New China

Cool venue, but the food is not 5 stars, except for the Roasted Hen of the Woods and the Wild Mushroom Slippery Noodle (outstanding). For example, the Fried Chicken Dumplings are VERY fried, creating a hard crust that overwhelms whatever little stuffing there is. The Smoked Salmon Fried Rice, was meh, with just enough salmon bits to call the dish "salmon." The braised duck Bao had bits of bone in the meat. It's a cool venue, but based on reviews, I had higher expectations.

Four other things need addressing. $0.50 added to each dish and mentioned on the menu, about using that money for "cooks and porters." That should be a management decision and does not have to shared with diners. It's not for the money...it's a distraction to the experience of dining out. The alcoholic drinks are about $12 (way too high) and there are no ice tea refills, so I ended up paying $15 for 3 glasses of ice tea. The service is too fast, clearing dishes the moment you are done and removing dishes of other diners while one diner is still eating. That creates a sense of stress. Finally, there is no signage on the property as to where the restaurant is, so many, wonder about looking for it.

This place is a real gem. The Thai specials and curry dishes are excellent, the veggies are generous and not overcooked, and I prefer their chicken-broccoli over my former manhattan neighborhood’s favorite takeout. If you prefer sugary/gloopy Americanized “Chinese” fare, you will be disappointed, just go somewhere else. But if you want tasty fresh takeout that approaches clean eating, give this little spot a try.