Review: Song Long

I took my kids to Song Long last night. It had been a number of years since I had been there, so I wasn't sure if it was going to be a good experience. I'm not sure why it had taken so long for me to go back. I don't remember having a bad meal or anything, but it never became top of mind with me or my family when trying to decide where to go for dinner. That being said, we had a wonderful meal.

Unlike most families in Cincinnati, my kids are usually very adventurous eaters, and we have had Vietnamese food several times before in Chicago. When they chose Chinese entrees, I was surprised. My son had the Moo Shu Chicken and my daughter had Sweet & Sour Chicken. They were both good, but I would definitely recommend the Vietnamese entrees instead. I had Tom Thit Ram. This is on their Vietnamese menu and consists of Shrimp and Pork in a spicy black pepper sauce. It was incredible!!

I want to go back and try the Pho and the vietnamese spring rolls. We saw them on the table next to ours, and they looked great. Maybe next time I will force my kids to try the Vietnamese entrees. That's not child abuse is it?


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Review: Half Day Café

Ok. If you are looking for a great breakfast restaurant in Cincinnati, let's face it... your choices are limited. There's the old standbys like First Watch and IHOP, but the words "not worth the wait" come to mind when I think about going there again.

Lately, I have been frequenting the Half Day Café in Wyoming. It has such a bright, comfortable atmosphere, that I feel happier right after walking through the door. They really go out of their way to make you feel welcome. There are fresh flowers on every table, and the wait staff seem to smile a lot (these people actually like their job!) which would normally seem odd to me, but in this case there is nothing unnatural about it.

What I love about this place is that they have all of the standard breakfast fare, but they put their own special twist on it. Mango butter rum or sweet potato pancakes... orange stuffed french toast... and a wonderful egg strata (Individual egg casseroles with pepperjack cheese, eggs and sausage). Yum!!!

Being that I am becoming a regular at the Half Day Café as of late, I have come to know the owners, Dale and Patty. They are good people with good family values. They take pride in not being a chain restaurant. In their words, "We are a neighborhood family operating a neighborhood restaurant in a neighborhood they love." Maybe I am just a sucker for the underdog, but I would much rather go to a locally-owned restaurant like theirs. They have a special quality that you just can't get at a chain. Whether this is important to you or not, you wont be disappointed at the Half Day Café.