July-August Dining Update
Panera, Fayetteville, NY, July 10th
Ok, once more at Sarah’s favorite spot. This time I finally had the Mediterranean veggie sandwich, which was pretty good. Still, you can’t seem to get out of this place for less than fifteen bucks, which is a little steep for a cafeteria. I always notice that the clientele is largely made up of women and girls.
A Little Better than you’d expect. ***
Arad Evans Inn, Fayetteville, NY, July 10th.
A busy night at the Arad, and we were hip deep in the bourgeoisie as we tried to get a table in the bistro. Had expected friends to join us, but they were slow and we decided to go on without them…sat in the main dining room instead but ate from the bistro menu. We split an escargot appetizer, and I had a ½ rack of lamb and Sarah had a salad for dinner. We finished the meal with the chocolate pudding cake, and then port in the bar with our friends. Top to bottom, everything was first rate-I was impressed that Sarah was willing to try snails, and she LOVED the pudding cake and its molten chocolate center. Only downside was a fat and chatty lady at a nearby table, who wanted to adopt us or something. Her husband was a bit Jack Sprat-ish, and I wondered if he was slowly dying inside as he watched her devour another gigantic meal.
Very Good ****
Sno Top, Manlius, NY, July 11th
Took Sarah here after the Zoo, mainly because she’d taken me to Massey’s in Carlisle (see May-June Dining Update), and I wanted her to try Manlius’ own local ice cream stand. I got a glacier, she got something with chunks of stuff mixed in. She was happy, I was happy, and we finished the afternoon off with a walk around the Swan Pond.
A Little Better than you’d expect. ***
Tully’s, Vestal, NY, July 11th
Ok, so sue me…this place, in most respects, sucks the big one, but they DO know how to fry up some food. If you want to pack on the cholesterol, and you like your food hot and crispy, then go here. Service was slow, other customers largely obnoxious, twenty tvs on at once very distracting, but chicken tenders were very good, as was the mozzarella sticks.
About What You’d Expect. **
China Café, Manlius, NY, several takeouts in July
Well, they haven’t raised the bar here, and I don’t expect they will, but I did hit on a new dish: the shredded pork in hot pepper. It was very nice, not overly gooey, nice and spicy without burning the shit out of your taste buds. I don’t expect this place will be showing up on many future posts, it being an hour and a half away now. Not exactly a destination spot, and there’s probably a hundred places that do similar Sino-American cuisine between me and it.
About What You’d Expect. **
Fuji Chinese Buffet, Erie Blvd., Syracuse, NY, July 31st.
Ok, back to the buffet with Glen and my parents. Glen had come up from Ra-cha-cha to help me move, and my folks wanted to take us out, it being my last day in town, and them happy that Glen was willing to help with the heavy shit. Although I am not a buffet person (food that needs a sneeze guard has been sneezed on, you can bet on it!), I am largely positive about this place. Not this time, though-decided to try the “Steamed Tilapia Fish” which was whole and obviously a fish, and was nearly choked to death on the bones. It was almost all bones, and very hard to handle. I finally gave up, and moved to other fare. Among the things I piled onto my plate was “Honey Chicken” which turned out to be, literally, fried chicken nuggets with honey and... (Drum roll, please!)… KETCHUP! Fucking ketchup; if there was another flavor in there I couldn’t tell. The rest of the food was only edible, nothing really standing out, except for the frog’s legs, which were good. Combine this with the utter lack of atmosphere, and the extremely wretched clientele, and the Fuji is no longer meeting expectations.
Below Expectations. *
Tully’s, Vestal, NY, August 1st.
Yes, yes, yes, we went there again! This time my folks Glen and I after the move to Bingo. Sarah, who was suffering from a cold, stayed behind. Had the fish fry, it being Friday, and had the typical Tully’s experience: TV’s, mullets, slow service, popcorn, etc., etc., etc. A notable evening only because of my Dad’s comments about Muhammad Ali (see post “My Father’s Racism”).
About What You’d Expect **
Starbucks, Vestal Pkwy, Vestal, NY, August 2nd
Good coffee and pastries, annoying new WiFi policy (you have to purchase a Starbucks gift card to access it, and, though this is only a minor inconvenience, since you’ll spend the money anyway, it is still an inconvenience that is, frankly, baffling. Considering that the internet was why we’d gone there in the first place, the experience was largely a dud.).
Below Expectations *
Lost Dog, Binghamton, NY, August 5th.
Had salads and veggie burgers, and Sarah finally got her Raspberry lemonade, which she enjoyed immensely. Lost Dog is always relatively efficient and pleasant, though I am beginning to lose my sense of special attachment to the place. It is far different from what it had been when I helped open the original on Main St., though it is a logical culmination of the aspirations of its owners. I wonder if I was as pretentious and snooty as many of the current staff, and I have to guess that yes, indeed I was. I had imagined that I would be welcomed back by my former friends, but I have yet to see Liz or Marie (the two remaining owners), and the notes I left for them in May got no response. So, I will continue to patronize the Dog, but I am nothing more than a customer now.
A Little Better than you’d expect ***
Salsarita’s, Vestal Pkwy, Vestal, NY, August 6th.
Took Chen and Zhengyu here to try “Mexican” food. The place is sort of like a Chipotle’s, though a little cheaper. Still, the four of us cost $29, and that was with water for everyone. We each got tacos, and mine (pork) were so soggy that my plate was awash before I’d finished my second. Flavors ok, service was nice and helpful, though it is not a place I’ll return to.
About What You’d Expect **
Cyber Cafe West, Binghamton, NY, August 6th
Came hear for the internet, listened to a great set from the Dead on Sirius over the cafe's system. Had a poulaner, sarah had some kind of mocha. Nice atmosphere, sort of a 60's throwback kind of place. Left just before some guy with a guitar started playing.
A Little Better than you’d expect. ***
Whole in the Wall Café, Binghamton, NY, August 13th
Nice organic food place that I had thought was completely vegetarian, but served meat dishes as well as veggie options. Love the atmosphere (wood panels, hardwood floors, mismatched wooden chairs, lovely booths). Service was good verging on the ok; our waiter had a “win in Vietnam now” button, that I thought was funny. We started with absolutely delicious chicken tenders, then I had chili (ok) and Sarah had “The Whole Enchilada” (Good). The waiter forgot my iced tea (but didn’t charge). Had to take my bill up to the counter.
A Little Better than you’d expect ***
Lost Dog (again!), August 14th
Went for coffee and desert. Coffee was ok, service was slow, tiramisu was delicious. Very good Jazz ensemble with a very stupid name (enerjee) was playing. Place was filled with what passes for hip in Binghamton.
A Little Better than you’d expect ***
Pat Mitchell’s Ice Cream, Binghamton, NY, August 15th
This place, which seems to be running on fumes, should be packed! Sarah and I went after some tennis at Rec Park, and it was delicious! High butterfat content, sure, but god, good, GOOD! Just the kind of hard ice cream I want; the kind that reminds me of Lipe’s Dairy back in Manlius when I was a kid. I had strawberry cheesecake flavor, Sarah had something with cookies crumble over it. A little pricey (about eight bucks), but worth it. Not in the nicest section of town, and had next to nothing to drink (like five snapples and a couple of bottles of water). Nice kid behind counter, but there is a sense of apathy about the place that is common in Binghamton.
A Little Better than you’d expect ***