Reader Mail

A dear friend once gave me a little plaque that read:

Always late but worth the wait.

(Thanks, Neil.) Yes, I admit it, I was once known to be, well, okay let's just call it time-challenged.

I'm so much better now (pinkie swear, Neil!) and to prove it -
Reader Mail is a day earlier.

Every Friday - and some days when I'm sooooo ahead of the game like today (aren't you proud, Neil?) - is Reader Mail.

You ask. We answer. Send your dining questions to me at ptalorico@delawareonline.com.

So what's on your eating agenda this weekend? I'm going to dinner at Distrito, the relatively new Mexican "tapas" eatery by Jose Garces at 39th and Chestnut streets in Philadelphia. I'll report back next week.

Check out Ryan Cormier's 55 Hours cover story on the new Stone Balloon Winehouse. Same as it ever was? No way. The new Stone Balloon is where the old Stone Balloon once stood, but that's where the similarities end.

I can't wait to try it out, though, first, I need to erase thoughts of the old Balloon which often smelled like a combination of sweat, stale beer and barf. (Remember how you couldn't wear your coat in the Balloon during the winter months because chances were more than good that someone would steal it?)

Also, Friday's Taste column is about the Tavern on the Circle restaurant at the Brick Hotel in Georgetown. I'll post a link to the column when it goes online.

QUESTION: I am relatively new to your blog, but I love it.
We have been hearing lots of good reviews of Cafe Mezzanotte in Wilmington ( Orange Street in Wilmington) and my husband can attest to the clean kitchen, always a plus.
Have you been yet and have anything to recommend?
Amy M.

ANSWER: Hi Amy. Welcome to Second Helpings. I'm sorry to say I haven't had memorable dining experiences at Cafe Mezzanotte. Here's a review from former NJ reporter Shruti L. Mathur (we miss you!) during last year's City Restaurant Week.

I would be interested in hearing what others think about Mezzanotte. Am I missing out? If so, what have eaten there lately that diners must try?

I did recently have a very good meal at Ole Tapas Lounge & Restaurant on Kirkwood Highway near Newark. Oh man, the grilled octopus will bring me back there again and again.


QUESTION: I had two very different dining experiences last week, both in newly opened restaurants.

Saturday evening we went to The Wedge, formerly Amici's, in Landenberg, Pa. Not named after the wedge salad but for the wedge-shaped piece of land that has belonged alternatively to Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania over the last 200 years. This restaurant is near this wedge of land.

Amici's food was wonderful but VERY expensive, not the kind of place you would just drop into. A couple of months ago, Amici's announced that they were regrouping and would reopen with a new and more casual menu. Apparently one of the five owners bought the others out.

We got there at 5:45 and by 6:15 there was not an empty seat in the restaurant. I could not make a 6 or 6:15 or 6:30 reservation. So, I was glad to see that they are doing well. They even have valet parking now as the parking lot is just not large enough and they take cars around to the back of the building to another lot.

We had a very good meal. I had a wedge salad with fish and chips. My husband had soup and a big salad with spicy scallops and we both had the homemade gelato. Everything was very good and very fresh. Service was excellent. The menu offered a lot of variety both in what was offered and in pricing.

My other very different experience was at Capers & Lemons, The Commons at Little Falls, Centerville Road, Mill Creek; 256-0524. What a beautiful space! We went for lunch around 1:30 so it was not very busy. Our service was not very good. The waiter forgot that I ordered an appetizer (zucchini sticks) and when he brought them they were soggy and greasy. My chopped Mediterranean salad was delicious and huge. The bread was wonderful.

My friend was starving and needed something right away...she ordered fries which were cold. She asked the server if the Caesar salad dressing was made fresh and he said it was so she ordered the Caesar. But I am almost sure the dressing came out of a bottle. It was awful. Not much like Dome's.

We shared a yummy warm chocolate concoction for dessert.

By the way, the gelato at C & L comes from Woodside Farms Creamery. I guess this is something new from the ice cream makers.

All in all, I would give this experience a 3 out of 5. We will go back because my husband wants to try the cioppino and I am willing to give the place another chance because I know this owner does good stuff - I probably eat at Dome at least three times a month.

Joann

ANSWER: Thanks for sharing Joann. I had a very good "first look" meal at C & L, shortly after they opened, and I'm looking forward to trying The Wedge.