Qingdao--but not spicy?

[JemB]

I admit, I'm an awful wimp. I'm wondering what recommendations you all have for non-spicy food at Quingdao. I live about 2 minutes from it, over the town line in Arlington, but I've never been. I'd like to try, but I have a very low tolerance for hot/spicy stuff. Suggestions? Thanks!

[Kenji]

Sliced Fish with Spinach is mild and delicious.

[limster]

Red cooked fish, dumplings and scallion pancakes, five spice pork, stew/boiled beef appetizer. Generally the North-Eastern Chinese dishes should be fine.

[BJK]

Any of the house specialties on the last page of the menu (the pink one) will serve you well. Some of our favorites are the Chinese dumplings, pork with cilantro, celery, or pickled Chinese vegetables, Peking meat sauce noodles, and Eggplant Peking style.

BK

[JemB]

Thanks, litchick & BJK. I'll be calling them in just a few minutes to order. Can't wait!

J.B.

[litchick]

JemB, ket us know what you end up with, and how you liked it!

[caper25]

whatever you do stay away from the Boiled Fish in Fiery Sauce. That dish tasted like ass.

[TheSomervillain]

Mmmm.... know just what you mean,
a good piece of ass is hard to find.

The Villian

[litchick]

Absolutely. In terms of app and small plates, you'll be safe with any of the great dumplings (I like the leek ones best), the scallion pancake, leek pie, string bean with ginger sauce, and sweet and sour cucumber. For entrees, try pork with cilantro, eggplant peking style, shredded pork with pickled chinese veg (I *love* this), chinese veg with black mushroom, stir fried pea pod stems, shredded pork with stumble eggs, chicken with black mushroom, and any of their moo shi. Other non-spicy things from the more Americanized side of the menu (which I haven't tried, but would): any of the lo meins (I'd go with the ginger scallion -- probably flavorful without heat), house fried rice, broccoli with oyster sauce, garlic eggplant, and string bean chicken.

If you feel adventurous, try the lamb with spicy cumin sauce. Contrary to the name, it's not very spicy at all (to my tatse), more earthy and flavorful than anything else, with lots and lots of cilantro. It's been a good gateway dish for friends of mine who don't like things too spicy, but wanted to venture a bit off the beaten path.

Have a good time!

[Dr.Jimbob]

Litchick covers all of the basics solidly. The only other addiction I'll add (on top of emphasizing that those Chinese dumplings are outstanding, whether steamed or fried) is the lamb with scallions (cong-bao yang-rou, H19). My wife typically wants this or the lamb with cumin every time and doesn't seem to tire of it. For me, any dish with at least three members of the allium family in it is OK by me.

And pretty much nothing in the spicy category is really over-the-top spicy (with the occasional exception of the boiled beef and boiled fish, H22 and H23 which deceptively does not have a chili pepper next to it).

[caper25]

stay away from anything that a pepper image next to it and you should be okay. I recommend their home made dumplings.

[JemB]

Thanks, caper25!