Tuesday, September 25, 2007
More soul food
Kurt Blumenau from The Morning Call notified me that Jaffe's Soul Food opened in the former Southampton Fish and Chips restaurant in Easton. I'm not exactly sure where this is, so I'd welcome word from any feet on the Easton streets. Similarly, I noticed that the fish and chips place (also Southampton?) on E. Fourth Street, Southside Bethlehem (just east of Nawab) appeared closed when I walked by two weeks ago. Anyone know the skinny?
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Mike - the original Southampton Fish & Chips place in Easton was on 4th Street downtown. When you come off the 4th Street exit ramp of Rt. 22, go straight through the intersection on 4th. At the stop sign with Spring Garden Street, proceed straight through and Jaffe's is ahead on your right. I saw the sign in the window recently but wasn't ware that it had officially opened yet.
The fish place was a small take-out only place, so it will be interesting to see if Jaffe's is the same set-up or if they somehow found space to add seating.
Didn't know the Southampton Fish & Chips place in southside Bethlehem (same owners) had closed as well. I had heard that they closed the Easton location because the Bethlehem was bigger, had seating and was doing better.
Thanks, Tracey. I'm not certain about the one on E. 4th on the Southside. It wasn't open on a recent Saturday evening, which typically isn't a good sign for a restaurant. I just called a phone number I found on Google and the number was disconnected. If someone knows details, please share. I'll research further in the meantime.
I used to work at the Bethlehem shop, it never did that well. They seem to have closed sometime during the summer, a gal I know who worked there after me told me that that it just wasn't making money. One of the original two owners had already left in the spring. A shame, the food was tasty.
Thanks for the update, Asher. I'm disappointed I never made it there before it closed. Here's hoping new tenants introduce something unique to the South Side.
I'm looking for decent Chinese food in the valley. I was just in Philly's Chinatown and it strikes me every time that the difference between quality Chinese food and Valley Chinese food is so substantial, we can really only call stand outs like JJ Wongs the best of the worst. We've made such strides in Thai cuisine with places like Touch of Thai. When will we get decent Chinese food?
Re decent Chinese food, for now decent is probably the best you're going to get. Eastern Chinese on 191 just south of 22 (in the Wal-Mart/Home Depot plaza) has always been consistent. I reviewed Golden Dragon (309 just N of Coopersburg) about three months ago. And I just had a quick lunch at Tsang's Bistro, which occupies the former Akita restaurant on Walbert Ave in S Whitehall Township. Tsang's is worth a try. I had a baby bok choy dish with a sesame sauce that was neither gloppy or sticky-sweet. The presentation and service was pleasant as well. There's not huge variety on the menu; then again, how many places have stir-fried bok choy? Where do you like to go in Chinatown in Philly? My favorite place is a little hole in the wall called Lakeside Chinese Deli.
Dynasty on State Rd in Emmaus is my favorite.
Service excellent too.
Re: Chinese food, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Hunan Springs on 222 in Wescosville. It's not perfect, but definitely a big step up from "take-out style" Chinese.
Is the Palace of India still open in Emmaus?
A couple of veggies have dropped in for a week and they love curry (so do I). I'm not too keen on Nawab's fare - it's ok but a bit samey.
I havn't recovered from the Bombay Grille closing in Easton. Fabulous food. Rumor has it that chef Joseph is back in the valley -I hope he finds a venue soon.
Thanks for the great blog.
Hi, anon 2:14. Thanks for the comments.
Re Palace of India, I passed by it last week and it looked open. I have not heard of it closing. Re Nawab, I went there a couple of years ago with an Indian co-worker. He said the food was typical of what you might find in a diner-type restaurant in India -- nothing spectacular.
RE: Tsang's Bistro. I encourage everyone to try Tsang's. I just went there for the first time on Sunday. The restaurant itself is quite stylish, the owner is very friendly and personable, and the food is good. The dumplings were amazing. We tried Kung Pao Tofu and Chicken & Eggplant in Garlic Sauce. Both were good. We'll probably try something more adventurous next time and ask them to kick up the spice. Probably worthwhile to go with what the owner recommends as his "specials." He recommended the dumplings and they were wonderful.
I stopped at Tsang's for a brief lunch a couple of months ago. (Too brief to merit a post.) However, I had gingered bok choy that was fresh, crisp and not overly sauced. That and some healthy brown rice and I was ready for my afternoon meetings without feeling bloated. I'll be sure to add Tsang's to my list for 2008. Thanks, ashby.
Chinese in the valley?
I agree, with the exeption noted below, that there are several "ok" places (I used to live a couple of blocks from "china town" in boston, so I am snooty about my "chinese" food).
If, however, by "Chinese" you mean Asian food generally you might want to try Sogo in Easton (right next to River Grille in Northampton St). As noted below, the sushi and beef dishes are exceptional. Their sushi chef (at least the last time I went) was up there with the best I have had anywhere, you can't go wrong with it. They also do do slightly better than OK Chinese, Japanese and Thai, with their beef dishes being exceptional in any style of cuisine.
I would be remiss for not noting that you need reservations on the weekends. Also, the owner is a bastard to her staff, but the food is shockingly good despite it. Touch of Thai around the corner on 2nd street and Phenom, down the street from Sogo, are both adequate if Sogo is full.
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