The Basics

Cuisine: Chinese Dim Sum (without the carts)
Ambiance: Simple, Colorful
Address: 1 Pagoda Place, San Francisco, CA 94108
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Phone: 415.982.5686
Web Site: no site, but click here to check out their Yelp page
Must Taste (Lunch):

• Hang Ah BBQ Pork Buns (2) - I read a lot of reviews saying these steamed pork buns were delish and they were right. They are a bit larger than the ones I usually see, so start small and order more if you’re still hungry.
• Chinese Broccoli - I don’t remember seeing this dish on their dim sum menu, but most dim sum restaurants offer this side veggie. If you’ve never had it, chinese broccoli is a lot like broccolini - a mix of spinach and broccoli. This dish is huge and piled high with fresh, crisp-tender veggies with oyster sauce. Don’t be afraid of the oyster sauce, to me it tastes a lot like a sweet soy sauce - not fishy at all.

Pricing Samples (Lunch):

• Dim Sum: about $2 - 8 per plate (dim sum is a lot like tapas - small plates of food you order to share, though some are larger than others)

Best For: Quick, simple lunch with SO, friends, or family
What to Wear: casual
Fave Points: simplicity that satisfied
My Fave Dish: Hang Ah BBQ Pork Buns - I usually prefer the baked BBQ pork buns over the steamed ones, but I loved the steamed version they served here.

Menu pricing and availability subject to change.

My Dish

I was traveling for work to San Francisco, CA and spent quite a bit of time researching the available eats. I also heard there was a huge Chinatown in SF, so I knew I had to go there at least once and get dim sum because I’m a big dim sum fan. I consulted Yelp , found a few options, and decided to search for the Hang Ah Tea Room since the reviews were favorable. Most reviews indicated that the place was a bit of a hole-in-the-wall and that they wouldn’t have found the restaurant if a lady on the corner in Chinatown hadn’t been passing out fliers and walking those interested straight to the restaurant.

The first day I arrived in SF, I had a couple hours of downtime, and decided the rest of the week would be pretty slammed, so I’d best hit up Chinatown while I still had the chance. I looked up the Hang Ah Tea Room on Google Maps and, from the Financial area, wandered down California in search of Pagoda St. I cut over to Sacramento St by way of Kearny St. and headed uphill. I was starving and walking rather quickly and almost ran over the guy in front of me at Grant St (which appeared to be one of the main Chinatown intersections) when he suddenly stopped. Turns out he had been stopped by a lady giving out pink fliers. Turns out the lady was the one I read so much about on Yelp! I asked for a flier, indicated I was interested in the restaurant, and the lady offered to walk me to the restaurant, just like the reviews said.

I snapped a quick picture of her on my way out (above) - look for her if you’re looking for Hang Ah Dim Sum. Or, just look for the pink fliers - I hear there’s a man who distributes these, as well.

Turns out the yelpers were right - I probably would have walked right past the Hang Ah Tea Room. Good thing the nice lady helped me find it.

As I walked inside the restaurant, I immediately noticed the bright color scheme.

The yelp reviews I read said the interior was a bit cheesy and like a time warp. It was certainly colorful and seemed quite clean, which was all that mattered to me. Personally, I thought the decor really added to the experience.

I took my flier into the restaurant with me and was quickly seated to one of the numbered tables - I sat at A3. I was greeted by a very friendly waitress who was very smily and nice during the whole meal. She asked for my drink order and I got hot tea. As an avid dim sum lover, I always try to order hot tea as my drink of choice as I feel it makes the whole eating experience more authentic. If you’re ever at a dim sum restaurant and don’t see sugar packets on the table, that’s because you’re not supposed to sweeten your tea. (You’re also not supposed to use a fork)

I was glad I read on Yelp that Hang Ah didn’t do the dim sum carts you usually see - that may have been a big disappointment if I had been expecting them, but I hardly missed them this trip.

I followed the advice I gathered from Yelp and ordered the Hang Ah BBQ pork buns. These did not disappoint - they were delicious! The dough was nice and soft and the filling had a great flavor. My only problem with them was that they were so big I felt bad not being able to finish the second one. If only hubby had come along for the trip, too. Don’t get me wrong, I’d still order these again…I just may try to coerce someone into going with me next time since dim sum is best shared (unless you’re a big eater).

