Posted on March 7, 2008 at 2:10 p.m.

Food: 4/5  Vibe: 3/5  Service: 2/5  Value: 4/5  Overall: 4/5

You hope to find good basic Italian antepasto,salads,pasta, and sweet goodies like your Mamma's older sister Aunt Angela used to make for the family dinners at Pappa and Noni's after Mass. You wish. Instead, what you get is a slicked up version of Olive Garden, only it costs more. The wine list is pretty impressive if you REALLY know a lot about obscure towns and vineyards in Italy no one in Seigel's has ever heard of.

Public Service Warning: Avoid lunchtime (11:30am-2:00pm) M-F unlessd your Boss is with you and picking up the tab. The place is packed to the rafters with 3-piece-suit-corporate-exec types armed with HUGE expense accounts that tip waitstaff accordingly, or large groups of ladies in pantsuits with name tags that say " Hello, My Name Is". Service is poor, the wait for tables seems eternal, and food arrives luke-warm at best. Avoid the lunch bunch.

Your best bet is a weekday evening, make reservations that afternoon, and sit back, relax, and enjoy. The famous peach belinis are definitely worth everything and anything. One evening a visiting "Gennyouwine Eyetalyan" friend said the peach belinis at Biriporetti's were worthy of favorable comparison to those offered by some ultra-chic trendy place in Milan. (Wish I could remember it's name.)

The shrimp scampi is superb, buttery, garlicky, and more than enough to satisfy a finicky shrimp lover. Salads are crispy, soups hearty, bread is crunchy, and pasta just-right-chewy. All in all, the food is good old fashioned New Jersey restaurant Italian. "Hey, paisan! How's the veal parmigiana?" "Delicious, best in the metroplex!"

If you want better, call the airline and go visit your Aunt Angela.

On Birraporetti's

Posted on March 6, 2008 at 10:10 p.m.

Food: 5/5  Vibe: 5/5  Service: 5/5  Value: 5/5  Overall: 5/5

Immaculately clean, bright, airy interior. Prices are more than reasonable for food of this quality. I am a weekly customer and have been for over a year. The spring rolls are to die for: crispy fresh veggies, chewy noodles, succulent shrimp, and soft, moist wrappers with a liberal serving of either peanut or spicy fish sauce to dip into. The waitresses are charming and if they do not speak english well, just point to what you want on the menu. The Pho is some of the best this side of Saigon served with crispy green fresh herbs, lime wedges, and crunchy bean sprouts. Ahhh....lean back and wait for the perfect hot steamy bowl of al dente rice noodles and spicy fragrant broth to personalize just the way you want it. Condiment jars on each table contain killer hot chilis, fish sauce,and thick brown Asian BBQ sauce to add to your broth. Dip your chopsticks and duck spoon into what may be some of the best Asian noodles in Texas. Forks are available on request (ask your waitress) for those unable to manage chopsticks.

On Pho Palace

Posted on March 6, 2008 at 4:41 p.m.

Food: 4/5  Vibe: 4/5  Service: 5/5  Value: 5/5  Overall: 5/5

Better than average American attempt at popular Brit pub-type foods. Caution: food portions tend to be rather large. Great waitstaff and excellent bar service. Party atmosphere blossoms after 9 pm on weekends. Taxi service on site & easily available. Clean Ladie's bathroom with no waiting lines. Great place to catch a quick sammie with fries, hang out, play pool or darts & listen to music. Drink prices REASONABLE!

On Sherlock's Pub (Arlington)