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mlin1 in Austin

First night in shanghai dinner in xintiandi?

I'm traveling with my toddler and husband and staying in xintiandi at the langham hotel. I have one free dinner in shanghai and would like recs for a good spot for dinner. I have read prior posts that have recommended guyi but I would prefer an early dinner within walking distance to the hotel where there will not be a wait. Any price point is good as long as the restaurant is clean, not totally crowded, with good food. Din tai fung will be a huge wait. Xin jishi might be an option. Any thoughts? We would also be up for good nonasian food (we will be coming in after a week in Taipei). Thanks!

mlin1 in China & Southeast Asia

Uchi vs Uchiko?

Uchiko is definitely my favorite though i love them both. Uchiko is a Bigger space, more interesting food, easy parking and reservations available all night. At uchi the opentable reservations are either very early or very late (unless that has changed recently). Also the food at uchiko has a southeast Asian influence, thanks to the exec chef Paul qui. Uchi is creative Japanese with a Texas twist, but the dishes rarely have the southeast Asian flavors (kaffir lime, etc). In addition the uchiko menu includes some dishes from uchi (hamachile, wagyu hot rock, Maguro with goat cheese, shag roll), but not the other way around. If you go to uchi you will miss out in the wagyu short rib, fried milk dessert, and the jar jar duck(with rosemary smoke, named by food and wine magazine as one of the top ten dishes in the country in 2011). The only down side to uchiko is that it is located near the medical center offices and a pretty boring quiet area. Whenever we take guests there we end up driving south or to downtown to get a drink or see a show.

mlin1 in Austin

Good places to eat with family in North Austin or near 35th street

Another family friendly place is phonatic (in the walmart plaza on anderson lane next to whichwich) which is a casual Vietnamese restaurant with the same owners as pho Saigon in Chinatown market. It's super clean, several TVs with kids shows, and great healthy pho and Vietnamese rice and noodle bowls. We see tons of families there. Across the plaza is yogurtland which has the best and cheapest frozen yogurt in the area

mlin1 in Austin

Good places to eat with family in North Austin or near 35th street

We have a three year old and love the cafe at Central Market on lamar. The food is good and there is a huge playscape. In the evenings there is often live music. At lunch the patio can get crowded. On Burnet Road, the Blue Star Cafeteria is family friendly, and a few blocks away, Phils Ice House (next to Amys ice cream) has a playscape and good burgers but can get crowded at lunchtime. The Waterloo Ice House on 2222/360 has an outdoor patio (an another playscape) with salads, burgers, etc. For a family friendly restaurant without a playscape the Z Tejas in the Arboretum is not a bad choice.

mlin1 in Austin

One lunch and dinner in Taipei

My husband and three year olddaughter will be staying in Taipei for two days visiting family. We have meals planned with relatives at din tai fung (lunch) and shin yeh (followed by night market) and will be saying at San want hotel. We have another full day unplanned and are looking for A good lunch spot not too far from the hotel, national museum or CKS memorial as we will be going around to all the sights on our last day. We don't have a car but can take the metro or cab. We are adventurous eaters and interested in local cuisine especially anything that is special to Taiwan than would be hard to find in other areas. After our two days in Taipei we are headed to south Taiwan and then china. Thanks!

mlin1 in China & Southeast Asia

Breakfast on riverwalk near Hyatt regency

I am driving in from austin to meet a friend and her family for breakfast on the riverwalk. They are visiting from san francisco and staying/working at the Hyatt regency on the riverwalk, and they want to meet early for breakfast somewhere within walking distance of the hotel. We will have three adults and three kids total (ages 1, 3, 4). Any suggestions? I had thought of Luke but it seems too far away for the kids to walk. Any thoughts on the hotel restaurant Q on the riverwalk? Not sure if Zuni is within walking distance. Any recs would be appreciated! Any good breakfast tacos on the riverwalk?

mlin1 in Texas

Toddler at queen Vic or haven?

