The Thai Place (Twice)

It's been a while... Back at it.  Here is a review from April 2011. 
 
CHICKPEAS: 5

On a whim, I purchased a groupon for The Thai Place in South Hadley.  I studied abroad in Thailand and now love eating Thai food.  We went a few weeks ago on a Friday night and then embarassingly again less than 48 hours later for lunch on Sunday.  It was that good!  The meals tasted very authentic, the atmosphere was very casual and the staff was proficient.  Aside from english speaking servers, some authenticity was missing with the place settings.  In Thailand, meals are served with a fork and spoon.  We were given a fork and knife.

When we arrived on Friday night, we were seated right away on a high top table in the bar area.  The tables in this section are divided by dark hanging curtains.  The rest of the restaurant is filled with booths.    The menu had many of the Thai classics I have come to enjoy and the prices were very reasonable.  Most entrees were $9 to $15.  Lunch portions were around $7.

I ordered cashew chicken with a side of brown rice.  The chicken was very moist and full of flavor and the vegetables were very fresh.  My Fiance ordered sweet and sour chicken and pork fried rice.  The sweet and sour chicken was also delicious, and he felt that the fried rice was the best he has ever had. We took leftovers of everything home and had them the next day for lunch.

We couldn't stay away for long.  When my friend came down to visit on Sunday, we took her there for lunch.  We ordered the appetizer sampler to start.  I can't name everything (aside from the obvious satay), but everything I tasted was good.

Appetizer Sampler

I was tempted to order the cashew chicken again.  I was thinking that it was so great, I would be a fool not to order it again.  I was still wavering when the waitress came to take our orders, but I resisted temptation and branched out.  I ordered the pad see ew (wide noodles in a dark sauce) and was again impressed with the flavor and freshness of the vegetables.

Pad See Ew

My friend ordered the basil chicken with a side of wide noodles.

Basil Chicken with Rice Noodles

My fiance ordered pineapple shrimp fried rice.  Again, really great, high quality fried rice.

Pineapple Fired Rice

We took leftovers home again and I had them for dinner the following night.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I ate food from The Thai Place four days in a row.  I wish it could have been five!  We will be back again...

Main Street Deli

CHICKPEAS: 4


I am desperately trying to catch up on some blogging.  I have gotten too far behind!  Enjoy some of these short posts.  If the restaurant got a 4 or above, you will definitely see a more thorough post when we eventually make our way back!


I went to the Main Street Deli with an Agawam native and another friend.  I was immediately impressed with the selection of sandwich options.  When you walk in, a large board presents creative sandwich combinations along with the traditional classics.  You order at the counter near the front of the restaurant, and are given a number.  There are three dining rooms/areas to chose from, all painted in cozy colors with solid wood tables.

I was not surprised at all when my friend Victoria ordered a buffalo chicken sandwich and a side of sweet potato fries.  I stole one of her fries, they were really good!

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich & Sweet Potato Fries

Our other friend (who was kind enough to treat us!) ordered something that I can no longer remember!

I ordered a turkey and cranberry sandwich.  The sandwich was served warm with perfectly toasted bread!

Turkey & Cranberry Sandwich

I will definitely be bringing my fiance to the Main Street Deli, especially this summer since it is pretty close to a driving range we like to go to!

Munich Haus

CHICKPEAS: 4

We love going to the Munich Haus Restaurant in Chicopee, MA for drinks and/or dinner.  The Munich Haus has delicious German food, and is a great value if you buy a restaurant.com gift certificate (which are an even better deal if you get them on sale!).   The staff wear traditional German outfits and they sometimes have an accordion player.  The accordion player can be a little loud, as it was on this night.  If that bothers you, request a seat in the bar area.  They have some nice cozy booths.  

One of the things we love about the Munich Haus is the value.  The servings are large and the entrees come with soup or a salad (remember when that used to be standard at most restaurants?!).  The salad is different that your standard house salad with some varieties of beans and other things on it.  They also bring out homemade potato chips with a sour cream based dip when you are first seated.  The entrees typically range from $15 to $20.

Salad

I ordered jaeger schnitzel (tender pork loin lightly breaded and pan fried for a golden finish with a wild mushroom sauce).  It came with a choice of sides. I selected the spatzle and cabbage.  Everything was great.

