Cheng DU

WENDY AND TOM DINE OUT

We met a group of friends at Cheng Du and each had a different meal. We are reporting on just what we ate to keep our reviews consistent. Cheng Du is an attractive, large restaurant with a separate bar area. The rooms are made to feel more intimate by the use of dividers. Between two of the rooms are fish tanks with lovely, brightly colored, tropical fish. The tables have white, fabric tablecloths, red napkins and two live roses in a simple vase. Menus are sandwiched between two interesting wooden like covers. Service is a bit slow, but not too bad. The presentation of the foods is attractive and the garnishes give them a distinctive look. We enjoyed our meals because she enjoyed the company. We thought the food was good, but the others in the group felt that it was better than that. Perhaps we like a different taste, or perhaps they made better choices. We think we should return to Cheng Du and make other selections since there were aspects of the restaurant that we definitely liked.

RESTAURANT:

CHENG DU

157 Turnpike Road (Route 9 Westbound), Westborough, MA

DATE:

January 14, 2000 and September 8, 2000

MEAL:

Dinner

BREAD:

A small, doughy, bread like circle with scallions was cut into 6 pieces and served with butter on the side. Although somewhat indistinguishable, it was certainly not offensive

APPETIZER:

Hot and Sour Soup ($2.00) Wendy found this to be too spicy and the hot part overwhelmed her mouth so that the flavors got lost. The portion size was large and the soup was served with plastic Chinese soup spoons.

Seafood Hot and Spicy Soup ($2.50?) Tom thought the seafood pieces in the soup were good but that the broth was not

Egg Drops Soup ($2.00) Horrible! This was not a soup but a bright yellow sticky offering. It appeared that egg yolks had been partially cooked, a thickener added, and then it was served. It had a consistency similar to soft boiled egg yolks.

Crab Ragoons (6) ($4.50) Very Good - a nice light pastry, but the insides needed a little more flavoring.

SALAD:

ENTREE:

Crispy Orange Beef ($10.95) Not very good - The beef pieces were somewhat tender but cut too thick. The flour coating tasted like paste and the beef was not "crispy" but soggy

House Special Prawns ($12.95) An average presentation of this dish. There were an adequate number of prawns and the sauce was quite good

Crispy Beef with Sesame ($10.95) Good, but no more. The beef was somewhat tough and the pieces were too large. The spicy sauce was not spicy at all, in fact, it was almost too sweet.

Emperor's Duck ($12.75) Good - Very Good. The crispy duck was attractively presented with assorted vegetables. It was too bland for Tom, but Wendy liked it!

DESSERT:

Fortune Cookies - the waiter came with a handful of them and placed, or sometimes threw, them down beside each diner.

OTHER:

Portion were all a good size

Very clean except for the Ladies Room

Separate room with a bar. Menu items can be ordered at the small bar tables. "Happy Hour" appetizers available free on Friday nights.

Plenty of free parking

OVERALL:

B-

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RESTAURANT:	CHENG DU
	157 Turnpike Road (Route 9 Westbound), Westborough, MA
DATE:	January 14, 2000 and September 8, 2000
MEAL:	Dinner
BREAD:	A small, doughy, bread like circle with scallions was cut into 6 pieces and served with butter on the side. Although somewhat indistinguishable, it was certainly not offensive


APPETIZER:	Hot and Sour Soup ($2.00) Wendy found this to be too spicy and the hot part overwhelmed her mouth so that the flavors got lost. The portion size was large and the soup was served with plastic Chinese soup spoons.
	Seafood Hot and Spicy Soup ($2.50?) Tom thought the seafood pieces in the soup were good but that the broth was not
	Egg Drops Soup ($2.00) Horrible! This was not a soup but a bright yellow sticky offering. It appeared that egg yolks had been partially cooked, a thickener added, and then it was served. It had a consistency similar to soft boiled egg yolks.
	Crab Ragoons (6) ($4.50) Very Good - a nice light pastry, but the insides needed a little more flavoring.
SALAD:
ENTREE:	Crispy Orange Beef ($10.95) Not very good - The beef pieces were somewhat tender but cut too thick. The flour coating tasted like paste and the beef was not "crispy" but soggy
	House Special Prawns ($12.95) An average presentation of this dish. There were an adequate number of prawns and the sauce was quite good
	Crispy Beef with Sesame ($10.95) Good, but no more. The beef was somewhat tough and the pieces were too large. The spicy sauce was not spicy at all, in fact, it was almost too sweet.
	Emperor's Duck ($12.75) Good - Very Good. The crispy duck was attractively presented with assorted vegetables. It was too bland for Tom, but Wendy liked it!
DESSERT:	Fortune Cookies - the waiter came with a handful of them and placed, or sometimes threw, them down beside each diner.
OTHER:	Portion were all a good size
	Very clean except for the Ladies Room
	Separate room with a bar. Menu items can be ordered at the small bar tables. "Happy Hour" appetizers available free on Friday nights.
	Plenty of free parking
OVERALL:	B-