at 309 E Broadway, Waukesha, WI 53186. No website that I know of, really hole in the wall but authentic stuff.
In Milwaukee besides Cempazuchi, I really like Swayz Mexican Grille (www.swayzmexicangrill.com) which is actually in nearby St. Francis. Great San Diego style fish tacos. Small dining room with a bar (where they allow smoking FYI). It's just across the street from a great Polish restaurant Polonez.
The other I like quite a bit is Antigua in the near southwest neighhoods of Milwaukee (www.antiguamilwaukee.com). Very good Mexican and more specifically latin american dishes. Probably the nicest room of any that I mentioned here and sometimes quite creative.
Good eating and let me know if you try any of the places I mentioned.
Milwaukee Notes
Jim, thanks for your notes on your visit to Milwaukee. I'm sorry I missed your original (I assume) request for recommendations in Milwaukee.
I'm in agreement with you on Kopp's. As a Milwaukee native who moved back to the area five years ago I am quite familiar with the reverance many people hold Kopp's. I do not enjoy their custard and their food is inconsistent at best. Of their three Milwaukee locations I've only found their southside location (76th Street & Layton) to be somewhat consistent on food preparation.
There are two areas I credit Kopp's - custard marketing and favor of the day creativity. Kopp's has undoubtly increased the visibility of frozen custard and added an element of coolness to it. Also their creativity with favor of the day is unrivaled. Some of the ideas they unvail are truly remarkable - unfortunately their base custard is lacking.
A quick note on Leon's - while I believe it is superior to Kopp's I am not sold on it either. Their vanilla (the only flavor I use to compare custard stands) has an unpleasant after taste that does not suggest natural ingredients.
While custard preferences are intensely personal I have found a few stands that offer what I believe to be outstanding custard. I've long been a fan of Mack's on Moreland and Grandview in Waukesha. Their vanilla is oustanding and their Mocha Almond Fudge is the stuff dreams are made of. Their service has suffered sense they were sold three years ago to a new owner and I can't comment on their food but the custard remains noteworthy.
Also of interest is Bubba's on Capitol Drive in Pewaukee. Very good custard and they make what I believe is the best Black Cow in the are. Also the cheeseburger at Bubba's is what I believe it should be at Kopp's. Great fresh bun and flavorful patty.
Even further from Milwaukee are the Kiltie in Oconomowoc and Mickey's Fresh Frozen Custard in Hartford. You may have heard of the Kiltie, it's a classic drive in with car hop service. The custard is passable (they do not feature flavor of the day) but the food and atmosphere rule the day here. Their grilled ham & cheese is a greasy delight and their shrimp dinner is a marvel of modern engineering (trust me on this).
Mickey's in Hartford offers great frozen custard (please note their hours are seasonable - same with the Kiltie). Their vanilla is very good and when they offer it their Hazel Nus is a to die for flavor. Lastly their root beer float is death in a cup in terms of richness but a great treat.
A few other treats in the western area of Milwaukee are John's Drive In on Arcadian Avenue in Waukesha. The Root Beer is made on site and has no preservatives so you have to drink is cool and fresh. A chilled mug of John's root beer and a bag of fresh popcorn on a summer evening makes all the troubles of the world disappear for a few minutes.
Lastly, as this is getting way too long, I would recommend Golosi Gelato Cafe in Oconomowoc (162 E Wisconsin Ave). The Golosi family is from Italy - Italian is freely and frequently spoken in the cafe and the gelato is the real deal. Take a scoop or two of their amaretto gelato out to the benches overlooks Fowler Lake behind the cafe and you'll be a happy camper. A note on this - there is a major road reconstruction project on Wisconsin Ave in Oconomowoc during the summer of 2008. It is difficult but not impossible to reach this area you just need to be patient.
I hope all will sample and discuss the wonder of food offering in the greater Milwaukee area.
All the best.
