Miriam W.'s Profile

Saturday night the boyfriend and I went to Aqua Shi for dinner.   Our date nights are few and far between because he is a working musician and I am a bartender that works every weekend.  However, it just so happened  that this Saturday night, he was playing at Aqua Shi.  So I requested the night off so we could have a real date like normal people.  We arrived around 7.  It was obvious they weren't busy:  one couple at the bar and a couple of tables in the back. The sushi bar was completely empty... and dark.  We decided to sit at the bar.  I was excited about showing my boyfriend because it's a fish tank.  However, when you sit at the bar, it comes up to your shoulder.  Not comfortable at all.  The bartender was friendly, however not so informative when it comes to wine.  He was accommodating and attentive... as he should be since there were only two couples at the bar.  We had the Tempura Haricot Verts and 3 small sushi rolls all priced at around $10 or more.  While they were good - utilizing beef and shitake mushrooms and even creating a roll at our request, this idea of "fusion sushi" has not caught on.  The roll we requested was good, however it contained exactly what I asked not to have:  tempura.  But like I mentioned before, no biggie, I'm in the biz, we all make mistakes.  They had even offered to remake it.  But like I said, No Biggie.  We ate it and it was good.  
When it was time for the boyfriend to load in, we asked for our check.  It was something like $71.  I noticed that they had comped the Sushi roll they messed up on.  We gave our bartender our debit cards and he asked us, "50/50 down the middle?"  I nodded and he did just that.  Split down the middle our bills were $37 and some cents.   In the tip amount I wrote in a zero and totaled it to what I was charged, as did my boyfriend.  Instead I handed the bartender $20, which was 27% of the total bill.  Being in the industry, I always tip cash.  He acknowledged it and all was well.  

After hours the restaurant turns into a night club.  While it was hopping,  this is my bartender sense kicking in:  They have a VIP section that is pretty much right in the midst of where all the action is.  It is also well hidden behind the fountain wall so the bartenders can't see what's going on.  The VIPs had bottles of vodka and cups all brought to their section where anyone could freely pour a cocktail.   Who's regulating?  No one.  I didn't see security, I just saw people getting beyond that point to where they are legally allowed to be served.  I'm not into the club scene, but even if I was, this place after hours is not my scene.  I'm not sure if it was just me that noticed this but there seemed to be more than your fair share of douchebags and girls with really low self esteems in that establishment that night.  

Then came my statement Monday morning.  It's Christmas time so I was checking the bank account.  Aqua Shi had charged me $44 even.  I asked my boyfriend to do the same. $44 for him as well.  WTF?  They added a 15% additional gratuity.  I had specifically wrote down a big fat zero to avoid this very thing.  Who would do such a thing?  I tried calling last night when I got home from work, but no one was there.  Figures.  I'm calling today. What they did amounts to fraud and I am seriously offended.  

So yeah.  Two stars.  I've had better "fusion" food here in Fresno and I don't like having an additional gratuity added on to my check for a pretentious restaurant setting.  Reading the rest of the reviews of this place it's obvious others here have had better too.

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place for my list yet.  Contrary to the other Yelpers here, I'm going to have to give Pho 2006 5 stars for a few reasons.   First for the Pho of course.  As always I had the Pho Special.  The little tray of veggies that is brought out first was very well stocked with plenty of fresh Thai Basil, bean sprouts, jalepenos, and lime slices.  Even though the restaurant was busy my order arrived in a very timely manner.  The broth was very well balanced and can easily stand on it's own.  However, I do like mine a bit sour and spicy so I added accordingly with Siracha Sauce, Hoison, and fresh lime.  The noodle to soup to tasty bits ratio was equal right up to the very end as every bite included everything that was in my bowl instead of mainly noodles.  

Aside from the food, it's the cleanest and nicest Pho restaurant that I've been to in Fresno.  Well, Clovis.  And really it's the only Pho restaurant in Clovis.  So I'm definitely going to sing it's praises because it's a first!  The service is great.  I've been back several times and have never been disappointed.

