What ever happened to the Chinese restaurant of decades past? The ones where you go in and are seated at a round table with a turn-table in the middle?

They offer pots of hot tea and glasses of sweet plum wine. There is a bowl of fried noodles and another with sweet and sour sauce to dip them in and they never bring enough.

There are appetizers galore, but the kids love the PuPu Platter with its little hibachi and the varied selection of delicacies.

And the soups? My husband and I loved this little place that had the best house soup with well seasoned chicken broth, big pink shrimp, and just the right amount of vegetables! It was so good and we took it for granted!

And the restaurant that was just a few blocks from our old house...the one that taught us about Chinese cuisine back when we were in our 20's and had only heard of a handful of Chinese dishes? We eventually tried every item on their menu from Fong Wong Chicken...a favorite of mine with a piece of ham wrapped in the middle of a chicken breast, dipped and fried, then sliced and served with a wonderful sauce and vegetables!...to the whole fish that was dipped and fried and served whole on the platter. The waiter tried to convince us not to order it but we defied him and loved it!

There were several of these restaurants around the city including more than a few just on the south side that were convenient to us. And now they are gone!

All that remains are the Egg Roll Kings and the buffets and they are just not the same!

We searched the internet, the phone book, and even drove by several of our old haunts and they were closed...closed...closed! So sad!

Our older daughter and son-in-law took us to one that still exists on the east side a few months ago and it was pure nostalgia walking in and seeing the old decor and the original menus! Truth be told there was a lot of dust and the building was in need of a few updates! But the food...down to the fried noodles and sauce...were a sweet trip down memory lane.

I suppose people prefer the buffets and quick Americanized carry outs or they wouldn't be the fashion, but I wish someone had been able to preserve a few more of the PuPu Platter joints! Just for old times sake!