Several tidbits
The Jean Robert Empire takes a tumble: I suppose someone has already mentioned this, but just in case, ya'all already know that Jean Robert de Cavel is quitting Pigalls, Pigalls will close for about a month to retool (probably into a far less formal place), and Jean Robert hopes to start anew somewhere else in Cincinnati. This is very sad, and is all because (imho) his financial backer interferes too much. I mean, you have to give some patience with a new enterprise. Question: if Pigalls becomes a less formal joint, what do you do with the already less-formal JeanRo Bistro, just a block away?
Many closings downtown: I'm sure I am missing a ton, but the following downtown eateries have all closed their doors in the last 30 days and I am unsure if they any will reopen:
-Sahara Cafe (formerly All Rise, home of the much beloved cheeseburger and fries deal
-Jordan Valley - there is a sign on the door that talks about water damage. I've seen such signs before, and like those other places, there is no repair work going on inside
-NY NY Deli - no great loss, sure, but still. The location in Mt Washington remains mysteriously open despite nary a customer ever seen within
-Gondola Pizzeria - has closed and been re-opened as yet another Lucy Blue Pizza. As in, pizza people buy by the slice when they are drunk, mostly.
-Wah Mee - not great chinese but still, we've lost at least a half dozen asian eateries downtown in the past 10 years, and are down to very little selection here. And they were there forever before that. Sad.
Tan Thai/downtown expands its menu and lowers prices: Very, very nice. The counter girl let me see the new menu, and prices are down 10-20% pretty much across the board and selection is MUCH better.
Paczki's are back: I picked up one of each of the three varieties of these Mardi-Gras season donuts offered by Servatii's today, and boy are they good. Hurry in or you'll miss them.
Ramundo's\Mt Lookout Square: This place has improved by leaps and bounds since I was last there 10-15 years ago. They sell by the slice, and a very, very good slice it is. They sell a special "ny style" slice at lunch only that
I think is a call for NYPizzaNut to investigate. Fair warning: this is a takeout with one lone extra-tall table and that is usually occupied - plan on takeout if you go. I will certainly be back
Zip's/Mt Lookout: Proclaimed by man as the best burger in Cincinnati, tho I have never understood. I give them another chance every few years to impress me. The cheeseburger this time around was better, thicker, cooked to order - but still not much better than average. My opinion remains unchanged. See Ya in 2012 or later, Zip's.
Frisch's Chocolate Cream Pie: This is by far my favorite item at Frisch's, but they never seem to have it anymore. I finally called their Customer service line and they told me that it is now available only in two ways: 1) during their "Chocolate Fest" held annually in July, and 2) by the pie by pre-ordering only during Thanksgiving. Not all locations will even have option 2 available, and the CSR I talked to had no idea what stores did and what stores did not have this available. You just have to call and ask.
Poutine in Cincinnati: Someone PM'ed me to ask where they could get poutine in Cincinnati. Err, we call that gravy and cheese fries here, right? Ala Pleasant Ridge Chili? Seriously - Bard's Burgers in Covington supposed does a respectable rendition of poutine.
Blue Ash Chili is a now a chain: Wanderingjew will love to hear this :-)
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090130/BIZ01/301300024
DeMeo's\Milford closed: Another small Italian place down the tubes. I visited once, food was better than average, kids liked it too. The Twenty Brix folks bought the business and are supposedly gonna do something different with the space.
Gravy\Milford: My dad loves a good gravy, and he lives out past Milford, so when he heard this place opened, he hightailed it over there. He was very disappointed, and says he will not be back. I don't have specifics yet.
Oriental Wok 2\Hyde Park: I head heard a while back that Oriental Wok in Ft Mitchell was going to take over the space at the regency (corner of Dana and Madison) where Jay's then Napa's used to be and open another higher-end chinese eatery. I have not heard anything since. Do any of you get over that way and if so, have you seen any goings-on there?
Teak Thai/Mt Adams: I finally made it in there, and had two appetizers and an entree. More about sampling a few things than wanting all that much food. In any case, it was not very good. I had always heard this was one of the best Thai places in Cincinnati but it was not in my mind even average, and the prices were high. Can someone explain this place to me? Do I need to try it again, and if so, what Thai dishes (not interested in sushi, not quite yet) should I try?
Personal request - pan fried chinese pork dumplings: Where can I get the best pan-fried pork dumplings in Cincinnati? I really like the ones at Young's Kitchen in Mt Washington (so near, so good) but the skins are thicker than I'd like. I'm not looking for places that simply have them on their menu, but places you've had them and they've rocked. Let me know :-)
<message edited by TJ Jackson on Fri, 01/30/09 7:15 PM>