I love Indian Food.  I don't know too much about it.  I just know what tastes good. And for the most part, it tasted good.   For my cocktail I ordered The Ginger Pama. They infuse their own Ginger Vodka.  All they do is use fresh ginger and Finlandia Vodka.  I was curious but a little weary about the Pama Liquer ( a pomegranate liquer that I don't really care for).  I wasn't disapointed.  It was served shaken and up on a stem.  The ginger and pomegranate was perfectly balanced.   The tandoori chicken tasted just like it should.  It was moist and flavorful.  We also had the Chicken in Butter Sauce, a simmered Cauliflower dish, and some Potato Naan. Everything was good.  Not too spicy, but nothing that I would rave about, but also nothing to complain about....as far as the food is concerned.  

The server needs server lessons!  I know this because I work in the industry and I know what to expect.  And since I work in the industry I feel that I'm a little more understanding when service is slow because the house is full.  However in this case, the house wasn't full.  Our server sat us in the bar.  I don't mind, but we weren't asked where we wanted to sit.  She took awhile to return to our table to offer us cocktails.   No one ever brought us water and when our food came, no one came back to check on us.  We had to flag her down when we were nearly done because our mouths were on fire.  It was only then she asked us if we wanted another cocktail.  We were past that point.  I don't even think it was on her agenda to check on us...   So while the dinner was good, the service was not.

So far, I'm a fan.  I went for lunch today while on a drive through the hills with an old friend.  We stopped in around 1:30 for some lunch.  However, having imbibed some last night I was in the mood for eggs and hash browns.  I was in luck, breakfast until 2 on the weekends.  Seating was immediate and the house was full.  That's always a good sign.  My friend had the Chicken Cordon Blue Sandwich with fries.  It looked tasty, the meat was falling out all over the place. I had the scrambled eggs with diced ham and hash browns and sourdough toast.  The eggs were perfectly scrambled with just the right amount of gloss of cooked but still moist.  And the hash browns were extra crispy but not overly greasy.  I didn't even have to order them that way!

The service was great.  Our waters were always filled when empty and the food came out in a timely manner.   I can't say I had the same experience as Erin d., I thought it was great. Maybe this place is a hit or miss, but I'm giving it 4 stars.   (My price range will be based on the breakfast menu).

I don't think I mentioned that they deliver too.  Tonight I called and asked for $30 worth of Sushi.  Stan (the owner) delivered it himself. (It's either him or his wife Lenore).  It took about an hour from the time I called until the time it arrived, but he warned me that he was busy.  That's all fine with me.  It's take-out sushi at it's finest!  And I do mean the finest when I say the finest!  Stan hooked me up with 3 rolls.  And then as a bonus, since I'm a faithful customer, he added some freakin awesome  spicy tuna tartar on the side.  (I took some pictures and I'll post them when I figure out how).  This place rocks.

The only reason why this place doesn't get 5 stars is because they don't always have Banh Xeo when they say they will.  Once the owner told me that she would always have it ready on the weekends, but this last Saturday, when I had a craving she didn't have it.  I was bummed.  So bummed.  Anyway, as far as the rest of the fare is concerned, down right tasty it is.  That is if you like southern Vietnamese baked goods which include savory goods such as Banh Bao and other steamed dumplings and sweetend chewy coconut rice cakes.  I guess to eat here you really have to know Vietnamese food because the owner's english isn't that great.  However, if the son-in-law is behind the counter, he's real informative.  

While it's in kind of a seedy neighborhood, if you're looking for Vietnamese delecacies, this is one of the few places in Fresno you will find it.

And again, I think I've found another favorite Pho restaurant.  Sorry Pho #1 and May's my heart lays with Pho Long Hai and Pho #76 now.  I had the opportunity to visit Pho #76 on Tuesday after I finished packing up my garage (I'm moving).   My friend, who's a newbie to the world of Pho joined me as it was his first time.  I love deflowering a Pho virgin. Sadly though, he would not go all the way.  I wound up sharing some of my soup with him, but he chose to go the stir-fried noodle route.  

