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Quote:
Originally Posted by erik123
If you are looking for fun/celebrity spotting try Mr. Chows (57th and 3d I think). one of his cooks opened a place not long ago with exactly the same menu called Phillip (I believe on 61st and madison).
One or 2 of my friends have eaten at mr.chow's recently and have agreed it's way overrated.By contrast one of my friends loves chin chin's
cheers
howie
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cestmoi123
Blumie to add a place in a similar vein: New Green Bo. 66 Bayard St in Chinatown. Ambiance is non-existent, food is excellent, prices are comically low (try to spend $25 for two without rupturing your stomach, I dare you).
Went there tonight on your recommendation. Great food. Did spend more than $25 but we did almost rupture the stomachs.(ordered pork dumplings appetizer in addition to peanut chicken and sesame beef) I'm assuming they use MSG.
Mr. Chow's is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy overrated. Very close to your location, and very good food is Tang Pavillion. A little different menu from "standard" New York chinese fare, but quality stuff. I strongly recommend the spciy white meat chicken with nuts.
Location: nyc us silver (ouch my butt) co silver redicard prefered and just being me :)
Posts: 2,936
Quote:
Originally Posted by erik123
If you are looking for fun/celebrity spotting try Mr. Chows (57th and 3d I think). one of his cooks opened a place not long ago with exactly the same menu called Phillip (I believe on 61st and madison).
It's 57th between 2nd and 3rd but I would suggest you would pass on it and go with chin chin or Mr.K's...I've heard quite a few negative things about Mr.Chow's over the past few years..
Cheers
Howie
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It's 57th between 2nd and 3rd but I would suggest you would pass on it and go with chin chin or Mr.K's...I've heard quite a few negative things about Mr.Chow's over the past few years..
Cheers
Howie
I was at Mr. Chows in Tribeca last week and the food and servcie were very good. Some of the dishes are over-sweet but then I have a sweet tooth so like that. They haven't changed their menu since the 70's and the places are still packed night after night - part of it is that many patrons must like what they're eating.
Another happening place is "Chinatown Brasserie" which has good dumplings and nice decor. Again, the reviews are mixed but I enjoyed it very much.
I also like Mr. K's a lot - a very civilized place to eat.
We ate at Our Place (82nd and Third) last night and the food was excellent. Service was very efficient and professional, and it's a nice, subdued environment with an adult crowd (at least on a Tuesday).
I haven't been to Peking Duck House (53rd btw Second and Third) in a few years, but the peking duck is very good, carved and prepared tableside, and I recall it being a relatively upscale place.
I ate at Shun Lee (east) last year and was thoroughly unimpressed by the food - way too much cornstarch in the sauce.
OP should realize that "upscale Chinese" is usually going to be very different from upscale American/French/Italian/etc., in decor (gaudy), service (efficient, not overly friendly), and ambience (crowded and busy). It's just cultural - we go for the food.
Now, if you want something a bit off the beaten path, try O.G. (6th btw A and B). Not Chinese per se, but outstanding, creative pan-asian cuisine; professional, friendly service; and the usual cozy East Village decor. Every time we take friends there, they rave about the food.
I love Wu Liang Ye, but it's not close to Grand Central. Closer to Rockefellar Center.
I also like Tse Yang. 51st / Madison.
I normally don't eat Chinese outside of Chinatown, but these 2 restaurants have authentic options. (You can still get the regular Moo Shu Chicken, but why?)
If the Wu Liang Ye we're talking about is the restaurant on Lex between 39th and 40th, it's definitely closer to Grand Central. I've eaten there many times and recommend it highly.
I believe Mr. Chow is on 57th between 1st and 2nd, not 2nd and 3rd.
Wu Liang Ye has a few locations (check Menupages.com for addresses) and is recommended as is the Grand Sichuan on 2nd Ave and 55th St. Lots of authentic Sichuan food, like Dan Dan noodles.
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I think Grand Sichuan is great--but you have to know which. For me, it used to be the one in west midtown at 9th and 50th, as the one in the east 50's wasn't nearly as good. Unfortunately that west side location closed down a year or so ago, but many of the staff found a home at the one at 224 Lexington (at 33rd), and it's definitely still got what it takes and is my Chinese of choice in NY generally. I know there are a few more locations, but those three are the only ones I've tried.
To update my post earlier in this thread, the Grand Sichuan at 50th and 9th has indeed closed. I still stand by the one on 9th around 26th being good, though. I've never been to the east side ones, but would trust that they're decent, too.
I now live on the edges of Chinatown so I've had a little more time to explore, although still not to the degree I'd like.
I'm a big fan of Congee Village on Allen between Broome and Delancey. Their American-style Chinese isn't all that great (I'd go to Shun Lee if it's great sesame/lemon/general tso that you're after). But their congee (rice porridge) is delicious and their menu is filled with interesting things most Americans have never tasted before. It's also very reasonably priced and is a crazy fun atmosphere (think a Disneyland ride done in poor taste). If you're really lucky, it'll be somebody's birthday and they'll play their birthday song recording (on which the word "birthday" is pronounced "birsday" as the singer apparently can't make "th" sounds).
On the far more down-home front, in addition to all the dumpling places on Eldridge (and scattered throughout Chinatown) that are mentioned earlier in the thread, there's China North Dumpling on Essex just off Hester that is wonderfully tasty and amazingly cheap. I'm not sure if it's truly better than all the other dumpling places, but it's the closest to my apartment so we go there a fair amount.
You might also try the Ling Kee jerky store on Canal right by Ludlow for a tasty home-made meat snack. And of course stop by the produce stands on Grand around Eldridge St to pick up some interesting fruit for dessert. They have great pummelos this time of year.
Is the Phoenix Garden kid friendly? We will have three with us including one month, two years, and six years old.
If not, can someone make a suggestion for a more kid friendly place? I have searched, but this particular issue seems to be new. We will be staying in midtown, so anywhere around central park or chinatown would be fine.
My current Manhattan discovery is Szechuan Gourmet. I noted a good review in the NY Tmes for their 39th St. location (just west of 5th ave) some months back, but didn't try it till learning of a second location on W. 57th betw. Bway and 8th Ave. Definitely a cut above all the neighborhood Szechuan This and Hunan That. The flavorings are distinctive and you don't have to beg them to make it spicy (though they will make spicy dishes mild on request). The Ma Po Dofu (it's spelled some other way) is excellent.
I agree 100% with Fornebufox.
I was in NYC for eight days in October and ate three meals at the Szechuan Gourmet on 57th-it was that good!
The lunch specials are a real deal and the dinner prices are not too high for the quality of food-which is excellent.
Comfortable clean space with good service.Not overly fancy.If I had this place close to my home it would be my go-to Chinese restaurant
I really would love to find some really excellent old style(Americanized but high quality)Chinise food in LA.I have tons of"authentic"Chinese around me(Montery Park is a ten minute drive)but that get to be a bit much after awhile-But that is a different forum.
