Something in the air

Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with My Sun Day News.

Cabin fever is at an all-time high this year. If it’s not the snow, it’s the bitter cold keeping us in. Even poor Rosie has learned to do her “business” outside in record time so as not to spot weld herself to the ground. In one of the rare breaks in the weather, we bundled up and high tailed it out to Woodstock to the Green Garden Chinese Restaurant for a nice Chinese meal.

This restaurant is in a small strip mall with limited parking in front and additional parking in the rear. We walked in and made our way to the front hostess area and were escorted to our table. There were 12 tables and 10 booths in this spacious dining area.

We were immediately given a pot of complimentary hot tea to warm our frigid bones. After perusing the menu, we decided on the Shrimp Toast appetizer ($7.95). This turned out to be the tiniest triangles (4) of shrimp toast we have ever seen. They needed seasoning, and Jim had to drench his in soy sauce. One good thing, they were not greasy.

While waiting for our appetizer, Nancy asked me if I smelled something unusual. I said “yes, but I thought it was my imagination.” From the moment we walked in both of us noticed an unappetizing odor permeating the restaurant. At this point, however, we placed our order and it was too late to leave.

Jim was still cold so he ordered a cup of Hot and Sour Soup ($3.50). This was a spicy chicken broth with pork, tofu, bamboo shoots, and black mushrooms. He said it was tasty and full of ingredients, but it came to him just lukewarm, not what he was hoping for on a cold day.

Time to order our entrees. Nancy wanted the Kung Pao Shrimp ($14.50 which was shrimp sauteed with peanuts and Chinese vegetables in a spicy Szechwan sauce. What arrived was a plate of 12 nice sized shrimp with a ton of zucchini chunks, a few water chestnuts, and some small diced unknown vegetable. This is NOT Kung Pao. She never had it with these ingredients. The menu should have been labeled “Shrimp and Zucchini.” Nancy HATES zucchini and she spent the whole time there fishing out all the zucchini. The only thing nice she could say about her meal was the Szechwan sauce was tasty. If you like zucchini, this is the dish for you. The spice level was non-existent.

Jim saw the Mongolian Beef ($13.50) and wanted to give it a whirl. This was sliced beef tenderloin sauteed with green onions and mushrooms in brown sauce. He received a plate of beef with sliced white onions (not green onions) and a ton of mushrooms. Again, never did he have Mongolian Beef with mushrooms, but on the bright side, if you love mushrooms this is the entrée to order.

As an extra side we ordered the Pan-Fried Noodles ($4.50). This was a small serving which had absolutely no flavor. It needed something, anything, and salt. Very disappointing…

Another unusual aspect was their plates. Our waitress doled out appetizer and meal plates that were ice cold and the minute you put food on them, the food got cold. When boxing up our leftovers the hostess noticed all the zucchini on Nancy’s plate and asked if she wanted a container for it as well. Nancy said “no thank you.” The hostess looked puzzled and Nancy told her that she has never had Kung Pao Shrimp with zucchini. It is supposed to have onions and green peppers and the woman argued with her and walked away in mid-sentence.

FYI: This restaurant is handicap accessible.

Clearly, this restaurant is not a keeper for us. There are just too many things wrong with it.

The price for eating with “something in the air” was $48.50. Getting out into the fresh air, priceless…

Jim’s take: I can eat Chinese food every day, but this will take me a while to get over.

Nancy’s take: Rude hostess, bad food, and a bad smell in the air makes me not want Chinese for a while.

Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com

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