[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

So Pad Thai is not authentic?

Not the stuff served in most "Thai" American restaurants. It's greasy noodle glop compared to the real deal.

Authentic Padt Thai is made with Tamarind paste, not tamarind sauce or vinegar (as much of it seems to be here). Also with salted sun-dried shrimp and tofu. Much of the stuff served at Thai restaurants over here are made with peanut butter; in Thailand it always includes dry roasted peanuts. One thing authentic Padt Thai includes is radish pickle. Heavy on the fish sauce. And Thai chili pepper flakes, NOT Sriracha sauce.

I'm not saying the real thing doesn't exist over here. If you've found the real thing, you're lucky. But from my experience eating in Thai restaurants I've not experienced it. Several of our friends have enjoyed Padt Thai in Thai restaurants, but after eating the Padt Thai that my wife (Thai) cooks, they cannot believe the difference.

[patfla06]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

I enjoy PF Chang's food and ambience.

The P.F. Chang’s in Orlando is good.
Went to the one in Tampa and it was disappointing.

[patfla06]

Originally Posted by justjim

Recently had a meal at PF Chang’s in Winter Park. Prices, service and food excellent in my book. Now, I will admit up front, that Wife and I (generally speaking) are easy to please. That said, the restaurant manager came over to our table and introduced himself. During the conversation he said that he understood that The Villages was on the “companies radar”. IMHO a similar restaurant would do well in The Villages.

They were supposed to open one where Harvest is in Brownwood.
Backed out due to Covid (?) or some other reason.

[REDCART]

Originally Posted by patfla06

The P.F. Chang’s in Orlando is good.
Went to the one in Tampa and it was disappointing.

We’ve always enjoyed the PF Chang’s in White Plains NY, and assumed wrongly that all PF C’s would be equally as good. The PF C in Columbia MD was a real disappointment. So I’m not surprised to hear that Tampa’s was also disappointing.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by patfla06

The P.F. Chang’s in Orlando is good.
Went to the one in Tampa and it was disappointing.

Disappointing! Same goes for Gainesville.

Skip

[barnacle44]

When I was in grad school, a friendly Chinese student lived across the hall from me. He invited us to dinner from time to time and served delicious food. He said his parents ran a Chinese central kitchen in NYC and they would package up dry ingredients and send them to him in Buffalo. The aromas were so so good on those days.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by justjim

Recently had a meal at PF Chang’s in Winter Park. Prices, service and food excellent in my book. Now, I will admit up front, that Wife and I (generally speaking) are easy to please. That said, the restaurant manager came over to our table and introduced himself. During the conversation he said that he understood that The Villages was on the “companies radar”. IMHO a similar restaurant would do well in The Villages.

IMHO, PF Changs would do a fantastic business in The Villages. I'm surprised they have not already set up business here.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by patfla06

They were supposed to open one where Harvest is in Brownwood.
Backed out due to Covid (?) or some other reason.

That does not bode well for the restaurant to open here.

[pauld315]

Originally Posted by patfla06

They were supposed to open one where Harvest is in Brownwood.
Backed out due to Covid (?) or some other reason.

They backed out well before Covid

[pauld315]

If you get to Orlando, I highly recommend Lam's Garden for authentic Chinese food. A friend of mine from China, who moved here 10 years ago, told me about this place. My wife and I stopped there on the way to the airport a week ago and it was fantastic.

[ohioshooter]

I personally like to try different dishes, is there a good Chinese buffet in TV ?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I've been settling for "edible" Chinese food ever since my beloved Far East Restaurant closed down in New Haven a few decades ago. I've since learned, that this location had a history of "Far East" restaurants at it, new managements came and went and re-incorporated it with the same name. It was an amazing location, just two blocks past the main downtown area, with their own (small) parking lot behind the building. If you were going to a show at the Shubert this was a hot-spot for dinner before the show. They had an indoor koi pond up against the massive front window, and everyone ate with chopsticks. I always got the Lobster Cantonese and mom would help me pull the lobster meat out of the shell.

There was also Blessings Restaurant. My parents liked that one but I was already in college in Boston by that time so I never experienced it.

These were serious sit-down restaurants, people didn't really "do" take-out there. There was no counter you could wait at for your bag of take-out containers (though they prepared them for you if you had leftovers from your sit down meal). Tea came with the meal, and so did a single small scoop of coconut ice cream with a fortune cookie resting atop the scoop for dessert.

Here, I go to Koyame. It's okay. And to me, "okay" means "tolerable" and better than anything else I've been to so far down here.

[Pinball wizard]

Originally Posted by ohioshooter

I personally like to try different dishes, is there a good Chinese buffet in TV ?

Ichiban in Leesburg.

Food is always hot, flavorful and they also include hibachi grill.

Ichiban Chinese & Japanese Buffet | Order Online | Leesburg, FL 34788 | Chinese

[patfla06]

I still go back to Tampa ( where I moved from) for Chinese food.

My favorite in NYC was the Shun Lee Palace on E. 55th.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by patfla06

I still go back to Tampa ( where I moved from) for Chinese food.

My favorite in NYC was the Shun Lee Palace on E. 55th.

I agree that's a great restaurant.