Betharu's Profile
Xilantro in Wayne... never again!
AG - That is disappointing. I was looking forward to trying as I frequent El Sarape often. I would suggest that you jot an email to the restaurant - detailing your experiences. Since it is a new restaurant, I am sure they would appreciate feedback. Luis has always been very hospitable at El Sarape and I am sure he would want to know about the problems.
Date night in Montco
AG -
I am always a Bocelli's fan!
If you are into sushi, even though I will always love Bluefin - a new favorite is Kumo in English Village Shopping center. Its a BYOB - very inventive sushi and cooked entrees as well. I would would not consider it KID friendly - although one family did bring their little darling while I was there one night and he did sling his chopsticks at me!
Massa - Italian and Portugese Fusion
I went there last night, with my friends MB & Bob. Did not have a reservation but they were able to accomodate us at 7PM. It is a cute little restaurant - very nicely decorated. The food was good - and very reasonable. I started with the Tuna Carpaccio, Bob had the steamed clams, and MB a house salad. For dinner, I had the crabcake, Bob the Paella and MB the Salmon. There was also a variety of pizzas which I would like to try next time. We passed on dessert.
Service was very attentive. The only downfall - the A/C was not working correctly and it was very hot in the restaurant. No fans or anything - we were ready to leave pretty quickly after eating.
A nice addition on the Ambler dining scene - parking is convenient at the lot next door.
Haunted venues
Jarrettown Hotel is said to be haunted.
http://upperdublinhistory.blogspot.com/2010/06/jarrettown-hotel.html
A friend's brother worked there in High School and witnessed some things first hand.
Opinions on Dining Groups
So I joined an online Food and Wine Group On Meetup.com- centered in the Bucks and Montgomery County areas. I'm looking to meet some new friends who share my interests. I'm single - most of my friends are married. And, a majority of them take off for the shore on weekends. I thought it would be a neat way to meet new people.
Has anyone been a part of these groups? What were your experiences like?
Their next meetup is next Sunday at Le Gourmet European Bistro in North Wales - its $25 for BYOB and Tapas. Seems like a good deal and a chance to check things out!
Help me out Chowhound friends!
Radice
A shame for you and your dining mates but, search previous threads on Radice and you will find MANY complaints on service miscues - from wrong orders to cold food to complete inattentiveness by the serving staff - as the owner table hops!
Looks like things haven't improved since they opened nearly a year ago!
Philly Burb Recommendation
Oh yes - that too - baseball caps inside.
And, my new favorite, Game Boys and Ipads at the table so we don't have to teach the little darlings to sit and have a conversation.
Philly Burb Recommendation
Well - Bridget's tonight for Mother's Day. My brother in a shirt and tie - my mother and I in dressy tops and slack. And yes, children in jeans and sweatshirts and men in cargo shorts and flip flops.
Once again - $200+ for dinner and people look like they are eating at Burger King!
Gone are the days!
Philly Burb Recommendation
Sadly, I too have had negative experiences at WP Inn - particularly during the Sunday buffet. I guess Old Country Buffett must have been closed because it was sweatpant and baseball cap heaven. As I noted in a previous post, nothing like Sunday Buffet with your 70+ year old mother and she proclaims "I think they are going to have sex in the buffet line" as two twenty-somethings go at it over the bagels and whitefish salad.
Had the same experience at Coleman's several years back. $200+ for Mothers Day dinner and people walking around in basketball shorts and Eagles' tshirts.
We're trying Bridget's in Ambler this year - again a very pricey restaurant. We'll see how the dress is!
Philly Burb Recommendation
Truly formal - ah the days gone by.
I have never been there for dinner but Joseph Ambler Inn?
Actually, here is my advice for your friend - pick a good place to go based on food and, if they want to dress up, tell them to do so!
Local Raw Honey in Montgomery County?
I've gotten it here -
http://mapleacresfarmmarket.com/index.html
Just off Germantown Pike in Plymouth Meeting - not too far from you.
Mica Chestnut Hill
Does anyone know when the liquor license is coming? I am debating on whether to wait for that or try it as a BYOB.
Trevi in Glenside - at last, something good in the 'hood!
Olivia - how was parking? I am always looking for a place 1/2-way between Jenkintown (where my mom lives) and Plymouth Meeting (where I live). Sounds like this may be a place to check out!