I also got one of my all time dim sum faves - the Ha Gow (shrimp dumplings). They were great and totally hit the spot. They tasted like shrimp dumplings I’d order at any other dim sum restaurant. In fact, this dish tastes the same at almost every dim sum restaurant - the consistency amazes me sometimes.

I ordered another one of my dim sum favorites - Chinese Broccoli with oyster sauce. I probably shouldn’t have ordered this - not because it wasn’t delicious (because it was), but because this made 2 huge plates of food that I had to attempt to finish on my own. Leftovers and traveling don’t typically mix well - especially when your hotel doesn’t have a mini fridge. I just couldn’t resist those tender leaves and crisp-tender stalks mixed with that lovely sauce.

In an attempt to branch out, I ordered something I’ve never tried before - Sticky Rice (Veggie). For me, these were so-so. They appeared to be prepared quite nicely and the mix of what looked to be sticky rice and a doughy-outside was interesting enough. I just wasn’t crazy about the filling, which was a mixture of sticky rice and sweet peanuts. I’m not a big peanut-person. If you like peanuts, give this one a go. I think I’ll stick with the Lotus Leaf Rice next time I want sticky rice.

Once I was done eating, I ended up getting a take-out box and bag since I wouldn’t realize until later than my hotel didn’t have a mini-fridge.

I got all that food for a mere $16.40! Two people could have eaten off all the food I ordered. I totally misjudged the portions and could have done ordering 1 dish less, but I’ll know for next time.

Final Dish

If you’re new to dim sum, you may have a harder time ordering sans carts since you won’t be able to see the food before you select it. I highly recommend taking a look at the reviews on Yelp to for suggestions. Be brave and try to not chicken out and order the “regular Chinese food.” I read on yelp that it wasn’t that great (I didn’t try it personally), but anyways, you’re at a dim sum restaurant and those can be hard to find! Try it while you can. At these low prices, you can afford to make a mistake or two - especially if you discover something you end up loving.

As for me, I already know I love dim sum, and I really enjoyed my meal at Hang Ah. Hang Ah was just as good as any other dim sum place I’ve eaten at and those BBQ pork buns may very well beat out some of the others. I left the place quite happy, satisfied, and more than full.

If you’re looking for the entire dim sum experience with the carts, you may be happier trying somewhere else. If you’re looking for simple, good, dim sum style food without the bells and whistles, then you’ll love Hang Ah Tea Room.

The Basics

Cuisine: Italian Cafe
Ambiance: Modern Simplicity
Address: 214 North Tryon Street Suite 3, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Uptown
Phone: 704.344.8878
Web Site: http://cocoosteria.com/
Must Taste (Lunch):

• Secondi: Pollo Paillard - $11 - “Pan seared chicken breast, fresh spinach, apple wood bacon, tomatoes, tossed with balsamic vinaigrette” (the online menu says $10, but I’m pretty sure it was $11)
• Dessert: Tiramisu

Pricing Samples (Lunch):

• Antipasto e Insalata: $5 - 9
• Paste: $12 - 14
• Secondi: $11 - 14

Best For: Date, Business Lunch
What to Wear: nice casual (not tennis shoes) to dressy
Fave Points: Authenticity, simple menu with many delicious options
My Fave Dish: Tiramisu - I love tiramisu and I’ve tried many from different restaurants. This one was really good…I liked the little (I think they were) chocolate shavings on top and the creamy texture paired with those coffee-soaked lady fingers. The creamy layer was very thick, but good-thick.

Menu pricing and availability subject to change.

My Dish

I took my foodie friend out for a chic lunch to celebrate her last week of work before she starts a new project. I let her choose the spot, and she picked Coco Osteria in uptown Charlotte, NC. I was really excited about the choice because I’ve been dying to try this spot out for awhile now.

Like many restaurants uptown, Coco Osteria had a decidedly modern feel to it. I liked how the restaurant had lots of tall windows that let lots of natural light in and an open, airy ceiling area. It felt very fresh inside.

As I mentioned above, the menu had lots of great options. I think I could have eaten anything on the menu and been happy. The pasta of the day had shrimp and crab, which I thought sounded like an interesting option. I kind of wanted to go for the Chicken Marsala, but since this was my friend’s day, I let her pick, and she chose a different chicken dish (one I was also eyeing).

After ordering, we were quickly served some warm bread with a bean mixture.

I love these types of bean-based-bread-toppings…they are a nice change of pace from the usual dips and butters. Don’t get me wrong, I love bread and butter, too, but I also like some variety.

