Oriental Garden Restaurant

The Scene – Set in what looks like an annexed hotel ballroom, Oriental Garden embraces the Chinatown restaurant mold. The interior seems straight out of a 1940s noir film--foggy fish tanks, a deafening din, and an alternately sweet and surly staff. Only the too-bright lighting breaks the mood. The crowd is the usual mix of Chinatown regulars and the occasional office party. – – The Food – The stock players of Chinese cuisine dominate the menu, but order from the higher priced chef's specialty section. While some of the seafood dishes may intimidate the squeamish--the…

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Editor's Tips

What to Drink:: Try the surprisingly supple sake, a surprise in Chinatown.
Know Before You Go:: The type of whole fish isn't specified in the menu, so ask your waiter--and then be on the lookout for substitutions.

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User Reviews (23)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“The decor is very nice, the restaurant having undergone renovation only a couple of years ago.” “The restaurant's decoration is very nice, clean and neat.”
dessert	100.0% positive	“The mango pudding for dessert was good.”
drinks	50.0% positive	“The complimentary hot tea was good, too.” “$75 for two with only one beer per person, doesn't represent good value - I've eat a lot better Chinese food for a lot less.”
food quality	82.76000022888184% positive	“Since the restaurant didn't have fresh flounder, the waiter asked the manager what to do.” “$75 for two with only one beer per person, doesn't represent good value - I've eat a lot better Chinese food for a lot less.” “My previous excursion for their infamous fresh seafood also proved to be a total disappointment.” “The food was all delicious and I tried lots of new items that I'd never order at a typical Chinese restaurant.” “will never go back to this place and would not recommend anyone go here, unless they want bad service and mediocre food.” “the crystal shrimp served with broccoli & glazed almonds are recommended the shrimp are jumbo-sized with a springy fresh texture.” “The fried oysters are wonderful, as are razor clams with black bean sauce.” “While OGSR's dim sum is good, it really stands out in preparation of seafood; It is the best such Chinese restaurant in Manhattan, in my opinion.” “It may be know for it's seafood but it's standards in other areas are less than impressive.” “the seafood is especially fresh and tasty since they have an aquarium on the premises.” “As we were having dinner there, we over heard the next table asked for fresh flounder.” “After a huge meal that made it hard for us to walk, I was really surprised to see our bill come to just $45 for two people.” “we ordered soup, fresh fish, chicken, shrimp, steak, pork chops, squid, and a variety of other dishes that i dont remember.” “the food is good, and portions are very large.” “My search is over when I want the best chinese food in NY I go to Oriental Garden.” “The sticky rice was amazing, same with the shrimp wrapped in rice noodles, the slimy ones with the sauce that tastes so good.” “especially like the scallop on the half-shell with XO sauce and steamed live shrimp.” “The steamed dim sum dumplings were good; however, the chef's special prawns/scallops in black pepper sauce were heavily breaded and offered only moderate flavor.” “The crab dishes prepared from crabs from the tank are another favorite.” “The seafood is fantastic.” “The seafood is very fresh and very good.” “We read in Zagat guide that this was a good restaurant for dim sum and while the food and service were average, there was a large rodent in the dinning area!” “The seafood is good.” “Fantastic seafood!” “great,fresh food.” “there are very few good chinese restaurants in the city, and ive found that his is about as close to authentic hong kong cantonese food that i can find.” “gave Oriental Garden another chance to win my approval, but, yet again, the food was mediocre and the service was appalling.” “The dim sum is very good and authentic, although it is more expensive than the average price in Chinatown.” “The service was also poor, the rice arrived before the last of the appetisers and I was almost finished with my main before by friend got his, so he was eating rice by itself until his arrived.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“They have a great variety of dumplings with delicate wrappers and unusual fillings.” “we ordered soup, fresh fish, chicken, shrimp, steak, pork chops, squid, and a variety of other dishes that i dont remember.”
overall	100.0% positive	“Unfortunately, what made this place good in the first place is being driven out and overhauled.” “While OGSR's dim sum is good, it really stands out in preparation of seafood; It is the best such Chinese restaurant in Manhattan, in my opinion.”
return potential	0.0% positive	“will never go back to this place and would not recommend anyone go here, unless they want bad service and mediocre food.”
service	44.43999767303467% positive	“After a huge meal that made it hard for us to walk, I was really surprised to see our bill come to just $45 for two people.” “suspect that some of the negative reviews I've read on this site are actually from people who love the place and don't want to see an overflow of diners competing with them for tables.” “Since the restaurant didn't have fresh flounder, the waiter asked the manager what to do.” “The service, while brisk, is attentive, and the place is really clean, compared with other restaurants in Chinatown (bathrooms are actually clean).” “professional staff.” “gave Oriental Garden another chance to win my approval, but, yet again, the food was mediocre and the service was appalling.” “will never go back to this place and would not recommend anyone go here, unless they want bad service and mediocre food.” “the service there is good for chinatown, but not great for outside of chinatown the waitstaff are efficient and clear/change our plates quite often, but they are also loud & brusque.” “find the wait staff to be rude and they will take advantage of you whenever possible.” “We read in Zagat guide that this was a good restaurant for dim sum and while the food and service were average, there was a large rodent in the dinning area!” “And the service was once again awful.” “The service was also poor, the rice arrived before the last of the appetisers and I was almost finished with my main before by friend got his, so he was eating rice by itself until his arrived.”
value	72.22000122070312% positive	“Add a tip onto that and I'd say we had an enormous, fantastic lunch for a very reasonable price.” “But since 4 years or so ago this place became very expensive and out of the range of some locals to go to.” “$75 for two with only one beer per person, doesn't represent good value - I've eat a lot better Chinese food for a lot less.” “similarly, prices are expensive for a chinatown restaurant, but not bad for new york city.” “After a huge meal that made it hard for us to walk, I was really surprised to see our bill come to just $45 for two people.” “the food is good, and portions are very large.” “The dim sum is very good and authentic, although it is more expensive than the average price in Chinatown.” “have to totally agreed with the viewer "friendsandfood", this place used to be great for locals to go to and have a very nice dinner at a reasonable price.” “it's pricey for chinatown, but dim sum in the afternoon is reasonably priced and it serves the most exquisite dim sum in the area.”

