3.12.09

LUKE'S CHINESE


LUKE'S CHINESE, 59 Eddy Street, Providence. A plate of chow mein was 90 cents
and a plate of chow suey was only 5 cents more. The restaurant occupied two stories.
During the 1960s, the Lukes converted the cellar dining room into a Polynesian
themed restaurant called the Luau Hut, which served tropical cocktails and exotic dishes.
Photo by Jay Boersma

18 comments:

  1. awww, I used to work there as a waiter at the end of 1986 and beginning of 1987. they had the best dark chicken wings I've ever tasted still and the sweet and sour sauce was so simple and better than anything I've found elsewhere also.

    when I left I even went back for the "orgy" bowls, the sweet pink party beverages. delicious. it's too bad that city construction literally forbade people from entering and drove them out of business years after I left. it was a great place.

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    1. I knew the owner's family, the Tsangs. One of the brothers, Michael was my ex-husbands best friend though I didn't meet them until years after the restaurant closed. I took my daughter there every week for lunch.

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  2. Old memories of mom,dad,brother and I going to City for Christmas shopping and going to Lukes for lunch AWSOME

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  3. Lukes with my work crew after working hours, oh the memories. We would feast on chicken wings, chow mein, and fancy drinks for reasonable prices. Those were the days.

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  4. I grew up in that place! My grandfather opened it in the 1950's and my uncle Henry ran it until the 80's. My mom was a waitress and i used to hang out in the Luau Hut as a kid. Such great memories and glad to hear others enjoyed it.

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    1. sorry...top secret :)

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    2. I knew Mary and Elizabeth and Janie from 60's and 70's in Boston. I think fondly of them all and I'm sorry I've lost contact with them.

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    3. I met your Uncle and his family through my ex-husband. The Tsangs were very nice people.

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  5. Is your mom Rosie? I worked there in the 80's

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  6. mom was Liz. not sure if she was there when you were as my uncle sold it and started the Kings Inn in Lincoln in the 80's. Lukes went on for a few more years then closed. I remember Kam was the manager in the 80's.

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  7. Why top secret? If so many people enjoyed those wings why not share. If no one’s seling them why would you not let others enjoy this beautiful receipe!
    This is the problem with this country there’s always a reason why people just can’t see the good in pleasing others.

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  8. I would love to get the recipe for Luke's beef or chicken and vegetables over crispy rice with a delectable sauce that was served at the Luau Hut in the 1960's through 1980's, and also their pineapple coconut chicken.

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  9. Anyone know what was in the Orgy Bowl? That giant drink in the punch bowl w/ the long straws.

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    1. It was the best. Scorpion bowls are gross in comparison. Wish I knew what was in it too.

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  10. As a college student we use to go downstairs to the Luau Hut for the Orgy bowl and Pupu Platter. The best I ever had. When I think about those times they were some of the best memories I had of going to college in Providence. I've never had a better pu pu platter anywhere since.

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  11. I was in Providence for College in the 80's. This was my favorite place. The "orgy" bowl was the best. The blogger earlier is totally correct. Much better than a Scorpion bowl. And yes the wings were great too. When these places are gone they are gone forever. Only the great memories remain!

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  12. the Pago Pago soup was the best. Still never had anything like it. Anyone know what type of soup that was?

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