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sheila

  • Member since The Beginning
  • Total posts 39
  • Total comments 199

Just heard from the owner that the restaurant will be closing soon. Anyone wants the Beijing Duck and Shanghaiese Noodle (my long time favorite) should give them a call.

 
2
sheila
sheila commented 5 years ago

Five of us went there last Sunday.
I, overall, agreed with coriolis's comments.
As I came with low expectation, I left happily as I found at least the shrimp dumpling was very good from buffet's standard. All other dim sum and hot food items were acceptable. I don't understand why the sushi rice was so cold.
The clam with black bean sauce was the most disappointing item. The clam itself was plum and juicy. But man! The sauce was so flavorless. I wanted to talk to the owner about it but he never walked near our table. I can make a much better version of it with one of my eyes closed.
It was not busy at all, around 10 tables of customers.
It probably won't last more than a year.

Five of us went there last Sunday.
I, overall, agreed with coriolis's comments.
As I came with low expectation, I left happily as I found at least the shrimp dumpling was very good from buffet's standard. All other dim sum and hot food items were acceptable. I don't understand why the sushi r...

 

I am not a fan of buffet but mother-in-law's birthday is coming up and want to bring her to a place that her friends have been raving about. I dug for the reviews of this place and it seems that it has more negative feedback than positive.
I trust the opinion of this board.
If anyone has been there in the past two months, please give me some advice.

 
9
sheila
sheila commented 7 years ago

Menu looks good, price looks good, food looks good...I'm going!
Notice that they offer "Add $4 for family-­‐size portion served
with extra rice on the side". Being Asian, love this idea!!

 
sheila
sheila commented 7 years ago

Maybe people on this board know better than going to Sushi buffet. I went to Takusan in Brookline a few months back and found their value was not bad. Just trying to find a diamond in the rough before it goes downhill like every other buffet place.

 

Has anyone been to Nijiya in Medford? They got mixed reviews in Yelp so want to see what are the take of the readers here.

 
15
sheila
sheila commented 7 years ago

I have to agree that they were quite disorganized during my last visit. The kids were scrambling all over the place just for my order of three steamed "big buns". I didn't find them exceptional good to justify the price ( I don't remember how much it was, maybe $3.5). The only reason I was to try them out after my mission of getting roasted pork at China Star located next store.

 
sheila
sheila commented 8 years ago

I was also very excited to have a Vietnamese opened in the neighborhood. I hate driving for at least 45 minutes to go to Dorchester or Allston/Boston where we have to fight for parking to get a bowl of pho.
We went there last Sunday at around 12:30. The restaurant was half full and a good mixture of Asian and non-Asian customers.
The price was higher than average which was expected. Services were spotty. We ordered fried spring roll, pho, rice plate with pork chop. All of them were not bad taste wise but the portion was small. I'm absolutely not a big eater and I walked out half full.
I really want them to succeed but if the owner reads this, please:
1. Replace the worn out awnings.
2. A little bit bigger portion.
3. Keep the restaurant clean ( I see plenty of dirty spots on the seat even it was dark inside)

I was also very excited to have a Vietnamese opened in the neighborhood. I hate driving for at least 45 minutes to go to Dorchester or Allston/Boston where we have to fight for parking to get a bowl of pho.
We went there last Sunday at around 12:30. The restaurant was half full and a good mixtur...

 
sheila
sheila commented 8 years ago

Most of the staff at China Star love working there which makes me want to go back.

 
sheila
sheila commented 8 years ago

We could make it in 30 minutes from Newton to China Star in Lowell. A bit more expensive but the food is on par with Chinatown's IMO.

 
sheila
sheila commented 8 years ago

This is a very good recipe. I always use fermented black bean. Soak it in water for an hour or two and then smash it up. Stir fry it with the meat and garlic. I mix chicken broth with water which means adding flavor but more sodium! Also, try to cook the rice with a little less water to balance out the sauce.

 
sheila
sheila commented 8 years ago

I think the restaurant serving the best Lau Saa Bao now is Bubor Cha Cha (old name). Years ago, there was a short-lived dim sum place once located at the New Shanghai, they made one of the best Lau Saa Bao but it is now history.

