A Review
Having heard Chet Coppock talk about PF Chang’s on Chicago’s WMAQ for years apparently left an impression of me. I heard him waxing the many merits of his latest meal at this place called PF Chang’s. But somehow, I never got the opportunity to actually go and try it. Even when I was in Wisconsin, no PF Chang’s could be found.
After moving to Louisville last year, I have made it a point of trying new restaurants. I’ve done pretty well and haven’t duplicated too many of my choices. Recently, Todd Wilbur featured his attempt at replicating Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Having nearly drooled through the episode, I hit the web to check if there was a location nearby. There is! So I’ve been wanting to get over there and eat since then.
This week, I decided it was time. I made a reservation online, got a confirmation email in seconds.
Dear Dave,
Your reservation is confirmed at P.F. Chang’s China Bistro.
Thank you for making a reservation. We look forward to seeing you as our guest.
Reservation Details:
Confirmation #: 238850
Name: Dave Emmons
Date: Friday, December 23, 2011
Time: 8:00 PM
Location:
9120 Shelbyville Rd.
Hurstbourne, KY 40222
Phone: (502) 327-7707
Party Size: 2
Special Occasion:
Special Request(s):
Thank you again for choosing us!
Sincerely,
Dave Richards
Operating Partner
For a map and directions to our restaurant, please click http://www.pfchangs.com/locations/locationdetail.aspx?sid=9975
To modify or cancel your reservation, please click https://www.pfchangs.com/res/makereservation.aspx?rid=42842298781526&gid=1426982&sid=9975
**Please do not reply to this email. It has been sent from an unattended mailbox.
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P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and Pei Wei Asian Diner
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This was great! I could use this info on my iPhone when I was on my way. Having it all in one place, very nice! Only thing I’d suggest here s a link to the menu.
We arrived a little early, and were immediately seated. As we had discussed our dinner choices on the ride over, there was little time needed and we quickly placed our order. We had decided to get PF Chang’s For Two
To start we each had a bowl of soup. The choices were Hot and Sour or Egg Drop. I had the hot and sour soup, it was both. Delicious. The egg drop soup was hot and flavorful, you know it’s good soup when your nose start to clear up. I also love the soup spoons the Chinese use, the kind that let’s you get the soup cooled off to eating temperature quickly.
To drink we ordered mango and sweet iced tea with lemons and limes. I did not have to wait for a refill the entire meal.
Our server brought 3 sauces to the table, to be used throughout the meal The first was a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, and oyster sauce. The second was a very hot chili paste with oil. The last sauce was a traditional Chinese hot mustard sauce. Really opened up my sinuses.
Some readers might find this odd, but I always look at the flatware a restaurant gives me to use. I see it as a gauge for how they really feel about having me there. Cheap, cheesy flatware means they really don’t care. Nice hefty flatware means they’ve given thought to the dining experience, even something as insignificant as the flatware, and executed it perfectly. PF Chang’s has really nice heavy flatware. We each had 2 forks, a knife, and a set of chopsticks.
After finishing our soup, we moved on to Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps. The reason I’d ventured over here. The dish was hot, the lettuce was cool. I carefully took a lettuce leaf and put a couple of spoons of the chicken mixture on it, carefully rolled it up and took a bite. Let me say this: it was wonderful! I got that smoky sweet flavor the guy on Top Secret Recipe talked about so much. It was so good I completely forgot about the sauces. I ate 3 of them, each one as good as the last.
Now for the main course. My salt and pepper prawns arrived on hot serving plate. They were served with a bowl of white rice. I spread the rice out on my place and spooned the prawns onto my plate. A condiment cup of sweet mustard sauce accompanied my meal. I didn’t use that until I had a couple of the prawns without it, really wanting to savor the flavor. I was not disappointed.
The almond and cashew chicken ordered was also very good. Very generously sized pieces of chicken, delicious green peppers, plenty of nuts and sauce. And it was served hot! So hot that some time was needed to allow for cooling before it could be eaten. I’ll never complain about food served hot. And like any good Chinese food, this was great as a leftover!
Dessert
Included with out meal for two were choice of desserts. These were mini-sized versions of PF Chang’s delectable dessert selections. We chose red velvet and carrot cakes, respectively. Both we delicious and truth be told, perfectly sized after such a generous meal.