My friend and I each started with the soup of the day - Pasta e Fagioli, which we had topped with a friendly offer of fresh ground black pepper.

Inside was a thick mixture of beans, veggies, pasta and some sort of meat (prosciutto maybe?). The soup was great with just a wee dash of salt. The soup was really filling, and I almost felt too full to eat the rest of the meal. The key word here is “almost.” I was, of course, very much looking forward to the entree.

For our entree, we shared the Chicken Paillard (”Pan seared chicken breast, fresh spinach, apple wood bacon, tomatoes, tossed with balsamic vinaigrette”). If you’ve never had a “paillard” dish, it is a meat that is very flat - usually pounded to almost a 1/4 inch thickness, which kind of reminds me of a chicken cutlet.

I served myself 1/2 of the entree. The chicken appeared to be very lightly breaded with some herbs and was quite tasty. The balsamic vinaigrette on the spinach and tomato pieces was nice and light, yet flavorful. I also enjoyed the little salty bites of bacon that made their way to my fork every once in awhile. This was a great lunch entree if you’re looking for something on the lighter side or one with a simple combination of flavors. I was certainly happy to not eat something so heavy I’d want to nap once I got back to the office.

Although we were pretty full from the bread, soup, and entree, us foodies saved room for dessert. I knew I wasn’t leaving the place without it. We both decided to share the Tiramisu, which turned out to be an excellent choice. The creamy layers were nice and thick and the coffee-soaked ladyfingers helped balance out that richness. My fave part of the dessert was probably the chocolate shavings on top.

Final Dish

I really enjoyed my trip to Coco Osteria. I could see myself hitting this spot up every so often for those days when I have time to take a long lunch (1 - 1 1/2 hours). It took about 1 1/2 hours from the time I left the office to when I got back, though my friend and I weren’t exactly in a rush the day we went. I’m sure if you communicated to your waiter at the beginning of the meal that you’re in a rush, they could get you out sooner.

If the weather is nice, check out the patio, which features little cafe tables with blue umbrellas - kinda cute.

If you don’t want to worry about possibly waiting for a table, go early - the place gets pretty packed at lunch.

Hit up Coco Osteria if you’re looking for a quality meal with an upscale, Italian cafe feel and menu to match. Whether you’re looking for a classic favorite like lasagna or you’re in the mood to experiment with their special of the day, you’re sure to find something you like.

Sadly, ARPA Tapas , which I recently featured here on Diana’s Dish is closing its doors this Saturday, according to Charlotte Business Journal. I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to experience the restaurant’s wonderful tapas selection before it was too late. Head in in the next couple days if you’d like to experience the restaurant’s delicious sangria and/or tapas.

Should you show up after Saturday, you may be just in time to try Harper’s new restaurant concept they have in mind for that location - Harper’s Grill, which will feature American style foods.

Check out the Charlotte Business Journal article for additional details.

Farewell ARPA…thanks for the great food!

The Basics

Cuisine: Spanish
Ambiance: Modern
Address: 129-100 West Trade, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Uptown
Phone: 704.372.7792
Web Site: http://www.harpersgroup.com/arpaTapas.html
Must Taste (Dinner):

• Tapas: Roasted Fingerling Potatoes - $4.50 - Great smoky flavor from the chorizo
• Tapas: Gambas a Ajillo - $9/$16 - simple but delicious - try this if you like garlicky-shrimp
• Drink: Pitcher of Sangria - delicious sangria - great if you like fruity drinks or wine with a sweet twist
• Get it while you can: 6 + 6 = $12 - Arpa Doubles the Fun Each Month. Now you can join us for our popular 6+6 events every first Wednesday and third Wednesday of the month. Enjoy 6 amazing tapas paired with 6 wines for just $12. 5:30pm-8:30pm.

Pricing Samples (Dinner):

• Tapas: $3.50 - $24
• Flatbreads: $9-$12

Best For: Date, Small Groups (probably large, too, but I’d call to verify)
What to Wear: nice casual (not tennis shoes) to dressy
Fave Points: Huge selection of tapas with authentic Spanish flair. Where else can you order Boquerrones in the Queen City?
My Fave Dish: Roasted Fingerling Potatoes - one might think a potato too simple to pick as a fave, but the combination of gold and purple fingerling potatoes paired with the smoky chorizo flavor and tender texture of the potatoes themselves…heaven!

