Out & About With Linda
Emoji Sushi & Teriyaki is a newish restaurant on Old York Road in Abington. My travels take me past it frequently, and a recommendation from a good friend finally got me to check it out. My dinner companion and I have visited a number of “sushi” restaurants, so we were already pre-disposed to enjoy our meal. We were not disappointed.
The restaurant is open and bright, and started to fill-up after our 5:30 arrival. We took a few minutes to peruse the menu. They run a special where you can order two rolls and get a third free providing it is of equal or lesser price. That’s a good deal in this day of the high cost of dining out.
Allow me to preface my remarks by saying my sushi of choice is usually vegetarian or cooked. Raw fish is not my “thing.” Fortunately, there are usually enough options out there that I can always enjoy the experience of “sushi.”
We started with the Kani Salad. One of my favorites including crab, cucumber, spicy mayo & crunch. It hit the mark. Together we ordered Vegetable Tempura, Peanut Avocado Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, California Roll, Sweet Potato Roll, Broccoli Tempura Roll and Salmon Tempura Roll. The Vegetable Tempura was a bit heavier than usual, but yummy all the same. The rolls were fresh and tasty. Presentation was appealing and we were in sushi heaven as we enjoyed our meal.
Emoji has a full menu of sashimi signature salads, special rolls, teriyaki, hibachi entrees, lo mein and more. It pretty much offers the full range of what I would call Chinese dishes in addition to Sushi. The Hibachi Entree and the Teriyaki Entree include miso soup, salad and rice. I believe Emoji can satisfy any diner.
Lunch or dinner, eat-in or dine-out, or catered, Emoji is worth visiting. Oh, yes, and don’t forget to try one of their desserts. It’s not every sushi restaurant that invites you to finish your meal with a special truffle dessert or tiramisu. Check out Emoji, and please remember to tell them you saw them between our covers!!
There’s a beautiful flower store and charming cafe newly opened on Street Road in Feasterville. My Deluxe Flowers & Cafe moved to an almost invisible little strip center on a hill, that houses some of our favorite go-to places including Nickles and Lenny’s Hotdogs. It’s an oasis of calm that’s perfect for an early morning coffee or evening dinner.
I visited My Deluxe Flowers & Cafe on their Grand Opening this past month. Enter their space and you’ll be awestruck by the beautiful bouquets in display case and on the walls. It’s really special. Go deeper into the store and you’ll see tables arranged for dining for either small groups or large. I was there in the morning and was welcomed by my charming server, Diana. Very sweet, she escorted me to a table and presented me with the menu. I was surprised by its breadth of offerings.
A variety of fresh squeezed fruit juices. A multitude of special coffee drinks, iced and hot. Teas galore. My Deluxe Flowers & Cafe is the perfect setting for that leisurely coffee and special sweet cake. The display case houses a beautiful display of handmade pastries that can not be refused. I selected a small square of chocolate mousse covered with a raspberry-whatever. It was the kind of thing one needs to share with two or three people. Not because of its size, but because it was SO decadently rich! LOL!!
I ordered what I thought would be a plain American coffee. I think Diana had something else in mind for me. It was the BEST iced coffee I’ve had in ages. I asked her what magic ingredient was in the coffee… I think something chocolate!!! Delish. Again, the space, the flowers, the calming scent, it all called for me to relax and slow down. What a treat on my very busy morning.
My Deluxe Flowers & Cafe is open 9am-9pm every day. They have a full dinner menu including salads, burgers, bowls, Bao, and yes, sushi, salmon, pasta, steak and more. You can bring your own wine and make a leisurely meal even more gracious than the folks at this special Cafe.
Its location is a bit challenging, but certainly worth discovering. Whether you’re searching for a really special bouquet of fresh flowers to take home or be delivered, or whether you’re looking for an afternoon hiatus from the office, My Deluxe Flowers can be that temporary haven. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. It’s a bit of a surprise located in a very surprising location!
Salvatore’s Cucina is one of those local gems that is protected by the locals who frequent it regularly. Once again, it came recommended by a friend and I felt compelled to check it out. And why not? Levittown is in our distribution area for the Carrier Pigeon AND can be viewed as a destination stop for our Uptight Suburbanite readers.
Salvatore’s Cucina is the baby of Salvatore. I can’t tell you his last name, forgive me, but he’s the affable chef, owner, etc. of this pizzeria and restaurant and he makes certain everyone who’s seated in the restaurant and the pizzeria is happy and satisfied in what he calls “home.” I was joined by two buddies on one of the hottest days this past month. Fortunately, we got beyond the heat and savored our meal.
Our delightful server was very solicitous and re positioned the fans to cool us off. Truth be told, any room with high ceilings, (like Salvatore’s) would be challenging to cool off. Regardless, a litle heat wasn’t going to change our plans!!
We sat down, started to look at the menus and was served delicious foccaccia and olive oil for dipping. Warm and crunchy where it’s supposed to crunchy, the foccaccia and delicious dipping oil set the stage for what was to come. We asked our server, Maddie, for any recommendations. “Anything that has Salvatore’s name. And chicken parm.” Ok!
We ordered the Salvatore’s Salad. perfect for sharing between the three of us. The dressing was oil and vinegar with a tinge of lemon. Fresh veggies… we finished it off, no problem. After some menu-related questions we ordered away…. Chicken parmesan, Salvatore’s Veal Dish with Frangelico Cream Sauce, Shrimp, Asparagus and Mushrooms over Penne, and Salvatore’s Sunday Gravy with Sausage, Pork Ribs and Meatballs. And I had to order the sauteed spinach in olive oil…yum!
While we waited for our meal, we could see the dining room start to fill up. It was clear these were regulars with their bottle of wine. Families and couples alike, out for a special evening at Salvatore’s. P.S. We could see the chef come visit tables throughout making sure all was good.
Our meals arrived quickly, but not too quickly as to prevent indulging in the foccaccia and salad!! My chicken parmesan was hefty and tasty. The sauce had just the right balance between tomato and sweet. The Veal dish had a a perfect white sauce. My companion really enjoyed it. And my third buddy thought her Salvatore’s Sunday Gravy took her straightaway to South Philly to her grandmother’s kitchen!! The compliments were flying. Yum!
We all took food home. Leftovers area always fun…. however, it didn’t prevent us from checking out the dessert. LOL!! We ordered the cannoli and the chocolate cake that Maddie, our server, had suggested. All the baked desserts come from the Italian People’s Bakery next door in this little strip center on Bristol Oxford Valley Road. time didn’t allow for a visit to the bakery. Next time. I’m thinking the welcoming foccaccia served at our table is from the bakery. Double yum.
The cannoli was a hit. We all liked the filling as it was not too sweet. The chocolate cake was heavier and tighter than expected. And it was a BIG piece, so half of it went home. it later became more of a refrigerator cake…. good with a glass of cold milk!!
We enjoyed Salvatore’s. It was fun. It was delicious… and a reminder of all the local establishments supporting our community. We need to support them. Check it out and tell Salvatore you heard about him in the Uptight Suburbanite and Carrier Pigeon. Thank you!!
EMOJI Sushi & Teriyaki
1600 Old York Road
Abington
267-818-6768
My Deluxe Flowers & Cafe
660 W. Street Road
Feasterville
215-355-4443
Salvatore’s Cucina
1150 Bristol Oxford Valley Road
Levittown
215-547-7000