Jaeger Schnitzel

My fiance ordered french onion soup to start.

French Onion Soup

His meal was a Bavarian platter, which included pfalezer, nuerenberger bratwurst, sauerbraten, jaeger schnitzel, potato pancake, red cabbage, sauerkraut and spatzle.  Don't ask me which is what.  

Bavarian Platter

To finish off, we got some stuffed cookies (this was before I gave up sweets for lent!).  These cookies are so good.  The chocolate stuffed chocolate chip one is our favorite.  In the past, we have split a piece of cake. Be warned: they are enormous pieces.  

Stuffed Cookie

Overall, Munich Haus is a fun place to go for dinner with friends or family.  The food is delicious and reasonably priced.  The atmosphere tops it off.  Keep an eye on their special events (such as wild game dinners) as well!

The Federal

CHICKPEAS: 5

Last weekend, we went to my favorite restaurant in the Springfield area: The Federal.  The Federal has a very creative menu, along with some traditional favorites for picky eaters or comfort food cravings, a nice seating arrangement and wonderful staff.

We arrived right on time for our 5:30pm reservation on what is apparently called Mistress Day, the day before Valentine's Day.  We pulled up front to complimentary valet parking and walked in to the hostess desk where our coats were checked.  We were seated in the room on the right, once you enter the restaurant.  A small, quaint room, with a non-working-but-still-mood-enhancing fireplace and 5 small tables.  Part of the beauty of The Federal is the way the seating is broken into a few small dining rooms.  Each room gives off a cozy vibe and because of this, the noise level stays down.

We ordered cocktails and a bucket of risotto balls to start.  Our cocktails arrived and we were treated to a plate of some extra risotto balls compliments of The Federal.  This has happened both times I have been to The Federal and it is very nice touch.  Our larger full serving of risotto balls followed.  The risotto balls are breaded and fried, making them slightly crispy on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside.  A nice combination of textures.  I regret that we did not get a picture of these!

After our appetizers, our salads were served.  I ordered the caesar salad with dressing on the side.  I was forewarned, although I also read it on the menu, that the caesar salad comes with a fried egg on top.

Caesar Salad

My Fiance got the chopped salad that came with a unique presentation.

Chopped Salad

Right about here I accidentally spilled my drink.  I swear I was only about a third of the way into it and it was all due to the condensation on my glass.  Regardless of the how or why, or waitress responded right away and helped us clean of the table.  She was really nice about it and joked with us while doing so, really putting us at ease.

I was hesitating between two options for dinner: homemade risotto gnocchi with an XLG veal meatball, or the braised short ribs with mashed potatoes, mushroom salad and a gorgonzola cheese popover.  She suggested the short ribs and while I still have not had the gnocchi, the short ribs were amazing.  The short ribs fell apart easily, the mashed potatoes were creamy, the mushroom salad was interesting (in a good way) and the pop over was my absolute favorite part of our meal.  As I devoured it, I was trying to figure out ways that I could order it again, maybe as a side, or an appetizer or substitute it out for other side dishes, maybe even instead of dessert.  The short ribs were good enough to order again, but the pop over was wonderful enough that I don't think I can go back to the Federal without having it every time.

Braised Short Ribs

My Fiance ordered two half servings of pasta: truffled mac and cheese with short ribs, and chicken bolognese.  I tried a bit of both and they were quite good.  He says the truffled mac and cheese was his favorite, but I had a hard time picking between the two.

Truffled Mac and Cheese with Short Ribs

Chicken Bolognese

For dessert, we ordered white chocolate banana cream pie that came with chocolate gelato.  The banana cream pie was slightly charred on the top, warming the bananas in the process.  The gelato was perfect for dark chocolate fans, bittersweet and smooth.  An excellent end to a wonderful meal.

Banana Cream Pie with Chocolate Gelato

Overall, The Federal is a must for any special occasion (or even just because!)


