Little Sicily

Little Sicily online: https://www.facebook.com/Little-Sicily-Pottsgrove-PA-393829480764617/

Had lunch today with Joel at a new pizza place, Little Sicily.  I think the location was a pizza place previously as well, but this was new to both of us and I think relatively new in town.  It is located right on the corner of Buchert and Keim.  I ride my bike past here all the time, maybe next time I'll stop in for a slice.

I called in advance to ask if it was alright if we brought some beers to enjoy with our lunch and there was no hesitation, BYOB welcome. It looks like a typical pizza place.  You go to the counter to order or pick up your food, there are a few pizzas behind glass you can order by the slice and they have a bunch of cookies in plastic clam shell containers that I forgot to ask about.

We decided to order the Margherita pizza and an eggplant parm sandwich.  We sat down and poured a homebrew first.  For two craft beer drinkers there was some concern about what beer really goes well with pizza besides Bud.  I think a belgian/saison or light IPA work well.  Our food was delivered with plates and utensils to our table.

The pizza got pretty high marks from both of us.  The sauce was fresh tasting, not sweet or overly spiced.  There was fresh mozzarella as you would expect on a Margherita pizza and also pieces of fresh basil.  The crust was crisp, but maybe could have been a little less flat - maybe a little more rise?  The center of the pie, like the points of the slices, were pretty floppy and wet.  Overall the flavor and texture was pretty good.

 The eggplant parm sandwich was on a long roll that was toasted and perfectly crisp on the outside.  The eggplant itself was thin-sliced and fried.  It was topped with some melted cheese and finished with a little sauce.  When I squeezed the sandwich there was a little oil coming out of the eggplant and you could taste the frying oil, but it didn't drip so I don't want to say it was overly oily, that was just part of the flavor.  I thought the texture was perfect.  There wasn't too much cheese either which I think can be an issue for pizza place fare.

I definitely want to go back to try their plain pie - or get one delivered.  The service was friendly, the food was good and the place was clean and welcoming.  Now I have a new menu in my drawer for takeout!  Thanks to Joel for the company, the suggestion of a new place and for getting me back to reviewing local places.  It really makes eating out more interesting :)

Sakura Asian Cuisine

(menu)

Lucky #13 brings us to a BYOB in the strip mall kind of behind Friendly's.  It's one of those spots that you would forget was over there if there wasn't some great raw fish just waiting to be eaten.  Sakura is a BYOB sushi place with modern decor.  I've been there before and the dining room is usually pretty empty.  I believe they do a good amount of takeout business as well.  Normally we just get sushi and sashimi here.  This time we decided to mix it up a little.  We ordered the Sashimi Deluxe and one of the entrees, Teriyaki Steak.

The Sashimi Deluxe comes with rice and soup or salad and the Steak came with soup and salad.  Sakura gives you the option of white or brown rice.  I've had both and they're both nice and sticky and a little bland, the way a side of rice at a sushi place should be.  I ordered the miso soup which was pretty standard, cloudy and sweet.  This one had a lot of green onions though, maybe a few too many, but it was a good soup.  Steve ordered the hot and sour soup.  The salad came out.  It looked like a nice, fresh side salad with ginger dressing, but we never touched it.  Too much other food to try.

The sashimi came out first.  The presentation was nice, but pretty basic.  I have seen them do some nice arrangements that look like flowers and landscapes, but maybe you have to get the bigger order of sashimi for that.  The pieces were yellowtail, tuna, salmon, striped bass and red snapper.  Typical selections for a sampler like this, maybe next time I'll pick something crazy out.  The fish was fresh.  The wasabi didn't break up as much in the soy sauce.  I don't have extensive knowledge of what's authentic or not, etc. It just seemed to me that it was a little more like play-doh than usual.

The Beef Teriyaki came out on a sizzling platter on a bed of carrots that were somewhere between shredded and julienned.  It was accompanied by some broccoli, more carrots and zucchini.  We ordered the steak medium rare and that's the way it came out.  It looked like it was cooked as one piece and then sliced and coated with sauce. and sesame seeds.  The flavor of the teriyaki was a little sweet and it was thick.  The meat was great, but a little difficult to eat with chopsticks.  We could have been less stubborn and asked for a knife, but what fun is that?  The veggies were nice and al dente.  My only complaint is that the sauce was only on the steak and underlying carrots and not on the veg.  Half the reason to have broccoli in a teriyaki is that those little flowers soak up all the sauce and make for an awesome bite.  Easy to ask for extra sauce next time or sauce on the side.

The service was good.  The waitress was not familiar and she mentioned that she hadn't tried the hot and sour soup yet so I gather she was somewhat new.  She said she was working her way through the menu and I think that's a great idea for any server so they can get to know the menu and it also implies that she enjoys the food.  Although the place is usually empty I think the service and ambiance are good and it;s a great spot to go to before a movie up the road.



