Tasty Szechuan food, prepared and presented attentively, in a family-style environment. For my nickel, this is the best Chinese restaurant in downtown Mountain View (and I've lived here for years). This is not Americanized Chinese.

Portions are large (family-style) and arrive hot. Spice is reasonably handled -- dishes marked "hot" on the menu will be, but they won't remove the first layer of your tongue. Mild dishes are.

The service is not top-notch professional. I tell people it's like eating at your Chinese grandmother's. It can take work to get refills of drinks, or water. Your server may not speak much English. But their attitude is good -- they do aim to please.

You wouldn't take a date here to impress with the service, but you would take someone you liked a whole lot who also liked good Chinese food.

Reservations not required. Plenty of large tables (for big groups) available.o    [13 Jan 2000 01:07:29]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: General's Chicken, Dry-Cooked String Beans, Hunan Lamb

     ­Anonymous   

Best in Mountain View
Full House – Highly recommended!

I walked in one night, totally unplanned. Just wanted a quiet meal before doing a movie. Upon entering, I was greeted with a warm smile and invited to select any table. The tables are very large. Being a "party of one" it felt a little strange having so much dining real estate before me. But, I did have the huge fish tank behind me so I didn't feel quite so alone. Water and two menus were delivered immediately. My drink order was taken a few seconds later. Within two minutes a steaming pot of tea was delivered. Perfect for a cold drizzling evening.

I chose the larger of the two menus. Knowing that I had a taste for Shrimp with Black Bean sauce, I still perused the extensive menu. There are many dishes under each category including Lo Mein dishes. I decided it was definitely a soup night. So, I settled on Hot & Sour soup and Shrimp with Garlic Sauce entrée.

My server was ready to walk away after writing down the soup. When I indicated wanting an entree as well she asked if I this was my first time dining there. I nodded. With a smile she advised that the soup was quite large. "Perhaps you would like to have just the entree?" she politely suggested. I hesitated a moment while glancing down at the menu to check the soup price again. It was only 5 or 6 bucks. How big could it be? Although I was planning to take the leftovers home, I decided to trust her judgment and substituted potstickers for the entree. That turned out to be a good decision.

While waiting for my food, I took a look around the room. Large, open and well lit. Tables come in two sizes, large and very large. I decided to wash my hands, which would give me a chance to checkout the bathroom. The bathroom was clean. And the water was hot. There were no weird sewer-like odors that commonly linger at the back of many restaurants. This was a major plus. I have actually canceled a food order after finding a filthy bathroom. About five minutes after my order was taken the potstickers arrived. They looked perfect. Golden brown and crisp on the bottom, yet moist along the upper sides. I skillfully grab one with my chop sticks, dipped it into the accompanying sauce and found its texture perfect and taste delicious. The soup arrived in a large, attractive bowl about 5 minutes later. The bowl could easily feed six people.

I worked my way through a third of the soup never touching another potsticker. The soup was just too good to bother with anything else. Filled with fresh, perfectly texture vegetables, full flavored shrimp and meat pieces generously populated the bowl. One of best Hot & Sour soup's I have ever enjoyed.

The remaining soup and potstickers was professional packaged by one of the staff members for the ride home. Not even the hint of a leak from the soup container. The leftovers help make a great dinner for two the following night.

Would I go back again? Absolutely. I have to find out what is on the other menu J

Highly recommended.    [17 Feb 2005 17:12:03]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Hot and Sour Soup

     ­Malcolm, pacific coast dweller