We’re planning a group dinner for 7pm on Thursday, 11/10 at either Jiang Nan or Great New York Noodletown (depending on where we can get a reservation). If you’d like to join, please say so!
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I’m in!
Me, too! Probably obviously.
Love both places, but, unfortunately, it’s not possible.
Hmm. Amazing predictor works again. I will be on a plane heading out of the country.
Look, no one’s gonna drag you to one of these! No need to flee.
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We are at 6 now, so there are a max of 2 spots left.
I am in Egypt! So I am a no. 
Steve, Ginny and me?
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Okay, so far it looks like me, @Saregama @SteveR & Ginny, @DaveCook, @ninkat.
Party of 6? I’m happy to call Jiang Nan once folks confirm that they are, in fact, in.
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The 6 are confirmed, thanks for making the rez!
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Reserved: 7pm, 6 people, Jiang Nan (103 Bowery), 11/10/2022, reserved under my first name
See you then/there!
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Thanks Small! Will find you. 
I look the same.
@Saregama @SteveR @DaveCook & @ninkat
See youse tonight at 7 at Jiang Nan! And if anyone would like hyper-local parsley or catnip, I have a surplus, so let me know & I’ll bring you some.
Some pix from the dinner.
Sake dispenser or elaborate hookah? You be the judge!
Lotus root stuffed with sticky rice. Sweeter than I like my food, but interesting, and lotus root has an excellent texture.
Shredded potato with chilis. Very pleasing, a gentle heat. The potatoes were softer than in other versions I’ve had (and made).
Pork belly with cucumber. Lovely presentation, and I hope everyone who ate it, liked it!
Sweet and sour striped bass with pine nuts. The fish was very well cooked, and very dramatic to behold.
My personal fave of the evening: shrimp with garlic and vermicelli.
I could not get anyone to split a pineapple beer with me, go figure.
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PW, you get around! Global Services?
Let me start by saying that this is a very nice looking place, with very friendly & efficient waitstaff, a beautiful menu with pictures & equally beautiful dish presentations. Everything about it feels like you’re going to get above average food at an above average price. In my opinion, neither was the case. I didn’t look at the pricing beforehand, but I just figured that 2 bottles of sake, some beers & a soft drink would by themselves push the total up significantly. Apparently not. We didn’t order an abundance of food, but I think everyone had more than enough and many of the dishes were seafood based, so I’m not sure how the bill was only $60pp including a generous tip.
As for the food itself, well, in my opinion (& my wife’s), it just wasn’t what it shoulda been. Every dish came out looking great, picture-perfect, on lovely table ware. However, the Fried Rice w/Seafood & Fried Tofu w/Seafood were missing most of the seafood save some small shrimp. The sweet & sour fish was overwhelmed by the sauce (a sweet sauce that I like, heathen that I am, spooned over rice) but it didn’t seem like there was much fish under the breading. Certainly not much fish taste. The pork belly was good, but not flavorful enough, the potatoes tasty but soft (as said above), the lotus root firm but ehh (I like lotus root). The ½ Peking Duck had crispy skin, good meat and was served with all the appropriate accompaniments (plus pineapple chunks?!) but again just didn’t seem to be as flavorful as other places. Same (for us at least) with the shrimp. Lacking depth of shrimp flavor. So, what did I really like? The Sautéed Water Spinach w/Fermented Bean Curd Sauce. Excellent. And the company of course. This is a great group of NY based HO posters & its a pleasure to go out with them and the others who were missing from this dinner.
Sense where I’m going here? It’s not like anything was bad – far from it – but just about nothing “sang” either. Am I just too used to flavor enhancers? I don’t think so. I just think that some braising and better cooking skill would do them well. You know - some singing lessons.
That was not our experience at all. On the Saturday when we were there, the place was almost empty. I don’t know if that made a difference. But each dish we had was delicious. But I have had the experience of loving a restaurant one year and then finding it mediocre on a return visit.
