Comments About Portalli's, Bon Fresco and Honey Pig

Even though 2009 has left us, you can still learn from last year -- or at least from the many people who left their opinion or suggestions as comments on prior posts.

Within days of Chick'n Pollo opening, Penny, Chan, inagada.davita and other had added their reviews to my opening-night observations.  If you're looking for a broader second opinion, you should definitely check out the 100 reviews by Trip Klaus on Urbanspoon. He eats far and wide, but you'll find reviews of many Howard County places that I haven't tried yet like the Pure Wine Cafe.  He also comments on HowChow -- like his recommendation of Cava's harissa and feta at Roots and his observation that Cuba de Ayer and Bistro Blanc seem different enough to warrant different stars from the WPost reviewer.  (Update:  After I drafted this, I saw that Trip Klaus also has an interesting take on restaurant weeks on the Dining & Large blog.)

I'm going to try to use the new HowChow Twitter feed and Facebook page to highlight substantive comments, although I'll keep doing some roundups on the blog:

• People continue to talk up Bon Fresco, including Kristi who had chicken on ciabatta.  Does anyone know if they're serving breakfast yet?
• People continue to describe the up-and-down moments at Coal Fire -- like the Baltimore Beer Guy and Matthew, who says half his pizzas have been great and the other half aren't cooked right.  (The BBG also recommends the Tuesday ribs deal at T-Bonz, which he calls one of the county's better beer bars.)
• People are excited for Honey Pig BBQ even though it hasn't opened yet in Ellicott City -- Matthew, CK1, and Kevin all say they'll head there for Korean barbeque.  They're mixed on Venegas Prime Filet, the new steakhouse in Maple Lawn, but Morty Abzug says it shows a lot of promise if they fix some issues.
• Portalli's has kicked up a string of comments.  I haven't been yet, but people are describing their meals -- and teasing that some of the comments read a bit like inside jobs.
• Momomom reports that David's Natural Market declined to provide her with their old produce -- so head to Root's of Mom's Organic Market if you need good stuff for your compost pile.
• Dzoey reported on several meals -- a Greystone Grill lunch where he says you have to try the chocolate souffle and use a restaurant.com coupon and chicken at Pollo Fuego in Jessup that he liked.
• Anonymous enjoyed lunch at Trattoria Montese -- spaghetti pie, Greek salad, and the meat calzone.
• Amber F. recommended buying the pizza dough at Harris Teeter.  I have used this dough, and I agree that it's a deal at $2.
• Mary recommended the crazy girl roll, the American eagle roll and the jumbo crab roll at Katana sushi in Clarksville.
• In response to kam's request, several people posted their favorite Sushi Sono items.
• Meri added her favorite Laurel Main Street places to my driving tour of the south county, including a rib spot, Linny's Deli, and the summer farmers market.
• Anonymous says that Asia Supermarket in Catonsville sells shaoxing rice wine.  Anonymous also says Giant -- or at least the one on Center Park Drive -- now sells Orinoco coffee, which is locally roasted.  Along the same line, Lar asked whether anyone knows to buy Zeke's coffee nearby -- not that Sarah & Desmond's appears to have closed.
• Several people talked about Frisco Grille's menu, including K8teebug who loves the tofu tacos, Chrissy who loves chorizo anything, and Flissy who noted that the main menu includes many animal-free dishes -- particularly the rice and meals that are cooked with pork in other places.