[REVIEW] Foo Luck, Commack, NY

Last night I had the strangest dream.  I dreamed of the most delicious and authentic Chinese meal.  Some of my closest friends in the world were there.  A world-renowned food reporter was there too.  Jennifer Lopez provided the entertainment.  And even someone I hadn’t seen in over 40 years from my days at Camp Boiberik was there too.  What a dream!  But, you’d think that after 40 years of wandering that we would have ended up in a better Chinese restaurant.  Such are dreams.  The reality was slightly different.  Though the part about good friends, the food reporter, and my old friend, Mee Chushi Ed, 眉廚師埃德, were all true.  And Jennifer Lopez, while a Jennifer, probably couldn’t carry a tune nearly as well as she carried our dishes.  The Chinese food was not Boiberikaner either, but pure Amerikaner.

The truth is that we ate at “Foo Luck”.  Officially known as “Foo Luck Kitchen”, but that would have been too large for the sign, so it’s abbreviated as “Foo Luck” for display purposes.  And it’s less of a mouthful to say too.  That was ominous.  “Foo Luck” is a Chinese restaurant in Commack located in a strip mall (what else is there in Commack?), that’s been there for a generation or two, and is a take-out staple of the burg.  They made a smart choice in picking this location (or vice versa) as there is a Carvel just three doors down (perhaps the musical group by the name “Three Doors Down” originated in Commack and got their inspiration from this?  Probably not)

Foo Luck can be found at:

122 Commack Road

Commack, NY 11725

The interior has about eight tables in a very tastefully designed seating area, which is much nicer than the sitting area that you would see at Chinese take-out restaurant.  The bathroom, such as it is, is located in the back of the kitchen area.  It’s designed more for utility (and probably for the help) than for aesthetics.

We asked Jennifer to serve us an authentic Chinese meal.  Such as what they would eat in the back rather than what they would normally serve out front.  Editors Note:  As noted above, I did have to go through the kitchen.  Perhaps it was better I went after the meal rather than before, as that might have altered our ordering approach.  Her suggestions were strong on noodles.  Apparently, except for shrimp, they don’t have fish except on weekends… and apparently have a line out the door on weekends.

I may be fading back in to dreamworld here, but this is what I think we had:

Spareribs – I found them to be dry and lacking flavor

House Special Soup – This might have been my favorite dish, and it seemed to catch us by surprise and raise our hopes.  Everything but the kitchen sink was in this dish.  Though there was one item I couldn’t place.  Perhaps it WAS part of the kitchen sink?  (I jest, of course)

White Meat Sesame Chicken (pictured) – looked really nice.  A very photogenic dish.  Looks can be deceiving.  It was ok.  The chicken was moist enough.

Chicken Almond Ding – I don’t recall seeing any almonds, and I don’t recall what this dish tasted like either — or, the food on the dish to be more precise.

Yong Chow Mei Fun – I remember noodles.  Lots and lots of noodles.  Lots to take home.

Happy Family (pictured) – I really was dreaming… I didn’t make that up.  And like a dream, I can’t remember this dish either.  Probably just as well.

Shrimp with String Beans – I liked the beans.  The shrimp was kind of dry and tasteless (see note above regarding seafood on weekdays)

There were a lot of leftovers left over.  Mee Yong Joo happily took them all… probably to eat, just in case he got lost on the way home 😉

Back to reality.  Our rating:

Our fortune cookies (these didn’t make much sense for the most part either.  Perhaps the fortune cookie maker was dreaming when he wrote these too!):

“Don’t be pushed by your problems.  Be led by your dreams.”  Seeeeee!!!

“Jewels are the gift of fortune, while character comes from within.”

“People try thing [sic], because they just didn’t want it enough.”

“Calamity and prosperity are the touchstones of integrity.”

“Know a person with time; know a horse with distance”

“Advice comes in all forms; some help you and some hurt you.”

Humbly submitted for your consumption,

—Mee Magnum  (“Chop!  Chop!”)