It was almost 1 p.m. and I and my regular out-to-eat buddies were comfortably settled in the soft- cushioned seats at a table for four at China House Restaurant on Friday afternoon.
The China House Restaurant is one of those strategically located places whose glass windows provide a diner a superb view of the sea and Beach Road. The spacious interior with its red-painted ceilings, red chairs, and round tables decked out in yellow and gold tablecloths add to the elegant atmosphere and cozy ambiance to whet one’s appetite.
My two buddies who claimed they were not hungry decided to just try one item — crispy fried shrimp with catsup for dipping, for $13.50, and two servings of rice.
I finally decided to try the beef with Chinese barbeque sauce for $11. The beef strips were tender and juicy, covered with a sweetish sauce. Looking for a stronger kick in the tongue, I splashed Tabasco sauce on my plate to contrast the sweetish taste. My buddies were also looking for something stronger to dip the shrimps in and asked for finadene sauce with a double dose of chili.
It’s different when you eat out and can linger and savor the flavors of your food without pressure, but we didn’t have the luxury of time and wrapped up our lunch soon. I still have to go out of China House Restaurant carrying a “take home” pack for my beef with Chinese barbeque sauce. The servings are quite generous.
Most of the food items in the menu at China House Restaurant are above the $10 but below the $20 bracket, except for Chinese specialties and delicacies.
Explore the extensive menu for lunch and dinner. Start from the appetizers and soups and work your way to the main dishes such as vegetables, rice and noodles, chop suey, barbeque, bean curd dishes, fish, pork, beef, chicken and duck.
Give in to the temptation of sumptuous seafood dishes such as shrimps, scallop and squid, abalone, lobster, prawns, shark’s fin, and more, prepared in various, mouth-watering recipes and presentations.
From $11 to $14, you can already have a hot pot of baked crab with bean vermicelli, braised fish fillet, seafood, or spiced beef with bean vermicelli that you and your buddies can share. You can go for steamed rice, fried rice Fukien style or Yeung Chau style.
For dessert, try the Chinese almond jelly, candied apples fruitters, candied sweet potatoes fruitter, lychees, sweet peanut cream soup or scoops of your favorite ice cream flavor.
China House Restaurant’s beverages range from $1.75 to $5.25 and include soft drinks, ice or hot tea, coffee, juice, milk, mixed drinks, Chinese Shao Hsing wine and beer. Cocktail drinks ranges from $5.75 to $6.50 and consists of famous favorites such as Strawberry Daiquiri, Margarita, Tequila Sunrise and more.
China House Restaurant is located near Moylan’s Insurance along Beach Road. The restaurant has wide, parking spaces for diners. It is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch, and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner every day.
They accept all major credit cards but not personal checks. For reservations, call telephone numbers 234-5544 or 234-6312.
