Tonight we headed out for a Mexican food adventure.
Driving towards Spokane Valley, we took a bit of a backwoods way, so much so that no one besides Geo, the driver with the GPS, knew where it was that we were. Geo hadn't told us where exactly it was that we were going, either, except to say, "How about Mexican?" To which we responded "Yes!" All we knew was the direction we were going in and that it was dark where we were driving.
David and Beth, (who were with us on this particular adventure,) noted that we were driving over an awful lot of railroad tracks too. David even commented that it was more railroad tracks than he ever had ever driven over in a single day!
This, plus the fact that it was night and that we felt like we were in the middle of no man's land... roaming around on dark streets in unfamiliar territory and not knowing where it was we were headed, gave us all a sense of adventure about the whole thing... and we who had
no clue where we would end up really wondered what and where that would be.
It seemed a little like we were somewhere besides Spokane, maybe even lost in the fringe of the city, somewhere in the boonies, you might say. If we stretched our imagination a little we could have imagined we were in the desert of Mexico at night, hoping to find not only our way, but maybe a cantina. Then, finally, we saw civilization! (That is, we found ourselves on the corner of Vista and Sprague.)
Turning right, heading West on Sprague, we saw what we believed to be our "south of the border "destination, and to our surprise it looked a little bit like a true Mexican "cantina." At first, Geo wasn't sure at first if it was the place or not, but the sign said OPEN. This had to be it.
It was quaint, and we were a little concerned that our imaginations had taken us just a little further than we really wanted to go. It appeared a little too small and deserted looking for our enjoyment, not really appealing as a place for a sit down dinner with friends. I would describe it as kinda like a roadside taco stand, only housed in a building with a few tables and chairs. It was Taqueria Guerrero, which Geo had "heard had great Mexican food." I will admit, it may very well be authentic and delicious, but to me it seemed more a place for lunch. So we mutually decided to save this joint for another food trek, maybe a lunch time venture... and headed off in search of another place to eat.
In short order we found ourselves passing by Puerto Vallarta Restaurant which is located at 6915 E Sprague Ave. It's just down the road a bit. After circleing their parking lot several times and scoping out the place carefully, we decided, this would be it!
It was a very welcoming place, and it felt a little bit like Mexico too., just not so primitive as a fancy taco stand. We were at first seated at a table that was just too noisy. About five different kinds of music including that of Mariachis could be heard playing. George described it a "like the music in your head when you are having a bad dream." The waiter happily relocated us as soon as we brought this to his attention.
David and Beth had already eated ealier, and we not too terribly hungry so they decided to share a meal. Geirge ordered a Chile Relleno and Enchilada combination and I ordered a Tamale and a Tostada one. I love tamales!
The food was to order and hot, the music was appropriate and we felt like we were in Mexico too as the hispanic waiters served us chips and salsa, filled out water glasses and brought us our dinners. We even got to practice our spanish with a coule of words, "gracias" and "muy bien!" Everything was delicious!
So, that was our little trip to Puerto Vallarta... in Spokane. We didn't get the bullfights or the beach one would have if they were really in Mexico, but the dining experience was great. Next time we head for south of the border we will have to try the tasty little taco stand, the one that is just down the road apiece.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Chinese Gardens
Chinese Gardens and Lounge is located at 5207 E Trent Ave. This is another one of those restaurants we pass by and wonder about. Now we know...
It was very interesting to go here, a lot different than I expected. First of all, there were a lot of cars in the parking lot. It sure seemed to be a popular place.Once inside, we were quickly greeted and given a table. The people around us were all quite happy, eating, laughing and it was apparent that people like it here. It felt like one of those places where the clientele knew the patrons and had a bit of a rapport. There were several families and at one table it was a man who was taking his dad to dinner... it was not a very fancy place, rather down to earth, and it was very welcoming. They even had a little trinket shop.
The food was good. Geo had Mapo Tofu, which on their menu is called "Granny's" Tofu. He liked it a lot. I ordered a combination plate of Kung Pao Chicken and Chow Mein that came with white rice and we had hot tea too. It was cold and rainy outside and hot tea just sounded good.
I have to say that to me it was not a very interesting menu. It seemed like limited choices making it hard to choose what I wanted to order. I have to say too, that I struggle with understanding why it is that you cannot get the dishes you like together on a combination plate in Chinese food places as opposed to say, a Mexican Food restaurant where you can pick your items in a combo. Also, we thought the prices were high.
