136041 Mon Jan 13 10:34:11 -0800 2003 3 11 South 0 730119 Following Chowhound advice, my wife and I tried Thai Palace (across from Glenn Lennox) this weekend and found that it more than measured up to the advance publicity. We had a first-rate meal from appetizer to dessert (taro custard, which was surprisingly subtle and worthwhile), and we were thoroughly pleased with both decor and service. Thai Palace is easily the best Asian restaurant we've tried since moving to NC this past summer, and probably the best mid-priced restaurant we've tried. On the other side of the coin, we recently tried dim sum at China One, which was edible but essentially mediocre (mushy, cold), and in no way helped by sullen and impatient service. I find that Chinese food in America is consistently worse than other Asian cuisines for the simple reason that Chinese proprietors tend to take a very condescending attitude toward their clientelle. My wife, who is Chinese, has often heard waiters and chefs make rude comments, and in Minneapolis we knew a restaurant that employed two chefs: one for Chinese customers, one for Western. We eventually learned to specify that we wanted our food cooked by the Chinese-customer chef, who was far more skilled. I find this state of affairs a real shame. Finally, we visited Annie's Old-Fashioned Trattoria and Pizza Parlor, which just opened in Southern Village off 15-501 in Chapel Hill. This time we didn't even get to the food. We showed up for dinner at 5 and asked to be seated at a four-person table near the window. Despite the fact that the restaurant was completely empty, the maitre d' rolled his eyes and began to huff and puff about seats going to waste, and finally lead us to a four-person table in the extreme rear near the bathrooms. It wasn't so much that our request was declined as the gratuitously and flagrantly rude manner in which it was declined (maybe this was an attempt at European authenticity). Without saying a word, we turned around and walked out. Has anyone else been? David A. Mon Jan 13 10:34:11 -0800 2003 0 David A,. 1 730120 Glad you tried Thai Palace and enjoyed your meal. It is one of my top 3 favorite restuarants in the Triangle. We used to love going to China One for dim sum but we stopped going about a year and a half ago when their previous dim sum chef left. Also, one of their head waitresses, Lilly, left and took over ownership of Shanghai in Durham. The food and service hasn't been the same since then. Have you tried Four Square in Durham yet? Went there for dinner again this weekend and had a nice meal. The food isn't quite up to Magnolia Grill's standards (I know you and I differ on MG)-- although price is-- the ambiance and service is superb. I would rate it second only to the Fearrington House in this regard. Mon Jan 13 10:58:53 -0800 2003 730119 0 Sant 2 730124 Many thanks for the Thai Palace recommendation. We'll definitely become regular visitors. I'll put Four Square on the long-term list to try. My wife, by the way, went to Acme last night with colleagues and didn't bring home a very positive report. She had duck confit that seemed to her far too vinegarry. I've never been. Best, David A. Mon Jan 13 14:13:59 -0800 2003 730120 0 David A. 1 730121 I'd be curious what you think about dim sum at Neo China in Cary. I had avoided it for a long time because their regular menu seems pretty Americanized; the few meals I'd had there (actually, at the Neo China on Glenwood Avenue, not the one in Cary) were decent enough but unremarkable. Their dim sum, however, is a whole other story. Everything is very fresh, wonderfully presented, and delicious. At least it was the one time I tried it. Mon Jan 13 11:04:53 -0800 2003 730119 0 Tom from NC