  

iCreate Cafe

(menu)

Number 9 on the Pottstown tour was some takeout for a change.  I had noticed this place a couple times driving on King Street, I saw their Facebook page and finally two people mentioned it to me directly so I stopped in.  Just the decor at iCreate is enough of a reason to swing by.  They have a couch and a couple cafe tables with different types of seating in the front, a small bar/counter and loads of other tables with traditional seating as well as upholstered chairs and couches in the back.  It is very eclectic and comfortable like someone's home with a little extra cafe seating.

I was a little awkward on my first visit.  There were a couple other people in there that were apparent regulars so they were chatting and ordering from the owner, Ash, at the front counter from memory.  After a minute of probably looking confused Ash offered me a menu.  They were sitting right there, I just didn't see them.  I ordered a combination meal, #4.  "Healthy Box" whole veggie panini, syrian salad, 4oz hummus and pita.  I also ordered a 8oz container of hummus because why not?  I took a seat on the couch in the front room and waited for my order.

The wait was a little long.  Ash prepares all the food right in the front of the cafe and he was working the whole time.  I usually don't mind a wait so much if you can tell they're working on it.  He asked me how I heard of his place and engaged me in some conversation.  He did apologize for the wait and also offered me some pita bread for my 8 oz hummus which I accepted.  My car smelled excellent on my drive home.

The panini was not quite what I expected.  It was almost more like a pressed wrap because the pita was thin.  The veggies were rolled up and pressed in a George Foreman grill according to the menu and the nice, crispy outside of this panini makes me wonder why I got rid of my own GF grill.  The texture of the pita was pretty much the perfect contrast to the veggies inside.  Eggplant can get mushy so that's important.  The mushrooms in the sandwich were also a great, meaty texture.  The flavor of the panini reminded me of this fire roasted baba ghanoush I've had.  There was this roasty, smokey flavor that was really excellent.  Whatever that 'special garlic sauce' is, I want more.  It was tangy and no vampire was going to bother me at least for the rest of the week.

I think Ash makes all the hummus to order.  I saw him back there with a blender, mixing it up.  I will have to ask him next time.  It was good hummus, topped with olive oil.  With all the wacky, flavored hummuses (what is more than one hummus?) out there this one came across as a little ho hum, but a good, basic hummus.  I was also eating all these other amazing flavors so my palate could have been overwhelmed too.  Mostly I wish the pita was toasted.  I'm sure I could request that next time.

The Syrian Salad had the most amazing smell and flavor.  I wish I knew what herbs he used in it...I wonder if his recipes are secret.   In addition to the romaine lettuce there was a lot of parsley in the mix.  I thought that balanced the acidic and herbal dressing perfectly.  There were big chunks of cucumber and tomato as well.  If you're looking to experience some new, fresh flavor combinations I would recommend this salad for sure

And here's my takeout hummus, for another day.

Go to iCreate and check it out.  He does have glasses if you want to bring beer or wine.  The food is really excellent and it's all vegetarian.  They are currently applying for a zoning variance in Pottstown so they can remain where they are.  Please support them in this and if they move, visit them at their new location.

Henry's Cafe

(menu)

So #6 on the restaurant tour of Pottstown is Henry's Cafe.  I went to Henry's on July 12th because they were having a special event.  I have been trying to avoid restaurants where I consider myself a regular because one goal of this project is to try new places. Henry's special wine pairing dinners are pretty awesome though and this one was a casual, picnic theme with fried chicken. I was going there, so why not post a review?  

The pairing dinners are basically a prix fixe menu with complimentary wines.  They've done a few beer dinners too.  The menu for this one is here.  The dinners vary, but usually Henry's arranges for large group seating for their special dinners.  My friend Samm and I were seated at a large table with ten or so other people. The large groups are fun to chat with and the atmosphere is like a big family.  This dinner was a little more casual and all the food was served family-style so it was perfect.  On a normal night at Henry's you would just be seated with your party.

Frank is the chef and owner at Henry's and Denise waits tables, takes reservations and I'm sure a million other things behind the scenes.  Sometimes on big nights they have other people in helping out with dishes, prepping, etc.  For the picnic in Provence it was just the two of them.

We started out with a meat plate that I didn't get a photo of.  Henry's always has great charcuterie on hand for their regular menu and that night was no exception.  

