Ginza [CT]

Dinner tonight 'twixt Christmas and birthday shoppings. Here at Ginza we always find something good to eat!

Started with an order of Edamame [$4] and Fried Vegetable Gyoza [$5] which were excellent. Then on to an order of Ginza Special Roll each [$15]. The first order [top] was a Seasons Roll with tuna, yellowtail, salmon and avocado inside with multicolored tobiko on top. Very well executed and harmoniously tasty. My roll  [bottom] was the Angry Dragon with shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, sliced papaya [not ripe enough], with king crab salad on top in a nuta sauce.

blognote: excellent service but we were the only diners at this hour [6:00pm]

Wang Chinese Restaurant [CT]

Wang Chinese Restaurant has opened today in Cromwell. We have needed a sit-down Chinese restaurant for a long time. Now it is here and it is good! They are related to Wang Palace in Glastonbury. Now we don't have to drive over the river to get good Chinese food.



There was quite a list of lunch specials for today's soft opening. It took me some time to finally order. I had the Sesame Chicken [$6.25] served over broccoli and my choice of Pork Fried Rice [plain white rice is also available]. The chicken was moist and just about the right amount of spiciness while the broccoli was fresh and tender. There was a choice of three soups or an egg roll and I ordered my favorite Hot Sour which was filled with mushhrooms, tofu and pork. The lunch also included the fried wonton noodles with two sauces and a large pot of tea. Quite the bargain!

bloginfo: You can find the restaurant at 30 Berlin Road right near the entrance to Cromwell Hills. Many restaurants have lived in this place but this one will be a keeper. Take-out orders 860.788.6030
blognote: They have enlarged and improved the parking lot which was always a problem in the past.

Gilbertie's Place

Early dinner for the three of us. We had had a good meal at Gilbertie's Place before so thought we would try it again tonight. There was a private party in the bar and we ended up in the dining room which was just about deserted. The evening specials looked good and Mahi Mahi [$20] was the choice [and a good one] for one of the party. The lemon sauce was very fresh and the dish was served with rice. The other entrée was Chicken Parm [$17] and looked good in a usual preparation with spaghettini. This was preceded by a very good crock of French Seven Onion Soup [$5]. This was even better than the onion soup two nights before. I started with the onion soup also and then had an appetizer for main course [my make-believe diet]. The app was a special for the night: Seafood Stuffed Portabella Mushroom [$9]. This was the hit of the night. A large amount of seafood on a balsamic marinated portabella grilled to a lovely goodness. I added a House Salad [$5] with a very good house balsamic vinaigrette dressing. There was a Cannoli to go which didn't make it to the bill!

blognote: The private party made the service suffer a little when it came to drinks and we had to ask for bread [which turned out to be very fresh rolls] and glad we did.

'rememberable' tastes...

Got a very decent [don't have to go all the way to Paris] crock of French Onion Soup at Village Green Pizza for $3.75 for a light supper. Great cheese and the bread was rye, a terrific combination.

bloginfo: take out 860.295.1330 

Sonic Drive-In

Believe it or not had a great lunch at Sonic Drive-In today in Manchester. First time for me but I had coveted the other CT location in Wallingford. I had the special Bacon Cheddar Melt  [$6.39 for the combo] with pickles, onions and hickory barbecue sauce. This came with fries and my unsweetened iced tea. It was moist and delicious and on the well-salted side. Eating it in the car brought back too many fast food memories.


The other orders were a Popcorn Chicken Combo [$6.99] which was judged good but I have had better and a single Bacon Cheeseburger Combo [$7.19]. Ordering it all on the drive-in monitor was a blast and the roller blading servers were very efficient.


blognote: salty, salty, salty...

'rememberable' tastes...

Pear pie, pumpkin pie and vanilla ice cream after a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner in the hills with family!

Tibetan Kitchen

I could become a vegetarian after eating here at Tibetan Kitchen this afternoon. Went in at a weird time [electricity was out at home] so the cook was on break. No problem, I had a Chai tea [$2] and wandered through the menu of items that were so new to me. This is such a charming place, no other word for it. The decor, service and cleanliness are a welcome addition to 'restaurant row' here in Middletown.

Settled on the Shogo sip-si [V7. $7.50] which was shredded potato sautéed with dried chili, ginger, garlic and red onion seasoned with Tibetan pepper served with steamed bread. This was accompanied with two hot sauces made in-house. I dipped the plain bread into the sauces and had to get some more [.75 charge].  I could have eaten about three more servings of this potato dish and the additional sauce was worth the extra charge.

bloginfo: Tibetan Kitchen takes up the space where Iguanas Ranas was formerly [they have moved down the street to a larger location]. Take out at 860.343.3073

blognote: When you enter here you leave Middletown and find yourself transported halfway around the world. What a joy!

