223 replies to this topic

[Jesikka]

I'm starting a thread to respond to the contention that Mouthfulers need to read Chowhound b/c otherwise they're missing out on great restaurants.

From this weekend, Ayada Thai in Elmhurst. We have a thread on the restaurant now, but for the sake of a new thread, I recommend the black egg (which we were told translates to 'horse piss' egg), the raw shrimp salad (an article on the wall claims this is a dish that the chef picked up while working in Japan), and the catfish salad. A very strong massaman curry as well.

[Anthony Bonner]

What's the baseline for places "everyone knows about"?

I regularly eat at the Bosnian place in Ridgewood and try to get to Georgian Bread every other month or so. Muncan I buy things at pretty regularly - although I've bought some not so great stuff there.

[Stone]

I recently had lunch at Gazala Place, on 9th Ave at 48th. It's Druze cuisine.* The kebab sandwich was nothing special, but the hummos and babaganoush were some of the best I've had. Instead of pita, its served with thin, whole wheat crepe-like pancakes, which are also very good.

*I was going to say Druze food, because mashed chickpeas and kebabs doesn't really qualify for cuisine, but "Druze food" sounds kind of funny.

[oakapple]

I think the O.P.'s thesis was that such places get more coverage on Chowhound; hence, anyone who doesn't participate there is missing an important segment of the dining universe.

[Jesikka]

What's the baseline for places "everyone knows about"?

I regularly eat at the Bosnian place in Ridgewood and try to get to Georgian Bread every other month or so. Muncan I buy things at pretty regularly - although I've bought some not so great stuff there.

The baseline assumes that we have all heard of Szechuan Gourmet, Kebab Cafe, and Spicy and Tasty. I think there's a lot of fair game. I for one would not mind a review of places that long-time NYers love, but I think there's a number of places that I have never been that I would like to be reminded to try.

[Sneakeater]

Isn't the criterion places that every SHOULD know about (as opposed to places every DOES know about)?

[fentona]

*I was going to say Druze food, because mashed chickpeas and kebabs doesn't really qualify for cuisine, but "Druze food" sounds kind of funny.

So what distinguishes Druze cuisine from the other cuisines of its area? From the menu, it doesn't look significantly different.

[Stone]

*I was going to say Druze food, because mashed chickpeas and kebabs doesn't really qualify for cuisine, but "Druze food" sounds kind of funny.

So what distinguishes Druze cuisine from the other cuisines of its area? From the menu, it doesn't look significantly different.

Beats me. Maybe the crepe-things instead of pita?

[Sneakeater]

It's cooked by Druzes.

[Orik]

*I was going to say Druze food, because mashed chickpeas and kebabs doesn't really qualify for cuisine, but "Druze food" sounds kind of funny.

So what distinguishes Druze cuisine from the other cuisines of its area? From the menu, it doesn't look significantly different.

Nothing, but her Burekas are the best I've had anywhere in the world I'm allowed to go.

[StephanieL]

I stopped reading CH ages ago, so I don't know if Brazilian restaurants get a lot of play there, but I don't think it's a cuisine that's talked about much (at least not here). Recently, the Times published a review by Dave Cook of Point Break, one of the many Brazilian buffet places in Astoria (which is the largest Brazilian neighborhood in the city, BTW). This kind of restaurant is typical for Brazil; there's cold food, hot food, and a rotisserie grill, and you pay by the pound. Sometimes there are also pasteles and desserts. At the better buffets, you can eat very well for not much money, and some of them, including Point Break, will occasionally have specialties from Bahia, the most African-influenced of the Brazilian regions.

[Lex]

Steve R. and hcbk0702 and I read CH so you folks don't have to. It's all part of the service.

[Eatmywords]

I'm starting a thread to respond to the contention that Mouthfulers need to read Chowhound b/c otherwise they're missing out on great restaurants.

From this weekend, Ayada Thai in Elmhurst. We have a thread on the restaurant now, but for the sake of a new thread, I recommend the black egg (which we were told translates to 'horse piss' egg), the raw shrimp salad (an article on the wall claims this is a dish that the chef picked up while working in Japan), and the catfish salad. A very strong massaman curry as well.

In addition the watercress salad was particularly exceptional…..worth a trip on its own merit

Other recent meals:

Sarangbang Korean – Flushing/Bayside – under the radar Korean hole in the wall. Squid and kimchee over rice, short rib bulgogi and cuttlefish hot pot. Very good banchan esp baked egg and tofu

Ganesh Temple canteen (old news) – Flushing - masala dosa with coconut chutney – visit the Hindu temple upstairs (the largest in the country apparently), an out of NY experience

Hahm Ji Bach - Flushing – best Korean in NY. Monkfish and short rib casseroles, superior banchan esp the house tofu

Picnic Garden – Flushing – the only raw buffet korean bbq I know of. Short ribs a few ways, squid, shrimp, pork, chicken, intestines, prepared dishes. Good fun with a group and a steal at $20ish a head.

[Steve R.]

Steve R. and hcbk0702 and I read CH so you folks don't have to. It's all part of the service.

To start, let me just say that some of my best friends are druzish.

So, there's a current back and forth on a Peking Duck place in Flushing that I'm going to next week with some folks... I think that seems to be a sleeper that folks here should think about. Awhile ago there was quite a stir about Southern Spice, an Indian place that was actually worth going to (went twice) but not anywhere near revelatory. Then there were the threads about Fu Run, which I've been to about half a dozen times now and like more than almost any other place in Flushing. Less than a block from S & Tasty, but virtually ignored elsewhere. I think my thread on Farm on Adderly (Brooklyn) was worth MF'ers attention. And I wrote up Spina in the E. Village too, a place that Nux recommended and I've fallen for. Happy eating everyone.

[Suzanne F]

Steve R. and hcbk0702 and I read CH so you folks don't have to. It's all part of the service.

Thanks. I'll add a little something to your tip next time.

No, really, I do appreciate that you guys drive all over the city and report your opinions of the places that are touted on other boards and of the places that you find. Will I ever go to any of them? Probably not, but it's nice to know about the tasty treats I'm missing. I just wish you'd include public transit information (seriously); that might get me out of my Lower Manhattan/Brooklyn Heights cocoon.