Harry's Dining Reviews

We are back with some amazing grazing, starting with a nice slice

A TASTE OF THE BIG APPLE, 600 North Main suite 110 (NE corner of 4th and Main) might take some searching to find, but it's worth the effort.  Week days they offer pizza by the slice, very nice, for light eaters or those bored with a whole pie.  We loved the thin crust superhot roasted taste of nicely spaced ,quality ingredients not buried in cheese.  Try the original for pepperoni, sausage, mushroom and onion:  simple and very tasty.  We also liked the Veggie and the Liberty with pepperoni, can. bacon, green and black olives.  $4.00 per slice.  Other suggestions include the appetizer Spinach and artichoke stromboli (2 halves) which can be shared for lunch.  ($9.00) We loved the joining of the two vegetables with ricotta, provolone and asiago in a tender crust.  Another winner is the hearty hero with sausage, peppers and onions $7, with a mac salad; New York Deli Pastrami on rye bread with mustard is the real item, the warm meat sliced thin and piled high, $8, with a Kosher dill and town's best potato salad.

COCO PALACE, 2530 South Louise was as welcoming and comfortable as we remembered it a year ago.  My daughter had never been and since she loves most  Asian foods we had to try it.  We were not disappointed by the food, service and ambiance.  For a full review see April 08 post in archives.Coco Palace has an amazing menu of classic Chinese and Thai specialties, including tempting appetizers, soups, noodle dishes, salads and generous entrees at lunch and dinner, all moderately priced.  Lunch for $6.95 is especially attractive these days.  Choose from Chinese or Thai menu entrees that include soup or salad.  Sushi lunch special is $8.95;  sashami lunch is $9.95; 3 rolls lunch is $9.95. 

At last week's visit we enjoyed and recommend the following:  Yellow curry with chicken, coconut milk, potatoes, onions and fresh herbs and spices.  We also loved the Panang chicken cooked with red curry coconut milk, peanut sauce, carrots and peppers.  And be sure to try the famous Pad Thai. My daughter loved the chicken version with sauteed rice noodles in sweet and sour sauce,cooked with bean sprouts, dried tofu and ground peanuts. Gentle heat tingles the tongue, but never burns.  A popular introduction to Thai cousine.

WHOOP IT UP AT WILD WHOOPIE BAKERY, 524 North Main Avenue, across from A Taste of the Big Apple.  The feature product is whoopie pie, which is a cream filling between two cake cookies that are soft but not crumbly.  Fillings and cakes  range from chocolate to pumpkin to peanut butter and more.They come in 2 sizes, standard $2.25 and small (party size) $1.25 which would be a great party favor.  Stop in and visit with owner Tammy Wiertzema for suggestions.  Be a trend setter in your circle!

We love Sanaa's for unique food and people watching

Sanaa's 8th Street Gourmet

401 East 8th St. Suite 100

Phone:  605-275-2516

Hours:  Monday-Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friday 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

            Saturday Lunch Buffet 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cost:  Main dishes, served with fresh baked pita; many  with rice and salad.    $8.95

          Fatayer is pita bread dough filled or topped with a variety of stuffings, brushed with olive oil

          and baked in a stone oven.  It is similar to a calzone in appearance.

          Fatayer with spinach and walnut filling $3.25 with rice and salad $6.25

          Choose from about a dozen fatayer varieties in a range of prices.

          Side orders: Salads, mostly $3.75, including tabbouli and house; hummus, olive tapenade and

          Muhammarah $3.00.

          Desserts:  Beautiful stuff, don't pass them up.  $1.00 to $3.00

Rating:  Four stars

Alcohol:  Beer and wine

All non-smoking seating.

Wheel chair accessible:  Yes

Vegetarian options:  A vegetarian's Mecca

Eating at Sanaa's is always an adventure.  Changing daily features make for fun and variety.  One frequent diner said he spends most of his money eating at Sanaa's almost daily.  I should mention that he has an office in the building. 

Not only is the huge assortment of tasty and unusual dishes a reason for eating here, but also the ambiance.  Former U. S. Senator Jim Abourezk holds court daily at his round table near the pastry cases.  The table fills quickly with his friends from the medical community, lawyers, and active and inactive democrats in all  walks of life; all of them expressing opinions, often at the same time. The whole place, in fact, is full of familiar faces.  Locals that one has seen or known for years.

