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Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 62
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 12:39 pm: |     |
Enjoyed a delicious dinner at Taste of Asia Friday evening. Every dish was unique and flavorful, and there was no skimping on costly ingredients like scallops. The servers were great. And, while normally not a fish tank fan, the room-length tank is impressive and captivating.
If you've not tried ToA, I recommend it. And, you tried it early on, I recommend trying it again. Plus, it's BYOB with plenty of parking right behind it. |
davidbuckley
Citizen
Username: Davidbuckley
Post Number: 277
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 12:21 am: | |
TS:
Would you elaborate a bit on the dishes you had, if you remember them?
Many thanks and eat well, all.
David Buckley |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 488
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 9:28 am: | |
Yes please...I haven't had a particularly good dish there yet. Tell me what you liked and maybe I'll try again. (on a rainly night, when the close-in parking matters...)
I want so much to love the place, but our last dinner there (this weekend) was mediocre, with sauces so think with starch that they made strings from the plate to the fork, and woefully underspiced relative to what we had ordered. That and no real tea (neither of us drink herbal teas), and no juice for our child.
As I say again, we want to love the place, but don't find that it currently comes close to living up to its premium pricing (or Montclair reputation).
Honestly, we'd go there at least twice as much if they had real tea (as I have told our server), and at least four-eight times as much if they were as good as the Asian food that we go to other towns to eat.
I'm a big fan of downtown redevelopment, was thrilled to see them go in, and want to be a regular. But so far the 4-5 meals I've had there haven't drawn me in.
(In a way, I hate posting this, because I want them to succeed, but I'm very frustrated with them to date. I'm glad that Twosense has seen improvement...we must have very different tastes, or menu selections) |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1826
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 9:53 am: | |
I went to TOA the other night. I had the beef with black beans and scallions. I asked for it to be spicy. It was one of the best I have had (and I eat at a lot of asian places in the city every week). My daughter had a seafood dish and she loved it.
The owner (Steve) is extremely nice and is willing to discuss the ingredients. He wants feedback on what he can do to keep imroving the restaurant. |
Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 64
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 12:06 pm: | |
We had tom yum soup, one with chicken and one with shrimp, sichuan dumplings, curry scallops, and a unique bean curd dish (the name of which began with an M). All were delicious and unique. At the table next to us, a couple ordered a whole snapper, and also loved it.
I also sense that Steve Chia, the owner, very much seeks and wants constructive, customer feedback. And, agree that traditional tea would be a nice addition.
susan1014: I disagree that ToA has "premium pricing." We averaged $23/person (+ tip) for a three-course, delicious dinner -- less than I would spend at every other white table cloth restaurant in S.O. If you're seeking a cheap, every-dish-tastes-the-same Chinese restaurant with crispy wontons, duck sauce, and lots of cheap rice to fill your stomach, it's clearly not that. It is, however, a unique addition to S.O.'s restaurant scene -- and fortunately not another Italian, Chinese, or Japanese restaurant. |
Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 65
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 12:12 pm: | |
susan1014:
P.S. I've raised kids, who've eaten in every conceivable type of restaurant across the U.S. I would never expect any restaurant like ToA to have juice to cater to my kids's palates -- not to mention that most kids have very specific preferences. If your kids need juice to get through a meal, why not simply carry a few juice boxes with you -- or sell them on the merits of water. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 491
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 6:26 pm: | |
Mark and TwoSense, thanks for the dining tips. We will probably try again, based on your comments (and insist on heat this time, rather than ordering medium to hot and getting mild).
Two Sense, sorry if I'm pissing you off. Of course we can't insist on juice or caffeinated tea, but we can choose to give our business to places that listen to and respond to our comments (TOA has not, to date). Not that it's your business -- my child drinks plenty of water, but generally gets juice in restaurants, since not all filter their water to be tasty.
But you've jumped to the wrong conclusion...I don't want cheap food, crispy noodles and duck sauce (and tea). I want food of the same quality and caliber that I get when I pay similar prices at other restaurants in SO and local towns. So far TOA has not worked for us -- maybe it is a matter of personal taste in Asian food. I'm glad that TOA works for others, and expect that we will try again sometime (when the recent disappointment has worn off).
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Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 67
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 6:37 pm: | |
I hope I'm not in trouble for raising my kids on unfiltered tap water all these years. :-) |
whiffleball
Citizen
Username: Whiffleball
Post Number: 41
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 7:25 pm: | |
Love Taste of Asia but we have recently found Ginger Taste in Millburn. Although it's difficult to get past the fact that it was the IHOP when I was growing up, they have made every attempt to decorate. The food is good, we love the serving dishes. Different Chinese. Try the green tea ice cream - now I crave it. |
Spanky
Citizen
Username: Spanky
Post Number: 73
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 9:10 pm: | |
Try the Mee Goreng noodles. Order them spicy. I am sooo addicted to them! |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5788
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 9:21 pm: | |
A bit too much sugar in them for my taste, but I 2nd making them spicy. One thing to keep in mind is that while the heat scale on the menu reads 1-5, it really goes much higher. Try a 5, then go to 8 and see how that works. |
Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 68
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 2:38 pm: | |
What's the cuisine and entree price level at Ginger Taste in Millburn? |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 1107
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 8:44 pm: | |
We had dinner at TOA tonight and it was delicious! I had firecracker shrimp appetizer special and the Tow Cheong Lautan with shrimp, level 3 spicey (just being cautious, will probably go with level 5 next time). BF had honey ribs appetizer and Borneo orange chicken, both of which got two thumbs up.
We'll be back. |
Dego Diva
Citizen
Username: Fmingione
Post Number: 337
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 10:20 pm: | |
Hey bets - I just got home from having dinner there too! I also had the ribs - nice generous portion, really tender and tasty. Loved them.
I also had the Roti Canai, which was very good, but I was disappointed that it only came with one roti. So I ordered a second one, and they charged me $3 for it, which made the price of my appetizer $8.50!! A bit of a sticker shock but I should have asked what it would cost, and I've learned my lesson. That's my only complaint, though. Otherwise, I love this place.
FYI, if you have the chance, go for lunch. Their specials are a MAJOR bargain, and a great way to try the menu. |
cat head
Citizen
Username: Cathead
Post Number: 13
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 9:18 pm: | |
Took a bunch of friends there three different times, and they didn't give the place a passing mark. Either too salty, or the only discernible seasoning was soy. Could also be just spoilt Manhattanites.  |
thegoodsgt
Citizen
Username: Thegoodsgt
Post Number: 799
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 11, 2005 - 7:53 am: | |
The wife and I finally tried TOA on Friday and really enjoyed the meal. The spicy beef was excellent. |
gozerbrown
Citizen
Username: Gozerbrown
Post Number: 679
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 10:02 am: | |
I've never seen so many people so intrigued by a fish tank! |
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