China Blue

China blue is one of the rare, more upscale Chinese restaurants. It specializes in a shanghainese style. Food is well prepared, delicious and still not extremely expensive. I think the salted egg yolk covered fish was one of the more interesting and delicious items I've had in a long time. Good for groups or alone, a great place to dine for any occasion.

Great service and friendly staff. The.food came out quickly and was nice and hot both by temperature and by spicy. We didn't make reservations so we had to sit at a high top. There was very little room between us and other people, but that is New York. Good restaurants are always busy. They do take reservations here though so if you plan ahead you can get a nice place to sit. The interior is well decorated. They have a full bar with many types of cocktails and drinks.

This place is super good! They have a variety of selections to choose from and each dish has its own strong and unique flavors. The interior of the restaurant is super cool as well. Takes you back to the 40s- 50s era back in China (as my Shanghainese friend said) the servers are super nice as well and the food is delicious. We wanted to try out the lotus root appetizer they had, however they didn’t have it, which was a bit disappointing, but this place is still Highly recommended.

It was a nice experience. We were visiting family in NY and decided to run around Manhattan for the day. We hadn't eaten for a while and decided last minute to try China Blue since we didn't know what was walking distance around the area that we would like. I had pretty low expectations since I grew up in the 626, which is densely populated with all kinds of authentic Chinese cuisine from Beijing to Shanghai to Chongqing to Hong Kong. Service wasn't great but since it's a Chinese restaurant, that wasn't surprising. The restaurant wasn't that big and it had maybe three other parties already there when we sat down. I really loved the decor. I felt like I was taken back in time to China during the 1930's and 40's. It was very reminiscent of those days with the old lamps, vintage typewriters and telephones. There was one room that reminded me of old Chinese tea houses. I really enjoyed the ambience there. They had a pretty crazy alcohol menu, which I totally did not expect. It was quite extensive and looked great but I don't partake in libations and my husband didn't feel like drinking in the afternoon, so it was a hard pass. The dim sum selection was very limited and made-to-order. I don't know if that's typically what NY dim sum is like. Where I live, most of the dim sum restaurants are push-cart style where you can see everything and some items like Turnip Cake are cooked on the fryer cart when you order. We ordered: •Crystal Shrimp Dumplings •Baby Cucumbers •Pan Fried Pork Dumplings •Shanghai Shumai •Shanghai Spring Rolls The Spring Rolls were disappointing. They were just regular Chinese egg rolls. When I hear/read "spring rolls," I don't expect egg paper; I expect rice paper like with Vietnamese spring rolls. I expected something light and refreshing, so those were probably my least favorite. All the other items were typical, nothing special or different from things I normally order except for the Pan Fried Pork Dumplings (also known as Pan Fried Pork Buns). I loved China Blue's version. They were so perfectly done and the juicy meat inside was seasoned so well. Totally my favorite of the meal. Between that, the hot tea and the crispy cucumbers, I was pretty satisfied.

Shanghai food. Nice decoration with good food, tipping is not required or expected. Must try is the jelly fish cold dish, heavy sourced duck, wan ton soup, as well as the Lotus root desert, steaming fish was over cooked. In general it's a friendly great place though.

Elegant setting, a blend of a forgotten Shanghai and never-sleeping New York. Old mirrors, dormant chandeliers, busy waiters, colorful dishes; people eat and order again, they laugh, they whisper, they celebrate, they look around, where is the waiter, they order more food... Drinks are well priced, food is overall good with a few misses. I really liked the thousand year eggs and the pork buns. The shrimp dumplings were bland. The pork belly with mustard greens was a failure. For dessert, the pumpkin cakes were beautiful and delicious.

The decor was comfortable, inviting, and relaxing. The food was fantastic and authentic. The drinks that we had were excellent. We tried the Shanghai shumai, the eel wuxi style, dongpo pork, lions head meatballs, and lotus with glutinous sweet rice. Everything we had was delicious (especially the incredibly tender and moist meat ball). I would 100% go back for the drinks, ambience, and food.

A unusual Chinese restaurant with great quality of Chinese food. That means most of other Chinese restaurants are making the food that doesn’t taste like Chinese food (I’m Chinese sure I know how Chinese food tastes XD). General design of the place is appealing and filled with nostalgia. Musics are peaceful. One of the dish I want to recommend is “crab tofu” (Forgot the name on the menu, but I guess this will work) (it’s not sweet and extremely good with rice ;D).

