Quiet But Good Food: Glenside/Elkins Park Area

[Bashful3]

Hi, CH's, from a Center City gal not familiar with these neighborhoods. We're taking daughter,
son-in law and adult grandchildren out for supper next Saturday night, 6ish.

They (and we) like quality Italian or Chinese, Thai food, but quiet is going to be very important also.
Standard American or Portugese would be fine also. What can you suggest? CHOW isn't the focus here; we want to be able to talk, and enjoy reliably good food. No chains please...

Thanks much.

[lauracohenromano]

Oh, and my mom's right about Moonstruck too ;-)

[lauracohenromano]

Sorry I didn't see this in time to help, but here are some ideas for next time.

In our neck of the woods, for quiet Chinese, I'd pick either Mandarin Garden on Old York Rd. , Jasmine on Easton Rd. or Szechuan Mandarin in Elkins Park. Our go-to is Jasmine, as it's very near us - it's not write-home-about, but all but one dish we've ever had there have been consistently good, and they've always been good about making any changes to a dish that we ask for (i.e. extra broccoli, brown rice, etc.)

For Italian, either Trevi, which I've now had several good experiences at but also a couple not-as-good, I think they're still finding their stride. I hope they do, I think their potential is great. We also recently discovered Arpeggio in Springhouse, and liked it very much, but that's a bit farther north.

There's a small Thai place in Roslyn valley, very close to Glenside, that we've been to twice and liked, but I don't recall it's name. I wasn't as thrilled with White Elephant the one time I was there, but I know many people love it, so I'll try it again. We've also liked the Thai place where Edge Hill and Old York Rd. intersect, but I'm not doing well on names tonite!

[sylviag]

You mentioned in another posting that you were expanding your search to the northeast, etc.
If you've never been to Moonstruck, you are missing something. Excellent, quiet - all the requirements. We have met our Glenside kids there. Really, a cut above.

[Hungryin theBurbs]

In the same plaza as Marco Polo there is a little chinese place called Szechuan Mandarin. I've never been on a Saturday (that I can recall), but it is always very calm and quiet in there. The decor is fine--nothing fancy, but pleasant. The food is decent. Nothing I'd ordinarily go out of my way for, but it sounds like it might meet your needs. It is our go-to take out spot in the area.

Also in that complex is Tiffin, though it is probably too noisy on a Saturday night. There is a place in Jenkintown called 211 York. I haven't been, but I know it caters to an older crowd, so probably quiet, and the food is supposed to be good.

[Bashful3]

Thank you all. Problem solved. Daughter remembered how much we enjoyed Cafe Michelangelo
in Somerton, which isn't that far from the hotel they are staying at. It will fit the bill nicely.

[cwdonald]

Bashful3... please report back on how Cafe Michelangelo is. I haven't been there in years but continue to recommend it to people that are going to be in the area. I would love to know if its changed at all.

[Bashful3]

oops. Our daughter in Conn. somehow read recent reviews, and felt that it was not
the way it used to be. We will try it ourseles sometimes when we are in the NE, but this
was not the right occasion to experiment.

We are back to ground zero. We suggested Chun Hing as fallback--it would be central
to where our daughter will be, and where we are. And, because we are regulars there
we can count on good food and service.

[middleagedfoodie]

If it's Italian you're after, Arugula is very good and BYO. It's in Southampton. Noisy, but ask for a table by the windows which may be quieter. Fairly sophisticated food for the burbs.

[cwdonald]

How the heck is Southhampton in another COUNTY close to Elkins Park?

[middleagedfoodie]

The OP mentioned another place in Bucks further up the string, Cafe Michaelangelo on Bustleton on the border with Bucks in Philly. Arugula, if you know the area, is about 5 minutes from Montco, 8 miles from the heart of Glenside, 7 miles from Elkins Park. Cafe Michaelangelo is 8 miles from Glenside, 7 miles from Elkins Park. I mentioned Arugula because imo, for Italian food it is in the general direction and far superior to CM.

[barryg]

Marco Polo (Italian) in Elkins Park Square has always been good for that and the food is pretty good, though I haven't been there in quite a while.

I liked White Elephant too but again haven't been there in a long time.

[Bashful3]

Hey, barryg, rsgdmd and others: please keep it coming. I called Marco Polo--it is large, and
will be crowded and noisy on a Saturday night--no small rooms.

Somewhat similar at White Elephant, but I left our telephone number there. Both managers
were most understanding about our family's need for a relatively quiet experience.

Quiet may be harder to come by than good food on a Saturday night! Any small neighborhoos places in Glenside/Elkins Park? Chinese?

[middleagedfoodie]

Haven't been, but my friends all say Mandarin Garden in Willow Grove is the best Chinese in the area. Willow Grove is only 10 minutes or less from Glenside.

[rsgdmd]

Not far from there is White Elephant; nice Thai place in Huntingdon Valley shopping center.