kipster's Profile
"Smoke" Restaurant in Dallas?
Has anyone tried "Smoke" in the Belmont Hotel yet?
http://www.smokerestaurant.com/
Best Hot and Sour AND Dumplings
20 years ago as starving college students, my girlfriend and I use to eat heavenly hot and sour soup and steamed dumplings at a tiny place just off of Mott Street in Chinatown. It was just down a short street from the Mei Dick Barber Shop. I asked her to marry me there after we had to split a bowl of soup because we didn't have enough money for both soup and dumplings.
We're coming back over New Year's with the thirteen-year-old product of that aphrodisiacical meal and since that place closed years ago, I'd like to find somewhere with great soup and dumplings both. A pilgramage of sorts.
I've checked the somewhat dated posts on both subjects. Any inspirational suggestions?
As we say in New Mexico, much appreciated.
Albuquerque: Best of?
Two places that haven't been mentioned yet in this post are Sophia's (6313 4th, N.W.., in the North Valley) for ecletic, New Mexican-influenced food, especially good for breakfast and Noda's (2704 Southern Blvd. , Suite 13, Rio Rancho, NM Phone: 505-891-4378) for the best Japanese food you're likely to find in the state.
I've eaten at Sophia's three times in the last month (it's now replaced Garcia's and Flying Star as the family's favorite breakfast spot) and each has been outstanding. The huevos rancheros are the best I've had in Albuquerque, with everything far fresher and lighter than you find in most restaurants in town. The highlight though has been the blue cornmeal pancakes with pistachio butter, fresh berries, and maple syrup, a weekend special. It's rumored that their chipotle bacon cheeseburger is worth killing for, but tonight when we went late they had run out of ground beef so I had to settle for the sirloin with green chile sandwich. The space tiny -- so small that 25 years ago the rumor was that the only way it made money was as a front for the then owner's drug deals -- and occasionally the folks up front get a little overwhelmed, but the food makes up for it. In looking for the address to write this, I came across this recent review which is pretty consistent with my experiences lately (http://www.nmgastronome.com/abq/american/sophia.htm).
The other great place (only slightly bigger) is Noda's Japanese restaurant which is in the suburb of Rio Rancho, a 30-40 minute drive from downtown Albuquerque (2704 Southern Blvd. , Suite 13, Rio Rancho, NM Phone: 505-891-4378). Ignore the cinderblock strip mall, you will not be disapointed by either the sushi and sashimi or the traditional japanese food on the rest of the menu. No question it is the best Japanese food in Albuquerque and I think it beats out the fancy Santa Fe spots too.