Lucky to have snagged an RSVP for a work dinner (originally with 4, then a last minute addition) and the staff was very accommodating. A very unassuming storefront, but once you're inside, the space is much larger, as well as multiple floors. Keep that in mind if you didn't plan on leg day to climb the flight of stairs (which we did, but totes worth it). Food was awesome! There's a TON to choose from (dan dan noodles, marinated cucumbers, spicy lobster, many varieties of rice dishes, dim sum) and the cocktails are great too. Very shareable and the staff was very helpful providing guidance and suggestions (always helpful with a huge menu). Come hungry!

Great food, great service and just an overall good experience. You feel like you are in your Chinese auntie's dining room, very homey and low key. Try the dan dan noodles and the cumin lamb. These are my go to dishes.

We enjoyed everything I ordered!! We tried all of this for 6 people. You can make a last minute reservation on the day of or you can walk in, as well! Fish Blossom Spicy Cumin Lamb Loofa with scallop Spicy Fish Fillet Fried rice with duck Fried rice with shrimp Mouth watering fish

Such an incredible explosion of delicious flavors, I would go back again and again. Loved all the items we ordered. The soup dumplings were some of the best I've had in the city. The star of the show was the duck fried rice and the fish. Service was on point and the kept the water flowing on a hot humid day. Not overly fancy but is nice enough to entertain parents or an out of town client. Will become a go to favorite!

Great for parties & large groups -- would highly recommend a visit! Favorite had to be the fried fish dish in the second pic

Food: The food comes out incredibly fast. They are small plates that you can share. We got: -Crispy Eel Wuxi Style- sweet-savory and crunchy/chewy -Mung Bean Jelly- good, but hard to grab with chopsticks; we gave up -Crystal Shrimp Dumplings (4)- standard and good -Spicy Cucumbers- standard and good -Spicy Fish Fillets- perfectly crispy and spicy -Short Ribs in Claypot- yummy but overcooked; the meat wasn't tender, it was hard Drinks: I wasn't super impressed by their cocktail list. I think they could've used Asian liquors but what they had were Western brands. I'm glad to have tried the food here, but it was good for a one-time visit. The restaurant was packed though.

Overall I enjoyed the meal. Price point is on the upper end for Chinese food, but the portions were generous. Not a fan when Chinese restaurants charge extra for white rice though, but at least Cafe China only charges $2! I ordered the loofah with dried scallops because I was interested (and I wanted a veggie!) It was a non-spicy dish of a vegetable that's similar to Okra. A good amount of seeds. I enjoyed the dish more for the dried scallop pieces and mild flavor (which helped when having other spicier dishes). Wished the dan dan noodles had more flavor and was a bigger portion overall; I split with one other friend and still wished I had more. Don't order these dan dan noodles expecting it to be anything more than an app for the meal. All the food seemed good quality and the food comes out QUICK like within 5 minutes of ordering. Nice, spacious dining space of two floors.

We came here a bit late on a Friday night shortly before they stopped taking orders. It was lively and bustling with energy. The waiters were super nice and helpful--even moving the entire bench to recover my phone! The food was fresh and delicious--it came out very fast so this doesn't seem to be a place where you have to wait long for your food. And it comes out as it is made. The spicy fried fish was so good that I froze my leftovers and took them home with me on my 6 hour flight the next day lol I'll definitely be back!

Our party of 6 (4 adults and 2 children) came to this restaurant for dinner on March 22, 2025 (Saturday) since it's conveniently located directly across from the hotel we were staying at (Embassy Suites). The food was quite spicy overall, but very tasty. The interior of the restaurant was modern, but somehow traditional Chinese at the same time. The service was also very prompt, which was also a bit surprising for a Chinese restaurant. Our group's favorite dish were the Spicy Fish Filets & Kung Fu Shrimp. Both dishes were sufficiently spicy and well-seasoned with Szechuan peppers and garlic. Even the scallion pancake was quite good because it was very crispy and flaky. Overall, I would definitely recommend this Chinese restaurant that happens to NOT be in Chinatown in NYC.

