The weekend after Christmas,my wife, daughter, and I usually go to our Pocono Lake home in Northeast Pennsylvania. It's about a 2 and a half hour drive from our Long Island home. We go to the Poconos just a few times a year:holiday weekends,school breaks,just for an escape weekend or an overnighter on our way to or from Binghamton,NY where our daughter attended college.
Anyway,we often have dinner in a town called Blakeslee; a short ride from our gated community. Our Pocono home, I should mention was my wife's investment before we were married that she was going to rent out but changed her mind. It's surrounded by popular ski slopes. We don't ski.We go there to eat,shop, and relax, away from our daily New York routines. So...here we were again in Blakeslee for Chinese food at this local place that we keep going back to. Why? I have no idea.
The food is good,reasonably priced,portions so-so-depending on what we order. Our waitress,usually the same person in this family owned restaurant apparently has some noodles missing upstairs as well as missing when I order my won-ton soup. My wife usually fills a bowl of noodles herself located near the kitchen for my soup and for dunking in duck sauce.
Well, that weekend we sat at on of our usual booths where you feel the people behind you every time they move. The restaurant was freezing. The 3 or 4 booths or tables were occupied with patrons wearing jackets. My wife asked the waitress to please put on some heat. She nodded like she had no idea what my wife was talking about, but I saw her turn a knob by the thermostat and it did get warmer. I didn't understand why other patrons chose to eat wearing their jackets.
My soup was okay-4 wontons with not enough soup. but tasty enough. Our tea was, as usual, luke warm. . My daughter loves the general chows chicken there. I find it too syrupy,but its a huge portion for the money. We received that plus an adequate dish of beef in oyster sauce that was mostly pea pods. My wife, as usual, asked for covers on the dishes which always takes a few moments before the language barrier is broken. We usually get plates that are too small and invariably ask or get our own larger plates. This occurs on every visit. Why do we keep coming back? I guess we enjoy the inefficiency and lack of common sense.
That night, we realized we had no plates after the waitress left the two dishes of beef and chicken. After I got her attention, she brought some over,placed them on the table quickly and abruptly left uttering something that sounded like."almost same size". Two plates were midsize,the other a dessert plate. My daughter thought it was hysterical and burst into laughter as my wife got up and took another midsize plate by the stack by the kitchen. .We help ourselves often with utensils, plates, noodles, etc. as you can tell.
I really think we should try another Chinese place next time we come back. We usually eat out another night in nearby Mount Pocono where I order a feast type dinner at a steakhouse I love-ribs, chicken,brisket,pulled pork,full salad bar,potato, beverage, and dessert. For folks not familiar with the Pocono culinary scene,there are multitudes of fine restaurants,with a diversity of foods for everyone's tastes. The area has gotten much more built up in the nearly 30 years or so we have been making our excursions from Long Island. There's also all the fast food and other chain restaurants too. Go. Eat. Enjoy. Enjoy our Chinese restaurant if you have patience and you want a good laugh .Almost same size and almost hot.!!!
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To be going back to the same place year after year there must be something drawing you there...so enjoy
It's the closest most convenient Chinese restaurant..The food is actually pretty good. The owners and staff just have no clue how to serve.
Next time I'm in the Poconos I'll go visit that place and wonder why people keep their coats on??
East Stroudsberg? Yeah.We pass that area on our way to our Pocono house. China Town is a safe bet for some of the best Chinese food. We've eaten in the West Village a few times at Sammys Noodle Shop on 6th Ave if you are in that area. But living in Eastern Queens, we have our favorite...my favorite Cantonese style close to us on Long Island. Bronx for Pizza.!!! Orchard Street I'd hazard a guess. Again in Queens I have a couple of favorites..Gabbys in Queens Village and New Park Pizza if in Howard Beach. We're near one of the Grimaldi pizza chain originating by the Brooklyn Bridge but I see nothing special about it,though it has won accolades among pizza lovers. Chinese biffets all over the 5 boroughs and Long Island. I like my sizzling beef with shrimp and scallops and this Grand Marnier shrimp and boneless duck. Happy Holidays. Keep the Zantac and Mylanta handy just in case. LOL. MARK
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