Following the meat plate was an amazing foie gras. The foie gras was cut into rounds and placed on top of a liver mousse/pate.  The dish was cold and there was a thin layer of jelly on top.  It was a big dish served to groups of 5 or so and you could scoop some out and spread it on toasted bread with two different local preserves and cornichons with tomato and onion.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  It was so smooth and had a little bit of the liver funk to it, but just enough that I don't think it would have been a stretch for most people. It melted in your mouth and left a nice, lingering coating of flavor.  The mousse/foie gras dish was made to Frank's specifications by Freeland Market.

The main course was fried chicken. Henry's is know for their fresh seafood. Frank has a selection of the feshest and best items every week. In a past life Frank was known for amazing fish and chips. Every once in a while they bring them back for a special night. I mention this because it is a similar skill. I have yet to experience the pleasure of Frank's fish and chips, but he definitely worked the magic at the fryer for the chicken. The chicken was served family style on large plates. It was crispy and seasoned nicely on the outside and moist and hot on the inside. We had plates of dark meat and plates of breast meat.

The tomato salad was served with fresh basil and fresh mozzarella.  It was a great palate cleanser after the fried chicken.

I'm not much for dessert, but it was included in the meal and it is always very good at Henry's.  This time around it was a kind of thick crepe or pancake called a clafoutis with fruit on top.  It wasn't the easiest thing to cut which we had to do because we were sharing.  The whipped cream was great and I loved the little champagne grapes it was served with.   

It was a different kind of meal for Henry's, but you can't beat the friendly, warm and fun atmosphere and the amazing food.  They have a friend that helps pick out the complimentary wines and they are always amazing for these meals.  I really enjoyed the 1989 Alsace Grand Cru Vorbourg Pinot Gris Clos St Landelin which says a lot because I'm not much for dessert wines.  

Henry's is always at the top of my list for a special night out with friends or a romantic meal.  It is a casual feel with fine dining food.  Bring an extra bottle of wine and come with people you like.  Plan to spend a couple hours for a regular dinner.

Juan Carlos Fine Mexican Cuisine

(menu)

So, stop number two on the culinary tour of Pottstown was a place I had been to previously, Juan Carlos on Penn and High Streets.  This time it was raining out and I had come from the liquor store so I entered the restaurant with my raincoat on, a liquor store bag in one hand and my purse in the other.  The Hostess greeted us and showed us to a table and immediately asked if there was something I'd like her to open.  I appreciate getting access to my alcohol as quickly as possible, but give me a second to take off my coat and catch my breath first.

I love the decor in Juan Carlos.  There are little alcoves with frosted glass that is back-lit and lots of stone facade.  It's tastefully done for sure.

The lady that seated us was also our waitress. She returned with our wine and poured us each a glass and before we could even look at the menus she asked if we'd like to order something.  I don't feel like she was being rude and rushing us along, but I don't think she eats out much or maybe doesn't take the time to enjoy it when she does.  In any case she offered to bring us chips and salsa.  I saw something on the menu about freshly made chips so I was excited.  What we got were warmed tortilla chips, but I'm almost certain they were from a bag...maybe they were freshly made at Herr's.  The salsa was medium spice, a little watery, but not bad.

The menu was pretty basic for a Mexican place.  They have enchiladas, chimichangas, fajitas, quesadillas, etc.  They also have some entrees with steak or chicken.  The falafel on the menu seemed strange, but who doesn't like falafel, right?  We ordered the Tequila Lime Chicken and the Combo Enchiladas with one of each type: pork, chicken and cheese.

Visually what came out was what you'd expect at a Mexican takeout place.  Yellow rice and refried beans may be traditional, but they don't present well as you can see from the pictures.

Overall the food was OK - there really wasn't much special about it.  The rice had peas in it, but was very plain.  The refried beans were typical refried beans.  

The enchiladas came out extremely hot.  They must have broiled them on the plate or left the plate under the warmer because the plate was hot as well.  They took a while to cool down.  The meat was shredded inside.  The pork was dry and the cheese enchilada was completely bland.

The Tequila Lime Chicken was tender and moist and had grill marks on the outside which added flavor.  The tequila lime sauce was thick which was surprising, and a little spicy.  I ate all the chicken, but was craving something lighter and more creative on the side.  All those rice and beans weigh you down.  I'd suggest adding a second or third option for sides like a cold bean and corn salad or even a garden salad.

The waitress offered to take our plates before we were done eating.  Once again, she wasn't being rude, just bad timing or poor observation skills.  She probably just needs more experience.  For $16 each I could say it was a little pricey for what we got.  The more fine dining feel of the space did not fit the cuisine.  The food wasn't bad, but I won't be rushing to go back.  The location is excellent, right by the Steel River Playhouse and Art Fusion 19464 in downtown Pottstown.

We saw a couple people we know there which is one of my favorite parts of going out in town.  Feeling more like a Potts-Vegas resident everyday.  :)