I remember Rizzo's from my Bishop McDevitt days - walking down after a 1/2 day of school and grabbing pizza with my friends. Seemed like the place was always packed with McD kids!
Non-restaurant things to eat in philadelphia
For sweets I would try Franklin Fountain in Old City.
What do you like in a state other than its "proper" one? Frozen rather than chilled? Stale rather than fresh? etc.
I have always been partial to stale Oreos - so that they are a bit mushy!
Mina Cucina - updated menu please
My friend had the bronzino on Friday night - just the head, tail and bones left. He said it was very good!
Finally tried Mina Cucina in Springhouse
I finally got there last night - with my dining buddies MB&B - they are regulars. The fried spaghetti is addictive. I had a special app - a smoked mozzerella in a crepe with a sweet spicy sauce - absolutely delicious. My friends had the calamari and the eggplant. Again, both delicious.
Since it was Lent - we all opted for fish entrees. I had the red snapper - also a special - that was served over a tomato and olive tapanade. The contrast between the hot fish and the cool tapanade was delightful. My friends had the whole branzino and the salmon. Again, empty plates all around.
The menu is very large so I am anxious to go back and try other dishes. The service was impeccable - very relaxed. The place is small but we had no trouble getting a table at 7PM.
Definitely on my new favorites list!
It's getting close! Cantina Feliz
So dinner at Cantina Feliz last night - we had a 7:00 reservation and were seated in a small room - only 2 tables - which was nice. I can see how the main dining room could be noisy.
My friends had a drink at the bar while they waited for my arrival. He ordered the mid-range margarita which he liked - she the El Borgo Loco which is a drink with skyy vodka, ginger and basil. It was very sweet and I don't think I could drink more than one.
Upon being seated, she ordered a margarita, he a drink special - the blood orange margarita which came in this neon red color that obviously had been enhanced in some way and myself, the Buena Vida which consisted of gin, cucumber and grapefruit. My drink was delicious - very refreshing.
For appetizers - he ordered the hamachi ceviche , she a special that was a flatbread with artichokes and mushrooms, and me the ceviche verde. I think my appetizer was the winner as the hirmasa, with thinly sliced kiwi and lime sorbet was flavorful - with the fish flavor in the background. The hamachi ceviche was also tasty, although the fish was overwhelmed by the coconut sauce. The special flatbread was not "special" as the mushrooms totally dominated the dish - not a hint of artichoke.
Entrees were fish tacos for him, crab enchilada for her, and carnitas tacos for me. The fish tacos were proclaimed average - and a Baja Fresh is better! My tacos were good - I would have preferred on flour tacos and didn't think to ask if this was an option. They were also very salty. The crab enchilada looked good although my friend didn't comment one way or the other.
We did order one of the grilled corn which my friends shared - it did look very rich.
Oh - a Cava for me with dinner which was a good complement and he did a tequila tasting which he enjoyed - although I thought a card with some tasting notes for the tequilas might be a nice touch.
Not sure what the bill was as my friend's picked up the check in honor of birthday month.
Overall a good experience and I would definitely return. Service was excellent and attentive. The menu is rather small and I would have liked to see a few more dessert choices. But, a nice addition to the dining scene in this area.
It's getting close! Cantina Feliz
Going tonight for my birthday dinner with two friends - can't wait! I will report in later.
By the way - I went last Friday night, another birthday dinner (I celebrate for a 30 day period), to Ristorante Castello. The food was excellent but, once again, was disappointed in the service. I don't like the concept of "everybody waits on you" and the waiter spilling a glass of wine on me while clearing my salad dish didn't help!
Buca Di Beppo location in East Norriton
Nothing food related - an outpatient diagnostic imaging center
My last word on Radice ---
I thought my Chowhound friends would appreciate this...
I was at the Kelly Ann Dolan Fund's "Wine in Winter" event this past Friday night - held at Normandy Farm. For those of you who have never attended, local restaurants (I would say about 30) have tables serving a sampling of their foods. Also featured are local wineries and breweries. I would STRONGLY encourage people to attend - it is a great event for a great cause. This year they sold out!
