No I really didn't care for this place. I prefer Billee's or China Garden. I may have visited on a bad day but it was bad enough for me not to return. The food did not taste fresh and that...
No I really didn't care for this place. I prefer Billee's or China Garden. I may have visited on a bad day but it was bad enough for me not to return. The food did not taste fresh and that is the worst thing ever when it comes to chinese food.
Outside, you are welcomed by a well designed gigantic horse statue.Quite detailed and exquisite, that it will leave you dazzled and stunned as you enter the restaurant. Inside the restaurant, the ambience fits what you would expect from a beautiful looking restaurant. The surroundings had an amazing blend of Chinese and modern American architecture.High ceiling, authentic looking Chinese wall art and dim lights made the ambience just right and cozy as you dig into your dinner.
By the looks of the waiting area, it is a popular place because of the number of people waiting to get in. We really didn’t wait that long because we went there early, by early I mean about 5:30 PM. Everything in the menu was simple, nothing complicated or a dish you can’t pronounce.The service was great however the server kept getting our bowls even though we weren’t finished yet. I myself didn’t really enjoy the soup because it was taken while I was still in the middle of it.
We ordered some Organic Green Tea and White Tangerine Tea, a Seared Ahi Tuna for our appetizer, a Wonton Bowl (soup), Lo Mien, Chengdu Spiced Lamb, Fried Rice and Kung Pao Scallops and Shrimps.
The teas came first. Both were in authentic looking iron tea pots with small circular patterns. A teapot usually expected to be used by royalty or a very important person. This was a great thing because it really adds to the feeling of dining in China. The taste was good enough, same thing as always, it is still tea. No matter what you add to it still is just boiled leaves. I don’t really know what makes it a relaxing drink, who would like boiled leaves? Some leaves already taste bad as is, how worse could it be if it were boiled?
After about 8 minutes the appetizers came. The Seared Ahi Tuna really looked appetizing about eight pieces of thinly sliced fish under a nice and simple salad. It was nicely seared, a thin layer of brown cooked fish meat on the outside nicely seasoned and the pink uncooked flesh on the inside. The sauce was also good, a nice nutty and tangy flavor really complemented the spices on the fish while adding flavor to the salad. I am a sucker for raw fish like sashimi. So this definitely is a good dish, a must try if I may say so. It was good. The flavors blended beautifully so it truly is a good appetizer.
Five minutes after the appetizers came, the Wonton Bowl came next. It tasted like water, salt, wonton, shrimps and Chinese cabbage. It is simple but still tasted good, nothing new here, except the pork dumplings (wonton) in the soup, it was the best steamed dumplings I have had ever since I moved here in Bakersfield.
After finishing the soup, the Lo Mien, Chengdu Spiced Lamb, Fried Rice and Kung Pao Scallops and Shrimps started occupying the space on our table.I started with the Lo mien; it was the common stir fried noodles. Nothing new from it, it was not so interesting; maybe they stuck to authentic Chinese flavors, so I can’t really say much about it.
I then got some of the Chengdu Spiced Lamb, the Fried Rice and the Kung Pao Scallops and Shrimps, put them on my plate. The lamb was nicely cooked, stir fried in soy sauce with mushrooms, covered in sweet sauce or caramelized sugar and a little bit of chili, just enough to make you want to eat more, the tenderness also made you want to keep on munching, it also had this very inviting aroma of nicely cooked herbs and spices.The fried rice was rice with diced carrots, peas, and mushrooms. The Kung Pao Scallops and Shrimps were nicely cooked, soft and savory and had a very strong smell. The scallops and shrimps had this inviting orange color; every bite you would take would be a big explosion of flavors, literally a big explosion of chili, and other spices. It was salty; the taste was too strong that I had to ask for lemon wedges and squeezed lemon juice on the scallops and shrimps so that it would be bearable. After tasting the lamb and the scallops and shrimps, I compared the tastes. It was basically the same. Both dishes had the same chili kick and the same sweetness and saltiness even though the shrimps and scallops were salty, they were too similar. The tastes didn’t develop; it stayed the same as you slowly chewed your food. In the end it would be just an average dish to me.The similarity was too much that at some point you would just give up and ask for a box. But once you get over the taste you would crave for it, maybe I really did enjoy it. You won’t realize how good something is until it’s gone.
When the bill came, well the price was reasonable. It is I think a fine dining restaurant so expect the price to be a little bit high but still worth the experience. So I would suggest you stay away from McDonald’s or any other fast-food restaurants and try visiting P.F.Chang’s. It is worth all of it.
we love pf changs! used to go to the one in san diego when we lived down there and i actually prefer this one. it's a hit every time, BUT it depends on the dish. for me, the orange chicken...
we love pf changs! used to go to the one in san diego when we lived down there and i actually prefer this one. it's a hit every time, BUT it depends on the dish. for me, the orange chicken is not as good as neighborhood two item combo deals. the more exotic the better with pf changs. try something you've never tried before and you'll be surprised. also, friday and saturday nights a no no. only time our food has been overcooked.
Not your traditional Chinese meal, but definately very tasty. The orange chicken is delicious, as are many other dishes. The outdoor seating is a plus for relaxing with friends and...
Not your traditional Chinese meal, but definately very tasty. The orange chicken is delicious, as are many other dishes. The outdoor seating is a plus for relaxing with friends and enjoying dinner out. The trendy, upscale atmosphere is a nice change from the traditional. I think variety is good a thing.