Another delicious meal from CC, this time for takeout. I ordered the fried fish box with purple rice and spicy cucumbers (for myself) and an order of kung fu shrimp to share with my team. I can't get enough of these shrimp, they're so crunchy and pack a TON of flavor--my team and I usually head to Wohop to get loaded on drinks and multiple orders of salt & pepper shrimp but the kung fu shrimp here at CC absolutely blows Wohop away (sorry! We still love you!) You have to eat the whole thing with the shell, and the dry crunchy chili peppers are like umami chips. It was my first time ordering a lunch special and the fish box is incredible, with a fresh wedge of lime to brighten everything up...chef's kiss. Pickup was super easy, the host at the stand ran to the back and brought my order out and even let me check to make sure my items were correct.

Cute interior and delish food! This would be a cute date night spot/dinner w friends. Would get everything again, good portion sizes (ate w 4 people) + affordable ($16.50ish pp) Dan Dan noodles ($12) - this flavor was sooo good, I will say the noodles were a little thin for my taste but I would def get this again Pork dumplings in chili oil ($10) - solid and have good flavor, tbh I like DTF's better but would still get this again Scallion pancake ($8) - flakiest pancake, one of my friends said maybe the best scallion pancake she's had in nyc Mapo tofu ($18) - good portion size. It was a good amount of spice for me where it wasn't too mala but still had good flavor Instagram - @joangela.eats

Everything was made really well here, including: - double cooked pork - sautéed string beans - beef tripe appetizer - spicy fish fillets The only thing that I didn't love were the pan fried pork buns.

This review is for their private dining. I booked the Flower Room for 11 people and it was perfect. The room it self is pretty minimal & casual decor-wise, but it was clean and well maintained. The booking process was easy and they reach out to you to confirm everything - they were also super flexible even the day of. Room feels private and intimate. We didn't feel rushed. If you're looking for a private dining (and nothing fancy) this is definitely a great deal. I would rent again! I didn't veer from the preset food options and didn't feel like I needed to: everyone enjoyed the food and they definitely know how to portion the food out. There was plenty for everyone. All the dim sum items were standard, but good (what you'd hope for) and some entree standouts were: -Tea Smoked Duck -Ginger Scallion Lobster: this is a show stopper! -Fish Blossom: also a showstopper

Amazing Sichuan food. I have been here four times, and the food tastes fantastic each time. I recommend ordering several dishes to share so that you can try more food. My favorite dishes are the braised pork Szechuan style, braised pork trotters, husband and wife special, and stir fried cabbage. The vibes and service are also great. The upstairs section is especially cool (I think you can only go if the group is of at least 3 people). The only reason I rate this restaurant 4 stars and not 5 stars is because the roast duck is not that good (it's very dry), and drinks are way too strong lol. But overall, I highly recommend this place for great Sichuan food.

The experience was okay overall. Food was decent, but nothing really stood out. Service was polite but slow. Not a bad place, just not one I'd rush back to.

Consistently delicious and spicy. I had sea bass in a broth with shredded tofu and Sichuan peppers. My husband had Kung fu shrimp . This place is excellent both in service and food.

- Locale Destination - It's on W 37th st and 6th ave in Midtown Manhattan. It's unassuming spot thanks to the entrance. Ambiance: cozy, modern, a bit more higher end. Menu: appetizers to entrees. Big drink menu included cocktails. Service: quick, typical, they could smile. Price: $$$, not worth it. - Gluttony Expedition - Everything is salty and spicy. So I warned you. - Gluttony Expedition - Orange pu-erh tea: nice and smoky orange zest for flavor. But don't leave it too long since it'll get too smoky. Interesting. Porched Okra appetizer: cold, sour, spicy. Not bad! Pork soup dumplings (4): ok Sea bass with rice peppers: ok. Fried rice: Not bad but tad salty. - Conqueror's Deduction - Taste quality isn't bad, but tad salty and spicy. For $$$ and overall experience is meh for me. If you command that much, you should bring more. NYC has full of excellent Chinese restaurants. Do I wanna go back? Doubtful. If you don't like spicy, not recommended.

