Saigon Pho- Wappingers Falls, NY

Saigon Pho is a restaurant we have passed by for years mainly because of the strip mall location. Friends have been raving about it so we finally stopped by for lunch and now I wish I had done so sooner, I've been missing out on some really good Vietnamese food. 

We started with the Spring Roll at five bucks with a peanut sauce. Excellent! We both had Pho, mine was the three meat special and Teresa had the rib eye variety. Again, both were excellent. Total bill was just over twenty-five bucks. 

Stop by sometime and see what I mean. Excellent food and service, clean and bright decor. They have a website for more information. 

Guacamole Grill Mexican Restaurant- Wallkill, NY

Friends of ours have been raving about Guacamole Grill Mexican Restaurant in the Hamlet of Wallkill, NY for some time now so when we saw they had a burger special we decided to stop in. 

Located on the main drag it looks nice on the outside, and even nicer inside with a fresh, bright look and Mexican music on the stereo. We looked over the menus and decided to have a beef empanada (two bucks) and a fish taco (two-fifty) to start with as we decided what to order. Both were excellent.

I went with the Sweet Bacon Burger and it was great. Fresh tasting beef, perfectly cooked, on a fresh bun with bacon, ranch dressing, fried tortillas, jalapeños, and onions. Nice flavor combination and some crispy fries on the side. Teresa had the chicken enchiladas verde and it was excellent as well. 

All of the above was only twenty-six bucks. The service was excellent as well. Stop by sometime and see for yourself. They have a website for more information. 

Carlos Restaurant- Yonkers, NY

We got a sixty dollar gift certificate for Carlos Restaurant a while back and never got around to heading down, it is an hour away, but to day we stopped in for lunch. Before I get any further I have to say that if they were any closer I'd be there every week, it was that amazing. 

After looking over the menus we realized that in order to spend sixty bucks we'd have to order a bunch of food, the prices are quite reasonable. The decision was made for three appetizers and two entrees with anything left over to be taken home. 

We started with the Spiedini Alla Romano, which is a fresh mozzarella on bread, deep fried with a caper and lemon sauce. Absolutely amazing.  

Next up was an order of clams oreganata. Now these were a full size clam, not some minced nonsense, with some great seasoning. You could tell they were fresh made in house. Also amazing. 

I had to try the Polenta which was an Italian version of shrimp and grits. Three huge shrimp over polenta cakes with mushrooms, tomatoes, and a gorgonzola cream sauce. Quite nice and I may incorporate blue cheese in my next shrimp and grits attempt.

By now we were getting a bit full, especially when you add in the delightful bread we were served, and the side salad we shared. However, the entrees were so good we dove in anyway. 

I got the veal Sorrentino and it was perhaps the finest offering of that dish I have ever had. Teresa ordered the lunch sized (it was huge) eggplant parmesian and it was also amazing. Some of the leftovers, including two rather large potato croquettes, are in the fridge now calling me. 

All of the food came to sixty bucks, plus tax and tip. The service was excellent, the food amazing, and the ambiance warm and friendly. This is definately a place to visit for an excellent meal. Check out their website for more information, oh and they have a second location in New Rochelle.