Dinner plans went south - but we recovered, changed course and had a fantastic evening!

[chief38]

Last evening My wife and I along with 3 other couples were so looking forward to eating at our favorite Sushi restaurant and had 6:00 reservations. This restaurant is so popular that without reservations you will wait a half hour to 45 minutes or more for a table. Anyway, we pulled up the the restaurant last night and there was no line. As we approached the front door we also noticed the place was dark. When we opened the door the owner greeted us and told us that the electricity had gone out in the entire area and he was told that it would be an hour or two before it was restored. We were all disappointed but we all agreed we would go some where else.

I know the area fairly well and I suggested a gourmet Chinese restaurant I knew of about 20 minutes away. Everyone shook their heads in agreement and we headed over. Dinner was excellent, we had a giant round table so everyone was conversing, joking and eating really great food! Our server was excellent and attentive. We had such a great time and everyone liked the restaurant so much they want to return sooner than later. That said, we all agreed to head over to our Sushi restaurant during the week. After all..... Chinese food is great - BUT IT AIN'T SUSHI!!

 

[JET4]

Glad y'all had a great time. Both Chinese and sushi are good, wife and I like both.

 

[jeffrefrig]

In my early refrigeration days, I've had to work in quite a few restaurants. I've seen enough in Asian and Mexican joints that I won't eat in any; it was usually the higher the prices, the dirtier the kitchen. Not to mention the slime in an ice maker that hasn't been cleaned properly.

 

[Greyman50]

There is one of the Best sushi places here, owned by Thai's and Everything on the menu is excellent.
China buffet is 25 minutes away but crazy expensive on weekends, $24/ person. I never eat crab legs as forget about them as just about everything is good, they have sushi too but have not tried it yet.

 

[Greyman50]

The local Thai place's kitchen is open so anyone can see everything as is the sushi bar, a reason I go there. Like the above post stated there are Many places I will Never eat in.

 

[erikpolcrack]

My grandfather served on the local board of health for many years. Whenever he took me out for lunch, we went to a local drug store which had a soda fountain and small luncheonette. My folks always took me to the local hotel which had a large, plush dining room and a fancy, well-known chef. I asked him why he made the choice he did, since I knew it wasn't financial. He told me it was because, in the thirty-odd years he'd been on the local health inspection team, they had never found a single infraction in the little luncheonette's kitchen. He also mentioned that the local hotel's kitchen never made it with no infractions and regularly failed initial inspections. It was so bad they usually had a re-inspection already planned on their tentative schedule.

 

[SMSgt]

I long ago abandoned Chinese food for Asian food. The more Thai it is, the better.

 

[chief38]

In my early refrigeration days, I've had to work in quite a few restaurants. I've seen enough in Asian and Mexican joints that I won't eat in any; it was usually the higher the prices, the dirtier the kitchen. Not to mention the slime in an ice maker that hasn't been cleaned properly.

I'd bet as a refrigeration guy you have seen more than most of us - probably not a pretty picture! I worked in a Bakery as a kid and believe me, I could give you a few stories about Bakery's that would make your hair stand up, lol. Thankfully, after cooking Chinese food in a scalding hot wok, I doubt any germs would survive. If they did, the alcohol in the Saki should kill them - ha ha. All kidding aside, I understand why you feel the way you do - wish it wasn't that way of course! I would bet other types of restaurants are no better.

The Sushi place we eat in is immaculate and the sushi is prepared at the sushi counter which is in plain sight from our table. I sometimes will stand there for a few minutes watching them prepare the sushi - it is entertaining for a minute or two. Even their bathrooms are pretty clean. The sushi chef's have sinks right at the counters and they are constantly washing their knives and hands. Probably one of the cleanest restaurants I have seen to date. I have been eating sushi for 40 years no and have never gotten sick or had any issues. The KEY with sushi is to only eat it at a very busy place! If no one is in the restaurant - exit stage left!

 

[quikdraw67]

Glad things worked out for you Chief38.

Our local Chinese restaurant hasn't seen a Clorox mop in years. But it's busy.

When you're the only game in town, it's take it or leave it.

I leave it. Actually, the local Weis Market has pretty good General Tso's chicken in their grab & go section.

I do miss a good shrimp roll though.

 

[chief38]

Glad things worked out for you Chief38.

Our local Chinese restaurant hasn't seen a Clorox mop in years. But it's busy.

When you're the only game in town, it's take it or leave it.

I leave it. Actually, the local Weis Market has pretty good General Tso's chicken in their grab & go section.

I do miss a good shrimp roll though.

As much as I DESPISE NY and there are very very few good things I can say about it, the restaurant food there is about the best in the world. They have every kind of restaurant you could imagine and many are spectacular! I was weened on great Chinese and Italian food and they are something I don't think I could give up. Sushi is something I slowly developed a taste for starting 40 years ago and I am now insane over it! Here in SW FL there are many many restaurants but only a few that are up to the standards we are used to. Not to sound like a food snob (OK - maybe I am a bit of one), but many of the restaurants in NY are second to none as far as I am concerned. They can keep the rest of the State!! I guess we got spoiled living there so long. It took us over 2 years to scope out the best of what they have down here and thankfully they are pretty clean and respectable restaurants. I couldn't never eat in a pigsty of a restaurant!

