Black Bamboo, good Chinese food in W. Hartford, CT

[masha bousha]

Ok, I searched the NE thread first before posting this and I couldn't find anything. Let me recommend Black Bamboo on Farmington Ave in W. Hartford. It's a tiny little joint (maybe has a table or two) and it's a nice little find. I'm not the most well rounded eater of Chinese food...meaning I like what I like so I can't say everything is authentic but it's good and very reasonable.

Here's a link to a recent review from the Courant:
http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/hc...

Check this place out...they also deliver.

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Farmington Ave Restaurant
960 Farmington Ave, Berlin, CT 06037

[lenorelenore]

have been there several times and really happy with food--the chicken with garlic sauce was really good, and we've also enjoyed the vegan dishes (made from seitan? not sure). A plus is that they deliver, even though we live in southwest part of Hartford, although there is a 2 dollar delivery charge--they didn't tell us that upfront, only found out when we asked. Def. worth the 2 dollar delivery charge, but would be better if they'd let you know upfront.
Re eating in-unlike some other Chinese take-outs with small eat-in areas, BB felt clean, with nice quiet atmosphere (no blaring TV!) Wish stools had backs though, for those of us with bad backs!

[ratbuddy]

Funny, I tried both the veggie dumplings and the chicken with garlic sauce. Rather than rethink the whole experience, I'll just paste the email I sent Sonny when he asked how our food was.

--snip--
Heya,

Tried your restaurant tonight. Service was good, with delivery falling right into the time estimated. The driver was friendly. The price was fair.

I'll break the food down by dish.

Chicken with garlic sauce: Awesome. Best I've ever had. Great job. Good mix of veggies (zucchini was a nice touch), and the brown rice on the side was cooked perfectly.

General Tso's tofu was horrible. Way too sweet. Tasted like maple syrup poured over tofu. Not a hint of heat, or any flavor at all besides sweetness. We each took a bite, and threw the rest away. Rice was cooked well.

Veggie lo mein was good. Wouldn't change a thing.

Steamed vegetable dumplings were OK, the filling could have used more something. Ginger? Garlic? Something spicy? Just a little bland. Dough was good.

Fried pork dumplings were tasty. A little undercooked but the dough and filling were both very good.

Egg roll was fine.

Overall, we'd order again - much better than our usual Chengdu, with the exception of the General Tso's tofu. Something was definitely way off with the sauce.

Thanks for taking the time to read our feedback, and good luck with your business.
--snip--

Agree on the dumplings being bland, and we had the same weird sweet experience - but not with the chicken and garlic sauce, ours was with the General Tso's tofu. In response to my email, Sonny did offer to replace the bad dish at no charge, so he does seem to care.

Like I mentioned in the email, the food is definitely a cut above Chengdu, but it's also very hit or miss at this point.

[chrism23]

@ratbuddy,

This is really funny, like we went to 2 places. There must have been 2 different cooks. Literally my chicken in garlic sauce was 75% red and green pepper. There wasn't a mix of vegetables and no zucchini. The sauce was cloyingly sweet. I am just curious whether you have been to Beijing Garden and how you think they stack up.

Btw I remember when Chengdu, when they first opened up on Farmington Avenue was great, far and away the best Chinese in the area. It all went south before they moved, if I remember right the owner lost custody in a divorce battle. They haven't been the same since.

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Beijing Garden Restaurant
230 Farmington Ave Ste 8, Farmington, CT 06032

[ratbuddy]

I haven't tried Beijing Garden. I live in Clemens Place, they probably don't deliver here. If I'm going to drive that far for Chinese, I usually keep going up to Green Tea.

I'll try it next time I head up that way..

Next time the delivery mood strikes, I'll be giving Black Bamboo another go. Probably a beef dish to see how that comes out. Last few times at Chengdu the beef had major issues, springy and spongey yet tough.

[njmarshall55]

Second vote for Green Tea. But thanks for the tips on BB. Never been to Chengdu, but after this thread probably won't bother. Beijing Garden is nice, like their eggplant dish alot. But can be pricey.

[chrism23]

I did take out there once. Basic dishes-chicken in garlic sauce and the House Special Lo Mein. The chicken in garlic sauce was horrible. The sauce was sweet of all things and nearly all of the vegetables in it were red and green bell peppers. Unlike any standard garlic sauce dish I have ever had. Chicken pieces were also scarce. The Lo Mein was so so. A lot of those semi-real stringy pieces of pink pork.

On the plus side, they do deliver. The owner Sonny is trying really hard and is a good guy, Since he is so net savvy I hope he reads this and improves the quality of the food.

For me, the best Chinese in/near West Hartford remains Beijing Garden. its a little pricier but worth it, its only a mile or so past the West Hartford line on Farmington Avenue.

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Beijing Garden Restaurant
230 Farmington Ave Ste 8, Farmington, CT 06032

[BiscuitBoy]

"maybe has a table or two" sounds like its primarily a takeout place... Would you want to eat there? Near the butterfly?

[masha bousha]

Most places that have a table or two generally skeeve me out. This place does not. I happen to live about 2 miles from it so there will rarely (if ever) be an occasion where I'd be dining in at Black Bamboo...but I certainly would out of necessity.
Yes, so close to Butterfly (across and down the street a teeny bit) that they should be concerned. I used to adore Butterfly but have felt their food has gone downhill in recent years (I'm talking gummy dumplings and bad chicken).

[ratbuddy]

Well, they answered, and yep, they deliver to Clemens Place, $15 minimum. Dumplings are housemade every day, including dough. I can't wait to try this place, it seems like it might have arrived just in time to replace the once-decent Chengdu.

[ratbuddy]

Even if half the yelp reviews are the owners friends and family, it seems like the food is a step above the other options in the area. I dropped an email asking if they deliver to Clemens place, if so, I'll give it a try this week.

Don't suppose you tried the dumplings? Were they homemade if so?

[masha bousha]

I almost did try them and I hesitated to say in my review above that everything I said doesn't apply to the Sesame Noodles in steamed dumplings (which will be my next order, as those are my favorites and I'm regularly disappointed when ordering stuff like that). I have high expectations for those items so if you get some...definitely post back on the status of the dumplings.

[masha bousha]

update: I just tried the steamed vegetable dumplings and I have to say I was disappointed by the filling. The exterior was very nice (and held up in a take out container nicely) but it was mostly cabbage inside. I was hoping for a little tofu and other stuff. I also had the cold sesame noodles which were very good and that makes me happy.