Almost Hidden Gem

Friends Sushi is tucked into the middle of a busy block, which can make it hard to spot it at first. There are so many restaurants in the area, that you can find just about every cuisine imaginable. Since they opened in 2005, they have set a high bar for Japanese dishes. Open Monday through Saturdays for lunch and dinner, they do close from 2:30 to 5:00 each day to prepare for the menu change. The seating inside includes a few chairs at the sushi bar, but mostly it is two rows of tables in the dining area. There is also a counter by the window, which is nice to sit at on a sunny winter day.

Friends Sushi

We know lots of friends who love sushi, and enjoy a wide variety of the offerings. For us, we never quite got the raw fish thing, so we limit ours to just a few roll options. If we visit at dinner time, we will usually order a California or Philadelphia Roll. Sometimes we may wander toward the Shrimp Tempura Roll, but that is usually the most adventurous we will get. Of course, our limitations do not prevent Friends Sushi from delivering up lots of variations of sushi, sashimi, maki, and specialty rolls.

A Special Treat

Our visit for this article occurred on a Saturday for lunch. Whenever we are in the area, this place is one of the first to pop into our heads. While we do enjoy many of the other fine establishments nearby, for a healthy and filling lunch this is our go-to place. We were quickly seated, and looked over the menu. This is one of those places where we always gravitate to the same meals, because we enjoy them so much. We placed our orders, and soon the server returned to our table. She informed us that the owner was creating us a treat to try out. I was able to capture a short video of him preparing Sake-toro, which is made with torch-fired Salmon belly. The flavor was very light, and the texture was quite creamy. Our server told us that she loves the smell that fills the restaurant whenever this specialty is ordered. It was truly a treat to see and taste.

A Box Full of Goodness

While Friends Sushi and Bento has a nice variety on their menu, we stick with the bento boxes most of the time. For those who have never had one, it is like ordering a six mini-course meal, all in one. The meal begins with a bowl of soup (not pictured), and we both chose the Onion Soup, but they also offer Miso. Crystal is a chicken fan, so she sticks to the Teriyaki Chicken version. This is served on a bed of steamed vegetables. It is accompanied by a serving of steamed rice, which is drizzled with teriyaki sauce. It also features house salad, a spring roll, and a cheese cracker (Think Crab Rangoon). As you can see, it is a filling meal, and all for around $9.00. There are even some orange slices to cleanse the palate at the end of the meal.

Other Bento Options

I chose the Steak Teriyaki on this visit, but have tested some of the other main courses on previous stops. The Friends Yakitori has three skewers, with one each of chicken, beef, and shrimp. These were all good, but I preferred the chicken overall. The Beef Short Ribs were very flavorful, but in the end the steak became my go-to. They also offer the bento boxes for dinner, and they are only a buck more, so still a great option. So the next time you find yourself in the area, why not stop in for some lunch or dinner? We are hoping you like it as much as we do, but please be sure to save a table for us.

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First Impressions of Lemongrass Thai

When we first entered, we were less than impressed. The entrance off of the street deposited us in a smallish bar-type area. Now with all of the cars parked in the vicinity, it was obvious that there was more to this place. Soon our hostess led us around a corner into the main dining area. Suddenly the place was larger, and more elegant than our first impressions showed. We were seated in a booth, and took in the modern setting that surrounded us. We were in the area for the Third Friday Local Life event, so we were not surprised to see a decent crowd. Besides, the reviews of this place were extremely favorable.

 How Hot?

After reviewing the menu, we had made our decisions. Crystal chose the Chicken Pad Thai, which includes bean sprouts, cabbage, and scallions. It includes diced peanuts, and comes with the choice of your desired heat level. Crystal chose a lower level, but decided that on a future visit she will pick a medium amount. The flavor was great, and the portion size more than enough for a meal, and some leftovers for the next day’s lunch.

I chose the Cashew Stir Fry Chicken, which has a good selection of vegetables all served in a garlic brown sauce. It also includes a nice scoop of rice that mixes in well. We were both quite pleased with the flavors we chose, and my portion was also large enough for us to take home left-overs. I was interested in how they would taste warmed up, but I’ll have to take our son’s word on it, since he finished them both off. We figure that this meant we got three meals for the price of two. Not too bad of a deal, especially for such flavorful dishes.

