34 replies to this topic

[Garris]

Frankie811, on Jun 5 2005, 01:26 PM, said:

Just where is this Apsara, and what type of cuisine is it?

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It's one of RI's unique 4 cuisine combos... Cambodian, Vietnamese, Thai, and Americanized Chinese, heavier on the first two than the last two.  It's really outstanding for SE Asian food.  Everything is prepared in a light and fresh fashion like everyone from Asia says their food should be made, not dripping in heavy-handed, cornstarched sauces like we've been conditioned Asian food should be like.  I actually know people from the Boston area who come to Providence to eat at Apsara!  

Note, though, that Apsara is somewhat deep in an "edgy" part of South Providence and not easy to find for the uninitiated.  Its area on Public St. does some funky directional stuff near the restaurant that had me totally confused the first two or three times I went too.  Consult a map closely.  It's not a place you want to get lost in the canyon-like maze of dangerous feeling triple deckers that surround the restaurant's area.

- Garris

[Frankie811]

Garris, on Jun 5 2005, 11:44 PM, said:

It's one of RI's unique 4 cuisine combos... Cambodian, Vietnamese, Thai, and Americanized Chinese, heavier on the first two than the last two.  It's really outstanding for SE Asian food.  Everything is prepared in a light and fresh fashion like everyone from Asia says their food should be made, not dripping in heavy-handed, cornstarched sauces like we've been conditioned Asian food should be like.  I actually know people from the Boston area who come to Providence to eat at Apsara! 

Note, though, that Apsara is somewhat deep in an "edgy" part of South Providence and not easy to find for the uninitiated.  Its area on Public St. does some funky directional stuff near the restaurant that had me totally confused the first two or three times I went too.  Consult a map closely.  It's not a place you want to get lost in the canyon-like maze of dangerous feeling triple deckers that surround the restaurant's area.

- Garris

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http://www.thaicuisine.com/r/1554.html

[Liamlunchtray]

Garris, on Jun 5 2005, 10:44 PM, said:

It's one of RI's unique 4 cuisine combos... Cambodian, Vietnamese, Thai, and Americanized Chinese, heavier on the first two than the last two.  It's really outstanding for SE Asian food.  Everything is prepared in a light and fresh fashion like everyone from Asia says their food should be made, not dripping in heavy-handed, cornstarched sauces like we've been conditioned Asian food should be like.  I actually know people from the Boston area who come to Providence to eat at Apsara! 

Note, though, that Apsara is somewhat deep in an "edgy" part of South Providence and not easy to find for the uninitiated.  Its area on Public St. does some funky directional stuff near the restaurant that had me totally confused the first two or three times I went too.  Consult a map closely.  It's not a place you want to get lost in the canyon-like maze of dangerous feeling triple deckers that surround the restaurant's area.

- Garris

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I used to go to Apsara fairly often, but the service was so horrible that I stopped. Invariably it would be like 30-45mins from the time we ordered until we got food. Granted the food was wonderful, but dammit, I wanna eat! We usually end up going to Gourmet House instead just because the service is so much better. Apsara also tends to have a lot of loud college kids trying to impress each other with how worldly and witty they are, which kinda drives me crazy. Maybe I should give it another shot though since it's been a couple years.

Also, dont be too afraid of the neighborhood - It's really not that bad since it's right on a main thoroughfair. There are much worse parts of South Providence :-)

Liam

[Garris]

Liamlunchtray, on Jun 6 2005, 07:41 AM, said:

Invariably it would be like 30-45mins from the time we ordered until we got food. Granted the food was wonderful, but dammit, I wanna eat! We usually end up going to Gourmet House instead just because the service is so much better.

Well, I honestly have to tell you that, in my experience, for really world class Asian food, 30-45 minutes is somewhat fast.  Again, I think most Americans have come to associate Chinese food with "fast food."  I would wait 45-60 minutes for the best dishes at Asian restaurants in NYC and Minneapolis.  

It's interesting you mention Gourmet House, because I personally think they're one of the worst Asian restaurants I've been too.  It's very Americanized.  All of the favors are very simple and, especially with the Thai and other SE Asian cuisines, they've really been toned down.  If I'm not willing to drive for some reason to the top authentic places like Lemi's or Thai Star and want quick, average Asian takeout, I'll go one block up Hope to Apsara Palace (no relation to Apsara), which I think is much better.

