Great China

In a word: As great as it is Chinese.

The specs: #0201
Address, hours & details via Isthmus;

Latest Great China news and reviews at del.icio.us

JM ate the chicken with mushrooms and a fruit punch.
Nichole ate the orange beef and a Pepsi.
The bill was $18, or $9/person, plus tip.
JM and Nichole both gave Great China a B+ (see our grading rubric).

We decided to eat in at Great China rather than do carryout on this gloomy Monday. It was the right choice. The food came out fast, and the service was great. The interior is a bit minimalist, though.

The crab rangoon were probably the best we've had at a takeout place yet, perhaps because they were just moments out of the fry oil. The dipping sauce was better than usual - tangier and lighter. The presentation was also quite pleasing.

Nichole's orange beef was a perfect balance of hot and sweet. By the end of the meal her lips were tingling in a not-unpleasant way. And the fresh broccoli was a nice change from sauce-saturated veggies.

The chicken and mushrooms were better than average, according to JM, but they were not quite hot enough especially when compared with everything else.  He ran into bad portion control again, too.

It all ended with a fine birthday fortune:

The only trouble we could see with Great China is that the temptation to go to China Palace, just a couple blocks away, is too great to resist. Must... not... drool.