I'm visiting for the weekend with husband and three year old daughter. She comes with us to fine dining alot but im wondering how the seating is set up at queen Vic's so I can decide if it's toddler accessible. I don't need a high chair but we can't sit at an elevated pub table. From the website it looks like a great gastropub which will have enough noise to drown out toddler chatter. Also looking at haven and wondering if it might be too quiet. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

mlin1 in Houston

Friday lunch with toddler in NO

Im visiting NO for the first time from Texas, en route to a family reunion. I have one Friday lunch and Friday dinner. I will be with my husband, inlaws and three year old daughter. I am thinking of commanders palace, August, brigsten, but open to suggestions. I know commanders is very formal
And not sure if they would welcome my toddler. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

mlin1 in New Orleans

Clean delicious dining for family trip to shanghai and Beijing - please comment on my restaurant list

Thanks for the suggestions! We haven't left yet so will report back!

mlin1 in China & Southeast Asia

Place w/ Great Food to Watch the Longhorns?

Sullivan's steak house downtown has a sports bar attached to it and the food is pretty good (not uchiko but ok for downtown)

mlin1 in Austin

Where to buy canned duck confit in Austin?

I've looked online and can't find canned duck confit. Called central market and no luck. Maybe while foods. Has anyone seen it? I'd prefer canned but will make do with refrigerated vacuum sealed if necessary

mlin1 in Austin

Where can I see football games Saturday nite with decent food

I like parkside but it's been awhile and I don't remember any tvs there. Are they in the front bar area? If so that would be perfect. Many thanks

mlin1 in Austin

Where can I see football games Saturday nite with decent food

I have out of town guests coming this weekend who want to experience austin food scene and also watch the Georgia and Clemson football games on Saturday night. We are not necessarily looking for a sports bar but any place with multiple TVs where there will not be much competition for channels would work. My guests are downtown at four seasons for work, and I will need to pick them up, therefore prefer something close by. Something like cover 3 but downtown. Third base is even a little far. I can't remember if 24 diner, eddie v, frank, haddingtons, or lamberts, have multiple TVs with seating for four? Any help would be appreciated

mlin1 in Austin

Jesse vs xin jishi? Help with my foodie vacation plans

Thanks for the feedback on Di Shui Dong. I was typing on my iphone and the spelling was mixed up. I havent heard of a good Yunnan place in Beijing, where I will have more time to eat out so if anyone has suggestions Id love to hear them. Looks like in Shanghai we will try DTF and maybe Jesse or XinJishi. Are there specific dishes that I should request at Jesse or XinJishi? Do I need to order them in advance?

mlin1 in China & Southeast Asia

Best pho in Houston?

Cafe th looks good but they don't have pho ga (chicken) on their menu. All of the pho is beef combinations only. Looks like I'm out of luck.

mlin1 in Houston

Jesse vs xin jishi? Help with my foodie vacation plans

Thanks for the detailed post; it was so helpful. This is why I love this board.
From your post and others it seems even casual restaurants need reservations. Does this mean I need them weeks in advance? I dont speak Chinese so could I have my hotel concierge call a few hours prior and set it up?

mlin1 in China & Southeast Asia

Jesse vs xin jishi? Help with my foodie vacation plans

I will be in shanghai for three days and Beijing for five days. In shanghai my expat friends in xintiandi will be taking me to fook lam moon and Hyatt bund. I have one lunch and dinner free and trying to decide between Jesse, xinjishi (very convenient to where we will be staying), do shui song and din tai fung (wondering if it's any different from the taipei location)

In Beijing I will be staying near the forbidden city at the Hyatt and have six days worth of meals to plan. Any feedback on my list would be appreciated

Da dong
Made in china
Bao yuan or jiaoxi wu or xianr Lao man or din tai fung
Noodle loft or Beijing zhiajiang noodle king
Bei or my humble house
Yu xin or south beauty or chuan ban
Lei garden
Jia yi yuan
Dali
Ding ding Xiang
Na jia xiao guan

mlin1 in China & Southeast Asia

Best pho in Houston?

