236016 Wed Dec 27 14:08:48 -0800 2000 1 19 Outer Boroughs 0 1251194 Last night I was thwarted in my attempts to see Hidden Dragon Crouching Tiger (or is it Crouching Dragon Hidden Tiger?) so I decided instead to stop for Chinese food on the way home from Long Island where I work. My choice was Silver Pond on Main Street in Flushing because a) I had a few nice meals there a few years back, b)it's close to the LIE, and c) it has a parking lot. Well, this was my second China-related disappointment of the evening. I ordered squid with ginger and scallions, not on the menu but I had a yen (and in my mind's eye I saw the squid with ginger and scallions at Kam Chueh). It was really second rate. Big hunks of squid, seemingly defrosted and cooked, and no tentacles. Nor was it cheap: $10 for this dish. In fact, all the prices on the menu were alarmingly high. So, first off: Did I just have a bad Silver Pond experience? Or should I cross it off my list? But more importantly, can anyone think of a good Chinese restaurant that's not too far from the LIE where parking on the street won't take 30 minutes. (Bear in mind that there are plenty of times when I'm up for travel and parking challenges, but I there are those nights when I just want to lock the car and chow down.) Many thanks. Wed Dec 27 14:08:48 -0800 2000 0 Erica 1 1251195 Silver Pond hasn't been good for about ten years. It was at the forefront when Queens got its good chinese food, but it's been left behind in the parade. All the good places in flushing are within range of that big municipal garage. But that's not near the LIE. Ping's on Queens Blvd has its own free lot, and you can easily get there from the LIE...but quality's gone down. I've not done enough research on Harbor Seafood Restaurnt across Queens Blvd from Ping's, but there's often parking in front. That might be your choice. ciao ps--loved the movie, even if the plot made no sense at all Wed Dec 27 15:06:01 -0800 2000 1251194 0 Jim Leff