re: Pei Wei, Panera Bread, Bonefish Grill & Coyote Blues coming to Metairie

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Andrea's

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Mediocre on a good night. Old farts really love it.

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Impastato's

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Joe is making money on his rep, however the frick he established it in the first place.

Sorry. Just in a brutally honest mood.

So we need to send Gordon Ramsey to curse him out?

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So do I. I also think its just about indistinguishable from most of the cheap chinese food I've had. I mean I'll probably eat it just out of convenience, but its just kind of "eh" to me. Again, just like Chipotle. Is it better than some of the cheap Mexican food I've had? Sure, without a doubt. Is it also indistinguishable from most of the cheap Mexican food I've had? Yes again. At the end of the day, they're both fast food places and produce food that is on par with most fast food places.

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I agree. But what were you expecting? Maybe you were expecting too much/something different. It is, after all, a chinese chain owned by PF Changs

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Joe is making money on his rep, however the frick he established it in the first place.

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Metry Maffia brah

You don't appreciate Creole Italian if you think Impastato's is living on an old reputation. Impastato's has, bar none, the best pasta in town. Best osso bucco as well. The seafood dishes are as good as anywhere.

But then again, I know Mr. Joe, and he treats me right. Usurpers from up north might not get the same treatment.

The comments about the terribleness of Andrea's, however, are correct.

Cafe Express is actually decent food, as long as you don't get a hamburger which will be leatherized.

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You never worked at Dorignacs, the front table where Mr Joe, and friends sat at the front of the store was a treat to look at every morning from the bakery when it first opened.

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Zuppardo's is the same way. Bunch of greasy old men (whom I presume own the place) sitting in the front of the store, checking all the womenz out when they leave. Very creepy. .

We just went to some Vietnamese place called Les Grival's here and I mentioned it and the co-workers agreed with me. OTOH Les Grival's, which is the same price, was about 1000x better. I got a standard lo mein dish from Pei Wei. The veggies were pretty obviously just frozen re-heated veggies, the lo mein itself was soft and mealy, even wit "spicy" checked it lacked any spice. Was it terrible? No, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either, and yes, my expectations were commensurate with the price. Now that I've found this Les Grival's place, my future Pei Wei visits will be very low.

eta: I felt the need to add this. The one co-worker who disagreed also argued that Burger King and Arbys were, and I quote, "delicious." So, take that how you will.

It's better than any tex mex that New Orleans currently has IMO