CAFE@WA

Tried the new dining room at the Wadsworth Atheneum yesterday for lunch. Very civilized but I like the older setting before as it had more ambience. But I guess you have to cater to the crowd.

You order at the kiosk and are then assigned to a table [#22]. A waitperson then brings your meal to your table. The room overlooks the sculpture court so is quite light and bright. Room needed a vacuuming from yesterday's service; I was very early so it must have been leftover crumbs. The room has been totally redesigned and the low-temp colors are soothing. The seating is comfortable.

I ordered the modern angle cobb [everything is in lower case font] for $14.00 and this included a beverage from the self-serve station. There were several kinds of soft drinks, fresh brewed iced tea, and coffee. Beer and wine are available at extra cost.

The cobb salad is described on the menu as fresh roasted rosemary crusted turkey [didn't find any rosemary], applewood smoked bacon, bleu cheese crumbles, marinated haricot verts beans [redundant (and a scarce amount)], bermuda onion, grape tomatoes, hard boiled egg, baby greens, green goddess dressing. It was to be accompanied by breadsticks but dinner rolls [remember those] were subsittuted. All in all, it was tasty. The iced tea was excellent. I opted for no dessert but there were three interesting items.

The menu [on large banners outside the door and on paper at kiosk] offers soup of the day, six sandwiches, four salads, four items 'from the oven' and a children's menu.

bloginfo: CAFE@WA is located inside the museum. You have to enter through the main entry on Main Street. I am a member so don't know how to eat there without membership but it is possible. I guess you have to promise not to look at the art!

blognote: The restaurant is run by Jordan Caterers located in Chesire, CT

Pho Boston

Good meal tonight at Pho Boston. Went there after a super showing of Miss Saigon [get the theme?] with one of the dancers in the show and her family.

Apps: Three types of Spring Rolls - one with shrimp and pork slices, one with just pork slices and one with shredded pork skin came with two dips - fish sauce and peanut sauce [$3.75 an order]

Entrées:

Pho Boston #15 - large bowl, special spicy saté with rare steak [$6.95]

Pork and Vegetable Chow Fun #44 [$8.50]

Combination Pork, Beef, Chicken and Vegetable Chow Fun #47 [$9.50]

Pad Thai [spicy and served hot] #48 [$8.50]

Grilled Pork Slices on Vermicelli #64 [$6.95]

Singha Thai beer and #30 Vietnamese beer

bloginfo: Pho Boston Authentic Chinese and Vietnamese Cuisine, Shield Street Plaza, 144 Shield Street, West Hartford, CT

953.8678

blognotes: this place always wins all sorts of awards from the Hartford Advocate,

clientele mostly Asian and waiters are fully bilingual and very helpful in ordering

Shady Glen

Shady Glen on West Middle Turnpike in Manchester, CT [which I have previously blogged] was just mentioned in this month's Esquire Magazine article: '60 Things Worth Shortening Your Life For.'

It ranked #44!

"The cheeseburger at Shady Glen Dairy Stores in Manchester, Connecticut.
Four carefully arranged pieces of cheese extending far beyond the border of the patty melt directly on the grill, creating a chewy crust that is as difficult to describe as it is to digest. $4.95".

and the best coleslaw also!

Mama Roux'

Had another great Sunday breakfast at Mama Roux.

Excellent Chicken Fried Pork with Pepper Gravy over Biscuits and HomeFries
Good Eggs Benedict

But the star entrée was the Mama's Crepes Special stuffed with a Scallion Mascarpone, fresh Spinach and Bacon smothered with Scrambled Eggs and served with HomeFries. YES!

bloginfo: Mama Roux is actually in Cromwell on Main Street but I consider it Middletown as it is so close to my house.
blognote: Kim [Mama Roux] is a terrific chef!

Forbidden City

Dinner on Saturday night at Forbidden City on Main Street in Middletown.

Apps: Shanghai Sampler: trio of Edamame, pickled Cucumber and Carmelized Shiitake Mushrooms [mushrooms the best]
China Box: Carmelized Pork and Onions encased in Puff Pastry [good]

Entrées: Peppercorn Duck Breast Special with Duck Confit Polenta and Orchard Shrimp: six large lightly fried Shrimp over Melon Balls on a flat fried Won Ton with a sweet sauce [delicious]

Wine: St. Supéry Meritage [soft white pink grapefruit flavored and perfect with the spicy Duck Breast]

blofginfo: Forbidden City Bistro and Art Gallery, 335 Main Street, Middletown, CT
860.343.8288