(1) Risotto Balls
(2) Salads
(1) beer
(1) cocktail
(1) bottle of wine
(1) Short ribs
(2) 1/2 servings of pasta
(1) Dessert
Total = $160

Falls Pizza

CHICKPEAS: 3

This past week, we got take out from Falls Pizza on Main Street in Chicopee.  We ordered a Greek Pizza, an Italian Sub and a Buffalo Chicken Salad and the total bill came to $27.  The wait time was 20 minutes for pick up, which was very reasonable, but after getting home and eating, I wasn't impressed.

Garlic Bread

The chicken on the salad was chicken cutlet, cut into pieces, and covered in buffalo sauce.  I had recently had a very spicy buffalo chicken salad at the Southwick Inn, so I ordered this salad mild to be safe.  I felt that the mild buffalo had a strange sweet after taste.  Additionally, the salad came with garlic bread that was soggy and chewy.

Italian Sub

I didn't have any of the sub, but my fiance enjoyed it.

Pizza

We shared the pizza, which had feta, tomatoes and gyro on it. Overall the pizza was delicious.  While my salad was a miss, the Pizza made up for it.

I may find myself going back to Falls Pizza for pizza, but I am interested in finding another takeout place in Chicopee for salads.  Suggestions?

Kathy's Dinner

CHICKPEAS: 4

6 Strong Ave, Northampton, MA

On our way to the Yankee Candle Flagship Store, we stopped for breakfast in Northampton.  This was a fairly impromptu trip, so I looked for a diner on our way.  Similar to my post office experience, the first diner we went to was closed.  We headed back into town to find Kathy's Diner and were quite pleased we did!  I discovered another blog that details the history of Kathy's.  It has quite the history, and has had many names.

Aside from the authentic diner charm, we were initially impressed by the holiday decor.

Place mats and Mugs

The walls were also are decorated with all sorts of memorabilia, which helped keep the conversation going, as people watching was not really an option.  It was not very busy the day we went, and I suspect it was because the colleges were on break.

Kathy's has a huge selection of pancakes, with all sorts of fruits, nuts and more in them.  My Fiance ordered banana chocolate chip pancakes and a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich.

I ordered Texas french toast and a side of eggs.

Everything was delicious and our waitress was very pleasant.  With a coffee, our bill was around $13.

It should be noted that Kathy's is open until 2am on the weekends!

Day Trip: OSUSHI, Boston, Massachusetts

CHICKPEAS: 3

We grabbed dinner at OSUSHI on our trip to the see the Boston Pops.  OSUSHI was conveniently located in the shopping area of the Westin Copley.  While the entrance was from the mall, it was easy to feel like you were in a cozy restaurant once seated.  We were seated at a high top table near the windows so we could look out over the street.  We had purchased a gift certificate to OSUSHI from Ruelala (an invite only, flash shopping site).  The deal we purchased was $30 for $50 worth of food at OSUSHI.   The prices were high so it was easy to exceed the $50.

To begin, we ordered edamame and a fresh spring roll.  The spring roll was quite good with shrimp and raw tuna in it.  Unfortunately, our waitress's single blunder was forgetting to bring out the edamame.  Once we reminded her, she brought it out at room temperature instead of steaming.

Fresh Springroll

We ordered 4 rolls to share.  Overall, they were good, but as you can see, two were quite big (in terms of diameter).  Really large sushi is difficult to eat gracefully.  From top to bottom we got the follow rolls:  Dragon, Miso Sexy, Spicy Scallop, and Vegetable Tempura.

Sushi

All of the above and one beer came to around $75.  I would go back if I was staying at the Westin and wanted take out to bring back to my room, or if I found another coupon/deal.  Otherwise, you can find sushi of equal or better quality for less.

Pho Saigon

CHICKPEAS: 4

When we saw that Pho Saigon was ranked as the number one restaurant in Springfield, MA on tripadvisor.com, we bumped it up on the list of places we needed to try.  We went last Friday night, right before going to Bright Nights.

We drove through a less than pleasant area of Springfield on our way there, but the location of Pho Saigon felt much safer.  We were able to find parking on the street in front of the restaurant, but I imagine that parking can sometimes be difficult to find.

We arrived around 8pm and two tables had just opened up.  The reviews online all comment on spectacular service and they certainly lived up to their reputation. The waiter spent a good two minutes carefully wiping and then drying the table and was always refilling our water and respectfully checking in.