This is my go-to place in the city when I'm craving for authentic Chinese food. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful (retro style) and noise level is pretty low. Every dish I've tried has been a 10 out of 10. *Good* 1. Crystal Shrimp Dumplings - I always order these as an appetizer. There's a big chunk of shrimp in each dumpling. 2-3. Soup Dumplings & Scallion Pancakes - Good! But didn't find them particularly special. 4. Spicy Cucumbers - Pairs nicely with all dishes (like pickle or kimchi) has a bit of spicy kick. 5. Szechuan Pickled Vegetables - I personally prefer these over the spicy cucumbers. 6. Fried Rice with Shredded Duck - Sometimes simple is best. If you're ordering any main dishes, this pairs well and balances the meal. **Exceptional** 7. Eggplants in Garlic Sauce - A must-try! This is the only eggplant dish I'll eat (although I do not usually eat eggplant). The garlic sauce is amazing, and the portion is generous. 8. Chungking Spicy Chicken - Delicious! It's pretty spicy, but I couldn't stop eating it. If you're debating between this and Kung Pao chicken, go with this one. 9. Ma Po Tofu - Classic. Love the mild spiciness! Perfect if you're looking for something that pairs well with rice. *Your party must arrive in order to be seated. * Reservations are recommended as this place is popular on both weekdays and weekends. *Outside drinks (such as coffee) are not allowed in the restaurant. *Very close from Penn Station *Decent/affordable price on all dishes

Checked out this place spontaneously and loved the interior design and decor so much. It reminded me of a vintage hong kong cafe aesthetic. They had a bar area, a really cute tree, and tables in the back. The iced tea was so refreshing and yummy. I was expecting a little more from the Dan Dan Noodles and they tasted a little more basic/plain to me than I wanted. However the braised meat dish hit the spot! It was so saucy, authentic, and paired so well with rice. Definitely recommend!

Truly try everything. There's not a single bad thing to say about this spot. Vibes are immaculate, food is freaking incredible, and service is so great. Been twice so far, and my favorites are: - smoked bamboo shoots (MUST TRY!!) - ma po tofu (must try!!) - curiously tasty chicken - spicy fish fillets also good - duck fried rice - braised pork szechuan style but really - the whole menu is likely to be insanely good.

Traditional Chinese Szechuan spot in midtown. I'd say this spot is for the classics. Makes you feel like you stepped into a part of China almost. Service was quick, easy sit down for lunch without a reservation. The restaurant wasn't too busy. Good vibes overall. Food wise, dan dan noodles and mapo tofu were classics. We also loved the cucumbers! For the record, I think Chili wins.

We were seated upstairs at a table for 6. There are smaller rooms that could sit 10-12 people. I found it funny that there was only 1 gender neutral restroom stall in the hallway. My favorite dish was the crispy eel Wuxi style. It was crispy and sweet. Very addictive. Not oily. I could eat the whole bowl by myself. Husband and wife special was thinly sliced beef. Like roast beef but slightly spicy. Mala Dikon: spicy pickled turnip. It's got a good crunch. It's helps to open up your appetite and palette. Shrimp and Chinese sausage fried rice: good amount of whole shrimp. I like how they cut the Chinese sausage to smaller pieces. Dry pot cabbage: cabbage was slightly sweet. Good crunch. Smoked bamboo shoots: at first glance I thought it was beef chow fun. It's thinly shaved bamboo shoots with a nice smoky flavor. It's light, and not spicy or salty. (I normally don't like bamboo shoots.) But I love how this dish was prepared. Shredded chicken and yellow chives: I love yellow chives. This is not a spicy dish. Spicy fried fish fillet: this was probably the most spiciest of the 10 dishes we ordered. It is like fish and chips but spicy with a kick. I normally don't eat spicy food. I was out of my comfort zone. My friend lives in the area and highly recommended this place. Surprisingly all of the dishes were delicious. Service was great! I would eat here again.

I love coming here whenever I am in the area. Their dandan noodles are the best in the city. I'm also a fan of their chungking spicy chicken and sauteed string beans, and their cumin lamb! Perfection. The location interiors are beautiful too, with old lamps and just a generally nostalgic atmosphere with moody vibes. It reminds me of "In the Mood for Love" every time I walk in.

I have come here a couple of times for lunch. It's a full service restaurant. It a very good size with plenty of seating. The service is quick and friendly. They lunch specials that come in a bento box situation which is really cute. Other items on the menu are nice portions served family style. The spicy chicken and string beans are my favorite dishes...so far!! But everything is good A+ do recommend.

