El Vez

[cgk]

Any suggestions for dinner there tomorrow night?

Chris

[bebopper]

Last week after being show a crummy table at Chris's Jazz
cafe, my wife and I split on our reservations there and tried to find
a spot for a quick bite before the first set started at Chris'.

El Vez was close, but they suggested an hour wait at a VERY
crowded bar before we could be seated. I don't know of they take
reservations, but be prepared to down a few Margaritas before you get
a seat.

We ended up at Varalli's who made a respectable pasta
carbonara, were quick, and understanding about our time constraints.

- bebopper

Post by cgk
Any suggestions for dinner there tomorrow night?
Chris

[cgk]

Just got back from El Vez. They take and honor reservations. It was an after
work thing, so the reservations were for 6.30. Got there at 6.00 and were
shown to at table for four right away. The two extra place settings
disappeared smoothly and we had a good table with a great view of the
crowded bar scene. Hard to imagine, but throughout dinner the bar filled
even more.

Tried four margaritas, a traditional one and one with blood oranges were
standouts. None were overly sweet or sour--just nicely balanced.

Dinner was tortilla soup (excellent--spicy but with complex flavors), taco
sampler plate (four small dishes, each quite tasty with fresh lime), lamb
(rich sauce) and salmon (crispy on a bed of veggies). Very good, and
reasonably priced for the show and quality of food. Service was attentinve
but not intrusive.

The bar scene is pretty wild, and quite young (compared to me!).

This is not a place I would go regularly, but then I don't go to restaurants
regularly--just for events. Unlike Pod, for example, I'd return again.
Unlike Morimoto, I'd probably return more than once!

There is a $13 lunch special of some sort that seemed attractive.

Chris

[Hillary Israeli]

In <HpqdnT8t05_cQj_dRVn-***@comcast.com>,
cgk <***@nowhere.com> wrote:

*This is not a place I would go regularly, but then I don't go to restaurants
*regularly--just for events. Unlike Pod, for example, I'd return again.
*Unlike Morimoto, I'd probably return more than once!

I agree about Pod - I'm not really that keen on it. Morimoto on the other
hand - man, I had the tasting menu when we were there for my birthday, and
I still dream about it :). I would return in a heartbeat!

[cgk]

We had the tasting menu shortly after it opened. Actually, they did two
non-intersecting tasting menus for us so we each had twice as many dishes.
It was magical. The second time we were there we did the tasting menu again,
but this time it had to be the same one. It was good, but the magic was
gone. Haven't gone back a third time!

Chris

Post by Hillary Israeli
*This is not a place I would go regularly, but then I don't go to restaurants
*regularly--just for events. Unlike Pod, for example, I'd return again.
*Unlike Morimoto, I'd probably return more than once!
I agree about Pod - I'm not really that keen on it. Morimoto on the other
hand - man, I had the tasting menu when we were there for my birthday, and
I still dream about it :). I would return in a heartbeat!
--
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large :)

[s***@temple.edu]

Post by cgk
We had the tasting menu shortly after it opened. Actually, they did two
non-intersecting tasting menus for us so we each had twice as many dishes.
It was magical. The second time we were there we did the tasting menu again,
but this time it had to be the same one. It was good, but the magic was
gone. Haven't gone back a third time!

Which restaurant are you referring to: Pod, Nobu, or El Vez?
It is impossible to glean that from your posting.

[Hillary Israeli]

In <c82l3f$4r8$***@cronkite.temple.edu>,
***@temple.edu <***@temple.edu> wrote:

*cgk <***@nowhere.com> wrote:
*> We had the tasting menu shortly after it opened. Actually, they did two
*> non-intersecting tasting menus for us so we each had twice as many dishes.
*> It was magical. The second time we were there we did the tasting menu again,
*> but this time it had to be the same one. It was good, but the magic was
*> gone. Haven't gone back a third time!
*
*Which restaurant are you referring to: Pod, Nobu, or El Vez?
*It is impossible to glean that from your posting.

He posted in direct reply to my post in which I said "I agree about Pod
- I'm not really that keen on it. Morimoto on the other hand - man, I had
the tasting menu when we were there for my birthday, and I still dream
about it :). I would return in a heartbeat!" So I assumed he was talking
about Morimoto.

[cgk]

Righto. That was about Morimoto, even though I did not change the subject.
Sorry.

On a day's reflection, the margaritas at El Vez are worth the trip. The food
was very good, but the margaritas were quite excellent. (That is "quite" in
the American sense of "very" and not in the English sense of "moderately.")

Post by Hillary Israeli
*> We had the tasting menu shortly after it opened. Actually, they did two
*> non-intersecting tasting menus for us so we each had twice as many dishes.
*> It was magical. The second time we were there we did the tasting menu again,
*> but this time it had to be the same one. It was good, but the magic was
*> gone. Haven't gone back a third time!
*
*Which restaurant are you referring to: Pod, Nobu, or El Vez?
*It is impossible to glean that from your posting.
He posted in direct reply to my post in which I said "I agree about Pod
- I'm not really that keen on it. Morimoto on the other hand - man, I had
the tasting menu when we were there for my birthday, and I still dream
about it :). I would return in a heartbeat!" So I assumed he was talking
about Morimoto.
--
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large :)

[Caldebs1]

Subject: El Vez
Date: 5/11/04 8:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Any suggestions for dinner there tomorrow night?
Chris

My understanding is they do not take reservations.

We ate there on a sunday after a Phillies game. Typical Starr operation,
meaning very efficiently run.

We were shown to a table in the back which was pretty dark. We requested a
booth by the window, and were given it after a powwow between the waiter and
hostess.

Food was good, but a bit twee for Mexican. Everyone seems to get the
Guacamole, which was very good.

Certainly worth going to at least once, although we agreed that we wouldn't go
there regularly.

[Andrew Fenton]

Post by cgk
Any suggestions for dinner there tomorrow night?

Never been to El Vez. (Probably I never will go, either).
But if you want an excellent alternative, try Lolita across
the street. Here's what I had to say about them:

http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?showtopic=41480

-Andrew