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<\/a><\/div>\n\nWe ventured downtown for lunch to try to find out why China Garden has thrived so long in the tough downtown restaurant market.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n Stepping inside was like stepping into a time machine set to 1985. The space is charmingly dated, with nary a window to be seen in the main dining area.<\/p>\n \nAnd yes, that's a bar in the dining room, something we don't normally see in today's sanitized concept restaurants.<\/p>\n \nService was charmingly old-fashioned as well. Regulars were greeted warmly by the staff, and newbies (like us) were made to feel welcome immediately. The house was full, and the staff was in constant motion, efficiently serving the hungry crowd.<\/p>\n Guided by a friend's recommendation, we tried two different classic choices - sweet and sour chicken, and spicy chicken, AKA General Tso's. Somehow we resisted the throwback Chop Suey that was the first offering on the lunch menu; some childhood memories are best left unrevisited.<\/p>\n While we were waiting, a small basket appeared without explanation, holding something handmade and fried.<\/p>\n \nWe bit in, and discovered the China Garden version of hushpuppies. These were bite sized versions of the fried biscuits that used to be found at every Chinese-American restaurant, but that we've not run across in many years. They were tasty and slightly heavy.<\/p>\n Our entrees appeared shortly. First up was the Spicy \/ General Tso's Chicken.<\/p>\n \nServed on the classic dragon-pattern dishes, the slightly crispy breaded chicken pieces were tossed with onions, scallions, and small mild peppers, then dressed in a brown sauce with a confident bite of freshly cracked black pepper. Not spicy by modern standards, it was flavorful with only slightest hint of heat. Served with a barebones but tasty scoop of fried rice and a gigantic old-school egg roll, this dish was considerably superior to the generic stuff served at most Chinese-American spots. The sauce had slightly softened the crust, but enough stiffness remained to make it a very enjoyable lunch.<\/p>\n Next up was the sweet and sour chicken.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n