Green Tea Drive Thru
This Chinese take–out has a firm hold on this bustling corner of Eisenhower Drive and Waters Avenue. With virtually every order made from scratch and the typically large menu, it’s hard to imagine not satisfying your yearning for Chinese take–out here. And, on Christmas night, it was the only bright corner of the intersection. Ms. TJ and I craved something besides more ham. Quicker than you can sing fa–la–la–la–la, we were home and cracking open our foam clam shell of sesame chicken, a rich, sweet glaze enrobing each hot, fried piece of tender chicken. A generous dusting of sesame seeds added nuttiness; the fried rice was nicely punctuated by bits of diced carrot and green peas. We shared a steaming hot container of won ton soup (Two noodles apiece!) and split a vegetable–filled egg roll. The business model seems consistent from place to place among the city’s several similar take–a–ways –– but food quality often varies. Green Tea has long been one of our favorites for carryout –– and we’re glad to see the tradition continuing.
7205 Waters Ave./691–0330
Ruth’s Chris
I purposely skipped over Ruth’s Chris Steak House in my pre–holiday send–up of fine dining options. Why? Because I wanted you to know about a rock star offer at the restaurant on New Year’s Eve. The restaurant has been offering a kind of “early bird” special of a three–course dinner for $39.95. Diners choose from a selection of soups and salads, entrees and massive desserts. Now, on New Year’s Eve beginning at 9 p. m., that same three–course meal is going for a remarkable $30. The restaurant’s exemplary service and hand–cut prime beef have won admirers since opening barely one year ago. Add to that generous servings of side dishes and this three–course meal turns into a feast. Of course, there are also fish and chicken options on the NYE special menu. In the lounge, which is, frankly, the best happy hour deal in town, all appetizers will be half price, also beginning at 9 p. m., along with $2 draft beer and half off premium cocktails. As values go, this is the best deal I’ve seen for New Year’s Eve. Reservations are a must.
111 W. Bay St./721–4800
