West Lake Palace UWS

[CBCebulski]

Anyone else here tried the new place yet?

I was a big Silk Road Palace fan and sad to see Frank and co. go, especially in that manner. So I was thrilled to see a new Chinese joint open in its place with a similar menu, with some Szechuan additions, and some familiar faces. (But no Frank.) Thrilled until we tried the food, that is...

We were so disappointed. The egg roll was dry and bland. Their dumplings are now gyoza style, which I don't mind, except these were soggy and tasteless. The pork belly with chili leeks was a far cry from what I get a Szechuan Gourmet, undercooked pork drowned in black bean sauce (??) with an overabundance of greens in an almost inedible mish-mash. The only decent thing we had was their mixed ingredient rice noodles, but even they needed to be enhanced a bit with a dash of salt, which I always hate doing.

I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt as it was their first week and suck it up and go back and try some old standby dishes in the next few weeks and keep you posted. But West Lake is not off to a good start, IMO.

-----
Szechuan Gourmet
21 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018

West Lake Palace
447 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[TEACHnEAT]

The Cottage on 76th and Amsterdam has the same dumplings (you can specify hotness), free wine, and inexpensive food. It's the closest to Silk Road you are seeking in that area. They are very similar. You will enjoy it.

-----
The Cottage
360 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[Thegreat]

Thank you for your kind information.
The next time I visit NY,may be next year,I will go to Grand Sichuan and The Cottage!!

[michelleats]

They may have a lot more problems than this, but for starters, I probably wouldn't order a Szechuan dish at a restaurant called West Lake Palace. West Lake is in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province and food there is a very, very different style than Szechuan food. (It tends to be sweet and not spicy.) If they have dongpo rou on the menu, that may be a good place to start, since you like pork belly... All that said, it could just be a bad restaurant, of course.

-----
West Lake Palace
447 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[CBCebulski]

Yeah, I kind of suspected that, but I'm always a sucker for "Szechuan" pork belly. Thanks for the head's up! I'll keep it in mind if I ever order again.

[Thegreat]

I am a SilkRoad Palace fan from Japan.
Does West Lake Palace has small dumplings in hot peanuts sauce(szechuan style)?

-----
West Lake Palace
447 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[CBCebulski]

I don't think so. I loved those too! I get mine at other Szechuan places in the city now.

Where in Japan are you from?

[Thegreat]

I live in Kamakura.I like New York and especially SLP.
Is there any similar szcheuan restaurant as SLP in Manhattan?

[Thegreat]

I live in Kamakura.I have tripped to New York almost 20 times.
I like New York and especially SLP's free wine and those dumplings!
Is there any similar Szechuan restaurant as SLP in Manhattan?
Please tell me!

[CBCebulski]

My favorite Szechuan places in Manhattan now are Szechuan Gourmet on 39th St. off 5th Ave (get the cumin lamb and pork belly with chili leeks!) and Grand Sichuan and 24th and 9th Ave. (get the mabo tofu, jellyfish and chicken with hot peppers!)

I lived in Kobe for years and lots of my family is still there.

-----
Szechuan Gourmet
21 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018

Grand Sichuan
229 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001

[Thegreat]

Thank You very much!
Grand Sichuan seems to be good.
Is it located newly on UWS?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/734982

Becaus when I trip to NY,I always stay at UWS.

I will trip to NY next year.

Kobe is the beautiful city. Many Japanese want to live there.

[CBCebulski]

Yeah, there is a new one there on the UWS, but it is no where near as good as the original!

[Thegreat]

Thank You for your rapid replay!
...I miss small dumplings in hot peanuts sauce....
I hope SLP come back again!

[Thegreat]

Sorry,not [replay] but [reply].

[Thegreat]

Oh! Has the West Lake Palace already closed?

[CBCebulski]

That would not surprise me. They were just not any good.