Wow that place sounds amazing but they close at 4pm and I am looking for pho for dinner tomorrow. Any other recs?

mlin1 in Houston

Best pho in Houston?

I'm staying in the medical center and looking for great pho. Any recs for places nearby- I have a car and don't mind driving 15-20 mins or so, even to bellaire if needed. Thanks!

mlin1 in Houston

Clean delicious dining for family trip to shanghai and Beijing - please comment on my restaurant list

I will be traveling with my family for three days in shanghai and five days in Beijing for the first time. My husband and I usually love street food and hole in the wall cheap restaurants but this time we are traveling with my three year old daughter so we are looking for restaurants that are family friendly, authentic, and delicious. All of us eat almost anything (my daughter too). We will be avoiding restaurants that have long waits or no reservation policy, heavy smoking, dirty bathrooms (my daughter is only partially toilet trained), and limited barstool seating (not safe for a squirmy toddler), and hard to find or farther than 15 min cab ride from our hotel. We don't mind paying a little extra for great food with good clean ambience (Din tai fung is a perfect example)

We will be staying in shanghai in xintiandi. Our expat friends are taking us to Fook Lam Moon and Hyatt Bund. We have one dinner and one lunch left and i am trying to decide between old Jesse, Xin Jishi ( in Xintiandi), Di shui dong, and din tai fung (is this any different than DTF in Taipei or Seattle? Is there a big difference between old Jishi and xinjishi?

In Beijing we are on our own for five days, staying at grand hyatt next to the forbidden city. Here is my list. I would really love any suggestions or comments. Or any must-order dishes at each restaurant

Duck: da dong, made in china (prob will do both since we are staying in the hyatt)
dumplings: Bao Yuan Jiaoxi Wu, Xianr Lao Man, Din Tai Fung (different menu from shanghai?)
Muslim : Crescent moon
Noodles: Noodle Loft or old Beijing Zhiajiang Noodle King
Fusion: Bei or My Humble House
Sichuan: Yu Xin, South Beauty, or Chuan Ban
dim sum: Lei Garden
Other: Jia Yi Yuan, Na Jia Xiao Guan, Ding Ding Xiang, Dali

Many thanks in advance!

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Lei Garden
IFC Mall, Hong Kong , HK

mlin1 in China & Southeast Asia

Austin CH visiting Chicago with toddler - need recs for lunch in millenium park

Im visiting with my 3 yo daughter this weekend from Texas and we will be staying with family near Millenium Park (on N Michigan, across the street from the Bean). I need a casual but delicious lunch spot (within a short cab ride) in that area as we will be heading to the American Girl store, Disney store, etc. Purple Pig, Sable, and Cafe Spiaggia were some options I read about but I am not a huge charcuterie fan and have heard mixed review of Cafe Spiaggia. Would Publican be kid friendly? Any recs would be appreciated. Any spots for lunch near Navy Pier, Lincoln Zoo, or Shedd Aquarium would help also.

In the past, some of my fav spots in Chicago have been Avec, Girl and the Goat, Urban Belly, XOCO, Alinea, Topolobampo. For this visit I am already planning a dinner at Avec, Girl and the Goat is booked, and Urban Belly is too far away. Im also going to pass on any Latin/Mexican this time round(had enough in Austin lately). Thanks in advance!

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Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

Avec Restaurant
615 W Randolph St Ste A, Chicago, IL 60661

Cafe Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Topolobampo
445 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610

Urbanbelly
3053 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Girl and the Goat
809 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661

Purple Pig
500 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

mlin1 in Chicago Area

Girls Weekend in Napa - need help with restaurant and winery list

I am meeting six other girlfriends for a 40th birthday weekend in napa in August. We are all foodies and any budget is fine. We have all lived in the bay area at some point, but some of us are now coming in from Austin, Maui, Denver, Seattle. We have a list of wineries and restaurants and would like some help picking one restaurant for saturday dinner (friday is ad hoc) and saturday lunch. We are staying in downtown napa and dont want to drive too far.

