Foodzings loves Banana Leaf and had dinner with a friend there recently.

Banana Leaf, again! [Foodzings]

Feed Me Philly has a goal to try every restaurant in Philadelphia’s Chinatown, a goal that’ll keep you knee deep in noodles for years to come. But it will be a tasty goal nonetheless. For her 26th birthday she checked the Malaysian Banana Leaf off of the list.

Despite sitting beneath a loud floral mural inexplicably dotted with what looked like faux rocks, the entire experience was lovely. The service was impeccable and friendly, the portions were plentiful, and best of all, it was inexpensive.

Leafy Fare [Feed Me Philly]

Foodzings goes to Banana Leaf for a second time and really likes it. Maybe even likes it more than Penang.

Another trip to Banana Leaf [foodzings]

Phyllis Stein-Novack tries Center City�s newest Malaysian restaurant, Aqua and finds and original Malaysian eggplant in a shrimp paste sauce as well as something for the shrimp lover.

If you love shrimp, go for the coconut jumbo prawns ($20.95). Remember how this dish was all the rage at catered affairs and cocktail parties during the �80s and �90s? These were totally different � and addictive. Good-sized shrimp were coated in a batter of melted butter and tapioca, fried and placed atop a large iceberg lettuce leaf filled with strands of coconut and basil leaves. Although we found them a little greasy, they were superb and I liked the fried coconut. Its natural sweetness married beautifully with the hint of salt and spice. The basil offered a fine contrast in taste.

Two-and-a-half tips of the toque to Aqua.

Aqua [South Philly Review]

Craig LaBan dines at Aqua, the six month old Malaysian/Thai restaurant at 7th and Chestnut Streets. And although some of the more cutting edge dishes you might expect from a Malaysian restaurant aren’t on the menu, what is there makes for a quality meal.

Aqua’s biggest asset, though, is chef Lon Poon, a Malaysian-born cook who helped open Penangs in Philadelphia and New York. His menu may be edited for a novice crowd, but the cooking itself is sharp, and the flavors at their root still reveal Malaysian integrity, from the sour lemongrass twang and chile-spiced bite of the tom yum soup to the mysteriously tasty “house special” sauce that covers everything from squid to enormous prawns.

Two Bells

Aqua [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Kirsten Henri finds Aqua, the new Malaysian and Thai restaurant on the 700 block of Walnut Street to be hospitable from top to bottom, and full of good food.

On a visit to the three-month-old spot, I watch him [co-owner Jim Tran] work the room in a fashion that could be described only as Clintonian. He provides a glorious display of feverish hand-pumping for an older couple, who seem delighted to be recognized as regulars. For the younger couple dining next to us, he clucks approval over their small, boring order as if it�s the first time he�s ever heard anyone order chicken satay. For us, a heartfelt inquiry on our thoughts over the various dishes and a mini monologue on his strategy for keeping the restaurant running smoothly leaves us glowing like the star quarterback just asked our geeky selves to the prom. Oh, and the food is good too.

Thai of the Tiger [Philadelphia Weekly]
Photo via Philadelphia Weekly

Today, Table Talk focuses in on the transformations happening around Chestnut Street at 7th.
As reported here previously, Apollo is becoming LaScala, a Malaysian BYOB, Aqua is set to open in a couple months, and 707, a “sharp, smart, swank” spot is also setting up shop on the 700 block of Chestnut.
Off of Chestnut Street Michael Klein reports the former Girasole and Pelican Fish Company is now Applause! Applause! It is owned by Jimmy Vitelli, the manager of Fairmount’s Illuminaire.
City Paper’s Feeding Frenzy adds to the comings and goings noting Meritage at 20th & Lombard is under new ownership and Ralph’s Takeout in Center City has closed as well as Tony Luke’s in University City.

We chew up the reviews for you so you don’t have to, Bannana Leaf pre-chewed for easy digestion.
Banana Rama
Banana Leaf, joining Penang as Philadelphia’s Malaysian restaurant scene doesn’t differentiate itself from the first.
Banana Leaf has a “cheery, tropical feel with light woods” and that may be the biggest difference between the two restaurants. Malaysian food brings influences from China, Thailand, India and as far away as Portugal to the table. And the plates that were at their best were the chicken satay, fried noodle dishes, and the hacked duck.

Related: A Malaysian Spin-Off