Our Place Shanghai Tea Garden

07/25/2008 Posted by wadinglove

I recently came for lunch to Our Place and was delighted with a friendly smile when I walked in the restaurant. I was seated almost immediately and greeted by my server with water and a smile. I ordered from the lunch menu and was greatly surprised at how big the portions were. Overall I was really happy with the quality, quantity, and the service that was given to me!

Pros: delicious chinese food

05/21/2008 Posted by CFoodlove

As Our Place is one of my favorite Midtown Chinese restaurants, I wanted to answer the recent review by DumpyBumpy. First, if DumpyBumpy was interested in the Shanghai dishes, he should have order off that section of the menu. He/She's correct that most dishes in the menu are New York-style Chinese dishes but that's because those are the dishes the restaurant's customers seem to crave‹and if the crowd at lunch and early dinner is any indication then that crowd pretty well reflects the ethnic make up of New York, including quite a number of Chinese. Perhaps the next time DumpyBumpy should order the Shanghai Style Whole Braised Pork Shoulder, which is a delight, or the Lion Head. My favorite is the Shredded Beef with Flowering Chives, which has never failed to satisfy my taste for complexity. There are a 1,000 Chinese restaurants where DumpyBumpy could order Moo Shu Pork, perhaps he should have ordered instead the always excellent Braised Soft Beancurd or the Flat Noodles. As for the Soup Dumpling, I'd put Our Place's against Joe's Shanghai's (any Restaurant) any day of the week. In the final analysis, I don't know why DumpyBumpy, who described the service as "amazing" didn't ask to speak to the manager and express his wishes for "authentic" Shanghai dishes. The restaurant has always accommodated my requests. I think it's important to answer reviews of this nature, because its silly to judge a restaurant, based on one meal during a busy lunch hour, and Our Place is packed between 12 and 2:00. I've had disappointing dishes at Nobu and even Jean Georges but would not say they don't deserve their reputations. In closing, after many visits over the course of the years, Our Place continues to hold its own against the City's best Chinese restaurants.

Pros: Authentic, Amazing Chinese Food

03/18/2008 Posted by DumpyBumpy

Reading all these amazing reviews and ratings, I thought I found a decent authentic Shanghai food place in NYC outside of Chinatown. Went with a friend for lunch today. Service at this place is amazing. However, when we were reading the menu, we already felt that this is an "American Chinese" instead of an "authentic Shanghai / Chinese" place. We also saw no Chinese customers in the restaurant. We ordered steamed dumplings and Moo Shu Pork. I have never seen Moo Shu, General Tao etc in any restaurants in Shanghai or other cities in China. The dumpling skin is way to thick (ok, this may be the Northern China style. But this is NOT the style I had in Shanghai!!).... Moo Shu Pork's filling is ok but nothing memorable. I couldnt finish my small portion share. I dont understand the good ratings this restaurant gets on different review pages. Maybe that is consistent with the fact that we saw no Chinese customer in the restaurant... Sadly we dont have too many other options in midtown. Come here if you have craving for a <$10 quasi-Chinese / American Chinese lunch. But I do not plan to return.

Pros: Service

Cons: Food, Not authentic Chinese. Not cheap considering the quality

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful

07/02/2007 Posted by bmiller4575

everything about this restaurant is fantastic!the food is great, the service is extremely friendly, very inviting, its affordable. Its hands down, the best chinese restaurant, they have the best dumplings!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

03/17/2007 Posted by mpanich

Their chinese food always tastes very fesh and delicious. Have never found other Chinese restaurants in NYC that the food is as fresh as this one. I love their scallion pancake, a must.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

10/09/2006 Posted by dane04

I would highly recomment trying this restaurant for Dinner or Lunch. The food is fantastic, great presentation! Taste very authentic! The staff is warm and welcoming, will go out of thier way to accomidate you. They have dumplings with soup inside them! Absolutely delicious!!

Pros: Delicious food, fun place, nice staff

Cons: Nothing!

07/19/2006 Posted by jrogicki

Great food, excellent service, best chinese food! Have been a happy customer over 10 years. Satisfying Chinese restaurant experience.

Pros: Ample seating, centrally located

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

07/10/2006 Posted by cche7

Made reservations over a month ago for 15 people and then someone from the restaurant called me twice to confirm the reservation, once one week before and on the same day. The people were friendly on the phone and the when we arrived, the waiters were very patient and very nice. They seated us promptly and took their time with us and explained everything that was on the menu. Excellent selection on the menu and they were a decent size portion. We must have ordered about a dozen or so dishes, and not one of them did we have to complain about. Definately will return again. Thanks Our Place Shanghai Tea Garden for such a great time and great food.

Pros: Great food, great service, professional waiters

Cons: none

05/11/2006 Posted by susantzj

I'm from Shanghai. This one is the best Shanghaiese restaurant in the city!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

04/25/2006 Posted by xcalystax

I first went there on a business trip and loved their spicy sesame chicken! It is shredded chicken breast (all white meat!) and not at all like the weird chicken you get at some other restaurants (mystery meat). I took my boyfriend there recently and he loved it as well.. their spring rolls are quite tasty and their lo mein is also great!

Pros: Food, Food, Food