At a recent lunch we did manage to find a table and go on to order at the counter.  We checked the "chalkboard" for features and looked in the cases before ordering.  As usual, everything was tempting.I always inquire about the soup and was delighted to see it was my favorite, lentil. Thick, rich and flavorful with lots of lentils, tomato and onions, it was hearty and satisfying.  With it I had a feta cheese fatayer with tomato, mint and mozzarella mix.   Soup and "pie" combo was $6.25.

My wife had one  of my favorites, the Mezza Sampler ($8.95) The platter has generous mounds of hummus (Garbanzo-tahini puree), Muhammarah (pureed red bell pepper with walnuts, onion, wheat germ, pomegranate molasses and olive oil) green olive tapenade and stuffed grape leaves with pita bread. This savory melange is usually an appetizer dish, but with lots of pita bread it makes a great lunch entree and is generous enough to share.

My daughter had another favorite, the spinach and walnut fatayer ($3.25).  The golden brown oven baked pita bread was folded over a filling of chopped sauteed fresh spinach with onions, walnuts and olive oil.  One gem of a dish.

One can eat very well at Sanaa's.  Check out the "recession specials":  Soup and bread for $3.75 and Soup and Sandwich $6.25.  Saturday lunch buffet is $9.95 and features salads, meats, vegetables and desserts. Friday night buffet is $12.95, a bargain for exceptional handcrafted specialties.

On my next visit I plan to sample more of the Fatayer choices including Chicken Mussakhan, a mixture of breast pieces sauteed with carmelized onion, roasted sweet bell pepper, sun dried tomato and cilantro. Also tempting is broiled eggplant with roasted bell pepper, carmelized onion, red bell pepper , tomato and feta cheese. Remember, this low-fat food is healthful and good for you.

Opa! "My Big Fat Greek Chicken Sandwich" highlight of Cafe 334 lunch

Chef Amy's Cafe 334

334 South Phillips Avenue

Phone:  334-3050

Hours:  Mon-Wed 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Thurs 8 a.m. to 2 p.m and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri and Sat 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m; Sun 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cost:  Breakfast $5.95 to 6.75

          Lunch $5.95 to 6.75

          Dinner:  Starters (little plates) $6.95 to 10.95

                       Dinner entrees $12.99 to 26.99

Alcohol:  Wine and beer

Video lottery: No

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Vegetarian options:  limited but can accomodate

Non-smoking seating:  Yes

Rating :  Four stars

Chef Amy Warren is back downtown and visibly in charge of her new restaurant, Amy's Cafe 334.  This delights her many fans and new folks who are packing the place at lunchtime and are likely to return foe dinner, which promises to be varied and innovative.  And breakfast is always memorable

We had lunch at Amy's soon after the place opened for business without much fan-fare or hype.  On that day the restaurant quickly filled up and both dining rooms were jumping by 1 o'clock.  Yet the pro staff was cooly effecient, frienly and helpful.

I couldn't resist "My Big Fat Greek Chicken Sandwich" ($6.95}, an open faced creation reminiscent of a gyros sandwich.  The warmed thick pita bread was the base for grilled marinated cahicken breast, smoky and kissed by the flame, lots of creamy feta cheese, kalamata olives, red onions, tomato, cucumber and pepperoncini peppers with cucumber-yogurt sauce.  Light and appetizing, it was a taste of the Aegean.  A tasty, well made potato salad (one of the best I've had) as the perfect side.

We also loved the "Georgia Peach" salad ($6.95) with Amy's incomparable pecan chicken salad on marbled rye atop spring greens, sprouts and marinated peaches, all drizzled with peach vinaigrette.  Charming and delicious.

At another lunch visit a few days later, my companion enjoyed her New York Debutante sandwich ($6.95), a hearty combination of thinly sliced salami, pepperoni, ham and provolone on foccacia.  A dense and flavorful marinara was served on the side for dipping.  A side of that marvelous potato salad completed the picture.The sandwich, aptly named, was elevated from the mundane by high quality ingrediants deftly combined.

A cup of cream of asparagus soup ($2.50) was pure essence of the vegetable.  The pureed asparagus was fortified with broth and cream but no starch or flour.  It was light and lovely.

