Fusian style is executed flawlessly in stylish ambience

   IT’S easy to imagine a horse and carriage parked outside Newtown’s historic White Hall, which dates back to 1838. What’s hard to imagine is a Chinese restaurant operating within. While the thought may be out of sync, the reality is rhythmic.

The sounds of jazz, conversation and clinking glasses drift in from the adjacent bar

   DINING out has been compared to going to the theater — with the diner as both audience and actor in a three-act play of appetizer, entrée and dessert.

At a place whose name translates to “three floors,” satisfaction can be found in threes: Service, sourcing and preparation

   TRE Piani has never failed to please in previous visits. This time a couple of our selections lacked the verve and thoughtful preparation that are trademarks of chef/owner Jim Weaver. From a culinary standpoint, we found that simpler proved better, and everything else was top notch.

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   IF you believe in the quote “Good things come in small packages” you will most likely approach Porter House with caution as I did. This steakhouse is located in the new 28,000 square foot Hamilton Manor banquet hall. The mere mention of the term “banquet hall” conjures up images of average food being pumped out in mass quantities, a notion we’re willing to accept at a corporate sales meeting, but not when going out to dinner on a Saturday night. The fact that Porter House is part of this larger venue makes you wonder if banquet fare will spill over into the restaurant.