As much as we enjoy eating out often, I have started BBQ-ing more and more. The steaks I can and do make here are actually better than the best steak houses we have been to. While it's nice to be served and not have to clean up a mess, I find myself enjoying BBQ-ing more and more and the food is tailored to exactly the way we like it. The prices good restaurants charge these days is off the chart now and it is hard to justify spending hundreds of dollars for a meal I can make better here for 25% of the cost. And...... I don't have to leave my wife a tip!

 

[Muley Gil]

As much as I DESPISE NY and there are very very few good things I can say about it, the restaurant food there is about the best in the world. They have every kind of restaurant you could imagine and many are spectacular! I was weened on great Chinese and Italian food and they are something I don't think I could give up. Sushi is something I slowly developed a taste for starting 40 years ago and I am now insane over it! Here in SW FL there are many many restaurants but only a few that are up to the standards we are used to. Not to sound like a food snob (OK - maybe I am a bit of one), but man of the restaurants in NY are second to none as far as I am concerned. They can keep the rest of the State!! I guess we got spoiled living there so long. It took us over 2 years to scope out the best of what they have down here and thankfully they are pretty clean and respectable restaurants. I couldn't never eat in a pigsty of a restaurant!

As much as we enjoy eating out often, I have started BBQ-ing more and more. The steaks I can and do make here are actually better than the best steak houses we have been to. While it's nice to be served and not have to clean up a mess, I find myself enjoying BBQ-ing more and more and the food is tailored to exactly the way we like it. The prices good restaurants charge these days is off the chart now and it is hard to justify spending hundreds of dollars for a better meal I can make here for 25% of the cost. And...... I don't have to leave my wife a tip!

You grill steaks, burgers and hot dogs. BBQ is slow cooked pork, beef and in a few places, mutton, over a hardwood fire.

 

[chief38]

You grill steaks, burgers and hot dogs. BBQ is slow cooked pork, beef and in a few places, mutton, over a hardwood fire.

Muley.
technically you are correct - I use the word BBQ for anything that gets cooked on a grill. Math and Physics are my strong suit, spelling, grammar and punctuation, ehhhh. It took me decades to stop using the term, "cook-out". lol

 

[dockmurgw]

I prefer to put my cut bait on a hook, not on a dinner plate.

 

[Greyman50]

Kind of related story. Grandson is an E-6 in the Navy in 6 years and was on a cruise from Guam to India. He called me before leaving and I Told him Under No Circumstances eat IN ANY place Unless you are with an old Chief that knows where to eat and where Not to eat. Month layer he called when back in Guam and asked him about the cruise. He said he should have listened to me as he and 3 buddies ate at some " joint" in India. Said they were sicker than dogs for 4 days with the runs and throwing up. Nuf Sed.

 

[Narragansett]

Well, glad it turned out well for you. I am not a sushi eater. Actually, no sushi, Indian, Thai, Mexican, Southern US, etc. etc. American, Italian and some Chinese. No Fast foods either. I don't want to be calling Leaf Filter to install screens in my aorta

 

[chief38]

Kind of related story. Grandson is an E-6 in the Navy in 6 years and was on a cruise from Guam to India. He called me before leaving and I Told him Under No Circumstances eat IN ANY place Unless you are with an old Chief that knows where to eat and where Not to eat. Month layer he called when back in Guam and asked him about the cruise. He said he should have listened to me as he and 3 buddies ate at some " joint" in India. Said they were sicker than dogs for 4 days with the runs and throwing up. Nuf Sed.

Well...... I do not eat Indian food as I never liked the "aroma". That alone could make me gag! I have friends that love it - I do not join them when they go to Indian restaurants - that's a "BBQ" at home night for us!

 

[chief38]

Oh - forgot to mention this in my OP. I LUV Sushi! I HATE cooked fish! Why you may ask? I do NOT lie the smell of cooked fish! Good Sushi has no smell.

 

[Greyman50]

Yea, Iv'e yet to find one that even Looks decent. Unusually cook at home as the Thai place is the only good / safe place to eat around here. Down the road to Fl there are several really good places but its 20-45 minutes away.
When in St Augustine eat at O'Steens, best fried shrimp hands down.

 

[ladder13]

I had sushi….once.

No Indian, can't even stand the smell. . Have yet to find good Chinese with ingredients I can recognize, lol. Get my Chinese when I go up north.

Took a liking to shrimp and grits.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Glad that things worked out for you.
My wife was going to bring some Chinese food home but they were closed.
Seems that only half the staff showed up, a few days later, there was a sign, "Take out only".

Looks like family problems?