Another example of light saucery was Pasta Kathleen ($7.25).  Chicken breast was sliced and gently sauteed in a white wine cream sauce with capers, crisp asparagus an d red bell pepper, and tossed with penne pasta.   The sauce, the consistency of cream, was imbued with flavors of the ingredients and gently enrobed the pasta without the unwelcome gluey consistency of some alfredo style sauces.  The capers lent a lively piquant note to a perfect luncheon entree.

The look and pace of Amy's Cafe 334 reflects the professional training and experience of the chef-owner. We didn't mind the occasional clatter of plates and pots and pans.  It underscored the point that some serious cooking is taking place here.  I plan to be back to experience it.

Sailing on the fourth of July, 1943

For years my family celebrated the Independance Day holiday with a trip to Dell Rapids, SD ,about 20 miles north of our home in Sioux Falls.  My dad would attach a bunch of little American flags to the hood orniment of the 1937 Chrysler sedan and pack the trunk with food baskets, picnic supplies, toys and the little sailboats. My brother and I would climb into our usual back seat places for the short trip and squirm and fight all the way.

Dell Rapids (my dad called it Della Rapit) was a favorite place because it had a large city park with a swimming beach in the center of town, right next to US 77.  In addition to swimming and picnicking we would spend the day playing and waiting for the fireworks display at sunset. The fireworks were always thrilling with lots of noise, rockets and colorful sprays of fire across the sky.  The show always ended with lit display of Old Glory standing at the end of the little lake and a school band playing the National Anthem.

Part of the day's activities included sailing the little boats across the pond.  The boats were hand made to scale and were replicas of sailing vessels complete with cloth sails, rigging, wooden deks and unbelievabl details.  My dad spent weeks making them and was very proud of thier apperance and performance.  The game was to set the sails and tiller and, depending on wind direction, turn them loose in the water.  Almost by magic the little craft (about 12 inches long) would slowly navigate the waters and end up on the opposite bank, where someone was waiting for it.  Then sails and tiller re-set, it would cross back to the other bank. It was a great show, attracting a sizable crowd that would sometimes cheer one or both boats..  Often men would ask my dad, "How do you do that?"   My dad wondered why decendants of Vikings couldn't figure that out.

Eating Well in Fairfax County

Greetings from Fairfax County, Virginia where we are spending a few days with family. Son Paul, daughterinlaw Katya, granddaughter Sasha and grandson Anton. Eating well begins at home where we all contribute to the cooking, with help from Whole Foods and nearby Trader Joe's.  Will Sioux Falls ever be so lucky?  But no matter how dedicated home cooks are, they can't resist seasonal favorites like soft shell crabs which are best eaten at specialty seaside joints easily found in nearby Annapolis, MD, Arlington and Alexandria, VA.  Huling kids tro restaurants is no easy task, but these kids are seasoned restaurant fans and are skilled at charming servers while exasperating parents.  So we plan to eat out a few times trying out some of the many ethnic places that cater to the appetites of its vast international population.  We will keep you posted about interesting places and meals. 

The Prix is right at Cafe 334

Cafe 334

334 South Phillips Ave (at 12th Street)

Phone:  334-3050

Score: Three and one-half stars

Hours: Tues-Thurs 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri and Sat 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

            Sunday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cost:  Prix Fixe dinner on Thursday $20.00; dinner entrees $20.00 to 30.00; small plates $4.00 to 9.00

          Daily soup $3.00 & 4.00; salads $3.00-4.00. grilled artichoke salad $8.00

Alcohol:  Wine and beer

Vegetarian Options:  Yes

Wheelchair Access:  Yes

Non-smoking seating: All non-smoking

Video Lottery:  No

The new owners of Cafe 334 at 12th and Phillips, have introduced a Prix Fixe dinner on Thursday nights.  For 20 dollars one can dine royally on soup or salad, chef's choice entree and dessert.  A good value for excellent food.

On a recent Thursday we tried the Prix Fixe dinner and were not disappointed.  Augmented by outstanding service by experienced staffers, the meal was very enjoyable.  We chose house salads over soup and were pleased with the fresh baby greens with tomato, red onion rings, Parmisan cheese, pignoli and seeds tossed with a lively balsamic vinaigrette.

