| Author |
Message |
    
Jason & John
Citizen
Username: Johnh91011
Post Number: 115
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 7:13 am: |     |
Has anyone tried the restaurant Sampan on Millburn Ave in Millburn? |
Wilkanoid
Citizen
Username: Cseleosida
Post Number: 116
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 11:28 am: | |
Sampan was part of a thread somewhere, in this section recently. It got good reviews, so I tried it last night. I ordered the Indonesian Sambal with Tofu, and it was GREAT. They got that smoky flavor going in the dish which I can't seem to duplicate at home. The rice was a bit spare, their 'cup' of steamed rice was more like 1/2 cup. For dessert, had the Sticky Rice with Mango, which was mediocre -- both the rice and the mango were forgettable.
Entrees are priced between $10-16.
Their menu is quite varied, though. Among other things, it includes a wide sushi selection.
Service was excellent, and there was a respectable number of patrons for a weekday night. I hope they continue to do well. |
NCJanow(akaLibraryLady)
Citizen
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 1250
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 12:04 pm: | |
/discus/messages/3128/26988.html
NCJ aka LibraryLady
On a coffee break..or something like it. |
Jason & John
Citizen
Username: Johnh91011
Post Number: 116
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 2:42 pm: | |
We just had lunch at Sampan. One big plus is the parking lot specially in downtown Millburn.
The food was excellent. I had chicken with spicy mango sauce which I asked to be done on the mild side and they complied. I really enjoyed the food. Jason had the chicken chow fun and it was way above the standard takeout chinese chow fun. The lunch specials are $7.95 and you get soup or salad. We dined quite sufficiently for 19.90 (including tip).
The lunch and dinner menus look intriguing. We are definitely going back |
tjd
Citizen
Username: Tjd
Post Number: 11
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 9:51 am: | |
Sounds like a place my mother would love for lunch on Saturdays after we do our usual running around together. However, she's a vegetarian and diabetic. How is their vegetarian menu? |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 950
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 11:44 am: | |
We went Saturday. I really liked the tofu with spicy mango sauce. Don't know if that would fit the bill for your mom though. We also had the sesame crusted salmon w/ mixed vegetables. I enjoyed it, though the portions were kind of small. (3 or 4 small--maybe 1x2 inch pieces--of salmon.)
We got the kids shrimp/vegetable tempura. This I would avoid. The batter was not crispy like tempura should be.
There were plenty of things on the menu that looked good. We also got singapore noodles, minus the chicken. First he brought it out with chicken and we reminded him so we got a new one w/o. This was too greasy.
For some reason my husband didn't like it and said he won't go back, but I liked the food for the most part. Just realize the portions are smaller than neighboring JJ's and it's definitely more expensive. |
Wilkanoid
Citizen
Username: Cseleosida
Post Number: 117
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 12:41 pm: | |
The funny thing is, a lot of Asian food IS greasy. Smart people are able to make it less so, especially in response to the demaands of the American market. It is what it is.
Yes, it is more expensive than your average take/out oriental joint. It may be a function of location and size. If they were located somewhere less expensive and without their own parking lot, that would probably help. It's tough to recoup overhead when you're starting out and don't have a regular following. Another case of the chicken or the egg coming first.
I'm pretty satisfied with them though. Got takeout on Sunday at lunch. I mentioned to the cashier that I forgot to bring my 15% coupon from the mailer, and she took the 15% off anyway. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 951
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 1:01 pm: | |
Funny about the coupon. When we were leaving, a guy came in and said he had mentioned it last week and when he went in to pick up he forgot it, so they didn't take the % off. So, "this week" he told them, they... "were to take the 15% off for last week and this week, and by the way, the food is fabulous". I had to laugh to myself. Maybe they learned from this guy! |
Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6483
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 3:27 pm: | |
Is the food loaded with sugar? That's the one pet peeve I have with most "pan-Asian" places. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 952
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 4:12 pm: | |
Well, my husband commented that the tofu w/ spicy mango sauce was too sweet, but I think it was sweet from the fruit. To me, the sauces seemed flavorful and spicy, but I'm no connoisseur. |
Wilkanoid
Citizen
Username: Cseleosida
Post Number: 118
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 6:54 pm: | |
Sweet/spicy savory dishes are a part of certain Asian cuisines -- definitely part of Filipino food, and the chutneys accompanying Indian food. Pan-Asian? I'm not sure what that means. The spicy mango sauce concept is new to me, and may be a chef's way of presenting. Or maybe I've just not heard of it before. Penang also has some sort of mango-based sauce on its menu. I generally stay away from mango in cooked dishes, although I like chutney a lot. |
Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6488
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 7:56 pm: | |
pan Asian = restaurants trying to do it all: Chinese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, etc. The sweetness is fine if done well. Often I've found it to be overdone and obtrusive. JJs is one of the few Chinese places that doesn't commit this mortal sin. |
Wilkanoid
Citizen
Username: Cseleosida
Post Number: 119
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 8:07 pm: | |
Ah, I see. I thought you just had a basic objection to sweet. In that case, I agree. Haven't been to JJs since we first moved here more than 5 years ago. Should I try it again? |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 954
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 8:20 pm: | |
I normally avoid anything "sweet-n-sour" (ick!) but the description sounded good and I asked the waiter which of two tofu dishes he would recommend, and he said the mango.
...but, if my husband has his way we'll just be at JJ's anyway. |
Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6489
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 8:30 pm: | |
Sure, try JJ's again. JJs spicy tofu dish is great because it's subtle. Their stringbean dish is the platonic ideal of stringbean dishes. But you have to eat it there. Chinese food shouldn't be shoved into boxes for takeout except as a last resort to avoid starvation. |
Soda
Citizen
Username: Soda
Post Number: 1201
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 - 3:03 pm: | |
I miss Chan's Palace. For that matter, I miss the I-HOP... |
LibraryLady (ncjanow)
Citizen
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 1258
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 - 9:23 pm: | |
Soda..I make better pancakes than IHOP.Come over for them this sunday!
Nancy Chiller Janow
On a coffee break..or something like it. |
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