Fred B.
Yelp
How do I windup here again and again. Just lucky, I guess, coupled with a hefty amount of resolve and a broad menu that needs exploring!
If you are a bit of a "seasoned" citizen then you well remember the culinary wasteland that was Piedmont NC. My food desert was Greensboro in the 50's and early 60's - home to many Greek operated restaurants, especially in the downtown area, few of which actually served traditional Greek food, early on. In fact there were almost no ethnic options, other than the strictly Chinese American restaurant, The Lotus, which opened in the downtown area in the mid 30's!
Rather, what was served, by them and the many Mom & Pop diners, was standard Southern small town fare - chicken a variety of ways (most often fried, but also baked, stewed, served with dumplings, chopped up in a pot pie, no souvlaki), pork chops, pot roast, spaghetti with a thin sauce with little meat, lots of potatoes (they were cheap and filling), many kinds of greens and beans, and bread was always on the table, as was the sweet tea, always with lemon.
There was fried seafood at Friendly Road Inn (still miss that place) and Libby Hills (also gone now), pork BBQ at Stamey's & Casey's, hot dogs on Hamburger Square and at Yum Yum, Deli sandwiches and more at Ham's, cafeteria options at S & W and Mayfair. Greensboro didn't have a pizza parlor until the early 60's, and then Cellar Anton's arrived on the scene, with personal pizza and singing waiters in the cellar.
So why in the hell am I rambling on about days gone by - because we are so fortunate to have the quality and quantity of restaurant food choices that are now available in the area, especially the excellent ethnic options. I simply wish to point that out from a perspective that some may not be able to appreciate. And this restaurant has moved the needle as much as any in the area - of course that is simply my opinion.
I have a life style that is both broad and narrow on the issue of food. I am on my on, retired, able to pick and choose where I dine, limited only by my mobility issues, which are no small concern, but I make do! And I make do here about 3 or 4 times a month.
On my last 4 visits I sampled Spicy Double Cooked Pork (great heat level, nice portion size), Baby Bok Choy (Get as a side dish and add to soup, noodle, or stir fry dishes), Fish in Sichuan Sauce (added some Bok Choy, huge portion, 3 meals easy), Sichuan Wontons (simply the best starter), Cucumber in Garlic Sauce (serve cold, simple but amazing dish), Dan Dan Noodles (right there with the Wontons), Kung Pao Chicken and Shrimp (no extraneous vegetables seen so often with this dish), and a non traditional dish - Orange Chicken (decent dish, but sweet).
All these items were excellent and plentiful, each good for at least 2 meals for me - the value aspect is consistent here!
I can't help smiling because there are at least a double hand full of dishes I want to try, and I will, Good Lord willing and Silas Creek don't rise! Now if Di Liso's would open for lunch, that smile would be even bigger.
If you are in the Greensboro area, please check out Gourmet China, they are in the same stratosphere as New Sichuan!