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Cafe Opera shout out

Discussion in 'Area Restaurants, Dining and Food' started by mom2two, Aug 21, 2009.

  1. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Brit-
    I always eat in, never take out. Maybe that is the difference somehow?
    To me, Happy Chopsticks is no better than the typical Chinese fast food take out places. Not even close to Cafe Opera.
     
  2. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    I always do Carry-Out and have never done delivery. Our order last weekend was incredible. My wife and I both noted that the food tasted so great, even better than normal. My daughter expressed the same opinion.

    Maybe next time instead of delivery, give carry-out a try. It's a bit cheaper and Cafe Opera is just a couple minutes away...
     
  3. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    I've never had delivery from Cafe Opera - we always dine in. I've always had good food and good service.
     
  4. mdcrim

    mdcrim Member

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    Still loving Cafe Opera after all these years. In my opinion, they have had the most consistent quality of any restaurant in Ashburn. We always dine in, too.
     
  5. typicalfamilyoffour

    typicalfamilyoffour New Member

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    Our family also considers Cafe Opera our go to Chinese restaurant. They will modify many of their menu items to make them healthier. The owner made helpful suggestions after I didn't want my kids to order orange chicken for the 50th time. We've also asked for extra vegetables and they aren't just gross plate decorations. I never knew celery could taste good.
     
  6. Brit

    Brit New Member

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    Good to hear all the shout outs for dine in. P.S. they are not just Chinese and this is what worries me, how can one chef no how to cook Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and Tawianese?. Anyway, we gave them repeated chances on take out and were sadly disappointed many times, we were loyal customers for years. However, in the past few months it's honestly the worst take out we've had from them and they used to be good. Oh and the 50 minute wait - kind of suggests that take out takes a back seat. Perhaps they should concentrate on dine-in instead of trying to please everyone.
     
  7. wolf685cln

    wolf685cln New Member

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    I think a chef can master multiple techniques successfully...much in the same manner that one can master multiple dialects, or learn how to program in different languages. Once the core principles have been mastered, the variations come easily.

    Had take out a couple times over the last couple weeks and thought about this thread. I agree with the sentiment that the food is highly consistent through the years. Happy Chopsticks didn't hold up when we tried them before, but will try them again in the near future to rule out the occasional misfire.
     
  8. shim

    shim shim

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    Long time Cafe Opera fan but I ate my last wonton at that joint. Rising prices and shrinking portions and surprisingly poor customer service. Two dinner entrees and two sides for $50 - personally willing to do that for good food and good service, alas Cafe Opera has neither.
     
  9. BzyCookn

    BzyCookn New Member

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    This is exactly what turned us away from Cafe Opera, sadly. We tried Hunan Cafe's take-out, and it was so horrible we threw away $40 worth of food.

    What is good at Happy Chopsticks? We would love to find great Chinese take-out.
     
  10. Brit

    Brit New Member

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    We gave up on Opera year's ago for the same reason. There's a new Chinese up at Goose Creek?

    Alternatives that I recommend are mainly for Thai - Bangrak is superb. Mail Thai is ok - we use them for delivery and it's good. The dine-in experience isn't quite up to par though.
     
  11. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    We bailed on Opera about 6 months ago. Ordered pick-up, told 1/2 hour, showed up 35 minutes later and was told that they had not even started making our order yet. No apologies, no nothing. Canceled order and went to Chopsticks.

    At the time, there were 3 families dining in and about 3 people waiting for pickup. One of the familes was being very vocal about how long it was taking to get their food.
     
  12. hberg

    hberg give me some of your tots

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    I personally love Mali Thai. I have no issues dining in and Pong is really good about specialty ordering.
     
  13. Pirate

    Pirate Overland Park Denizen

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    Agree completely!
     
  14. Che11ez

    Che11ez Active Member

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    Chin Chin gets my vote! Have tried others and end up back to them! Where is Opera, btw?
     
  15. SW Hokie

    SW Hokie New Member

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    yen's cafe is also really good :)
     
  16. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    we have been dining at Cafe Opera since week 1 when they opened. we eat there about twice a month. there was definitely a bad patch last fall when quality and consistency were way down, and we took a break. Went back for dinner on Monday and everything was wonderful- fresh hot apps, rangoon overflowing with fresh creamy crabbiness, full, flavorful gyoza, and really tender beef satay with a peanut sauce that you scraped off the plate with your finger. THAT good.

    I've :loveheart: their pad thai, singaporean vermicelli, japanese udon soup, and crispy beef. I'm no authority on Asian food- I don't like it usually (no cheese!)- so aficionados may be a better judge than me, but I'm so hard to satisfy since I'm not a fan of Asian food, I just CAN'T see not loving Opera!!

    I'll say that Mali Thai IS someplace special too- BEST duck I've ever had. and Happy Chopsticks- i had a delish egg foo yung there.

    but Opera has my heart. love the owners, love the atmosphere, love the service, love the food. love.:loveheart::partydance2:
     
  17. shim

    shim shim

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    Opera has raised prices cut portions and the staff and owner's are showing the stress of a business in peril. Two rules for safety 1) don't fly failing airlines and 2) don't eat at failing Chinese resturants.
     
  18. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    I've been eating there regularly for years. I only eat in at lunch and don't do carryout.
    Hands down my favorite Asian restaurant around here.
    Maybe dinner prices have changed, but the lunch specials are still the same and a good deal: entree, soup, and egg roll for $8 to $10.50, depending on the entree.
     
  19. shim

    shim shim

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    Hunan Village @ Belmont Greene (703) 726-9321 -- nice alternative $6 lunches and $8 dinners - fresh local produce and no MSG.
     
  20. pc23i

    pc23i New Member

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    I love the food at Thai Deelish, not to mention the service, the best Thai food in my opinion out of all the area Oriental places.
    Love their lunch specials too where you could do a combo for the same price and comes with soup AND eggroll.
     

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