303459 Wed Jun 21 20:59:19 -0700 2006 10 12 Boston Area 0 1705827 Any good recs for lobster in Chinatown. I often read about how affordable and delicious some of the lobster dishes are, but I'm a little skeptical of walking into a random restaurant and ordering the lobster. Any suggestions for a specific dish or restaurant? Thanks! Wed Jun 21 20:59:19 -0700 2006 0 Esteban 1 1705829 Funny you should mention that - I've been having a big craving for Chinatown lobster recently, and was wondering the same thing. I checked in at Ocean Wealth on Tyler St a few weeks ago, because they've been advertising the same "3 Lobsters for $10" or whatever special for years - but apparently the rules of the special have changed somewhat, so now you get (I think?) two lobsters for $10 with the purchase of 3 entrees at $15 or more. Something like that - still a bargain, but not compelling. More important, whatever I got there for lunch (it's rude to just stop in and ask a menu question, after all...) was completely unmemorable - I literally don't remember what I had, and I take lunch seriously. I think I won't go there for the eventual lobster binge. Peach Farm, also on Tyler St, does a reliably wonderful job on seafood, I'm sure they wouldn't do you wrong. But I had an *amazing* salt & pepper spicy (deep-fried) jumbo crab for lunch at Gourmet Seafood today - easily the tastiest crab I've ever eaten. If they can do the same thing with a lobster (and I see no reason why they can't - they fry beautifully), that's where I'll be going for lobster when I can get enough co-conspirators to really make a messy feast out of it. The crab was $23.95, which is expensive for Chinatown (though it and a spicy green beans with minced pork (I'm going to keep plugging this dish every time I mention Gourmet Seafood, it's really that good) fed two of us very well), and I'm not guessing the lobster will be cheap either. Wed Jun 21 21:48:28 -0700 2006 1705827 0 Bob Geary 2 1707445 New Shanghai Restaurant (617) 338-6688 (617) 338-0732 21 Hudson St Boston, MA 02111 They got a lot of press in the NYTimes for their lobster and it's a favorite of mine! Thu Jun 22 10:07:54 -0700 2006 1705829 0 Lisa 3 1707454 Awesome Thank you! Thu Jun 22 10:38:11 -0700 2006 1707445 0 Esteban 3 1707459 One possible caveat: CK Sau is no longer the chef at New Shanghai (he opened a place in Wellesley called CK Shanghai), and from what I remember the cuisine and service has suffered. Does anyone know if a new and improved chef has been installed since my last awful experience there? Jumbo Seafood has great lobster. No 3 for 10 deal, but solid reasonably priced twins, IIRC. Also, Victoria Seafood on Comm Ave near BU, across from T Anthony's has great food, and crazy good lobster deals. Twins for 13, I think. No restrictions. Thu Jun 22 10:59:08 -0700 2006 1707445 0 eLizard 4 1707460 A group of 6 of us had dinner at CK Shanghai and all agreed it was awful. Wouldnt go back. Not only was the food not very good but the room/space is horrible. Cramped, VERY loud and just overall unpleasant. Thu Jun 22 11:01:27 -0700 2006 1707459 0 jb 5 1707464 Agreed- we have eaten there twice and done takeout twice. Threw out the takeout food- absolutely inedible. It is time for CK to retire. DO not go there it is awful. Thu Jun 22 11:18:38 -0700 2006 1707460 0 Emilief 4 1707466 Had the twin lobster deal at Victoria about a month ago. Pretty decent, but the ginger/scallion sauce was on the bland side compared to others I've had. Also, the place is REALLY not clean... to the point where it even bothered my 11 year old. Thu Jun 22 11:20:31 -0700 2006 1707459 0 science chick 4 1707522 I never liked the Shanghainese food at New Shanghai under CK Sau; the kitchen there has improved dramatically these days -- they're now owned by the folks that own Shanghai Gate in Allston, and their chef is from Shanghai. Between that regime change, New Shanghai was briefly a Cantonese restaurant, and that was somewhat decent depending on what dish one ordered, but it wasn't great. Thu Jun 22 21:00:06 -0700 2006 1707459 0 Limster 3 1707482 Wow! I had no idea! I haven't been there in over a year. Guess it will only remain a good memory. Thanks for the update! Thu Jun 22 14:13:25 -0700 2006 1707445 0 Lisa 1 1707451 I have often had the "specials" in Chinatown where you get two or three lobsters if buying three more dishes off the special menu. They are hit-or-miss, sometimes I've felt like it was just a pile of scraps on the plate, other times it's been good. Keep in mind that "three lobsters" could mean three tiny ones, so I now often feel better paying more for a lobster of choice. Peach Farm does it really well, that dish has always arrived with a generous wok hay when I've had it there. Thu Jun 22 10:33:09 -0700 2006 1705827 0 Zatan