It was rather expensive too, at least in my opinion. An average dish or appetizer was $10.00 to $12.oo. Even the daily "special", was $9.95, which in my opinion is expensive. I did see that they have some kind of senior discount, but I do not remember what it was. Geo saw it and reminded me that it would not be too long before we qualified for that!
It took a long time for our order to arrive, but to their credit, food was tasty, I will complain though my food arrived cold and that was a little disappointing for me. I almost asked the waitress if they had a microwave, but I didn't. as I was afraid they would offer instead to make me a new dish and then I would be there a longer time waiting without food or something. (That has happened to me before.) Geo's was not cold though and he thought it was excellent in flavor.
Over all, this is just a place to stop for some Chinese food, nothing outstanding or really special, unless of course you are hungry and in the neighborhood. Geo is of a slightly different opinion though due to the fact that he really, really liked the "Granny" dish.
It was very interesting to go here, a lot different than I expected. First of all, there were a lot of cars in the parking lot. It sure seemed to be a popular place.Once inside, we were quickly greeted and given a table. The people around us were all quite happy, eating, laughing and it was apparent that people like it here. It felt like one of those places where the clientele knew the patrons and had a bit of a rapport. There were several families and at one table it was a man who was taking his dad to dinner... it was not a very fancy place, rather down to earth, and it was very welcoming. They even had a little trinket shop.
The food was good. Geo had Mapo Tofu, which on their menu is called "Granny's" Tofu. He liked it a lot. I ordered a combination plate of Kung Pao Chicken and Chow Mein that came with white rice and we had hot tea too. It was cold and rainy outside and hot tea just sounded good.
I have to say that to me it was not a very interesting menu. It seemed like limited choices making it hard to choose what I wanted to order. I have to say too, that I struggle with understanding why it is that you cannot get the dishes you like together on a combination plate in Chinese food places as opposed to say, a Mexican Food restaurant where you can pick your items in a combo. Also, we thought the prices were high.
It was rather expensive too, at least in my opinion. An average dish or appetizer was $10.00 to $12.oo. Even the daily "special", was $9.95, which in my opinion is expensive. I did see that they have some kind of senior discount, but I do not remember what it was. Geo saw it and reminded me that it would not be too long before we qualified for that!
It took a long time for our order to arrive, but to their credit, food was tasty, I will complain though my food arrived cold and that was a little disappointing for me. I almost asked the waitress if they had a microwave, but I didn't. as I was afraid they would offer instead to make me a new dish and then I would be there a longer time waiting without food or something. (That has happened to me before.) Geo's was not cold though and he thought it was excellent in flavor.
Over all, this is just a place to stop for some Chinese food, nothing outstanding or really special, unless of course you are hungry and in the neighborhood. Geo is of a slightly different opinion though due to the fact that he really, really liked the "Granny" dish.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sri Prasert Thai Bar and Grille
Very good food! but let me tell you our story...
This place is also known as The Thaiway Lounge. It is a bar, banquet room, and restaurant and they have karoke, pool tables and golf games as well as a banquet room available for rental. It is located at 5908 E Broadway Avenue in an industrial type of area, but it has been at this location, or so the server told me, for about eight years. That would mean, since about 2001. I have never been to this place before, but the other day w were driving past and Geo said we have always wanted to go there.
"WE?" a-hem.....
I think maybe he has, as he probably dries past it mere than I do. I never remember "wanting" to go here. In fact we drove by recently and I had no idea what he was talking about and told him I didn't think I wanted to go there anyhow. (It simply did not look that exciting to me it looks a little like a nightclub, which by the way it is. (see above) Plus, I just didn't get the name.
"WE?" a-hem.....
I think maybe he has, as he probably dries past it mere than I do. I never remember "wanting" to go here. In fact we drove by recently and I had no idea what he was talking about and told him I didn't think I wanted to go there anyhow. (It simply did not look that exciting to me it looks a little like a nightclub, which by the way it is. (see above) Plus, I just didn't get the name.
"Sri Prasert"....
I have since come to realize or rather learn that "Prasert" is a last name... and that it was a great place for delicious food!
I think it was kinda funny how the prospect of trying this restaurant must have been on Geo's mind all week long...since driving by last week, because this is exactly where we found ourselves tonight.
On the menu (for us) this evening was:
Coconut Milk Soup (Thom Kha Kai)
Green Curries (Gaeng KeowWhan)
Hot Spicy Ginger (Padh Prik Kblong)
Fried Bananas and Vanilla Ice Cream (Fried Banannas and Vanilla Ice Cream)
The sign outside as you drive by reads, "Best Thai food in Spokane." (I am sure that is what got his attention!) In Geo's opinion is that the sign comes pretty close to being accurate... he really loved it. And I have to agree, the food was absolutely great!
