Staff Blog
The Tao of the Poon: Joe’s Peking Duck Original 1984
posted by Drew Lazor
Joseph Poon opened Joe’s Peking Duck Original 1984 in late September to little fanfare — I expected the chef’s return to the kitchen to be a little more lauded, considering his status as one of the city’s most adored and established kitchen ambassadors.
When some coworkers and I stopped in for lunch a recent weekday, we were the lone party in the joint. But before I could even sip water and utter some hushed “hope they make it!” concerns to my companions, a giant horde of diners — judging by Poon’s rapport with them, they struck me as longtime followers of the chef — descended on the dining room, filling up close to every available seat.
Goes to show: Who gives a rip about fanfare when you’ve got a loyal audience that couldn’t care less about trendiness or publicity?
The name Poon chose for his new Old City eatery is an homage to the year he debuted the Arch Street spot that got him headlines in the first place. Fittingly, the menu is heavy on his classic noodle soup and fried noodle dishes, in addition to some atypical choices (tortilla sandwiches, pasta, risotto).
What we ordered, in order (I leave the hardcore analysis to Trey Popp and David Snyder, but I can say that everything I sampled was quite tasty):
- Artichoke, asparagus, black bean and jicama salad
- Peking duck salad with grilled flatbread
- Vietnamese pho with beef carpaccio, tripe and beef balls in a demiglace broth
- Roast duck noodle soup
- Roast pork and wonton noodle soup
Best thing about lunch? Prices are right, topping out at $9.50. Download a PDF of the lunch and dinner menus HERE.
Joe’s Peking Duck Original 1984, 108 Chestnut St., 215-922-0880, josephpoon.com.
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