Enjoyed my meal here! It's a cozy spot and was pretty crowded on a Tuesday night but we ended up only needing a 20 min wait. Food was delicious, loved the veggie dumplings, scallion pancakes, the veggie fried rice, and the sautéed string beans were so tasty. Would definitely be back!

Great authentic Sichuan food. Double cooked pork was great, and the spicy fish fillet were amazingly crispy while tender inside

Oh my, this place is fantastic and hits just right. To preface, I ordered takeout and this review only pertains to the quality of food and not about the service or ambience of the restaurant. As a Taiwanese person who loves spicy food, I thoroughly enjoyed Cafe China. I was not expecting the spicy fish fillet to be fried fish but I fell in love with it regardless. Both the husband and wife special and mouthwatering chicken were, well, mouthwatering. Both were just perfect for pairing with some rice and beer. Would definitely come back to Cafe China and try some of their other stuff.

We tried the Loofah with Dried Scallops and the Fish Blossom--both were outstanding. The loofah was delicately sweet and full of comforting, home-style flavor. The fish was wonderfully crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside. The sauce was just right--flavorful without being overly sweet nor heavy, as can sometimes happen at other Chinese restaurants. The pine nuts added a nice texture to the dish, and the sauce paired perfectly with rice.

I have a mix feeling about Cafe China, I love the bar area. We tried few items on the menu: Mushroom with Spinach - Delicious Crispy Eel Wuxi Style - I wish it was not too sweet ( very sugary) Sweet & Sour Baby Ribs - Again it was too sweet, slightly sour but you could hardly taste it. Curiously Tasty Chicken - Delicious Spicy Cumin Lamb - Very salty Smoked Bamboo Shoots - love this For drinks we tried Lucky Lychee and 2046, both drinks were delicious but my fav is Lucky Lychee. The bartender was great and service was fast. Overall I would rate 3.5

Amazing place for schezuan. Pros: + The vegetarian dishes are actually very flavorful - I love the mapo tofu and the mushrooms, and the eggplant with string beans + Super chic decor - a gorgeous blue vintage vibe + The lamb cumin gets it's own star + Also another one for the blossom fish. It's one of the dishes I keep craving all the time + Friendly staff Cons: - Can be a long wait

We came here on a Friday night for dinner. As we had a reservation, there was no wait and we were seated immediately. I definitely recommend reserving ahead of time to avoid waiting. We were seated upstairs overlooking the bar and restaurant which was super cool! Our waiter was super friendly, but the service was a bit slow. We ordered: - Eggplants and String Beans - delicious and flavorful! - Dan Dan Noodles - they were able to accommodate us and remove the pork from the noodles and it was pretty good! - Spicy Fish Fillets - it was not very spicy, there was a bit of the numbing spice, but it still wasn't as spicy as I hoped it would be (given that it was rated as three chilis on the menu). Overall, we had a great time and I definitely recommend checking this place out!

Good food with good flavors . Nice spot in Midtown. Fun drinks. Very convenient it was across from my hotel and on several nights when it was raining, I could just duck in and eat.

Cafe China is a top tier Chinese restaurant specializing in Szechuan restaurant. They are primarily known for their Kung pao chicken and Chungking chicken (with dry chili) but they also offer other classic favorites. Even though Szechuan food is usually very spicy, they allow you to specify whether you want your food prepared with or without spice. This was a game changer for me, since I love the taste of Szechuan dishes but I'm more sensitive to heat. I'm usually a general Tso girl but they don't offer this on their menu. Their Kung pao chicken was good enough that I didn't feel like I missed out on much. I'll admit I did miss the usual bell peppers and water chestnuts I'm used to in general tsp just a little, but the chicken was quite good. It lived up to the hype. I was a little surprised by the ginger flavor since it's not something I usually taste in Kung pao chicken but it works in this dish. It wasn't too greasy either. Very balanced and savory flavor. Price wise, this is a little more than your typical mid range Chinese restaurant, but I think the value is worth it. The portion of chicken in my meal was good too. Since this was a takeout order, I didn't get a chance to enjoy the ambience of the restaurant, which is actually quite beautiful from what I've seen in pictures (reminiscent of old Shanghai), but I would certainly come back to dine in. After my fiasco of a dinner yesterday, it was so nice to have really good food today!

