House of Nanking

02/26/10

great fun and great food

by dmanm at Citysearch

The food is wonderful, however, it is best to tell the server that you would like a meal and what you don't eat (ex. "I vegetarian") and let them bring you whatever they choose...at least that is how it used to be. Once when I was there a guy sat next to me and ordered Chow Mein. The owner said to him "you no wait in line to come in here and order chow mein, you go next, order chow mein" and brought him something else.

• Pros: the whole experience
• Cons: they are in SF instead on near my house in Somerville

02/01/10

I Do Not See the Attraction Here

by ORR at Citysearch

I just do not get why people are so crazy about this place? I have been here a few times, and it is ALWAYS the same experience:

* Cramped, long tables elbow to elbow with strangers. Forget having a conversation there.

* LOUSY LOUSY LOUSY service. Ask for anything and you get a dirty look and a rushed, annoyed response. They never return to your table except to bring food, and collect the check.

* Expensive, white people safe, Asian style food. Maybe that is why people rave. If you want safe, this is the place.

* Did I mention expensive? 4 people, 5 dishes, two teas and one beer was $80 before tip. Green tea is $2 per person for a large beer mug filled with hot water and a tea bag hanging on the edge.

* Did I mention the bad service?

* Everything seeps to be deep fried. They would deep fry the rice if the could figure it out. Even the pot-stickers were deep fried!

Ambience: You come in, you are crammed into a long table of other people, they throw a menu at you, start suggesting dishes, eventually say they will "take care of you" and take away the menu. Then, they will just start brining you food. Be careful, they will keep bringing it if you do not say stop.

We started with Calamari. It was deep fried, but not crispy as it was sitting in a pool of oil. The size of the dish was rather small given its large price tag. Next we had the Sesame Chicken, their special dish. This was basically deep fried clumps of chicken in a tangy sauce served with sweet potato slices. The chicken was more deep fried batter than chicken, but it was tasty. We had fish fillet nanking style. Again, deep fried pieces of fish with some vegetables. OK, not great. The house noodles were a sticky, oily, slightly spicy noodle in a bowl with chunks of deep fried chicken placed on top. Pass, it is not good.

While it rates moderate at $11 to $30 per person, the dishes are on the small side, and $20 a head for Chinese is expensive, not moderate/

Summary: This place has buzz , but I think it is left over from a previous time when it used to be better. I find it noisy and cramped, with bad service and mediocre food at best, and way too expensive for what you get.

• Pros: Touristy. Can be fun in a group
• Cons: Everything else

01/18/10

great food

by jefe121 at Citysearch

Great food. Had onion cakes, calamari, and some fish something or other, and it was all great.

• Pros: everything was good
• Cons: none