Recently I was out to lunch with my son while he was home on break from college. We like to talk food every so often and this time he posed an interesting question,”What restaurant have we been eating at the longest?”
Looking back there are only a couple of places that we have been eating at consistently for the last 18 years. One of them is The Hard Wok Buffett. I remember driving down Route 304 one day and spotting this place and yes, the name caught my eye and made me laugh. So after passing by a few times I decided to stop and try their lunch menu. From the outside it is unassuming and doesn’t look anything more than what it is, a buffet restaurant. But, as all good mom’s have taught us, it’s whats on the inside that counts.
I can truly say I’m very glad I did stop in on that day 18 years ago. The first thing that impressed me was the abundance of variety. There must be at least twenty four different menu items ranging from the ever popular General Tso’s Chicken to my favorite the Hot Pepper Chicken. They also serve french fries and chicken wings if you have a child who’s not into Chinese food. There’s also a decent selection of sushi, ice cream, and amazing tea. Since this isn’t a review post I’m not going to list all their items and rate them one by one. What this post is about though, is what makes a restaurant great. In my mind great isn’t always about the food, since we all know if you go to a place for years theres going to be a bad day or two, just like you’d expect in your own house. Somedays you burn the sauce period.
To me what makes a restaurant great is how I feel when I walk in and how I feel when I leave. The food must be consistent, tasty and of good quality. The price paid for a meal is not always reflected in the overall feeling of satisfaction. So, if it’s a two dollar slice of pizza or a thirty dollar steak, you want to feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth. The owners of an establishment can make or break the place. The Hard Wok Buffet is no exception. Since 1997 Jackie , Peter and their wives, Regina and Jenny have been making customers feel like family. My son, to this day, loves their Crab Rangoons, which they always had at lunch time. One day we went in and their menu had changed and there were no Crab Rangoons to be found. Catastrophe right? No! Regina and Jenny knew those were my son’s favorite , and in five minutes he had a plate of 4 freshly made Crab Rangoon’s sitting in front of him. That was about five years ago and it still happens today. This is the type of thing that keeps people happy and coming back year after year. Feeling like you are appreciated and taken care of makes all the difference. I would say its the most important thing that makes a restaurant great. It’s one reason we will keep going back to the Hard Wok Buffet for many years to come.
If you have a place that makes you feel this way, please share it in the comments below. Tell us why you feel that way and what dishes we should be trying when we go. As always thank you for your input, because people are what makes a blog great.
Charlie, I can see that this is gonna be a good blog, because you already show your mind is open to any idea that works. Some people are dismissive of buffet style establishments as havens for the hoi polloi — diners who value quantity over quality. The fact that you have enjoyed going to this place for so long says good things about the management, particularly since they have made your family part of theirs. Going out of their way to provide your son a dish he grew up with is an example of star-studded service. You hit upon one of the elements that makes for the best restaurants… having continuity that a relationship can be built upon for the long run.
I used to be in the restaurant business, and we prided ourselves on developing and maintaining relationships over all else. After all, as you say, there’s gonna be a stinker of a meal from the best restaurant on any given day– at least until meal making is completely computer controlled and served through the dash of your Tesla while you and the family enjoy your separate video games while commuting.
I don’t do a lot of sit down restaurant dining, but there is one place where I sometimes stop in for take out on my way home from Nyack, NY and that is the Golden Mushroom. They have been up on Route 9W for many years, to they have their fans and their detractors. The food there is typically Asian, and as with any eatery that you frequently brown bag, you learn which dishes travel well and which don’t. I can’t say their fare is remarkable, but it more than holds its own for the dishes I like. It’s the staff that makes the difference. I see them about twice a month, they have learned my name, and I have the pleasure of lots of smiles and recognition when I go in. You can’t put a price on that. It is a two way street, though. Be nice to people in hospitality, and they WILL remember you!
I will start by admitting that I’m not into Sushi. I’ve had it once or twice, but can’t get my head around the raw flesh thing. So, I can’t comment on what is a make or break food style for many.
Further, there are dishes I have eaten there at one time or another that simply do not travel. About ten years ago, my Dad was in town and we stopped in for dinner. I ordered the Crispy Shrimp with Walnuts, and it was wonderful. However, I ordered it to go several times subsequently, and it was just mush by the time I got home.
My typical take out there starts with Wontons with Hot Sesame Sauce. It has a peanuty, slightly spicy “gravy” that I like a lot, because it reminds me of the peanut sauce they used to serve at OD’s in Nyack (where I worked for several decades), which was hugely popular on the sesame noodles.
From there, I usually go to a Pad Thai (noodles!) or their Vietnamese delight, which both complement my tastes well.
A word of caution: They have several dishes served on beds of steamed spinach, and though they taste just fine, you are well served to use a knife on the greenery to render it into bite size pieces. Otherwise, you might find it only half way swallowed when you need to take a breath.
As a matter of fact, there are a couple other Asian places I have tried that have intriguing food. One is Grub in West Nyack, and the other is Asian Fusion in the shopping center on the corner of Lake Road and Route 303 in Valley Cottage. They both have wonderful, and to my limited experience, exotic sauces. Their only disadvantage is I don’t often pass them on my way home(!).
Thanks again for this blog. Expect more long-winded comments from over here!
Barko,
Thanks again for adding flavor to the blog. You’ve also given me another idea, I think a post on take out is worth doing , because you’re right some things just don’t taste the same once you get them home.
Now, that’s an idea!