Let's start from the beginning.  The menu was large.  I noticed that it wasn't entirely Vietnamese.   I would say (as later confirmed by our server) it was more Lao, Thai and then Vietnamese.  To start off, we ordered Coconut Juice, the real, sweetened only naturally stuff right out of the coconut.  Our server, who was extremely helpful suggested our drink as well as the stir fry dish my friend ordered.  Staying true to my quest, I ordered the traditional Pho.  And since we were hungry, we ordered some fried quail for an appetizer.  And what a spread it was.  Everything came out at the same time and quickly as well.  I didn't have a chance to try my friend's stir-fry dish, but he was pleased.  It was a combination with seafood, pork, beef, chicken and veggies.  My Pho was good.  Not spectacular, but it got the job done.  The broth was flavorful, however, the ratio of broth to noodles to meat was off.  The bowl was huge and it seemed to be more broth than noodles and more noodles than meat. But of the meat I did have I had the best cuts.  Lots of chewy pieces and lean ones too.  It was ample enough for me, but for the size of the bowl and the amount of the broth, there could of been more.  The accompanying veggie plate was a plus.  It was loaded with sprouts, Thai Basil, limes AND fresh chinese string beans.  And, it was all for my Pho. The server, who is Lao explained to me that the Lao like more veggie than protein.  Perhaps that's why I had so much broth. So I can't fault them for that.  Now that I think about it, next time I go I'm adding more veggies.  
The quail was awesome.  After the Pho I could only eat a couple of pieces, even as small as they were.  As opposed to Million Elephant, for the same price (or maybe even a dollar less) you get 3 birds instead of two.  And it's just as good, if not better.  For the little amount of meat that these birds provide, they sure are tasty.  I feel like a cat when I eat them!
Pho #76 was a good experience and I'm definitely headed back.

4th of July - sounds like a good reason for a bowl of Pho. Having nearly exhausted my noodle options in this region of Fresno, I realized that I hadn't hit Pho 90 yet.  I had been here before and I just remember the pho always being just mediocre.  But I'll get to that soon enough.   As it was breakfast time, I had an iced coffee and Goi Cuon (spring rolls) to begin with, the coffee, always good and always refreshing.  I love fresh spring rolls and I ordered to stave off my hunger because I was meeting a friend.  There was a good balance of noodles to greens to meat.  However, my complaints were that the pork was fatty - that always grosses me out and the roll itself was very loosely rolled.  By my last bite it was falling apart.  The sauce that it came with first off pretty.  There were bits of orange pickled carrots, roasted peanuts and red chili sauce piled on top of a brown sauce.  I'm guessing hoison and maybe ketchup even.  Tasty stuff.  
Ok.  On to the Pho.  I ordered the #1 - The Pho Dac Biet.  I'll just say it now:  it was mediocre at best, but it did get the job done and I was satisfied.  The broth tasted mainly of beef.   I couldn't really taste the star anise, ginger, or onion.  I saw onion, but the broth, although good, just tasted like a normal beef broth.  And it was a bit greasy.   Here's where it gets better though:  once I doctored it with the chilis, lime, and hoison it was smooth sailin fot the rest of the experience.  The veggie plate was abundant and fresh.  And the ratio of meat to noodles was just right.   There were lots of tasty and chewy morsels and the tendon balls were plenty.   Still, Pho 90 gets 3 stars.  I'm rating them on their Pho and their service.  While the Pho came out quick and steamy hot, the service needs to be worked on just a bit.  The lady that helped us was more into her show than she was into the customers at the store.  It was almost like we were lucky that they were serving us.  It was weird.  So yes, only three this time.

