Wu Liang Ye - Review

Intro
Wu Liang Ye - Recommended
36 W 48th St, New York 10036
Btwn 5th & 6th Ave
Phone: 212-398-2308

Surprisingly, it's actually pretty hard to find a decent Chinese restaurant in NYC. Even if you trek into Chinatown, it may only be a 50% success rate of finding a solid Chinese restaurant. Sure, you may find some cheap hole in the wall that's OK, but that's not what I'm usually looking for when I'm sober. Wu Liang Ye is a Chinese restaurant that serves great food. It specializes in Szechuan food, but I always pictured Szechuan food to be insanely spicy (at least the Szechuan dishes I had in Taiwan were). Although it may not be authentic Szechuan, the restaurant is still very good. Overall, I give the restaurant an 78/100.

My Menu
Dan Dan Noodles - Highly Recommended
Poached Chicken - Recommended
Camphor Tea Smoked Duck - Highly Recommended
Sauteed Spinach - Recommended
Steamed fish with bean paste (special) - Highly Recommended

Dish
Dan dan noodles were spectacular. These noodles were definitely handmade and had an unbelievable texture and flavor - kinda reminiscent of spectacular pasta. Poached chicken had the perfect texture with a good sweet/spicy thing going. Tea smoked duck was perfect. The smokiness of the camphor cut the richness of the meat perfectly. The sauteed spinach was good, but it was just that - sauteed spinach. No idea what the fish was and I don't even think it was on the menu. We asked the waiter about the fish dishes and he recommended the dish we had. Steamed whole fish (I think sea bass) with a phenomenal bean paste sauce. Like all the other dishes, there was a nice balance between sweet and spicy - I think catering to the American palate. The fish had the perfect soft texture and the sauce was insane.

Overall Restaurant Experience (78/100)

• Food 8.5/10 - Great Chinese food in Midtown of all places.
  
• Service 6.0/10 - Waiter was an ass, but it's expected at most Chinese restaurants. When we asked for recommendations, he was very reluctant and had an attitude of "just order already." Funny how the attitude is completely different at Japanese restaurants. They do get 1 bonus point for seating us without reservations, since someone else was late for their reservation.
  
• Atmosphere 7/10 - Decor is very interesting. Almost old french or english like with the trimmings on the wall. Place was packed for a Friday night and I would say 75% asian, 25% non-asian.
  
• Price 7/10 - Food was very pricey for Chinese food - about $20 average per dish, but in my opinion, it was still worth it