As I mentioned, we have driven past this place before and quite frankly it looks like a bar, a guy's hang-out kinda place...maybe even a little like a truck stop to me. Mind you, I have eaten at great truck stops, and I have heard that bars can serve some great food, but I generally just look for the sign that says restauratnt. This place looked a little closed when we drove near. Then, we saw the open sign. But it looked dark and barrish.
The restaurant part is not a bar, more accurately, it is a restaurant attached to a bar and it was a very nice restaurant room. Geo says you cannot judge a book by it's cover. We ignored the sign to "Mama's Lounge Upstairs" and we went in.
When we arrived no one else was in the restaurant but us, but soon a couple other tables filled up as well. Then the food arrived and we tasted it. It was fabulous. This place just got better and better to us by the minute.
One thing Geo really liked was that they had pictures of the food dishes on the menu. (You can even see these on their menu at their webpage.) I prefer just reading the menu but I kinda like the pictures going with it too. I think that if I just had the picture to go on I wouldn't know what is actually in them.
We liked the tables, we liked the glasses, we liked the way that the waitress brought us everything we needed, without us needing to ask. There was no music playing that we could hear. and I kinda liked that too. At least it was different... very relaxing, quiet except for tables of happy customers talking, eating and enjoying their food.
As for the food, The Hot Spicy Ginger dish was quite unique, at least for us. It was spicy. Geo and I were laughing because we are so different sometimes. I like "spicy," but he likes his food hotter than I do. However I like jalenpenos and he does not. We were wondering, "How does that work?"
I am not sure, but at first I liked the ginger dish better than the curry, and he had ordered the curry so I was happy with my selection. However, I tasted the curry again..... and again... and...... well, before long I liked the curry better than the ginger. Funny thing was that Geo liked the Ginger better than the curry! I have a new appreciation for curry I guess.
We do not usually order dessert, but I was curious to try fired bananas, I mean I cannot remember the last time I fried bananas, if you know what I mean. It was very yummy and the dessert was big enough to share to which is always fun to do when you are with a friend.
We have our favorite places for Thai food, places where we have eaten some of the best Thai food ever but none of them advertise" the best in all Spokane," ( at least that I remember.) Our conclusion tonight was that the sign outside this restaurant is pretty close to being accurate. If you love Thai food, this may well be "the best Thai food in Spokane!"
And just a note: Bar and Grille, doesn't that sound a little bit like Boy and Girl to you? (I thought that was funny!)
When we arrived no one else was in the restaurant but us, but soon a couple other tables filled up as well. Then the food arrived and we tasted it. It was fabulous. This place just got better and better to us by the minute.
One thing Geo really liked was that they had pictures of the food dishes on the menu. (You can even see these on their menu at their webpage.) I prefer just reading the menu but I kinda like the pictures going with it too. I think that if I just had the picture to go on I wouldn't know what is actually in them.
We liked the tables, we liked the glasses, we liked the way that the waitress brought us everything we needed, without us needing to ask. There was no music playing that we could hear. and I kinda liked that too. At least it was different... very relaxing, quiet except for tables of happy customers talking, eating and enjoying their food.
As for the food, The Hot Spicy Ginger dish was quite unique, at least for us. It was spicy. Geo and I were laughing because we are so different sometimes. I like "spicy," but he likes his food hotter than I do. However I like jalenpenos and he does not. We were wondering, "How does that work?"
I am not sure, but at first I liked the ginger dish better than the curry, and he had ordered the curry so I was happy with my selection. However, I tasted the curry again..... and again... and...... well, before long I liked the curry better than the ginger. Funny thing was that Geo liked the Ginger better than the curry! I have a new appreciation for curry I guess.
We do not usually order dessert, but I was curious to try fired bananas, I mean I cannot remember the last time I fried bananas, if you know what I mean. It was very yummy and the dessert was big enough to share to which is always fun to do when you are with a friend.
We have our favorite places for Thai food, places where we have eaten some of the best Thai food ever but none of them advertise" the best in all Spokane," ( at least that I remember.) Our conclusion tonight was that the sign outside this restaurant is pretty close to being accurate. If you love Thai food, this may well be "the best Thai food in Spokane!"
And just a note: Bar and Grille, doesn't that sound a little bit like Boy and Girl to you? (I thought that was funny!)
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