The entree was fetuccini in a smmoth, light cream sauce with pancetta, zuccini, yellow squash and lots of sauteed chicken slices, plus fresh tomato.  Fresh herbs added fragrence and subtle flavor.  The pasta was nicely al dente and perfectly napped by the sauce, which was not the gluey disaster posing as Alfredo at some places.

One can never refuse dessert at Cafe 334.  The tantalizing display makes choosing hard, but there are really no bad choices.  My lava cake was sinfully rich with molten chocolate.  A slice of chocolate layer cake was equally rich and satisfying with velvety icing and deep flavor.  Fitting finales to a well prepared and beautifully orchestrated meal.

The youthful chefs at Cafe 334 carry on the high standards and creative talent evident at Kristina's and the originall 334. A new dinner menu showcases thier skills.  We were impressed by most of the dishes offered, some quite ambitious and challenging.  We plan to try some of the following soon:

Small plates:  Pan seared diver scallops with roasted shallot puree, grapefruit buerre blanc, chervil coulis  ($8); panko breaded crab cakes, remoulade, vegetable confit, lime ($8); Blanquette De Veau, the classic French dish updated with a veal chop in cream with roasted whole garlic cloves, white mushrooms, white rice ($30).  Can't wait to try this. And one more.  Grilled rack of lamb, rosemary red wine sauce, braised leeks, mirepoix and potato confit ($28)

I'm pleased as punch to see great imaginative dining alive in downtown Sioux Falls.  It keeps getting better and Cafe 334 is a giant step foreward on the road to eating well on the prairie.

Wake up taste buds at Coco Palace

Coco Palace

2530 South Louise Ave.

Sioux Falls, SD 57106

Phone:  (605) 361-7252

Score:  Three and one-half (out of four)

Hours:  Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

            Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Cost:  Lunch Special (Monday-Saturday) $6.95, includes soup; Appetizers $3.00 to $5.95; Soup mostly $2.50; Salad $4.95 to 7.95; grilled steak, chicken and seafood $10.95 to 22.00; Thai dinner entrees $10.95 to 14.95; Chinese dinner entrees mostly $9.95; Asian noodle dishes $9.95 to 10.95; Sushi and Sashimi ala carte (2 pieces per order) $3.95 to 6.95; rolls $3.25 to 9.55.  Kid's menu $5.95.

Alcohol:  Wine and beer

Non-smoking section:  all non-smoking

Wheelchair accessible:  Yes

After a long absence, Thai food has returned to Sioux Falls ethnic food scene.  Coco Palace has recently opened at the site of the former Rue 41 on South Louise.  What a transformation!  The space has been completely remodeled with new wall decor, striking fabric chair backs, sturdy stylish tables and roomy comfortable booths.  The old bakery and food service area is now a sleek sushi bar with counter and table seating.  The place is airy and inviting.

We were very pleased with the immediate and helpful service at each of our visits. The manager closely supervised the servers and answered any questions about the menu; and we had no long waits at any time.

We started a recent lunch visit with complimentary soup.  The hot and sour soup was bracing with just the right amount of pepper heat, Chinese vegetables and shredded pork.  The wanton soup was tasty with rich broth and generous wantons stuffed with spiced ground pork.

My companions Pad Thai ($6.95) was a flavorful melange of sauteed Thai rice noodles in a sweet and sour sauce with shrimp, bean sprouts, dried tofu and ground peanuts.  I found it to be rather bland, but my companion loved it.  My Pad Kee Mao (drunken noodle) featured big flat noodles cooked with chicken in a spicy sauce flavored with fresh Thai basil.  The menu promised it was "guaranteed to set your tongue on fire" but it was more of a tingle.  The dish was flavorful and something I would order again.

On another lunch visit we started with Bangkok Spring Rolls ($3.00 for 2 pieces) which were hot and crunchy in thier deep fried rice paper rapper and filling of cabbage and other crunchies.  They were served with a thick, delectable sweet and sour dipping sauce. We also had miso soup which was jazzed up with tiny cubes of tofu.

I had been craving Thai curry and I wasn't disappointed with the red curry lunch special.  I chose the beef over the chicken and was glad I did.  Often beef dishes are tough or stringy, but this was tender and soft and absorbed the unique flavor of the spicy curry sauce.  Subtle sweetness and flavor of coconut milk and Thai basil added depth to the broth.  Red and green pepper chunks and bamboo shoots were a nice addition.  The dish came in a shallow bowl and I added the sticky rice accompaniment to the broth.  Wonderful!