Liamlunchtray, on Jun 6 2005, 07:41 AM, said:

Also, dont be too afraid of the neighborhood - It's really not that bad since it's right on a main thoroughfair. There are much worse parts of South Providence :-)

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Quite true.  I'm usually driving to Apsara from Rhode Island Hospital, though, through back streets, and many of those back streets are the "much worse" parts that you refer to .  Also, I was more warning newbies to Providence about Apsara's neighborhood.  They shouldn't think they're heading to College Hill...

- Garris

[Liamlunchtray]

Garris, on Jun 6 2005, 03:50 PM, said:

Well, I honestly have to tell you that, in my experience, for really world class Asian food, 30-45 minutes is somewhat fast.  Again, I think most Americans have come to associate Chinese food with "fast food."  I would wait 45-60 minutes for the best dishes at Asian restaurants in NYC and Minneapolis. 

It's interesting you mention Gourmet House, because I personally think they're one of the worst Asian restaurants I've been too.  It's very Americanized.  All of the favors are very simple and, especially with the Thai and other SE Asian cuisines, they've really been toned down.  If I'm not willing to drive for some reason to the top authentic places like Lemi's or Thai Star and want quick, average Asian takeout, I'll go one block up Hope to Apsara Palace (no relation to Apsara), which I think is much better.
- Garris

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If it's something like Shrimp with Lemongrass there isnt any reason for it to take long. None of the things we would normally order are all that complicated. Gourmet house has declined drastically since it was sold. Under the old owners I always thought it was decent. Not fantastic, but tasty enough, cheap, and never a wait. If we're going out with the kids speed of service is always key :-)

Liam

[Tinez_9]

Sticky chicken and the lemonade truck (dell's lemonade)

[EPBOY]

Tinez_9, on Jul 7 2005, 09:06 AM, said:

Sticky chicken and the lemonade truck (dell's lemonade)

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Sticky chicken?  What's that?

[jax]

dels lemonade, ocean state job lot.

don't miss that attitude.

[Tinez_9]

EPBOY, on Jul 7 2005, 10:52 AM, said:

Sticky chicken?  What's that?

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Well I don't know if that is the technical name - but that's what my family calls it - its the fried chicken wings the chinese restaurants make - it has that sweet brown bbq-like sauce over them.

[EPBOY]

Tinez_9, on Jul 7 2005, 03:35 PM, said:

Well I don't know if that is the technical name - but that's what my family calls it - its the fried chicken wings the chinese restaurants make - it has that sweet brown bbq-like sauce over them.

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I love those!!          (China Dynasty in Cranston has the best!)  Those are regional to Rhode Island?

[Tinez_9]

EPBOY, on Jul 7 2005, 04:15 PM, said:

I love those!!          (China Dynasty in Cranston has the best!)  Those are regional to Rhode Island?

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I was in pvd for the 4th of July and that is exactly where we went (China Dynasty) - yes they are regional.  I lived in Virginia - and my mom (a native rhode islander) tries to make her own.  and I now live in washington dc area - and they are no where to be found here - I've also lived in Georgia and again no haps.

Also snail salad or counch salad - everytime my grandmother visits she stocks up on the snail to make her salad back in virginia.

For a long time we didn't even have bell seasoning because she use to stock up on that too.

Edited by Tinez_9, 07 July 2005 - 02:38 PM.

[Frankie811]

Tinez_9, on Jul 7 2005, 04:37 PM, said:

I was in pvd for the 4th of July and that is exactly where we went (China Dynasty) - yes they are regional.  I lived in Virginia - and my mom (a native rhode islander) tries to make her own.  and I now live in washington dc area - and they are no where to be found here - I've also lived in Georgia and again no haps.

Also snail salad or counch salad - everytime my grandmother visits she stocks up on the snail to make her salad back in virginia.

For a long time we didn't even have bell seasoning because she use to stock up on that too.

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Dude, time to come back home! What's in VA for you.  

[TheAnk]

Autocrat coffee syrup.. Thats what everyone tells me they miss.. I have to send it to everyone who is no longer around.

[urbie]

Recchia, on May 27 2005, 01:02 PM, said:

-the accents (I can't stand how everyone in upstate NY not only pronounces R's, but over pronounces them)

Hmm -- I work with a guy from Buffalo, and from his lack of R's, I originally thought he was from Boston!  

Urb

[Frankie811]

http://www.pagesinti...ys-recipes.html