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We want to thank Tao Tao Chinese Restaurant for their hospitality. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

Meeting Chef Annie

When customers enter Tao Tao they are usually greeted by Chef Annie. This feisty woman seems to remember every returning customer and greets them with playful banter. Her two sons work beside her and help prepare the delicious, and plentiful items that fill the menu. They work feverishly in the galley style kitchen. Watching them dart back and forth is almost like a dance, except it ends with the delivery of tasty morsels. Customers lean toward carry-out orders, although there are a couple of tables available for diners. The steady flow of people highlights the popularity of this place.

Getting More Bang for Your Buck

The menu at Tao Tao Chinese Restaurant has plenty of the dishes you would expect for the cuisine style. Beef, pork, and chicken play heavily in the offerings, but Shrimp Stir-fry Rice is actually one of their most popular dishes. Most of the items they sell come packaged for travel in Styrofoam boxes. These are standard size containers, but when filled, they hold enough food for two, three or even four people. By the way, that is a small size. When you order at Tao Tao you certainly get more bang for your buck than at other places.

The Food at Tao Tao

On our most recent visit, we sampled a few of the menu items. Chicken Lo Mein is served up in the same abundance as the other dishes. Cooked to a delicious tenderness, it is loaded with tons of vegetable pieces, and plenty of chicken. Somewhere in one of my bites, I realized just how well the slight crunch of the water chestnut slices blended with broccoli and carrots. Anchored by the chunks of flavorful dark meat chicken, this is a dish that can easily become the star of a multi-course meal.

Bringing the Heat

Whenever we buy takeout we have to recognize our son’s desire for something a little on the spicy side. Tao Tao has this covered on many bases. I saw about two dozen dishes noted for their heat factor, and after a quick deliberation, we chose the General Tso’s Chicken. This dish contains crispy chunks of breaded chicken swimming in a slightly sweet sauce. The addition of hot pepper flakes certainly kicks it up a notch, and in reality probably two notches. Fortunately, the overall heat can be regulated by blending it with steamed white rice.

…and The Sweet

Crab Rangoon is a staple item that has become synonymous with Chinese cuisine. In almost every review we read, people discuss the quality of this menu item. Some focus on the crunch of the shell, while others highlight the amount of garlic flavor, or lack thereof, in the filling. Everybody has there a go-to place for Crab Rangoon, so we are not even going to post any pictures of the ones from Tao Tao. Instead, we are going to focus on a Rangoon that we have never experienced at any other Chinese restaurant. We are talking about dessert Rangoon. Yes , d-e-s-s-e-r-t Rangoon!

Unique Creations

Irvin, one of Chef Annie’s sons, is quite inventive when it comes to these crispy treats. While most think of Rangoon as an appetizer, he sees them as a vehicle to hold an assortment of fillings. Not wanting to be limited to the status quo, Irvin has spent quite a bit of trial and error developing variations. It takes just the right preparation, refrigeration, and presentation to create these marvels, and the taste is definitely worth his efforts. During our visit, he had strawberry, chocolate chip, and peach varieties available, and we just couldn’t decide which to get. The only solution seemed to be ordering a couple of each. Every one of these tasty morsels is packed full of sweetness, but my favorite would end up being the peach. To me, it tasted just like peach cobbler.

But Wait, There’s More

All of his testings have also ended up with additional discoveries. A wide variety of sweet combinations end up on the menu, but they are so delicious that they usually sell out early. There are also a few savory variations that Irvin has created, as well. Spinach-garlic, Bacon-jalapeno, Bacon-cheddar or Pesto-mozzarella can be found at various times. These are also in high demand, so come early and often to sample them all. That is part of the excitement of a visit to Tao Tao Chinese Restaurant. You never know just what special items may be on the menu, but you certainly can be sure you will get plenty of good food for your money. You will also probably get leftovers for lunch the next day.

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