Oh my gosh the Pho is awesome here.  Within 5 minutes of ordering the #1 - Pho Dac Biet, I had a piping hot bowl of love in front of me.  This time the basil and sprouts came out with the soup.  Everything was cold and crispy fresh.  I ask for an extra wedge of lime and the owner, who brought my pho to me, commented that I knew how to eat my Pho.  She brought me two freshly cut slices and I used them both.  But before I doctored it, I did my customary slurp of the broth.  No oily layer to coat my mouth.  I noticed that broth looked pretty lean.  While fat adds extra flavor in dishes like these, it certainly wasn't needed in this bowl. The meat balls were plenty plus some.  They small and sliced as opposed to large and quarters.  Bite size is good.  The ratio of noodles to meat was right on.  Plenty of chewy morsels, lean pieces of rare beef, and brisket that falls apart in your mouth.  I probably had two bites left in my medium size bowl, I think small would have been adequate!  

I got into a friendly conversation with the owner after I finished my meal.  This place serves Banh Xeo, a tasty Vienamese crepe that resembles an asian omelet of sorts.  Next to Pho this is another favorite dish.  However, as I've been here before, every time I ask for it, she never has it.  It bums me out everytime!  Including today.  So inquired while we talked.  She said that she has to go to San Jose to pick up the rice flour she prefers to use.  If she gets too much, it goes bad in storage.  So every couple of weeks she goes up to San Jose to pick up the 3 Elephant Brand of rice flour.  She said to make sure the label had 3 Elephants.  There's a 1 Elephant brand that's a knock off and it's not as good she said.  I in fact had tried making these at home last night.  I told her they didn't turn out crispy.  I told her what I used and that I followed the package directions.  She said the ratio of liquid to powder was just right, but instead of coconut milk I should have used fresh coconut juice.  Interesting.  She said to use beer too and then very little water.  I'm so trying this again!  The owner was informative and so kind.  She said to come back next week for some Banh Xeo, she would have it then for sure.  I'll definitely be back!

This place sucks.  Yup.  Sucks.  When they first opened I was there every weekend.  Every weekend.  At the time I was in a place in my life where I didn't have much time to dine out or have much "me" time.  I was just back to work after maternity leave and really my work breaks were the only time I could sit and dine like an adult.  Three years ago, Million Elephant was the newest "exotic" dining establishment in the Tower so I became a faithful customer.  It was near to my job and I was always taking my dinner breaks there.   Being a bartender myself, I established a repoire with the bartender.  He poured my drinks strong and cheap and in turn, I tipped him phat.  I always found the food to be delicious.  However, after my first few visits I realized that the portion sizes and the quality of the food to not match the prices that they were charging.  On one occasion (actually the one that made me stop being a regular) I had ordered the Shrimp Asparagus Stir-fry.  When I got it, I counted 5 shrimp.  Everything at MIllion Elephant is served family style.  I hardly find 5 shrimp to accomodate a family.  I thought it was a mistake, so I said something to Paul, the owner who was standing right there.  He said no, that was what was allotted.   Seriously?  5 measly shrimp?  For $10?  

What brings about this review was my experience on Monday night getting food to go.  I ordered the fried quail appitizer.  I love those little birds!  I also ordered the Rad Prik Chicken Wings and an order of sticky rice.  I know.  Hardly nutricious, but tasty.  And I did plan on making my own veggies at home.  It came out to be $25 and some cents.  $25 for two appetizers and rice.  So I cancelled the chicken wings. Still, it came out to $16.  A bit much I think.  While I was waiting for food, I inquired about the liquour prices.  Makers Mark is $7, at the restaurant that I work at, it's $5.50.  A Red Bull and Vodka (well Vodka) is $9.  At my restaurant, it's $5.50.  

With my rant about the prices aside I should also talk about the service.  My service is usually good because they know me there.  However, I have sat at the bar and watched customers come in and stand at the door for minutes without so much as a greeting.  It seems as if all the servers have their agendas and they are sticking to them.  So they seat themselves and they still get no service.  On more than a few occasions, I've witnessed whole tables get up and leave.  

What keeps this business open is the fact that they pour booze right up until 2 in the AM and that they serve exotic food until 3.  Sure as hell beats Denny's AND you don't have to risk a DUI.