Cameron Weber

Richardson

English 1101

16 February 2018

China Cottage: A Chinese Restaurant Review 

As I walked by the frozen Chinese dragon water fountains to enter China Cottage

and was greeted by a waving good luck cat, I felt this place gave off a friendly tone. On both

sides of the entry, large glowing fish tanks separate the entrance from the dining room making it

feel cozy. Along with the hush sounds of other diners enjoying their meals, this made me think I

chose a good restaurant. My first impression was not misleading, the restaurant exceeded all

expectations: It had a friendly environment, the service was excellent, and the food was very

flavorful with a large selection at a good price.

Entering the restaurant I immediately noticed all the ornamentation creating an

atmosphere I would expect at a Chinese restaurant. This feeling continued throughout the entire

time I was there, because covering three of the four walls are statues, scrolls, masks, and other

decorations with an Asian theme. Many of them caught my eye, like the six masks with different

designs in the corner and the pillars with dragons on them. It was nice to look around and see all

the different types of artifacts meant to showcase past and present Chinese culture. Everything

could be considered art and created very good conversation starters. For example, the masks

brought up how we thought they may have been used, either for an ancient celebration or as

symbols representing Chinese deities. All of this along with the great staff created a friendly
environment that was both semi-formal and inviting at the same time, exactly what I would

expect at a restaurant such as this.

The wait to be seated was very short and we were taken to a booth near the front

window. Before we even sat down, our waiter appeared, introduced himself in a friendly way,

and asked us if we wanted hot green tea. He set an expectation for great service and did not let us

down. Returning with our tea, he explained the option for complete dinners, which includes

soup, egg roll, an entrée, and rice. He then suggested we try the potstickers for an appetizer and I

was glad he did, as they were amazing. The waiter never let the teapot go empty and would often

come by to ask if everything was alright, but never in an intrusive manner. He never got

frustrated when I had questions about the food and always had a smile on his face, making me

feel welcomed. The service was better than what most restaurants have and made for a great

experience.

Choosing just one entrée for the complete dinner seemed almost daunting due to

the number of choices. Since there was four of us eating dinner, we each ordered a different

entrée so we could try several things. We were not disappointed with any of our choices as the

food was delectable. The order in which the food came out was soup and egg rolls first, then

appetizers, then the entrée. I thought this was great because it was the lighter things first, so I

could eat them and still be hungry for my main dish. Although, the lighter foods were brought

out first, I only had a little room left for my main dish because I ate too many of the delicious

appetizers. The egg rolls were nice and crispy on the outside and had plenty of chicken in the

filling, unlike some that have almost all vegetables. The potstickers were steamed perfectly as to

not be doughy, with just the right amount of dipping sauce served to dip each bite. Our
entrees were presented family style, cooked perfectly, and with great presentation. Each dish was

exactly as described in the menu with just the right amount of sweetness or spice and contained a

good mix of meat and vegetables. The only item that I did not really enjoy was the fried rice as I

found it rather bland, but I normally just eat the steamed rice anyway. The portion sizes of

the meals were large, which was great because I was unable to eat it all and enjoyed it again for

my dinner the next day, all for one great price.

China Cottage had eye catching decorations right when I walked in that gave a

sense that this restaurant was a good choice. This first impression was maintained throughout the

whole experience, as the atmosphere, service, and food were all above expectations. The

welcoming atmosphere along with all the decorations made me feel that I was in an authentic.

Asian restaurant. The service during the entire meal was friendly and thorough, with everyone

having a smile on their face. The food was some of the best I have ever enjoyed and there is a

large variety of Chinese food to choose from, so I can have something new the next time I go. I

would highly recommend China Cottage since it was certainly worth the try and I will most

definitely be going back to enjoy it again.