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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Coquette changing things up
Thien Ngo, during his time at Fork.

Old City's Fork made a big deal in January about the departure of chef Thien Ngo after seven years, announcing that he was bound for retirement in Vietnam.

Terence Feury took over the kitchen Feb. 1 to much initial praise.

Well, guess who's cooking at Coquette, the bistro at Fifth and Bainbridge Streets. Owner Cary Neff, who employed Ngo in the late 1990s at his old Center City place Cary Restaurant, says Ngo got bored and wanted to get back to work.

His menu comes online at Coquette on Friday night, and the results will not be true French. Expect touches of Vietnam and Thailand, and lower prices (entrees under $18). Ngo also has dreamed up a line of budget-priced bar snacks. "With all the French bistros/bistrots/brasseries opening in Philly, especially within a few blocks of me, it may be time to separate myself from the pack," Neff says.

Weekend brunch starts Saturday.

Posted by Michael Klein @ 5:23 PM  Permalink | File Under: TableTalk | 3 comments
Comments   
Posted 08:48 PM, 03/04/2009
andy
He will leave just like the other chefs.
Posted 10:50 PM, 03/04/2009
Ironmouse
I hope they get the service fixed. Went there 3 weeks ago and after being ignored for 20 minutes we got up and left. They were not even that busy. The staff was so disorganized that no one even asked why. Sent an e-mail to the owner to tell him and of course no reply. Unless they can fix the service it doesn't matter if its gastro-pub, French, Thai or even urban sushi -- they will be a vacant storefront by July 4. P.S to the owner. You should answer your e-mail
Posted 10:43 PM, 03/09/2009
cambrai
Thien does have talent and demands some basic respect, however i feel that he is out of touch and definetly a drunk
3 comments
About Michael Klein
Michael Klein chronicles local people, places and things (in easy-to-digest portions) three days a week in his Inquirer column "INQlings." He also covers the restaurant scene in his Thursday Food column, "Table Talk." See his work at http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_klein.
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