05/10/10

NEVER AGAIN

by kennethisip at Citysearch

If I can give this place negative stars, I would. I can't even give it zero stars. The experience my family and I had at this restaurant did not make it a pleasant Mother's Day. There was about 10 waiters floating around and only 1 really served us. My brother asked what kind of food one waitress was carrying and she rolled her eyes at him. After that, she always passed by our table ignoring us and refusing to serve. I asked her 3 times why she keeps passing us when we want food, and she gives no reply. It's as if we were bothering them. My sister asked 3 different waiters for a sprite and all just looked at her and walked on by. The dim sum food all tasted the same and there was not much variety. The duck and stuffed peppers we did order was very small in portion. We left hungry and dissatisfied but the restaurant wasn't because they did charge us $141 for 6 people. We should have just ordered Chinese food from down the block which would have been half the price. I will never go back to this place and would not recommend anyone go here, unless they want bad service and mediocre food.

Pros: NONE
Cons: EVERYTHING

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05/21/09

Fantastic seafood!

Contributor at Citysearch

The seafood is fantastic. Be sure to speak to your server and inquire about what's fresh and/or isn't on the menu. You won't be disappointed.

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01/26/09

Consistently bad

by SKSNY at Citysearch

I gave Oriental Garden another chance to win my approval, but, yet again, the food was mediocre and the service was appalling. I went for dim sum and most of the dumplings were very glutinous (more so than the average dim sum house). I will give kudos though to the the tofu-skin wrapped around the pork and shrimp. I asked for a glass of water THREE times and when it was finally brought to me there was food or some other substance visibly floating around in it. My previous excursion for their infamous fresh seafood also proved to be a total disappointment. The seafood that we ordered was already prepared and lacked taste. There was no walking to the tank to get our 'live' dinner. And the service was once again awful. I don't get the hype for this place. Jing Fong next door has better dim sum, service, and for that matter decor.

Cons: service

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01/02/09

Children seated next to a RODENT!

by Foodie0909 at Citysearch

We read in Zagat guide that this was a good restaurant for Dim Sum and while the food and service were average, there was a large rodent in the dinning area! Not only did the staff ignore the problem, as did the manager once we notified him, they actually seated a family with two small children at the same table that the large rodent had been hiding under. They knew full well where they were seating the children much to our horror! Furthermore, they did not discount our food despite their obvious health code violation.

Pros: Seems like a nice restaurant
Cons: rodent infestation!

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08/19/08

Very very average

by richakn at Citysearch

It may be know for it's seafood but it's standards in other areas are less than impressive. Scallops in black bean were lacking in flavour, beef fried rice was ok but nothing special. Appetisers were so so, the dumpling pretty good but the spring rolls were greasy and over fried. $75 for two with only one beer per person, doesn't represent good value - I've eat a lot better Chinese food for a lot less. The service was also poor, the rice arrived before the last of the appetisers and I was almost finished with my main before by friend got his, so he was eating rice by itself until his arrived.......

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Oriental Garden Restaurant

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Featured Review

Justin Hartung

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Editor's Tips

User Reviews (23)

05/10/10

NEVER AGAIN

by kennethisip at Citysearch

05/21/09

Fantastic seafood!

Contributor at Citysearch

01/26/09

Consistently bad

by SKSNY at Citysearch

01/02/09

Children seated next to a RODENT!

by Foodie0909 at Citysearch

08/19/08

Very very average

by richakn at Citysearch

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