Some of the restaurants there - Chowhounder favorites
Blackfish
19 Bella
Springhouse Tavern
Tex Mex Connection
Zakes Cakes
Farmer's Daughter
Ooka
and Radice. And, in typical Radice fashion, their two dishes, both pasta courses, looked delicious. However, when I went to sample - this is what I was greeted with -
"Of course, we would be happy to give you a tasting but we have run out of plates."
My friend and I just laughed and walked away!
Chip Roman and Jason Cichonskis - Stone House in Chestnut Hill
Blackfish was at the Kelly Ann Dolan Fund's "Wine in Winter" event this past Friday. Evidently, the new restaurant will be called Mica. The dishes will be similiar to Blackfish's menu. They have a liquor license and I was told their wine list will be extensive - with emphasis on food and wine pairings.
I hear Ristorante Castello is moving into the Alison 2 space...
I'm excited to be trying out Castello at the end of the month for my birthday. I had one good and one awful experience at North Wales so this should be interesting. My dining friends have gone several times and they love it.
I'll report back!
Special restaurant within 20 minutes of Blue Bell?
I always forget about Savona - because somehow I equate Gulph Mills as far away instead of right outside Conshy.
Kumo - Friday night's destination - Where are you going this weekend?
If you haven't checked out Kumo in Montgomerville, I highly recommend it. I am taking some friends there for the 1st time tomorrow night. It is a challenge because he is a sushi fan and she is not - so Bluefin really doesn't do it for her with its very limited non-sushi items.
Kumo seems to a have a greater selection of entrees - so I am thinking it will be a winner. I think its sushi is innovative and always fresh - ranks right up there with Bluefin for me - and I am a self proclaimed Bluefin devotee. OK - maybe Bluefin gets a point or two for convenience since I can walk there from my house.
A couple bottles of good wine - 6 or 7 rolls - all in all a good way to start the weekend.
SNOW? WHAT SNOW?
Special restaurant within 20 minutes of Blue Bell?
This is true - I feel like AmblerGirl is QUIZZING us!
Ok - how about -
Joseph Ambler Inn in Horsham?
Blackfish is good but I am not sure if you could get a reservation this late
I liked Teresa's Cafe in Wayne - probably just on the outskirts of the 20 minute window
Spring Mill Cafe?
Or - you fake everyone out - drop your daughter off - order takeout from Bocelli's - and have a romantic dinner at home!!!
King of Prussia for lunch
King of Prussia is the chain capital of MontCo but there are two I would recommend -
[1] Seasons 52 is very good - so good, I don't think of it as a chain. I have only had dinner there but it has a varied selection with an excellent wine list. The service is attentive and the restaurant itself is decorated very upscale.
[2] I just recently had lunch at the new Capital Grille - again - very good. We were in a private room around the holidays - everyone raved about their food and service was inpeccable. I would highly recommend.
Two chains - but not along the lines of Houlihans or Ruby Tuesdays. Might be worth a try!
Where's your "regular" spot?
I love dinner there - am never disappointed. My good friends live up the road - off of Morris - so I usually swing by and pick them up spur of the moment. Since we are regulars - we usually get a comped appetizer or salad every visit. Sometimes, if we politely decline dessert, a piece of cake will come out anyway! I love their Veal Saltimbocca, soft shell crabs, and Penne Vodka. They also were running a great dinner special - soup, salad and entree (from a selection of 5 or so) for $19.95. Can't beat it!
Our sole mission for 2011 is to keep them in business - especially with the Craig Laban 3 bell favorite child in the same complex! I am sure the rent is pretty high in their space but I have heard they do a good lunch crowd as well.
P.S. Tell your friend to ask about the Duck Wrap - the owners are always very accomodating and maybe she could get it back!
P.S. Where do you live? Maybe we could organize a meetup!
Where's your "regular" spot?
Thanks gaffk! I was stuck at work all day - no Internet access!
Cgarner - I am sure you will love it. The food is always good - I LOVE their soft shell crabs when they are in season. The veal and pasta dishes are also excellent. The portions are very generous - always enough to bring home for lunch the next day!
Enjoy!
Where's your "regular" spot?
Bocelli's - El Sarape but my "go-to, I want consistently good food and treated like a regular" -
Mirna's in Blue Bell
Always pleasant, attentive service - good food. My go to place for grabbing a bottle of wine out of the wine collection and meeting friends spur of the moment.
