China Bistro

Nadia · 04-07-2009, 08:53 AM

I ate at China Bistro or previously known as Oriental Gardens about three times a couple years ago. One time I got some food to-go after a night of drinking, one time was eat-in ordering off the menu, and another time we went to their all you can eat buffet. I was not pleased with the food at any encounter, although I don't really remember how good the to-go food was considering my condition at the time

The buffet from what I can remember was terrible. Some items were soggy, dried out, utensils were dirty. I've worked with food for years so I could tell by the taste of some items the fry oil was rancid, long over-due for a cleaning and change. The ice cream scoop was placed in a container of water when patrons were done using it supposedly to keep it sanitary. That water was something I will never forget. It was really, really dirty. Not just melted ice cream floating in it either. The food was lukewarm at best. Our eat in experience was really no different. The silverware was dirty and there was an odd smell coming from the kitchen. It lingered in the entire dining room. The bathrooms were also very dirty, which my mother always told me was a good indicator of how clean the restaurant was in general. If so, yikes

The night club is a pretty decent hang out spot. When I was younger, I was a regular fixture there. They have made some very nice improvements to the building. Hopefully they make some improvements to their food and dining area. Honestly I cannot say I have heard anything good about their food. Very nice club though. I think it's great they gave the outside a face lift. Good drink prices, and you don't have a police officer standing over your shoulder while your trying to enjoy a cocktail like some other local bars/clubs. There are too many other good chinese spots in the Lakes Region in my opinion. If they do improve, I would be glad to give them another try. I think it's great they don't use MSG.

Rattlesnake Gal · 04-07-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nadia

I ate at China Bistro or previously known as Oriental Gardens about three times a couple years ago. The bathrooms were also very dirty, which my mother always told me was a good indicator of how clean the restaurant was in general. If so, yikes

Judging by the pictures on their website, they've cleaned up their act.

Quote from their website:

"On January 5th, 2009, China Bistro was awarded at the "Top100 Chinese Restaurants USA Awards Ceremony" in Las Vegas, NV. This annual event is held by Chinese Restaurant News and with the support of the National Restaurant Association(NRA).

"I have never seen a restaurant so beautiful and clean like this in the Lakes Region." - Customer from Laconia"

Upon searching the China Bistro, a recent review for them came up in the China Garden thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pm203

China Bistro has a new chef and is by far the best Chinese food in the area. Since the renovations, and the new chef, we have eaten there numerous times and the food has consistently been top notch. I am extremely fussy and cannot eat most Chinese food due to poor quality. Try China Bistro, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. They are the new game in town.

(I hope it's okay that I quoted from another thread!)

Not to be confused with China Bistro, China Garden is located on Route 3 in Belmont.

Newbiesaukee · 04-07-2009, 03:27 PM

I have never been to China Bistro and it may well be an excellent restaurant. However, I am normally skeptical of "best" lists and on checking the website of the "100 best Chinese restaurants.." I noted this is an industry sponsored award and there are numerous categories of "100 best Chinese, etc. etc." in so many categories (best decor., etc.) that I suspect there is little distinction in the award. China Bistro is not listed in the best overall category and looking at that list I doubt that one of the 100 best Chinese restaurants is in Athens, OH. as is indicated on the list. My kids live in Athens and are very involved with the local food scene and the restaurant listed just ain't one of the100 best in the US. The purpose of this rant is NOT to impugn the China Bistro, just to point out that one needs to be skeptical of "best lists." By the way, my kids just voted me one of the 100 best dads in the US.

michael c · 04-08-2009, 11:38 PM

Normally, the awards go to the people who advertise in that publication.
I can not saythat is the case here for sure but i know the food industry.
Normally what happens is that the people who hand out these awards are the very same people who rake in advertising dollars from the very same restaurants or do most of their buying from Those same publications[which are created by the company who sells them their food..
Any award that a restaurant earns from someone who supplies them with ANY food is not just questionable ,,,but actually condoning such action ,And so, they are actually either bribing or influencing the publication or are in "cahoots " with the very people who are awarding these "awards"

RUBBISH .... AND THAT IS WHAT I SEE OUT IN FRONT OF THIS PLACE !!

Argie's Wife · 04-09-2009, 09:16 AM

Do they have scorpion bowls there?

I think we need a winni-dot-com outing there to test the new place and make sure it's up to our usual standards....

Mee-n-Mac · 04-09-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Do they have scorpion bowls there?

I think we need a winni-dot-com outing there to test the new place and make sure it's up to our usual standards....

And to be fair I think we should compile a list of their competitors in and around the lakes region and do a comparitive study of their scorpian bowls .... errr .... food and service. It might take a few weeks of dedicated drink ... errr .... taste testing but in the end I think we'll have performed a valuable service to all !

Rose · 04-09-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mee-n-Mac

And to be fair I think we should compile a list of their competitors in and around the lakes region and do a comparitive study of their scorpian bowls ....

I LOVE going bowling!!!!

Rattlesnake Gal · 04-10-2009, 08:44 AM

Mee-n-Mac and Rose you crack me up!

