Pho Mai Closing (For Now)

In case you haven't heard, Pho Mai, the Vietnamese restaurant that's been a staple of dining in the North End for a decade, is closing.

Signs posted in the restaurant thank their patrons and say that the owners are seeking a new location to reopen the business.  Sunday, April 28th is apparently the last day to get a bowl of hearty soup at the current location.

A new Vietnamese restaurant, Lan Chi's, opened in the neighborhood recently, but that doesn't seem likely to have played a role.  As multiple online reviews attest, Pho Mai built a loyal following offering good food for an affordable price in a friendly, no-frills ambiance.  (Scuttlebutt is that a bank is taking over the building where Pho currently rents and wants it tenant-free for some reason... but that's just hearsay.)

One less eatery in Middletown may not seem like a big deal.  But personally, I think it's a shame to lose a place like Pho.  It attracts a mix of hungry locals, out-of-towners, and Wesleyan students--just what the North End needs.  Also, I find the food delicious and the  BYOB restaurant a good buy.  The family who runs the place makes sure the service is friendly and efficient.  I hope they find a new location in town.

Meanwhile, if you want to get a last (or first) taste of one the city's fine restaurants, you have a few days.  Cash only - they don't take credit cards.

First to Table

In our unscientific survey of restaurant activity on Main Street tonight, it looked like business was quite brisk, with a wait for tables for at least two downtown eateries.




Here's one sure sign of Spring: we noted that First & Last and Amici's were the first to have dinner business at their sidewalk tables. And an honorable mention goes to both Forbidden City and Fiore's, who created an "al fresco" feeling by opening their storefront windows.

Coming Soon - The Cardinal's Nest American Bistro

Coming soon to 129 Church Street is the Cardinal's Nest American Bistro. The little eatery will offer lunch fare and affordable small plates in the evenings. They will be accepting Wesleyan dining cards in addition to usual forms of payment. Owner John Gecewicz grew up in Middletown and has returned from the New York City restaurant business to help out his aging mother here in Midletown. The Cardinal's Nest is in the former space of Cafe-Ology, which came and went pretty fast. Before Cafe-ology the space was occupied by Guiseppe's Pizza. The planned opening for The Cardinal's Nest is in the first week of September - watch for reviews after it opens.

Downtown Comings and Goings

As 2008 wrapped up, one Main Street eatery closed their doors for good.

Sangwich Deli, in Metro Square near Dunkin Donuts, posted a notice from the Rossitto family that thanked their customers for their daily and weekly support (you can click on the photo for a closer look.) I know that the family put their heart and soul into starting the deli, and I wish things had turned out differently for them.

But in spite of the economy, Middletown maintains its reputation as the "IT" town for restaurants, and two new ones will be opening soon.


On lower Court Street, Ted Tine is opening Fishbone, which has a seafood-themed restaurant on the first floor and a blues and jazz lounge upstairs. This building sat vacant for many years, and I've been stopping by over the past months of renovation, and it looks terrific. Last week, while doing some painting in the bar area, Mr. Tine told me that he plans to open by the end of the month.

I've also been watching the progress at the site of the new Esca Wine Bar & Restaurant on the corner of Washington & Main. They won't be ready to open for some time yet, but they are making steady progress inside. This building is owned by the family that owns Cortina Tile. Their oldest daughter is the new owner of the wine bar and they've been doing everything right, from the powerwashing of the exterior last summer, to the interior finish. In this photo you can see that they've divided the space to create a mezzanine, which looks like it will be a cozy spot with a great view of Main Street. They hope to open within a month or so -- I'll let you know when I hear more.

Have Another Slice

Remember when The Eye reported that Gianni's Pizza on the corner of College & Broad had closed for good?

I have good news for local teenagers and downtown pizza lovers. Sammy's Pizza will open in the same spot, hopefully in early September. I had a nice chat with the new owner, who was spending the evening renovating his new restaurant kitchen. We'll let you know when they open their doors.

A Casablanca Dining Experience in Middletown

In conjunction with the Summer Film Series honoring Ingrid Bergman, hosted by Wesleyan's Center for Film Studies, several downtown restaurants are offering "CineFare" or Pre-Fix menus before each Wednesday night showing, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM (show time is at 8:00 PM). Though little information is provided regarding exactly what menu choices are available, as a Middletown dining scene aficionado I feel compelled to suggest a dining experience for each screening, related in someway (I may have to stretch it a bit!) to the theme, setting, or plot of the movie.

Tonight's showing of Casablanca begs for French and Moroccan-inspired cuisine, which (luckily for me!) can easily be found at the Tavern at the Armory, a CineFare participating business.

The Tavern is located at the Inn at Middletown, 70 Main Street.
Call for reservations: (860) 854-8323.

Casablanca-Inspired Dinner Menu
Tavern at the Armory

Appetizer
Grilled Olive Oil Brushed Flatbread - with kalamata olive tapenade and roasted red pepper hummus

Moroccan cuisine is heavily influenced by its Mediterranean neighbors. The grilled multigrain flatbread and hummus provide a delicious nuttiness, and the subtle saltiness of the olive tapenade is the perfect accompaniment. This appetizer is huge (two hungry movie-goers may not even finish it!), delicious, and truly Mediterranean.

Entrée
Garam Masala Lamb Loin Chops - with chick pea and tomato salad, pomegranate-cumin glaze and cilantro-mint yogurt.

Staple spices in Moroccan cuisine, cumin and cilantro are bold flavors that compliment the country’s preferred meat, lamb, in this filling dish. The chickpea and tomato salad, also typical of Morocco, adds a sweet and refreshing element.

Dessert
Crème-Brulee Cheesecake
To finish the meal with a French twist, this creamy, light cheesecake has a sweet, crispy crème-brulee crust that would make a saint of even the most corrupt of Vichy French officials!

Wine Pairing: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot go perfectly with lamb, and will stand up nicely to the entrée’s spices.

For extra cool points (and I use the term "cool" here loosely), wear a fedora and trenchcoat (men) or white gloves (women) and eat hurriedly, as if afraid of being caught. And I bet, if you ask really nicely (and tip equally as nicely), you can coerce the bartender into saying, as you walk in... "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world..."

Stay tuned for next week’s downtown dining menu for the screening of Gaslight!