Neither of us have much experience with Vietnamese food, but the menu had pretty thorough explanations.

To start, we got fresh spring rolls with chicken, shrimp, vermicelli, and fresh vegetables wrapped in rice paper and served with a very delicious peanut sauce.

Deliciousness

I ordered pho with rare steak, beef meatballs, brisket, flank, tendon and rice noodles.  The serving size was enormous and it was quite delicious.  My fiance had the smaller version of pho and another appetizer as his meal. 

The pho came with a plate of sprouts, basil, lime and peppers for you to use as you pleased.

We each had a different method to eating our pho.

I ate everything out of the broth first

My Fiance at all the broth first

We were both stuffed with our pho and barely touched the other appetizer, steamed rice crepes with pork.  

Additionally, we got a bottle of wine.  Wine lovers should be warned that there is no wine list.  The menu has a list of 6 or so varieties of wine by type.  There is no information about vineyard or year. 

All in all, we spent around $50.  Next time we go, we will have to make an effort to order off more than the first page of the menu!  

The Details:

Pho Saigon

400 Dickinson Street

Springfield, MA

Monday-Sunday, 11AM to 9PM (Closed Wednesday)

Restaurant.com

Everyone loves a good deal!  We keep an eye on restaurant.com and their sales to make going out to eat more affordable.  Restaurant.com sells discount gift certificates to popular restaurants all over the country.  Typically, a $25 gift certificate is $10, but every once in a while they have a big sale (currently 80%!).  Restrictions do apply (don't they always?) but are typically a minimum order amount, or dine in only.  These make great gifts, but you can always purchase for yourself too!  They can be used moments after ordering, so you can decide to go out to eat, buy a certificate, head to the restaurant and redeem them.

Here are some of our favorite restaurants in the Chicopee area that offer gift certificates through Restaurant.com:
Brew Too - Southwick, MA
The Federal - Agawam, MA
Copperline Eatery - Chicopee, MA
Munich Haus - Chicopee, MA

There are plenty of other restaurants locally, and nationally.  Use the link in the image below to head to the site and see what you can find near you.  Be sure to note the discount code (JOY)!

Partners Restaurant

CHICKPEAS: 4

Before we discovered Copperline, we used to go to Partners a fair amount.  We still go when meeting up with friends from Southwick, as we did last weekend before tree hunting.  I enjoy Partners because their menu has a selection of healthy options (fruit cups, wheat pancakes, sweet potato pancakes and more) as well as the less healthy diner foods.  Partners is usually packed on Sunday mornings, so get there early if you don't want to wait.

Here is what we had to eat (four of us...):

Grilled Muffin

Asparagus and Mushroom Skillet (daily specail) 

Side of Home Fries with Onions

Scrambled Eggs, Chocolate Chip Pancakes and Sausage

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich 

Corned Beef Hash, Eggs, Home Fries and Toast

The Asparagus and Mushroom Skillet was delicious, although heavy on asparagus and light on mushrooms.  Everyone else enjoyed their meals as well.  I will say the service was a little below par the day we went, but it is typically pretty good. 

Total Bill (incl. 2 chocolate milks and 3 coffees): $42

The Details:

Partners Restaurant

485 Springfield Street

Feeding Hills, MA

Cafe Lebanon

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CHICKPEAS: 3


Last week, we met a friend at Cafe Lebanon in downtown Springfield.  It was dead on a Tuesday night during the holiday week.  We were seated in a booth with no one sitting anywhere near us.  I felt the menu was lacking Lebanese authenticity, but I am definitely not an authority on Lebanese food.  Judge for your self...

To start we got hummus and the hummochos.  The hummus was heavy on tahini and light on lemon (I love lemon in hummus).  The guys both loved it.

I got a side of cauliflower as my meal that was quite delicious with a cheesy sauce and artichoke hearts.  

Our friend got chicken and rice.  I was very surprised it didn't come with a vegetable.

My Fiance got spinach pie and some other appetizer that was ground meat in little pockets. 

All of that food, two beers and a soda came to around $60. 

We would go back, but its not at the top of our list.   We found a Restaurant.com gift certificate for the East Longmeadow location and bought it on sale.  That would make another trip more likely.