Helen S.
Yelp
First Ohio branch of a popular upscale Chinese restaurant based in Chicago. Definitely recommend reservations, as there has been a significant wait (even for two people!) on weekends. Outdoor seating not yet open, but the verdant patio is definitely a vibe. A great place for special occasions, but the price point is above what I'd be willing to pay for takeout (now available).
Parking is free in the various Pinecrest parking areas, subject to availability on weekends when events are occurring in the shopping district. The decor is a sleek blend of modern design with traditional Chinese accents, with every piece shipped from China. Despite being relatively new, everything was operating very smoothly even during our visit on week two of opening. The staff is about half Chinese-fluent and half non-Chinese, with a similar clientele. Making for a very fun people-watching experience.
The ambiance is definitely on the swankier side of Chinese dining, with hefty chopsticks, charger plates, and napkin rings - incorporating a little bit of Western design. The decor even extends to the bathrooms, located behind an opaque glass wall. Soothing earthy colors, solid wooden doors, and no-touch wave-to-flush toilets are thus far still in pristine condition. The only two things that seemed out of place were the music (a blend of pop and light EDM) and the paper tablecloths (layered to make it easy to rip away for the next customers). Although, to be honest the paper table covering is a classic Chinese restaurant quirk. For large parties, there are several private rooms available to reserve.
Our waiter was super attentive, giving us recommendations and some time to look over the (hefty Chinese-English) menu, and suggesting that we place an order for the Peking duck first if we planned to order it since it takes a while to prepare. They don't have many liquors, but several beer and wine options and soft drinks are up for grabs.
Presentation of dishes is intricate, particularly the Peking Duck. The Chef's Special Duck Soup was comforting and light, and Wonton Soup loaded with two fat, juicy wontons. We very much enjoyed the Chef's Special Dry Chili Chicken and Half Set of the Peking Duck. The duck is cooked to tender perfection and served with a traditional set of plum sauce, rice wrappers, and cucumbers, with a side of fried duck skin with brown sugar. If you've never had roast duck before and like fattier meats, this is certainly a showstopper piece for the table. I was also pleasantly surprised by the Crab Soup Dumplings, a different spin on the traditional pork filling, which were perfectly soup-y and had a generous proportion of filing to wrapper. Though I found the Chengdu Mapo Tofu too salty for my taste, this was the SO's favorite, and this will definitely raise the heat.