March 30, 2003
Chinese
I like to eat at Chinese restaurants. Not just because of the tastes and smells, but the gestalt of the experience. In addition to the excellent cuisine, two things in particular stand out at most Chinese restaurants: you get large quantities of food for cheap, and the wait staff is superior. A great example of this is 35 Chinese in Chapel Hill. Their lunch buffet is huge, and includes soups and fresh fruit in addition to typical items. With proper timing, you can make a trip to 35 Chinese your one meal of the day. The wait staff is awesome too. As soon as your drink is half empty, they bring you a refill. How much does it cost for this level of food and service? $5.50 during the week, and $5.95 on the weekend! What an amazing value.
Why the tendency for Chinese restaurants to be superior to most others? Well, I know this is a stereotype, but the Chinese just seem to be more industrious than most people (Americans, anyway). Go to some restaurant where they hire American teenagers to wait tables, and forget about getting good service - you're lucky if the waiter/waitress doesn't cop a 'tude.
Posted by Dirtae at March 30, 2003 06:14 PMQuite frankly Jeff, I think your opinion on chinese restaurants is jaded. I must say that I have been to several chinese restaurants where the service has been far less adequate than the service received at Ghetto Bell. But, like you, I have been to some where the service and quality of food is outstanding (for how cheap it is). By that I mean, YourGenericChineseRestaurant (tm) has food that I would rank on the level of an inferior good. If I am ever old and rich, I would not patronize said restaurant any more. It's kind of like Hometown Buffet, or most other "American Food" buffets. There are a few notable differences: 1) You are likely to pay around $9 for a meal at Hometown (including drink), which is in my experience close to the average price of a buffet at YGCR, 2) You won't get drink service at Hometown. I don't know what to say about it, other than sometimes it's nice to be able to get several glasses at once?
I think you have found a rare gem, in 35 Chinese. So hold on to it, for as long as their exceptional prices and service remain. But to put it in Java concepts--as far as I'm concerned--, class 35_Chinese does not extend class YGCR. ...and I don't think it's unsavory or racist :)