Barko
I love that you mentioned Asian Fusion. I agree, very interesting and tasty choices.
Did you know that the young couple who own it are from Tibet?
I have been hearing good things about this restaurant, looks like another one to add to my list, thanks!
No, I didn’t know that. However, there seems to be a Tibetan culture of hospitality there. While waiting for take-out, the waitperson brought me a bowl of clear soup, and engaged me in conversation, telling a bit about the journey (literally) that brought her to America. If the interest is in any way programmed, it doesn’t project as being coerced by a corporate ruling, like the reluctant salutations you might get at, say, Home Depot.
I recently enjoyed lunch with old college friends at Sidewalk Bistro in Piermont.
Everything was delicious, especially the mussels in wine sauce, the french onion soup and a yummy portobello cheesy sandwichy dish.
In addition, Sidewalk Bistro wins top points for having a charming ambiance – not too noisy and not too dark to read a menu. The tables are spread apart nicely and are well-appointed.
Service was excellent and the waitstaff did NOT clear our plates while some of us were still eating. (a pet peeves of mine.)
Sidewalk Bistro’s location is right in the heart of this pretty town. And in the spring there’s outdoor seating in front and in a sweet little courtyard in the rear.
Gally,
thanks for the reply.I have eaten at the Sidewalk Bistro in Piermont and I’m glad you enjoyed your meal. I will save my comments for a later date because I may do a review of the place. Thanks for reminding me about it!
Oh Gaily, I totally concur! I am fortunate to live in Piermont which has become in a small way a foodie’s destination. Sidewalk Bistro is my go-to place not only for the food and the atmosphere (I call the back patio a secret garden and it’s my favorite outdoor eating location), but it’s also the local “Cheers”. What’s more, the owner Daoud Celestin is such a good man, generous to the community, donating delicious tastings for library events and various other gatherings. It’s because of the Sidewalk Bistro that we have our annual street Festival in July celebrating Bastille Day! After SuperStorm Sandy when his business was shut down for three long months, Daoud was very grateful for the support of the village. We are very grateful to him and the Sidewalk Bistro!
I am amazed at the extent of the Hard Wok Buffet. Something for everyone! That’s really wonderful about the crab Rangoon and your son. It’s the sort of thing that changes how you perceive a restaurant.
Hi Bets,
I initially brought my son there when he was three simply because he didn’t have to wait for his food and could chose things he liked. The food being better than expected and at least as good as any Chinese fare in Rockland (with a few exceptions) was what kept us coming back. Now we go because, to us it’s become a place where we feel welcomed and appreciated.
What Makes a Restaurant “Yours”?
So we looked out the window today and it was snowing! Not being eager to drive any distance, we ended up at our default restaurant – Rick’s Club American, in Congers – just a few miles up the road.
We’ve been going there forever. In fact, one of our adult sons worked there as a busboy when he was in high school.
It’s a very “everybody knows your name” kind of place, quiet enough (if you don’t sit near the bar) and cozy in miserable weather. On a good day, take a stroll around Rockland Lake, just across the road.
Their menu has gotten better and more varied over time. There are now interesting soups and salads, and vegetarian, fish and gluten-free choices, as well as their traditional and always popular BBQ.
Today we especially enjoyed the beef and barley soup, their eggplant lasagna and a chicken BLT with sweet potato fries.
They weren’t too busy on this dreary day and we sat undisturbed for over 2 hours catching up with our friends.
Everyone should have a default restaurant. Rick’s is ours.
NGBG,
Very good suggestion, I’m sure Rick’s will be one of the restaurants I do an review about.
They’ve been a destination for a long time. Good call!
Congratulations on this great new blog, Charlie!
You are right that a great restaurant is so much more than just great food! I’ll look forward to more posts. Boone appetite!! 🙂
Thanks Jenn, great to hear from you.
Don’t mean to stray too far afield, food-wise, but that’s the same thing we try to do at the library. Learn names, extend kindnesses, and go out of our way to make people feel special. I suppose that if you become a regular customer anywhere you’ll receive better-than-average service. It’s the places that treat all their customers like regulars that deserve mention. The only place where I am a “regular” is the Station One Deli in Blauvelt, NY, just across the parking lot of the library. I’m not saying the food is outstanding, but I am saying that the service and the staff are superlative. John, Hannah, Dina, and Freddy are what make this place a go-to destination. As a manager, I also like to see a restaurant that’s well run. When you lift your head up from the plate and take a look around the room, you get a sense of how clientele is being handled. For ambience, quality of food, and service, I must recommend “Axia Taverna,” an upscale Greek restaurant in Tenafly, NJ. I get the same dish every time (olive-crusted salmon), and it never fails to taste every bit as good as the first time.
Congrats on your new blog. I enjoy dining out and look forward to future reviews for suggestions.
Taco Project is a small Mexican restaurant in the heart of Tarrytown. Whether I’m ordering take out or sitting on one of the stools where I can dine and watch the goings on in the rustic village, the food is always consistently delicious and prepared quickly. My favorites are the fresh guacamole and chips and the shrimp tacos. Nothing is more refreshing in the summer than a glass of iced horchata. It’s the kind of eatery I bring out of town visitors so they can experience a small town eatery that serves fresh and tasty food.
Hi Valerie, You peeked my interest. I’m going to have to add that restaurant to my list. Growing up in Arizona I have a thing for tacos and not all of them meet my expectations. However, I’m always up for trying new places and love to be surprised! Thanks for the recommendation.