Primavera Pub

Tried Primavera Pub again today for lunch. We both had the lunch special of Rojões [$9.50] which was a plate full of fried pork cubes, boiled potatoes and sautéed broccoli rabe. Also ordered an appetizer of fried Linguiça which went beautifully on a Portuguese roll. Everything was delicious and I now have another convert to this fantastic place. We will be back soon [and not too soon enough]!

blognote: Lots of leftovers for dinner tomorrow.

November 15, 2011
After seeing 'Motherfucker With The Hat' at Theater Works we headed out to Primavera Pub for some Portuguese food. I was told the Portuguese food I had been eating in Hartford needed to be tested against the 'real' food here. They were definitely right.

I had the Bitoque, a rich ensemble of ribeye steak, ham slice, fried egg over fried potatoes, which was excellent. This I accompanied with a Sagres beer. My compatriot had the Alentejana, Clams and Pork, over vegetables and fried potatoes, which was also great. The portions were huge and the fantastic Portuguese bread and olives to start the meal helped fill us up. Lots went home to be enjoyed later.

bloginfo: Primavera Pub is located at 271 Newington Ave in Hartford, CT 06106

860-953-7411

blognote: Don't let the appearance of this neighborhood place turn you off. It is great inside!

DISH Bar and Grill

Ate from Bar Menu at DISH tonight after Hartford Stage Matinée. Three of us: Reuben Pizza [$10], Turkey Burger [$12] and my Kobe Beef Sliders [$16]. It is within walking distance from the theater so that worked out well. The pizza didn't look too appetizing but was proclaimed good; corned beef, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and swiss cheese, go figure. The burger had a good amount of turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato but not enough quac. Both the burger and the sliders included fries and we both opted for the sweet potato fries [+$2] My sliders were excellent; grilled/charred Kobe beef, brie and black truffle aioli. This was supplemented by a Sam Adams Winter Ale for a good evening out.

blognote: Bar Menus are a new way of ordering for me. Usually a good variety, smaller portion and lower cost.

Pond House Grille

Where am I? Tango? Pond House Grille? Tango Creative Eatery? The Groupon says Tango so it better be where we are eating! Anyway they are accepting the Groupon so eat on.

Ate here in its two other lives: Bamboleo and Glas. Room is a bit more casual now with these minuscule tables which might be okay for wine and cheese but the plates are the size of home base and it's a bit crowded. Oops! The bread and butter plate just hit the floor and the ladies next to us were ready to dive under the table; OPHG [no it's not Occupy Pond House Grille!]. So let's enjoy my birthday and yes I am still taking invites for last September's celebration.

Marilyn [via Andy] watched over our meals!

Started with Cornbread and Honey Butter. I had the Cabernet Braised Lamb Shank which came with my favorite roasted caramelized root vegetables and then three giant fried onion rings [$24.12]. All very good but the chef must be on a salt-free diet and I am not so had to have a server search for the salt shaker. This and a glass of Shiraz [$7] made for a good meal. The lamb was very tender and a large portion. Lots of veggies, roasted but still a little crisp and the onion rings were just good onion rings. The other entrée was the Crab Cake over Indian rice and a side salad. Rice had a nice curry taste.

bloginfo: Used a Groupon and the fine print said no daily specials so we didn't get to know what they were having tonight.
blognote: Good service, attentive to the need for lots of water.

J's Restaurant and Bar

Ate tonight [yes another birthday celebration] at J's and had a good meal. The place was mobbed and the noise level was quite high with several tables going at it full decibel. The Mussels app [$15] was very tasty but the bottom of the bowl with all the saucy goodness was a mass of cracked shells. The Iceburg [sic] Wedge [$6] was good and the gorgonzola vinaigrette dressing had just the right amount of creaminess. My entrée of Chicken Riggies [house specialty @$16] was a little underwhelming [couldn't find the pesto] so next time I will have the Chicken Parmigiana [$16] which was excellent. The other entrée was Cacio é Pepe [$15], an interesting blend of bucatini pasta and parmesan cheese. Didn't look like much but was deemed very good [cracked black pepper got lost somewhere].

blognote: waiter was not the best but the service there is oft times lacking and he couldn't find a wine glass for my pinot grigio for a good long time.