Menu pricing and availability subject to change.

My Dish

I met up with a friend (who was visiting all the way from NYC) and one of her good girlfriends for a girls’ night out. We hit up Press for a glass or two of wine and then went down the street to ARPA Tapas for some delish Spanish tapas.

According to their web site, chef Tom Condron’s vision for ARPA is:

“To truly dine in Spain is to share several small, intricate courses reflecting the rich diversity of classical and contemporary Spanish cuisine.

The bar should boast a wide variety of Spanish red, white and rosé wines, available by the glass, as well as a selection of Sherries and sangria.“

I ordered a pitcher for our table, which came out in a pretty blue pitcher. The sangria was super good and the pitcher was great for sharing.

We each picked 2 tapas to try and then shared a bit with each other. Here’s what we got:

Rock Shrimp and Serrano Croquettes - $5.50 - with picked vegetables and saffron aioli. These were quite good but I couldn’t get over how much the saffron aioli sauce looked, to me, like mustard! I did like the flavor and texture of the croquettes, though.

Crisp Goat Cheese - $7 - with honey drizzle, pepperanata and almond pesto. These came out nice and hot and gooey inside.

Tortilla de Espanola con Espinaca - $5.50 - This fritatta had a nice soft texture inside and crispy texture on the outside. I wish there would have been more spinach, but it was still quite enjoyable.

Gambas a Ajillo - $9/$16 - sizzling spicy garlic shrimp - this was one of my favorite tapas of the night. The flavors were so simple yet so tasty! Definitely try this one if you like shrimp and garlic.

Crispy Skin Duck Breast - $12 - with sweet and sour onions and quince. The flavors of this dish are amazing, but be warned, if you like your steak well done, you should either avoid this entree or ask for it to be prepared to your liking. The center of the meat is quite rare. Another thing to note is that this picture was taken after approximately 2 slices of duck had been claimed. The portion is a little larger than portrayed.

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes - $4.50 - with chorizo and shallots. How do you take potatoes from simple to divine? Like this. An interesting mixture of golden and purple fingerling potatoes were sliced thin and cooked with shallots and chorizo. I think the use of different potato colors paired with that yummy smoky taste really put this one over the top for me. I highly recommend that you try this if you go to ARPA!

Final Dish

I’d recommend ARPA for either a playful date (sharing food is always more fun, no?) or dinner with friends. Enjoy the patio area if the weather is nice…we did, and I really liked it out there. Don’t let the Spanish menu scare you off…just ask the waiter or waitress what the different dishes are if you are curious about something but don’t speak/read Spanish. If they’re still offering it, I’d try the $6 + $6 = 12 special mentioned above - I love a good tasting-menu-style meal!

The Basics

Cuisine: American with a Southern Flair
Ambiance: Elegant-Chic
Address: 235 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: 704.342.1193
Web Site: http://www.dunhillhotel.com/monticello-restaurant/index.cfm
Must Taste (Lunch):

• Entrees: Shrimp + Grits - $11 - a wonderful rendition for shrimp + grits; try this is you’re visiting the south

Pricing Samples (Lunch):

• Soup: $6
• Entrees: $9-$14

Best For: Romantic Date, Business Lunch
What to Wear: I’d err on the dressy side - probably not jeans
Fave Points: Nice and quiet, great quality of food, attentive service, excellent prices for such good food
My Fave Dish: Shrimp and Grits

Menu pricing and availability subject to change.

My Dish

A foodie-friend and I went to Monticello Restaurant last winter for a nice change-of-pace from the usual, busy, work-day lunch. Located to the Dunhill Hotel , this restaurant is in the heart of uptown.

The inside of the restaurant was on the smaller side, but not cramped-small - it was cozy + intimate-small. The place had a steady stream of traffic, but it was also nice and quiet so my friend and I could carry on good conversation. There were a few business meetings taking place around us. This would be the perfect place to take a client (or even romantic date).

I liked how they folded the napkins.

The fresh flowers on the tables were a nice touch, too.

Pre-entree, we were served some bread with a trio of delicious butters - regular, olive-butter, and (I believe) pumpkin-butter. They were all quite good - I’m a big fan of flavored butters.

