The owners of AmerAsia understand that a restaurant must combine food, service, ambience, and a loyal customer base to last. Although customers may focus on the food during a first visit, they’ll return again and again only if the service and ambience somehow entice them. If the interior resembles a dump (and I am recalling a couple of restaurants in the region), then there has to be value either in price, very personable service, or incredible food.
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| The Fun Begins at the Bar |
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| Johnny's Chalk Art |
AmerAsia’s co-owner, Johnny, works the lively bar and checks in with customers throughout their visit to the restaurant. It’s a younger crowd and the very fair pricing caters to them. However, Johnny welcomes all and includes them in the fun. His ever-changing artwork on the chalk mural around the bar, Bruce Lee posters, and other wild accessories set a tone that makes it seem like a sports bar, though mercifully there’s only one TV and I didn’t even notice it. Chef Chu (Johnny’s dad) circled the room to ask about the food and our server couldn’t have been more gracious about detailing the items on the menu and the specials even while reminding us
that he’d only been there a month. However, his innocent charm and attentiveness belied his claims of inexperience.
that he’d only been there a month. However, his innocent charm and attentiveness belied his claims of inexperience.
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| Won Ton Soup with Homemade Dumplings |
The food is good at AmerAsia, but with a couple of caveats. We enjoyed the Won Ton Soup, especially the homemade dumplings that were simultaneously meaty but light in the pasta consistency.
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| Crab Rangoon |
Crab Rangoon is Crab Rangoon is Crab Rangoon as Gertrude Stein might have said if there had been reasonable Asian restaurants in Paris in the ‘20s. However, these were crisp, slightly sweet, and not greasy – all good. I liked the Pot Stickers because they also weren’t greasy, sticky, or dreary, but this was lost on Neil who doesn’t like the dish anywhere.
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| Homemade (The Chef's Whim) with Chicken and Fried Rice |
Spice level can be an issue because it wasn’t consistent. Neil ordered a one, though our server said their 5 is another’s 10. He thought his Homemade was hot and Mark thought the same about his. It didn’t scald my taste buds, though the large portion did work for leftovers the next day with some supplements.
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| The General's Chicken |
Chris liked the General’s Chicken, but it wasn’t spicy enough for him. He wasn’t certain he’d ordered what he’d intended.
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| The Squid Special of the Day |
I really liked the Squid special and the fried rice mixed really well with the broth as the server promised. There are daily specials and I think these are the way to go because of the chef’s excitement about them.
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| The Glasstop Table Allows You To Leave Your Fortune To Share WIth Others |
Maybe Johnny will include me in one of his murals. I hope,
I hope, I hope!
Happy Chinese New Year 2012!
Happy Chinese New Year 2012!
2 comments:
I wonder if they changed owners or decor? I used to work 2 doors down and we always referred to it as "Stinky Chinese". We went often because it was CHEAP and actually pretty tasty. I like the cups of crunchies on the table. But your pics make it look way more fancy that I recall it being! :-)
I don't think the owners have changed since you were going there in 2009. Maybe the son has taken more interest and improved on some things! Not sure though. We just enjoyed the whole experience and the fun vibe. Didn't have any crunchies on the table. :(
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