We also had a Chinese dish, Hai Nan Chicken.  Chunks of white meat are lightly battered and fried to golden brown, then further cooked in a sweet and sour ginger sauce with pineapple and red and green bell pepper chunks.  This sweet and satisfying dish, much like General Tso's chicken except for the sauce, was elevated by the taste and crunch of the chcken pieces.  Nicely cooked and presented.

We couldn't ignore the third feature of this multi-faceted restaurant.  The sushi menu offers lots of variety and features many familiar favorites. A trained master chef prepares demanding dishes.  We tried to simplify with one representative specialty:  Rock'Roll ($9.95).  This house special is a typical roll with rice, crab and cruchy batter bits inside.  On top is a spread of tuna paste with herbs and spices.  It was devilishly tasty and appetizing, in spite of the name.  Certainly worth a try.

Finally, one can't pass up mango rice ($4.25).  Although a classic Thai dessert, it was perfectly at home sharing a table with a Japanese specialty.  The sticky rice sweetened with coconut milk was freshly made and warm.  Topped with firm, cool, perfect slices of ripe mango it was a heavenly mixture.  A one-of-a-kind experience in the dessert world.

Eating well in Colorado Springs

Lunch at Michelle's

A recent lunch at Michelle's, 324 South Phillips Avenue, was pleasant and relaxing among the mis-matched chairs and tables, overstuffed sofa' plants and abstract art on the wall.  The place is completely laid back, but the service is prompt and friendly.  Helpful suggestions are passed along with the menu, which is small but offers a lot of variety.  Soup, salads and sandwiches are the lunch choices.  But don't forget to check out the large coffee menu on the wall.

A huge mug of fragrant dark roast coffee was more than I could handle but it was marvelous. Next I sampled a cup of the soup of the day. The tomato lentil ($2.00) was rich and thick with light lentils, lots of them, tomato chunks,spinach and carrots in a herb-spiked savory broth.  I was reminded of my mother's lenten lentil soup which we ate frequently during the lengthy Orthodox fast period. Michelle's was tastier.

An Asian wrap was a white flour tortilla stuffed with marinated chicken, cabbage, red pepper, snow peas,sprouts, sesame seeds, almonds, scallions and a sesame ginger dressing.  The combination was a magical mixture of textures and tastes.  It was generous and a real value at $5.95)

Equally filling was a House Special sandwich ($5.95) on a crusty baguette.  Thinly sliced tender roast beef was piled high along with provolone, mixed greens, oregano, cracked  pepper and red wine vinaigrette.  It was a winning combination, hearty and tasty in that crunchy but soft roll.

Michelle's sandwiches and salads are original and tastefully constructed.  Vegetarians will be pleased with a sandwich of homemade hummus, red onion, cucumbers, black olives, alfalfa sprouts, mixed greens on multigrain bread.

A thoughtful selection of wines, many new to me, and imported beers are available for lunch and dinner quaffing. And the coffee is always fresh and fragrant.

Sitting in Michelle"s and gazing out on Phillips Avenue stirred memories of the glory days of the 300 block, which was a major retail and entertainment segment of the downtown's main street.  The queen of the block was the State Theater, of course.  The premier movie house was home to first run films from MGM, Paramount, Fox and Warner Bros. On Friday nights it was as popular as the Barrell drive-in, packed with high school students. I"m recalling the 50's, before everything moved out to West 41st Street.

Next to the State was Donahue's furniture store, a long-time fixture in downtown.  North of the State was Harold's Photograpy, which displayed portaits of high school seniors in the window.  Across the stree was the revalutionary Lewis Drug with open displays of just about every thing not normally found in a drug store, along with the standard pharmacy items.  North of Lewis, on the corner of 11th Street, was Lemond"s Restaurant (formerly the Palace of Sweets) which was a popular lunch and dinner spot for people of all ages.  After school it was invaded by Washington High School students who filled all the booths in front and a few in the back, visiting and ordering Cokes and sticky caramel rolls.

On the opposite end of the block on the corner of 12th Street was the Nickel Plate, one of the city's original hamburger joints which also served sandwiches, French fries and waffles.

More on downtown Sioux Falls in future blogs.  Let me know if you have a favorite place.