Southeast Asian (SEA) Restaurant - 741 Monroe Ave, Rochester, NY 14607 - (585) 473-8031

Sorry, can't locate a menu.

General thoughts - It's not in the greatest neighborhood but it felt safer than the other Vietnamese place my brother was going to bring us to. It's at a great location though as far as visibility as it's on the corner of a main street. The restaurant is small and only has about 15 tables in it but it was a busy evening for them. The unpretentious decor is reflected in the prices. My mom commented that all the decorations are Thai, which I agreed. But honestly, the same people that say all Asians look alike are not going to be able to tell the difference so I'll chalk that up as part of the charm of the place. The portions truly are huge.

Foods tasted - Fried squid, #10 (I can't pronounce it. It's like the house special Pho that has tripe, brisket, rare beef, meat balls, etc), Iced coffee with condensed milk.

Thoughts -

Fried squid - I like the salt and pepper taste. It's mostly tentacles, so the pieces tend to be slightly tougher. But that's fine with me, because it's a nice change of pace from the calamari rings from the body that we get in most restaurants.

#10 - The noodles were a bit tough when it was first served so I let it sit in the delicious beef broth before digging into it to soften them up some more. I tasted the soup before adding a bunch of sauces in it to sweeten and spice it up. The soup was very fresh tasting and according to my mom, who is an excellent cook and very sensitive to MSG, she said she can tell the broth is the real deal, not from some packet. As with any pho dish, they give you a plate of bean sprouts, sprigs of basil leaves, wedges of lime, and little peppers so you can dress it to your liking. I decided to add some bean sprouts, basil, and a little lime juice to make it more authentic. Those extra flavors do add something else to a otherwise bowl of noodles with meat.

Iced coffee with condensed milk - This is a classic Vietnamese/Thai drink. It's like espresso, but instead of a little cup the size of a shot glass, it's served in a highball with some condensed milk in the bottom to help cut the bitterness. My dad thought I wasn't going to be able to sleep at all, but it didn't surprise me I slept like a rock because I was so tired from the festivities.

Final thoughts - Very yummy in my tummy? Yes. Would I go back? If I for some reason visit Rochester again, sure. It definitely hit the spot and satisfied my cravings. If only there are more Vietnamese restaurants closer to Dearborn. Madison Hts is pretty far for Pho, but writing this makes me want some for lunch. Hmmmm... pho....

Bistro 555 at Greektown Casino Hotel - 555 E Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226 - (888) 771-4386

Bistro 555's menu

General thoughts - My friends and I went there for our annual Greektown in Ballgowns event. We went to dinner about 12 strong. Considering how big our group was, I was impressed with their service, not to mention no one's meal was messed up. It is in the new parking structure of the Casino/Hotel so you don't have to be 21 to eat there. The view is pretty good and the ambiance tells me it's a great date/night out on the town type place to go.

Foods tasted - Cream of Broccoli soup, Crispy fried Calamari, Braised short Ribs, Beef (tenderloin) and Mushroom (Portabella) tower.

Thoughts -

1. Cream of broccoli soup - The soup was very thick and chunky. It wasn't over seasoned. I think they did a good job with it. I love chunky soup as much as the next person, but I don't know if I like it THAT chunky. It was very filling. I wouldn't say it was the best cream of broccoli I've ever had, but this was the alternative to a Ministrone soup that even the server said it's way too salty and just overall not good.

2. Crispy fried calamari - The breading wasn't too thick and the calamari was not rubbery at all. It came with a spicy marinara sauce. The sauce wasn't too tart and not too spicy. Kudos to Bistro 555 for a job well done.

3. Braised short ribs - That was sooo good! I only had a few tastes of it, but it was enough for me to remember it for future reference. I'll be comparing every braised short ribs dish to this one. I'm sure I would at some point crave this and just simply have to satisfy this craving and come back. It came with mashed potatoes for a side. As a potato lover, I thought it was very creamy and buttery. This was a top notch dish. Highly recommended.

4. Beef and Mushroom Tower - Basically it's 1 portabella sandwiched between 2 very tender beef tenderloins on a bed of finely cut hash browns with a nice reduction sauce. It came with fresh sauteed spinach. The beef was flavored very well but I thought the chefs could've eased up on the amount of sauce they put on the plate. The meat, mushroom, and spinach was swimming. The sauce should be an accent, not a pool for everything else to swim in.

Final thoughts - Very Yummy In My Tummy? Yes. Would I go back? Absolutely. The menu has a great variety and the prices aren't half bad. Not to mention I'll probably be craving that braised short ribs again very soon. As a side note, it was a lot of fun going to Greektown dressed as if I was going to prom all over again. Can't wait for next year's Greektown in Ballgowns.