Pretty solid Szechuan restaurant in Midtown! I made a reservation for a Saturday evening but when I arrived it wasn't terribly crowded. The staff were super friendly at explaining the menu and the interior was nicely decorated. It was a relaxing atmosphere making it a good place to grab a meal. My friend and I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles, Mapo Tofu, and Sweet + Sour Baby Ribs. The noodles could have used a bit more flavor but the ribs were cooked to perfection and mapo tofu was a classic that packed some heat. I'd definitely return to try some of their other dishes.

I ordered 2 dishes to go, so I can't comment on the service or ambiance. The food, however, was fantastic. - Dan Dan noodles: 9/10 (pretty good Dan Dan noodles, but it wasn't as spicy as I thought it would be.) - Husband and wife lung slices: 10/10 (really good and addicting. Definitely has the Sichuan flavor kick.) I'll definitely be back next time to try out more of their dishes!

I came to Cafe China for a birthday, although I've also been here 2 other times before. The space is huge, with both a downstairs and upstairs section. We were a group of 9 but we had plenty of space where we were seated. We ordered a LOT of food, from the husband and wife special to Dan Dan noodles to the dry chili chicken and fish. My favorites were the sweet and sour fish, green beans, and eggplant. Overall, pretty yummy! But I remembered it tasting better before lol

did a huge family style ordering so we had a variety of food to try. everything was good and not too spicy for my level (i like medium level spice and more flavor). great spot to hang out and eat, not too loud and i light the brighter lighting!

The food was overall very yummy, and the portions were generous. My friends and I ordered four dishes and still had some leftover. My personal favorite was the double cooked pork, but my friends also had favorites in other dishes. I definitely would recommend for a nice hearty meal. The ambiance of the place itself was also fantastic!

I really really really wanted to give this place 5 stars. It was by far the best Chinese I have had in the city to date. The food was insane. The restaurant is so beautifully decorated. The reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because the wait staff was not very attentive. We had to chase someone down anytime we wanted something. No one came over to our table for 15 minutes and anytime we needed something no one checked in on us we had to flag someone down to get our waiter. Other than that it was a great meal. The duck was the best duck I have ever had. It was like candy. The dumplings were great and the soft shell crab was definitely a stand out. Definitely would go back here, but hoping for better service next time!

If you are looking for a really solid Szechuan meal, this is the spot! I lovedddd the braised short rib, mapo tofu, and soft shelled crab. This place is cute for a lunch or dinner with friends and interior design is stunning! It is on the more casual side to Blue willow overall worth to try!

A convenient location as it's located near Herald Square. The portions are big and hearty -- I had leftovers for the next day, which still tasted so good! Since it is Szechuan the dishes can be hot, which I appreciate. Some Szechuan restaurants reduce the heat. The three pepper chicken did make me sweat! The rice unfortunately is extra here and doesn't come with the dishes (so be sure to ask for it on the side)! I'd come back and get the Mapo Tofu and the Three Peper Chicken. The vegetable potstickers were good but nothing too amazing, could pass on that next time. Mapo Tofu Three Pepper Chicken Dan Dan Noodles Vegetable Potstickers

Tried items ranging from their dim sum menu, to stir fried veggies, to their Sichuan spicy soup. I feel there are better options out there. The pan fried dumplings were on the breadier side and didnt have enough soup in them. The eggplant and green bean dish was good. The red beef soup was very mediocre. It wasn't anything to write home about. I feel like you could recreate this with some hotpot beef slices you'd get at a grocery store and a bunch of red peppers.

Dropped one star due to some food dishes being just okay. The ambiance is definitely nice. Love the three stories and subtle decor. We made a reservation about five days in advance for dinner on a Sunday, and it was pretty busy! We ordered: 1. Lucky Lychee cocktail (5/5) a little strong but delicious 2. The Golden Plum cocktail (4/5) 3. House Smoked Tofu (cold dish) (3/5) pretty spicy and didn't love the texture 4. Dan Dan Noodles (5/5) the best dish! Noodles were cooked perfectly 5. Tea Smoked Duck (5/5) also very good although they should include two more buns since the ratio of meat to buns is off 6. Eggplants and String Beans (3/5) this was just okay. 7. White Rice (2/5) how do you get rice wrong?? By making it hard and undercooked Would I return? Perhaps for the lunch box.

