EVG contributor Susan Schiffman was cleaning out some drawers at home and came across menus for three old (and long-closed) favorites — La Foccacceria, Jade Mountain and Bamboo House...
Don't remember when they all closed — well, OK Bamboo House in November 2007 ... and Jade Mountain in the summer of 2007.
This would be a good PAUSE cleaning activity. Unfortunately, the EVG menu drawer went in 2011.
24 comments:
I remember the Old Focaccera on 1st between 6th and 7th..Their food was Terrific and Cheap. I still miss their amazing Eggplant Parmigiana. I remember they closed/sold this spot and the older guy sort-of reopened with this Mexican place..Kind-of a Blur to me..Boy do I miss them now!
Bamboo House was the best! It opened in 1977-78. I moved into the EV a year later. This was traditional NY Chinese Food and the restaurant was one of those low budget places with lots of seating....vinyl booths and chairs, formica tabletops, and paper lanterns over hanging bulbs. You had to love this place. There was always a place to sit and eat or wait for your take out order. The owner was a working owner and had members of his family working there. A true family run restaurant by very nice, very polite, hardworking people. And the food! They made sensational food. Egg rolls, spare ribs, fried rice and every type of dish could want...lobster, duck, chicken....just tell them which style. Then the landlord raised the rent and after 30 years of great food for great prices, they were gone. Just like that. Wish they were back. There hasn't been a single restaurant that has opened since they closed that can hold a candle to their delicious menu.
I still miss JADE MOUNTAIN, not just its food, but also the warmth and kindness of Reggie Chan. Many evenings, coming home from work too tired to cook, I'd stop in for take-out, and Reggie's smile and conversation always cheered me up. I can still hear his voice greeting me heartily.
I have a collection of defunct EV takeout menus, sorry to say Focacceria isn't one of them. I remember when it was originally on the east side of 1st between 13th and 14th. Loved that place, but never could muster up the courage to try the spleen sandwich!
Ah, Bamboo House memories!
I tossed out a pile of menus not too long ago. Should have photographed them first as I'm sure there were some historical gems in there.
Landlord has been fighting the city over some structural issues so the scaffolding has been there for years now. From looking at the paperwork it looks like the City has required some kind of work from one agency and then prevented them from getting the permits from another.
Loved Bamboo House the whole lovely family.
This won't help right now, with everything closed, but the New York Public Library main branch actually has a specialized department for restaurant memorabilia, including old menus from long-gone restaurants. They've done some exhibits using old menus to talk about the history of restaurants in NYC.
In future, if you come upon some of these vintage menus, you might want to contact the NYPL and ask if they want them to add to their collection.
That Bamboo House menu is so familiar to us!
I too have a great collection.
Cleaned out my menu drawer about a year ago. Was shocked at the nostalgia it evoked.
I put them all in a box for safe keeping.
1990s isn't going back THAT far but, my faves: La Casalinga (1st and 7th)
Kai Kai (Ave A)
Theresa's (First Ave)
Lovely stroll down Memory Lane. And let's not forget Sing Wu, on the west side of 2nd Avenue, 7th/St Marks Pl. Very similar in decor, vibe and food to the Bamboo House. Right across the street from me, and my favorite 'go-to' spot.
that is so cool and good to know I will definitely reach out to the NYPL thank you
Relics of long ago times. Thanks for sharing!
anonymous @10:36am mentioned NYPL vintage menus archive here’s the link menus.nypl.org
The hot-n-sour soup at Bamboo House was a great treat.
Any favorite Chinese that deliver to EV?
Theresa's, those awesome schnitzel lunches. Unfortunately, they have closed in Brooklyn Heights too lately.
Check Eater NY from a couple of days ago.
Is there any place left that does a really good hot & sour soup, or a really good wonton soup? I'm craving that kind of Chinese food, not the hoity-toity hyper-spicy/trendy Chinese food that seems everywhere these days.
Susan, Thanks for the memories! Sing Wu was Charlie & my favorite but we also became close to the Chan family at Jade Mountain. And Bamboo House was also a fave. In those days we would actually go & sit down at a table! Good times & good memories. Glad to hear your voice on EVGrieve. I'm still here too, different times for sure.
Classic, Great, Thanks Susan!!
I still have a few keepers, including Dojos on St. Marks Place, Neptune Diner (of course) and Mitali, Sonali, Taj and Shah Bagh on 6th Street. I miss them every day.
I still fondly remember the comforting blast of garlic every time I entered Focacceria. Miss it to this day.
My family would travel in from New Haven every month for dinner at Sing Wu. I don't know if it is the memory or love for that time of my life. But I have still never found it's equal. From the House Special Soup with fried wontons, to the best Mu Shu Pork. Sing Wu's has defined and unfortunately become a benchmark(never met)of every Chinese meal I have eaten to this day.
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