http://demo.wehaa.com/articles.sec-210-1-dining-out.html The Mekong is one of the great rivers of Asia, originating in China and flowing through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before finally reaching the sea. Bahn Phongsavat and her daughter Sichanh recently opened a cafe of the same name, with a menu that features the cuisines of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. ]]> The outdoor tables at the Hi Hat Lounge (1701 N. Arlington Place) are some of the East Side’s most coveted spots for casual dining. The lounge’s neighboring facility, The Garage, has now added a weekday lunch menu that will allow more time to sit in the sun or eat indoors.]]> The strongest coffee in town is one reason for stopping at Chez Jacques (1022 S. First Another is the wonderful croissants, flaky and made fresh each morning in a city where misshapen lumps of dough are routinely passed off as croissants. Jacques boasts series of rooms,...]]> It was sometime after World War II when the supper club became middle-class America’s choice for a night on the town. Supper clubs were neither four-star restaurants nor diners, but offered good food familiar to American tastes in a relaxed setting. ]]> Two years ago Brew City relocated from its Water Street location to a spot one block to the west. The new site offered three bars, outdoor dining and a fine collection of Milwaukee brewery memorabilia. Recently, however, owner R.C. Schmidt gave Brew City a new name and a very different look. Now it is called Trinity Three Irish Pubs. The three pubs are named Duffy’s, Gallagher’s and Foy’s, and each has its own character. ]]> Construction workers have been busy building a new outdoor dining patio at Fiesta Garibaldi (5108 W. Bluemound Road). At the rear of the main dining room, they’ve also installed what is called a fajita bar, a Mexican version of the Mongolian barbecue. You assemble raw meats and vegetables in a bowl, choose from a wide variety of sauces and then present your pickings to a chef who will cook it on the spot. ]]> Many restaurants claim to serve Philly cheesesteaks, yet few prepare them as they should. The rules are simple. Begin with a soft roll, not a baguette. The beef is not sliced; it is chopped and heated on a grill. Onions and green peppers are optional, and the preferred cheese is Cheez Whiz... ]]> The independent grocery store is nearly a thing of the past. One of the rare survivors is Koppa’s Farwell Foods (1940 N. Farwell Ave.). The centerpiece, located at the rear of the store, is the Fulbeli Deli. Order at the counter from a menu of standardized sandwiches with many names from the solar system. ]]> Swig first opened on Water Street in the spring of 2005. Owners Joe and Angie Sorge developed a concept of “small plate” dining—basically an international version of tapas. Since then they have opened the wildly successful Water Buffalo in the Third Ward. ]]> Brookfield is not the place where I would expect to find a good Mexican restaurant, especially one with the French-sounding name of Haute Taco. Moreover, this is a place that takes liberties like making tacos with duck breast and short ribs! ]]> Last October, after 18 years in business, the Third Street Pier abruptly closed its doors. The large and once-popular eatery fell victim to changing customers and competition. The space, however, lives on, this time in the form of a growing national chain named Kincaid’s. ]]> Whenever I visit Hong Kong, I like to take one of the ferries to an outlying island. Cheng Chau is just 30 minutes away and the small harbor still has photogenic Chinese ships. The few seafood restaurants only use ingredients that are live, from finfish to scallops, crabs to spiny lobsters. ]]> Just when every possible format for a restaurant seems to have been invented, another one appears. This time it is called “American pirate fusion,” and the restaurant employing it goes by the name of Shiver Me Timbers. The restaurant and bar fill a large room decorated with 1950s touches and painted...]]> Cafe Zarletti (1021 N. Milwaukee St.) may be the best restaurant on the Milwaukee Street strip, that two-block stretch of renovated 19th- and 20th-century buildings. The decor is spare and contemporary, the food lighthearted Italian.]]> Just when it seemed like the market for high-end steak and seafood restaurants was saturated, yet another one opens up. However, the new kid on the block, McCormick & Schmick’s, is poised to do very well with a prime site at Mayfair Mall. ]]> The recently opened Karma (600 E. Ogden Ave.), located in the former Vivo Urban Grill, has now had a few months to find its footing. The space offers a sports bar upstairs and a sultry lounge and second bar on the lower level. ]]> A sign at the street corner simply proclaims, “Freddy’s back,” in reference to the Puerto Rican restaurant owned by Eliu and Julio Quinones. A decade ago, despite its dark and somewhat dreary interior, Freddy’s still attracted customers who appreciated authentic Puerto Rican food.]]> For years it was a diner called Scrambled Ed’s, and before that, a George Webb. The new occupants, Transfer Pizzeria Cafe (101 W. Mitchell St.), have restored much of the century-old corner building to its original appearance, exposing wooden beams, a tile floor and stained glass. ]]> Vietnamese people know their food. Last year at this time, I visited the nation for 16 days, traveling between Hanoi and Saigon. Hanoi was memorable for its street vendors, each with a different specialty, such as banh cuon cha lua, a dish of minced pork and rice flour crepes that looks easy to prepare but is actually quite difficult. ]]> The Riverwest neighborhood continues to show signs of revitalization. The most noticeable addition is the new Alterra Coffee Roasters, located at Humboldt and Chambers. A few blocks to the south, you’ll find another new sign: The Rio West Cantina... ]]>