Phnom Penh - Cambodian Treat

In looking back over my blog I cannot believe that I haven't done an entry on Phnom Penh. This is one of Cleveland's great gems, I wish I could call say that it is hidden, but considering it is consistently highly rated in the Zagat guide and has had any number of great reviews, all I can claim is that I was an early customer. I started going to PP in the early 90s when it was a really small place on Madison near W.117th Street. Back then, the whole restaurant was 3 tables around a home made counter that held the kitchen. The best part was walking in when they were cooking and the wave of smells and flavors would wash over you. Since that time, PP has moved to 13124 Lorain Ave Cleveland, Oh 44111 and fairly recently opened its new location at 1929 W25th Cleveland, Oh 44113 close to the West Side Market. Although the ownership has changed, the recipes and preparations continue to be very consistent and good. The two locations have different atmospheres; the Lorain Avenue location is a nice space with a friendly Asian feel to it, the W.25th street location is a little more atmospheric with high ceilings, mood lighting and wonderfully complex wooden carvings decorating the room. The menu is the same at both locations, so decide if you want friendly or romantic and proceed accordingly. The menu is a thing of wonder, with page after page of wonderful dishes. For those unfamiliar with Cambodian food it ranges from Vietnamese to Thai style dishes, not unexpected if you see that those are the two bordering countries. Most of the dishes are presented with a description of the basic dish and then the protein choices below. My all time favorite is the Shrimp Pad Thai made by PP. The bright red rice noodles are stir fried with bean sprouts, shrimp and picked cabbage and then topped with crushed peanuts. The flavors are vibrant and pungent, with plenty of heat (you can of course order your own level of spiciness). I love getting this dish hot and then adding some of the thick hoison sauce on the table to mellow it just slightly. At about $7.50 an order, this remains one of the best values in town. Among the other items I have enjoyed over the years is the Cambodian Shrimp Salad, a cold salad with chilled shrimp in a light sweet vinegar dressing. The fish cakes appetizer are small fairly dense cakes with an interesting flavor combination. The stirred roasted eggplant dish (ordered without the pork) is an interesting and tasty thick paste served over rice. There are any number of different noodle dishes, in addition to the Pad Thai. My second favorite would be the shrimp Loath Chha, short almost dumpling like noodles in a milder sauce are comforting and always good. Although there are a number of higher priced items on the menu, most of the menu is under $10. PP does not have a liquor license, but they do allow you to bring in your own beer or wine. In addition, they do not take checks or credit cards, so make sure you have enough cash. PP is one of my favorite restaurants; they have managed to keep the food tasting great while holding the line on prices. Service is usually good, although the few servers they have can get a bit behind when they are busy. If you are on the West Side or in Ohio City, you should consider giving them a try, you will find wonderful food at a good price.