Farm at Carneros
Rotisserie and Wine
Fish Story
Avia
La Toque

And wineries (we have a van and drive:
Robert Keenan
Spring Mountain
Quixote
Joseph Phelps
Kuleto
Gonguilo

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Kuleto's
221 Powell St., San Francisco, CA 94102

La Toque Restaurant
1314 McKinstry Street, Napa, CA 94559

mlin1 in San Francisco Bay Area

Midtown area dinner with toddler?

I live in Austin but will be staying at the medical center and needs recs for several weeknight dinners in the medical center/rice/midtown area. We have a three year old daughter who is usually fine in most restaurants as long as they ate not super quiet, romantic, formal. We have a car, but need to eat by 5 or 530. I have been reading about tafia but not sure if the service will be too slow. I know there is booth seating in their dining room but wonder if the lounge would accommodate a toddler. Reef sounds interesting. Any recs would be appreciated!

mlin1 in Houston

Good Dim Sum?

I love Shanghai - its clean, with great food, good variety, and excellent waitstaff which is unusual in a dim sum restaurant. The pan fried pork/shrimp/chive dumpling is my favorite dish and Shanghai's is the best in town. Chinatown has them on a roll up frying cart but since they are precooked, then reheated on the cart they end up gummy and the wrapper is overcooked and too chewy. The xiao long bao was best at Fortune (RIP) but they have been better lately at Shanghai. The har gao and other steamed dumplings are great also - the wrappers are just the right texture, and the filling holds together without being hard and overcooked (like they are at Get Sum Dim Sum). Chinatown was ok, had some interesting nontraditional dim sum dishes but some of their dumplings had a bit too much ginger for my taste. Overall many good choices

mlin1 in Austin

Austin CH visiting downtown LA with toddler

My husband and I will be in LA for a Saturday nite wedding downtown and staying nearby. We have free time Friday night for an early dinner and are looking for suggestions. We also have a 3 yo toddler (she is used to nice restaurants like spago or four seasons but would need a place that takes reservations, early 5pm seating, High chair, relatively high noise level) and a we will have a car (though we will be battling traffic to get somewhere by 5 or 6). In Austin we have great Mexican, fusion sushi, dim sum, BBQ, food carts, but would love something different. Low end to moderate-hi price range is fine. We love Japanese izakaya, Taiwanese, chinese seafood (not just dim sum), offal, northern Italian, and pizza (maybe mozza?). I've heard alot about mo Chica but wonder if I could take my toddler there. Thanks!

mlin1 in Los Angeles Area

Austin CH visiting Vancouver for girls weekend

I will be in Vancouver next weekend for a wedding and staying at the Sheraton City Center downtown with several other bridesmaids. I am looking for a good foodie lunch spot within walking distance (or short drive). Nothing too fancy for lunch, moderate price range, maybe good dim sum or Chinese (we have good szechuan in texas but not so many choices for cantonese, hunan, etc). I also need a moderately priced restaurant/bar with nice lively atmosphere and delicious food for a happy hour/impromptu bridal shower that we are having friday afternoon for a group of 8-10 again preferably within walking distance of the hotel. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

mlin1 in B.C. (including Vancouver)

good takeout in mill creek?

I am visiting a friend who just had a baby and am looking for a good takeout restaurant near mill creek to pick up dinner for her and her extended visiting family. Does anyone have any suggestions? Medium price range and food that will reheat well would be a plus. Ethnic food is ok but some family members will not eat anything too spicy

mlin1 in Greater Seattle

Austin CH visiting Seattle with toddler

Thanks so much for all the great ideas! I was also looking at monsoon and wondering if it would be noisy enough to be toddler friendly?

mlin1 in Greater Seattle