Yummy sichuan food!!! Cafe China has been on my list for a while and I'm glad I finally got to try it! We had a reservation and were promptly seated. The aesthetics of the restaurant were very old timey Shanghai which was cute! Got the braised black bean pork, eggplant and string bean, peppercorn fish stew, and green chili beef! Loved all the dishes and would recommend all of them. Portion sizes are pretty decent for the amount you pay.

Solid sichuan food in the city and no wait when we went. It was happy hour so we had some wine, the happy hour menu is pretty limited. We got the cumin lamb, mapo tofu, and the eggplant and bean stir fry. The Cumin lamb was a little bit salty for us but had good flavor. Mapo tofu was solid and the eggplant and beans were tasty. Definitely needed lots of rice for the food. Everything was solid, but not too spicy, especially for sichuan food. Service was good and the space was very large, but not crowded at all/

I've never heard of this place, and I don't even know if this is Sichuan food, but the food is pretty great. My friend has a birthday event here with a preset menu for almost 15 of us in this cozy room with cute decorations. I particularly liked the fish and green beans. My friends also really like the mouth watering chicken, but I'm not a huge fan of anything spicy. The service was not great though. They had gave us a limited time to dine (an hour and half) but then they served the food so slowly and then never really came to check on us, so we waited a long time just to get boxes and leave. They also said they would charge us extra if we overstayed our time, which makes sense if they didn't serve us so slowly. I don't think they charged us extra, but it was just a long wait for a preplanned event.

Amazing spot for dinner! It doesn't look like much from the outside but it is stunning inside! Two stories, only a 3 minute wait with no res on a Friday. We got a private little area on the second floor. Food was great, recommend the Curiously Delicious Chicken (yes that's what it's named). Dan Dan noodles were also good.

MY ORDER: FRIED RICE WITH DUCK ORDER: CURIOUSLY TASTY CHICKEN (MADE IT SPICY) ORDER: SHRIMP SHUMAI DRINK: GINGER ALE PLUS A PITCHER OF COMPLIMENTARY WATER. Majority of my day was spent walking around Manhattan. From the lower east side to upper west side. Downtown to uptown; stopping by a seminar and then getting invited to a protest. I was trying to get my "steps in" before heading north to make the final preparations for the Easter extravaganza with my lil one. As I was walking and sight seeing the city of tourist traps; I began to wonder what is FOR dinner?... At first I was literally craving anything with Fried Chicken. But I wanted that extra crisp exterior to it. So I started seeking my resources. Because very indecisive, then I was thinking about falafels (thanks to my very beau lady friend). Again I went to my resources, became very indecisive. So I ended up choosing Chinese cuisine (Café China) Now this fine tight space establishment doesn't offer any physical menu. You have to scan a QR code to search for the menu. At first glance I did start getting a bit aggravated because I wasn't seeking anything alcoholic (I am SOBER) nor an 8 dollar sparkling water nonsense. I couldn't find alternatives beverages till I asked the waiter. He is very professional AND friendly(strong work ethic). The meal itself to ME was satisfying. After walking around for 30 mins trying to decide WHICH CHINESE RESTAURANT. Each bite of my "Curious George Chicken" I mean "Curiously Tasty Chicken" tasted very tender and seasoned to the core! Each piece didn't fail to dissatisfy my hunger! From the sauce combine with the chicken pieces, I recommend this dish. Now for the important dish...the Fried Rice with duck...... now it is known that I absolutely put rice as my TOP 3 favorite dish... it is indeed important for me to make sure I tell y'all whether it is cooked to perfection from the hands of the gods. I must say.... It is! The rice tasted perfect, fluffy ! Amazing My shrimp shumai....IS THE APPETIZER. Overall... The meal alone is definitely meant for two with the portion i literally received. The pricing is ok-ish My seating was cozy and comfortable. The environment wasn't too loud so I was able to watch a couple videos as I ate my meal. The restaurant itself looks good. Maintained and organized. Staff is professional for sure. I definitely recommend bringing a date...or a group of friends Please support the locals!

Amazing authentic Chinese food with very nice 1920s decor!! I love it. The best Chinese restaurant I've tried recently. My top picks: 酸汤鱼 鸭肉炒饭