My co-worker got The Club sandwich ($9), which she had with french fries. I’m sure the sandwich was quite good, but I recommend trying one of their more interesting entrees, like these options that sound tasty: Strawberry Fields (”Fresh Greens, Driscol Strawberries, Aged Stilton, Grilled Chicken Strawberry Vinaigrette”) salad or Grilled Chicken Bruschetta (”Herb Marinated Chicken, Fresh Tomato Bruschetta, Garlic Mashed Potatoes“), unless you’re really craving a sandwich to eat.

I went for the Shrimp and Grits ($11) - from the menu: “Harbor Banks Shrimp, Mushrooms, Peppers, Apple Wood Bacon, Cajun Cream Sauce.”

I thoroughly enjoyed my Shrimp and Grits entree. I thought the bacon and green pepper were nice touches. The Cajun Cream Sauce had a great flavor, but the cream in the sauce made it a wee bit heavier than other shrimp and grits I’ve had. In my opinion, it’s worth the extra calories for the flavor.

My friend and I also split the (I think it was - no dessert menu online so I can’t confirm) flourless chocolate cake. Thank goodness we split this dessert! We both thought it was delicious, but quite rich. Save room for this or plan to share. Great choice for chocolate lovers.

Final Dish

I’ve long walked by this restaurant and never thought to go in because it always looked so expensive. Though it may be more pricey for dinner (not sure, haven’t been yet), the lunch is quite reasonable. If you are looking for a quiet, relaxing, high-quality lunch for a great price, try Monticello Restaurant.

The Basics

Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ambiance: Simply Modern
Address: 4310 Sharon Road, Ste. W01, Charlotte, NC 28211
Phone: 704.909.5500
Web Site: http://www.harpersrestaurants.com/m5.html
Must Taste:

• Soup: Spring Onion - $6 - if you like French Onion soup
• Dessert: Bread Pudding - if you like cozy desserts
• “Feed Me Chef” - $55 - 5-course tasting menu served right in the kitchen - how cool - this would make for an extremely unique date

Pricing Samples:

• Appetizers: $5-$15
• Entrees: $14-$26

Fave Points: some organic ingredients, nice variety
My Fave Dish: Spring Onion Soup

Menu pricing and availability subject to change.

A peek of the kitchen.

My Dish

I went with a group of friends to M5 on a recent Saturday night. We met up around 7PM and had reservations for our party of 7. The restaurant was pretty busy but didn’t seem to have a huge line (you’ll probably want to have reservations or at least call ahead to check the wait). While we waited for our friends to all gather, we enjoyed cocktails on M5’s beautiful patio. I waited till we sat at our table before ordering anything.

Sangria was the perfect way to start the evening.

Our group ordered a couple entrees to share.

Hubby and I ordered the spanakopita, which was delicious, but probably not the best app to order when sharing with a group - it’s on the smaller side. The spanakopita would make a better choice for yourself or to share on a date. The flavors were great.

The calamari was a much better group-appetizer, which we enjoyed with an order of the mozzarella + tomatoes (with yummy BV) and some hummus (also good for sharing).

I was in the mood to sample the menu, so I ordered a pre-entree soup - the Spring Onion soup. The Spring Onion soup was like a French Onion soup, topped with (I believe) French bread and Gruyere cheese. The soup was absolutely delicious! I enjoyed every bite.

For my entree, I was torn between the Salmon and the Chicken Tagine. I went with the latter.

The Chicken Tagine was comprised on soft couscous and tender chicken pieces throughout, along with dried fruit. I didn’t notice a lot of vegetables, but there were a ton of the dried fruit pieces - I think I saw raisins and apricots. The dish was quite sweet, which made me wonder if the fruit had been cooked with the couscous. The waiter told me the Chicken Tagine would be sweet but it was sweeter than I expected, which was fine - an interesting play on the savory/sweet. I could also taste the flavor of cinnamon, which made for an interesting flavor combination.

Everyone was pretty full from dinner, but we saved room for dessert.

I ordered the Lavender Creme Caramel, which just like the waiter described, tasted like flan. I love unique dessert flavor combinations and really enjoyed this.

I also snapped a picture of our friend’s Baklava. They got this delivered on a tiered basket containing 2 other desserts! I was so jealous I didn’t see that on the menu, because I totally would have ordered it, too.

Final Dish

M5 would be a great choice for a chic date night, group event, or girls’ night out. Definitely try out one of the appetizers and if you can save room for dessert. If you’re looking for something a little more special, try out the “Feed Me Chef” ($55) - a 5-course tasting menu served right in the kitchen.