B287 installment 1: Colorado Wok

We have moved on to the Baseline and 287 subproject now that we have almost completed the A95RP. We still have one more A95RP restaurant left, but we saved it for a special occasion this weekend because I know I like the desserts there. If you have been paying really obsessive attention, you might know which restaurant I mean. But there is no reason that the subprojects can't overlap!

So … Colorado Wok. We used to go here occasionally, but we stopped going several years ago after a couple of poor service experiences. Thus, to be honest, our expectations were low. But this time, the service was excellent, the server was very pleasant, and the food was good. We both ordered the dinner combination from the last page of the menu, so we each got soup (egg drop for both of us), an egg roll and a fried wonton, and an entrée. G's entrée was sesame chicken, which he rated as "hot and tasty," and mine was beef with broccoli. I appreciated that the egg roll was crisp but not swimming in grease, the beef was tasty, and the broccoli was cooked just right.

We visited the restaurant on Sunday night, and it was very quiet, which we have found to be typical of most restaurants on Sunday night. There were only a few other occupied tables (the people at one table near us were obviously regulars because they and the server seemed to know each other well) and, of course, a steady takeout business. We liked the cozy booth by the window where were seated, and G said he though the wall art was not bad (he appreciates bad restaurant/hotel art, so this might actually be a drawback).

We have now visited every Chinese restaurant in Lafayette, and I will tell you my (not expert) opinion: they are all good! Some people will disagree because I've noticed that some of you have strong opinions about your favorite Chinese places, and you will even go far afield to visit particular ones. But as a relatively nonpicky eater, I'd go back to any of these.

Egg-drop soup and fried wonton strips

G's sesame chicken with egg roll, vegetable fried rice, and fried wontons

I had the beef and broccoli with steamed rice, an egg roll, and fried wontons

Quiet on a Sunday. This photo doesn't show the booths along two walls.

A95RP installment 7: Nissi's

Update January 2024: Now in a new location (1455 Coal Creek Drive).

Nissi's is not strictly a restaurant because you can't just drop in for a meal, but I thought it would be fun to include it. It's an events venue with different acts on the calendar five or six nights a week and (based on a quick website scan), ticket prices ranging from $5 to $25. We went to hear the Center for Musical Arts jazz combos, as the CMA is a local institution that is on our very own street, and I'm a former student from the days when I was trying to learn to play upright bass. (By the way, if anyone wants to buy an upright bass, let me know!)

Some friends met us there, and we all ordered different entrees. Dave had the Korean pork belly bowl, Deb had the grilled pork marsala, I had the burger with a side salad, and G had the bowl of green chili. All of the entrees were good except the green chili, which got a lukewarm review from G, who said it was skimpy for the price and just "OK." However, he got some bits from the other meals, so he didn't go hungry. Deb said her pork masala was tender and flavorful, and Dave gave his meal a rating of "tasty." The burger was juicy and had a nice grilled flavor. We also tried the flourless chocolate torte (very good) and the peach cobbler (sorry my photo didn't turn out), which was not a cobbler but more like a crisp with the crisp part on the bottom and ice cream on top. I know the definitions vary, but in my opinion, a cobbler involves a biscuit element!

We didn't know what to expect from the jazz combos, but they turned out to be great. There were two combos: the Monday-night class and the Wednesday-night class. They were very talented and had a polished group sound. I recommend them the next time they come around on the calendar!

Wednesday-night combo (top) and Monday-night combo (bottom) from the Center for Musical Arts in Lafayette

Since my food photography was not very good, I opted for a collage. Top row: burger with salas, Korean pork belly bowl. Bottom row: grilled pork marsala, pork green chili, and flourless chocolate torte. My peach "cobbler" photo did not turn out.

Me with burger. Happy, as I have not had a burger in a long time. The place was not full, but more people did come in after this, as we got our meals before the show started.

Dave and Deb with their entrees 

A95RP installment 6: Reelfish

Reelfish opened a little over five years ago, and we had been there before, but not in a long while. We visited on a cold, snowy weeknight and found it very quiet, but I know it can be quite busy when the weather is better. 

The two guys at the counter were very friendly and helpful. G and I both wanted to try the combo platter so we could sample different kinds of fish, so he ordered a basket with fries, and I ordered a basket with coleslaw (there is a choice of sweet [mayo] or tart [vinegar] coleslaw, and I got the sweet) so we could share our sides. The combo basket has 1 haddock, 1 cod, 1 salmon, and 2 shrimp, and neither of us could finish it because the pieces were generously sized. The shrimp and salmon were my favorites, but the whitefish was good too. The batter was crisp and delicate. Back when they first opened, the fries were a different style, thinner and limper. Now they are big, thick, and crisp, and I thought the four that I ate were quite good. I am not a French-fry connoisseur, as I can generally take or leave them, but I am a big fan of deep-fried fish.

I asked if they make their own batter, and the answer is yes, and also that the batter is gluten-free! This surprised me, as I had not known it in advance and would not have guessed it. The counter guy told me the ingredients, but all I can remember now is rice flour, chickpea flour, and soda water for carbonation (rather than beer). I know I'm forgetting some ingredients, but you get the idea.

The interior is pleasant, with comfy booths and a big fish tank. Don't worry, the fish that they serve does not come from the tank! It is flash-frozen but tasted fresh and tender to me. Note that they serve beer and wine, and there are $10.95 lunch specials every day.

Put

G's combo basket with fries

My combo basket with coleslaw

The menu

Lunch specials