 
sheila
sheila commented 8 years ago

I can't recommend Jumbo or Green Tea as if you do love Cantonese Dimsum they won't be able to satisfy your craving but leave you with sense of emptiness.
I know having a newborn is tough. But the only option I can think of is China Pearl in Quincy before 11:00 during weekend. You can probably get there within 30 minutes. Free and easy parking. Shopping at Kam Man afterwards.

 
sheila
sheila commented 8 years ago

I grew up with Yu Xiang Eggplant (鱼香茄子) which is a Cantonese dish. Some waiters may explain to you that salted fish is used for this dish but I doubt that. I had Black Bean Eggplant with basil only at the restaurants run by Taiwanese.
Since black bean is a very common ingredient in Cantonese cuisine, most kitchens can make it for you even though I don't know where they find the basil which is not a frequently used ingredient.
I think Black Bean Eggplant with basil is a great combination which deviates from the long-established and well-accepted Yu Xiang Eggplant. I guess that is the reasons that the waitstaff are curious about its taste.

I grew up with Yu Xiang Eggplant (鱼香茄子) which is a Cantonese dish. Some waiters may explain to you that salted fish is used for this dish but I doubt that. I had Black Bean Eggplant with basil only at the restaurants run by Taiwanese.
Since black bean is a very common ingredient in Cantonese c...

 
sheila
sheila commented 8 years ago

Really hope they will do good as I felt their passion of making their business successful.

 
sheila
sheila commented 9 years ago

The Siumai lacks salt fish flavor and the beef ball is a bit too hard. It might sound weird but I don't like tasting the soy sauce in the soy sauce for Cheong Fun. But they are not bad.

 
sheila
sheila commented 9 years ago

Finally made a trip to Lowell to try this restaurant out.

Service was generally very attentive until it got busy. The host actually rushed to greet us when we got in. With regard to the food, if I gave the restaurants in Chinatown a score of 8-9, Tenichi in Natick would be 5.5 then China Star got a 7. But I was amazed by the variety of dim sum or special dishes there. In my over 40 years of dim sum experience, I had never seen a restaurant offered so many different items even though I felt bad for the chef and pondered how long they could maintain the standard with such an extensive menu. Price is not cheap but they have to make money!

I don't think I would drive an hour to go to China Star again except if I have to go to NH for shopping. But overall, I felt the owner and the staff tried hard to make the business successful by treating the customers the best they could. One last thing: when we was walking out, I saw almost every table had a tender roast pork and they looked extremely good.

Finally made a trip to Lowell to try this restaurant out.

Service was generally very attentive until it got busy. The host actually rushed to greet us when we got in. With regard to the food, if I gave the restaurants in Chinatown a score of 8-9, Tenichi in Natick would be 5.5 then China Star...

 
sheila
sheila commented 9 years ago

We went there a few years ago and we felt the waitress was very rude to us. We will never go back no matter how good their food gets.

 
sheila
sheila commented 9 years ago

It was one of my favorite dishes back home. Tried once at Hong Kong Eatery and gave up hope of finding a better version. You remind me to try making it at home this weekend.

 
sheila
sheila commented 10 years ago

I wish Ten Ichi was good as it's in my neighborhood. But the reviews on other site deter me from trying it. The restaurant should spend more resources in improving their food instead of writing counter reviews.

 

I want to bring my mom to the newly opened Feng Shui Restaurant on Route 9 in Natick. I heard that they offer lobster, crab leg and shrimp for the night buffet which sounds like a pretty good deal. But quality matters more. Has anyone been there? Not expect anything that is out of this world but look for value and decent food.

 
2
sheila
sheila commented 11 years ago

You already know where the "relatively" good Chinese restaurants are in the west of Boston. The only place I encourage you to try is Beijing Star in Waltham for their basic but "hit the spot" hand cut noodle. I think they are pretty close to what we can get in China.

-----
Beijing Star Restaurant
835 Main St, Waltham, MA 02451

 
sheila
sheila commented 12 years ago

I had their weekend brunch a month ago and it was REALLy good too. I definitely will go back soon.

 
sheila
sheila commented 12 years ago

I really wish that I could check this place out. But their website said business license or tax-exempt certificate was required to be a member. I guess it's not for regular people like me.

 
sheila
sheila commented 12 years ago

I've got no scientific support but in Chinese's culture we always have congee when we don't feel good and an absolute no-no for anything that has chicken in it.