I.C. China Bistro
Fried Rice Noodles, Sweet and Sour Sauce
Thai Tea
BBQ Sliced Pork, Barbecue Sauce, Sesame Seeds
Fried Rice, Chicken, Egg, Carrots, Bean Sprouts, Green Onion
Beef with Broccoli, Black Mushrooms, Carrots, Garlic Brown Sauce
Pan Fried Chow Mein, Crispy Lo Mein Noodles, Pork, Zucchini, Broccoli, Onions, Cabbage, Mushrooms, Carrots, Brown Sauce
Pan Fried Chow Mein, Crispy Lo Mein Noodles, Chicken, Zucchini, Broccoli, Onions, Cabbage, Mushrooms, Carrots, Brown Sauce
White Rice
Szechuan Pork, Bell Peppers, Mushrooms, Onions, Spicy Szechuan Sauce
General Tso’s Chicken, Chili Peppers, Green Onion, Sweet and Spicy Sauce
Roasted Duck, Plum Sauce
Orange Peel Chicken, Orange Sauce
Honey Walnut Shrimp, Honey Glazed Walnuts, Rice Crisps, Mayonnaise Sauce
Cheese Wontons, Sweet Cream Cheese
Fortune Cookie
So new that the “Grand Opening” sign still hangs it was as a group of ten that I.C. China Bistro was visited on Saturday, the former Paradise India updated in terms of décor with the Buffet removed and tables added but the overall upscale feel maintained despite serving Americanized Chinese Food in the middle of a Strip Mall.
Family owned and operated by 20+ year industry veterans and proudly purporting the use of local ingredients across a menu not dissimilar to the likes of Panda Express or Mark Pi’s, a 6:30pm arrival finding the space at most 15% full, it was having e-mailed in advance due to the party size that waiters and waitresses nonetheless scrambled last minute to arrange seats – a little bit of coaching along the way eventually yielding satisfactory results and beverages offered subsequently.
Priced not much higher than the average Food Court Chinese when accounting for portion sizes, one plate per person yielding more than enough Food for eight adults and two children, it was with Hot Tea, Thai Tea and Water poured that three complimentary plates of fried Noodles were served alongside Sweet & Sour Sauce, the rest of the order sent out as readied by the kitchen and generally creating a good flow to the evening.
Playing nondescript Country Music overhead, an unexpected choice to be sure, it was as conversation flowed that Dinner began with two sizable Appetizers of Roast Pork beneath sweet and sticky Sauce flecked in Sesame Seeds, the pair easily making it around the table twice before being finished and followed quickly by a mountain of Fried Rice with Chicken and subtle salinity for just $11.
Ordering diversely with a focus on items best fitting the concept, an earthy Beef and Broccoli dish with Fungus and garlicky Brown Sauce closest to what one might find at a more “authentic” venue on Spring Mountain Road, it was to the disappointment of most that a request for “Hong Kong Style” Noodles instead brought forth crispy Lo Mein beneath a Vegetable medley and Pork or Chicken, the flavors and textures fine for what it was but odd that the veteran crew would not be aware of the difference.
Soaking up some of the better Sauces with White Rice, specifically the Garlic Brown one and that from General Tso’s Chicken soon to arrive, it was with approximately a 10:1 ratio of Peppers to Protein that Szechuan Pork fell flat despite barely registering a tingle on the tongue, the fried Bird only slightly hotter but not all that crispy in comparison to a plate soaked in Orange Sauce that was actually quite good despite being quite sweet as a result of just enough grated Zest.
Topping out prices with $20.95 Roasted Duck, a nearly whole Fowl for which Plum Sauce had to be requested as the Waitress worried aloud that “some guests think it’s already too salty,” it was largely a two man job that saw cumbersome Bones picked from textures and flavors on par with most local Dim Sum spots while the Honey Walnut Shrimp and complimentary Cheese Wontons offered as “Dessert” were both crispy and sweet though at $15.95 the former should have used larger specimens which would have led to a better amount of Crustacean beneath the Batter.
TWO AND A HALF STARS: Realizing upscale “Food Court” Chinese is a backhanded compliment that is nonetheless what guests will find at I.C. China Bistro and although the space itself is clean and attractive the hit and miss nature their menu makes one mighty suspicious of all those “Five Star” low-count Yelp! reviews.
RECOMMENDED: Beef with Broccoli, Orange Peel Chicken, Chicken Fried Rice.
AVOID: Szechuan Pork, General Tso’s Chicken, expectations that this “veteran” staff actually knows their way around the sort of Chinese Food you can find cheaper in Chinatown.
TIP: Yelp! Check-ins score 10% off though the local mailer offers 20%.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.icchinabistro.com