I think Argie's Wife is right about a gathering at the China Bistro. At lease we know from soxie that we won't be disappointed with bowling.

AC2717 · 04-10-2009, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

Mee-n-Mac and Rose you crack me up!

I think Argie's Wife is right about a gathering at the China Bistro. At lease we know from soxie that we won't be disappointed with bowling.

just be sure to please not support the club at night please!

Mee-n-Mac · 04-10-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC2717

just be sure to please not support the club at night please!

Better yet ... we go bowling some night. And one by one we go to the manager and say "It's too loud in here, could you please turn down the music." Then leave in a huff if it doesn't get turned down. Mebbe you'll get 1 quiet(er) night out of it.

wifi · 04-10-2009, 03:39 PM

I loved Phu Gee's bowls in Meredith... had maybe one or two in my lifetime...

Time for some comparison... Guess now I'll have to find a DD. (designated driver)

04-07-2009, 08:53 AM	#1
Nadia Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Laconia/Vegas/Florida Posts: 160 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 24 Thanked 19 Times in 10 Posts	Not so hot... I ate at China Bistro or previously known as Oriental Gardens about three times a couple years ago. One time I got some food to-go after a night of drinking, one time was eat-in ordering off the menu, and another time we went to their all you can eat buffet. I was not pleased with the food at any encounter, although I don't really remember how good the to-go food was considering my condition at the time The buffet from what I can remember was terrible. Some items were soggy, dried out, utensils were dirty. I've worked with food for years so I could tell by the taste of some items the fry oil was rancid, long over-due for a cleaning and change. The ice cream scoop was placed in a container of water when patrons were done using it supposedly to keep it sanitary. That water was something I will never forget. It was really, really dirty. Not just melted ice cream floating in it either. The food was lukewarm at best. Our eat in experience was really no different. The silverware was dirty and there was an odd smell coming from the kitchen. It lingered in the entire dining room. The bathrooms were also very dirty, which my mother always told me was a good indicator of how clean the restaurant was in general. If so, yikes The night club is a pretty decent hang out spot. When I was younger, I was a regular fixture there. They have made some very nice improvements to the building. Hopefully they make some improvements to their food and dining area. Honestly I cannot say I have heard anything good about their food. Very nice club though. I think it's great they gave the outside a face lift. Good drink prices, and you don't have a police officer standing over your shoulder while your trying to enjoy a cocktail like some other local bars/clubs. There are too many other good chinese spots in the Lakes Region in my opinion. If they do improve, I would be glad to give them another try. I think it's great they don't use MSG.

04-08-2009, 11:38 PM	#4
michael c Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Normally, the awards go to the people who advertise in that publication. I can not saythat is the case here for sure but i know the food industry. Normally what happens is that the people who hand out these awards are the very same people who rake in advertising dollars from the very same restaurants or do most of their buying from Those same publications[which are created by the company who sells them their food.. Any award that a restaurant earns from someone who supplies them with ANY food is not just questionable ,,,but actually condoning such action ,And so, they are actually either bribing or influencing the publication or are in "cahoots " with the very people who are awarding these "awards" RUBBISH .... AND THAT IS WHAT I SEE OUT IN FRONT OF THIS PLACE !! __________________ " Wisdom does not always come with age...sometimes age comes by itself ! "

04-10-2009, 08:44 AM	#8
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,253 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,455 Thanked 1,357 Times in 476 Posts	Bowling Mee-n-Mac and Rose you crack me up! I think Argie's Wife is right about a gathering at the China Bistro. At lease we know from soxie that we won't be disappointed with bowling.

04-10-2009, 03:39 PM	#11
wifi Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 1,321 Thanks: 282 Thanked 287 Times in 169 Posts	Count me in.. I loved Phu Gee's bowls in Meredith... had maybe one or two in my lifetime... Time for some comparison... Guess now I'll have to find a DD. (designated driver)

The Following User Says Thank You to Rattlesnake Gal For This Useful Post:
Pineedles (04-07-2009)

04-07-2009, 03:27 PM	#3
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,366 Thanks: 966 Thanked 575 Times in 300 Posts	I have never been to China Bistro and it may well be an excellent restaurant. However, I am normally skeptical of "best" lists and on checking the website of the "100 best Chinese restaurants.." I noted this is an industry sponsored award and there are numerous categories of "100 best Chinese, etc. etc." in so many categories (best decor., etc.) that I suspect there is little distinction in the award. China Bistro is not listed in the best overall category and looking at that list I doubt that one of the 100 best Chinese restaurants is in Athens, OH. as is indicated on the list. My kids live in Athens and are very involved with the local food scene and the restaurant listed just ain't one of the100 best in the US. The purpose of this rant is NOT to impugn the China Bistro, just to point out that one needs to be skeptical of "best lists." By the way, my kids just voted me one of the 100 best dads in the US.

04-09-2009, 09:16 AM	#5
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	Do they have scorpion bowls there? I think we need a winni-dot-com outing there to test the new place and make sure it's up to our usual standards....