Dim sum delicious!

When Bang! hosted a private party on Tuesday, March 26, Dish managed to score an invite at the last minute, and our taste buds have been thanking us ever since.
    In fact, our dining companion claimed to have spent the rest of that night tossing and turning, dreaming of the shrimp “lollipops” and duck stuffed spring rolls, along with fruit wontons with chocolate dipping sauce. Sublime, she said, just sublime.
    Though the dim sum treats didn’t haunt our subconscious after we hit the sack that night— we were too darn tired to dream— we can say with assurance that Bang!, which opened officially on Saturday, March 30, offers a unique dining experience that will most assuredly catch on quickly.
    The renovations to the former Memory & Co. and Corbett’s Bistro house on Second Street are remarkable as well. With red painted and orange “bamboo” wallpapered walls, the Bang! space glows after dark. The bright green and blue accents add an interesting visual twist, and the leopard print high-backed booths are comfortable and afford some privacy for an intimate dinner.
    Though it was a bit chilly and rainy for dining al fresco, a small patio off the back of the building, and the bar area which opens up almost entirely to that deck, should attract throngs come warmer, drier weather.
    The service was also commendable, and many of the workers that night were familiar from other eateries, in particular, Bizou and Metropolitain, which are also owned by Bang! proprietors Tim Burgess and Vincent Derquenne.
    As for cost, things could get pricey if you have a hearty appetite: the appetizer-size dishes range from $6 or so up to about $14, and once you add in wine and dessert, you could be getting into some wallet-lightening territory.
    Our server also pointed out that it could take people some time to get used to the less formal presentation of the food. Basically, it comes out in whatever order the kitchen finishes it, so you’ll most likely get your dinner piecemeal (haha), rather than all at one time.
    Altogether, we’d have to say Derquenne and Burgess have done another Bang!-up job.

Cultured lunch
Lunch is a part of any culture, but now it’s a part of Southern Culture, too! The Main Street staple, which has long served up southern favorites for dinner and Sunday brunch, added lunch to its repertoire on Monday, April 1.
    Vegetarian options, salads, and lunch-size entrees will be served 11:30am to 2pm Monday to Friday, and the patio, new last year, is also open.
   
Just desserts
We don’t typically dedicate column space to single dessert options, but the Blue Bird Café has forced us to break that rule. This week, we bestow “the most nostalgic dessert award.” The winning recipe? An old Girl Scout favorite, S’mores.
With an open flame brought to your table (maybe even out on the Blue Bird’s fab patio), you can roast marshmallows and squeeze them between a Hershey bar and graham cracker. You won’t earn a badge for eating one, but you can probably avoid dropping them in the campfire as we always used to do!