We have a P.F. Chang’s at the new Bridge Street Peoplequarium. Melanie took me out for my birthday there yesterday. The food, service, and atmosphere were all enjoyable, but you’d have a hell of a time credibly hanging any sort of “value” label on it (considerably more so than you would on “eating out” in general). I’d put the experience at 40% better than a run-of-the-mill decent Chinese place; unfortunately it’s 100% more expensive. It might be a good place if you want Asian cuisine for date night, but Surin’s got that covered better, in my view.
She also got me BlackSite: Area 51. Woohoo! I wanted to get into it last night but was too tired. Tonight, definitely.
In other Bridge Street news, as we walked around after lunch and waited for the thunderstorms, we stepped into the Fossil store. As much of a watch slut as I am, I’ve never had a Fossil, and I’ve never had a skeleton watch. Yesterday I bought both. It’s a Chinese movement, but it seems reasonably robust, and it’s conservatively and appealingly decorated. It’s non-hacking, but will wind manually. The 11-year warranty was a plus. I’m pleased with it. There’s some evidence of folks not talking to other folks during the design process, though. There is luminous paint at each hour marker, but none on the hands. Given the sort of watch it is—i.e., not something I’d be wearing for strictly utilitarian purposes—I’d rather the luminous paint be absent altogether. The hands are lovely as they sit, and I wouldn’t want to tacky ’em up with Superluminova. But it’s a small nit.
Lots of love from my blogosphere buds, too. What cool friends I have.
Homemade subs with Anchor Liberty Ale, and lemon meringue pie for dessert last night. (Yes, my family has stuck candles in a lemon pie for me before, but we skipped that last night.) Good birthday.
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I’m glad you had a good birthday. We don’t have P.F. Chang’s around here, but I was brought to one in the DC area a few summers ago when I was there for a seminar at Gallaudet and Mr. Chili’s best friend Dudley wanted to introduce me to the woman who is now his wife. (JEEZ! How’s THAT for a complex sentence? Take a breath, there, Chili!) I enjoyed the meal, but it wasn’t something that I’ve pined for since then, and I’ve not actively wished they’d build one around here (unlike the Macaroni Grille and Bertucci’s, which I REALLY want some developer to drop into one of the empty lots around the mall..).
I am a little disappointed that I didn’t get up and follow you when you showed Bruder your watch collection. Seester, Lea and I were talkin’, though, and I didn’t want to be rude. This looks like a nice one. Happy birthday!
Yeah, I like Macaroni Grill a lot. I’ve not had any Italian around here, even at one-off places, that I like as much. And of course it crushes Olive Garden.
I enjoyed talking to your brother-in-law about diving watches. I love divers for their functional characteristics and appearance, and I have several real ones that you could actually dive with, but all of mine are “desktop divers.” 🙂 Nevertheless, I was able to show him several he had considered, so it was a fun conversation.
Terranova’s or Luciano’s – better than any chain Italian, even Mac Grill. Chain Italian always tastes frozen then microwaved to me.
I’ve not been to Luciano’s that I can recall. I’ll put that in my pocket.
I’ve had two solid B experiences at Terranova’s–one with fettuccine alfredo, the other with lasagna. (Two good indicator dishes.) They were both fine–no real nits–but nothing exemplary either. The bread and Caesar salad is a wash with Macaroni Grill–I have slight preferences for the former at Macaroni Grill and the latter at Terranova’s.
Actually, the best things at Terranova are the fresh and the specials; not so much the normal pasta dishes. KWIM? Luciano’s – I got drunk on crawfish fettuccine the last time (A long time ago, hmmm…)
Okay – now I am STARVING. Thank heavens I’ve got a roast ready in the crock pot. So no temptations to run out.
I’ve eaten at Chang’s. I guess it was okay, on account of I survived.
Macaroni Grill nearby has closed, and they are tearing the building down, I assume they are gonna then salt the ground where it stood. We tried the place twice, and could not eat our meals. We did not remonstrate with them, anyone who sends out the substances they called Italian food cannot be talked to.