Spices gives us plenty of reasons to seek it out, one of them being its location across the street from the Uptown, one of the last great movie houses around. Another is the restaurant's moderately priced menu of Japanese, Thai, Chinese and other Asian dishes: It's no problem if you want sashimi and your mate wants pad thai or Peking chicken, because the gang's all there, and delicious to boot -- as are scallion pancakes invigorated with sweet and sour sauce, and curry puffs filled with gently spiced potatoes and ground chicken. Did I mention how stylish the place looks? The long blond sushi bar is backed by soothing yellow-green walls, and a small alcove across from it assures privacy for anyone sitting there. The stir-fried pork is enlivened with basil and fiery with chilies, and I always make time for a refreshing house signature, the ginger salad. The lilting music, the warm service, the fresh and appealing cooking served on lovely plates with twiglike chopsticks might seem familiar from Yanyu, Spices' former blockmate in Dino's space.
-From Tom Sietsema's Annual Dining Guide, Fall 2002