china white noodle bar? where the creek used to be in purchase, ny

[dankshwhat]

anybody know anything about this place? i was pretty shocked when i found out the creek closed...but now i'm super intrigued by this place. i can't find anything out about it on the internet. i'm assuming they're not opened yet?

anyone with details, please speak up!

[Vivikrn]

We've been there a few times. It's nice to have a new, refreshing place. It's good, not off the charts good, but good.

[sportax]

Tried on 11/30/11 for the first time. They should rename the restaurant "ChinaHype". Food is one notch better than a neighborhood takeout joint, except it is 5 times the price. Dinner for 2 (i.e. 2 appetizers and 2 entrees + 2 glasses of wine) was $122 WITHOUT the tip. I guess if they open in Greenwich and Purchase, they are under the illusion that the rich customers enjoy paying outrageous prices for so-so food. I will detail the food below, but first a couple of comments about the service. It was amateurish--menus were put down, and before anyone had a chance to look at either the drink menu or food menu, the waitress was waiting for us to order. With the ribs, we were served "hot towels" which were literally ICEY COLD TOWELS--when I asked a waiter if they were supposed to be ice cold, he said no. He then brought two more, both of which were still cold. Although we had about half of our food remaining to eat (about $70 worth), we were asked if we were done and whether they could take away our plates. How many times can the wait staff ask "is everything ok"?

NOW, the food-- (a) rib appetizer--skimpy portion laden with goopy sweet glaze fully masking the meat. If you like sugar, you will like these. (b) pork filled sandwiches--nice idea, but again the pork was glazed with so much sweet sauce, the meat was unrecognizable. (c) Peppery Beef entree--this was ok, but did not knock any culinary socks off. Again, very sauce-laden. Nothing that I would log into my culinary delight notebook. (d) Shrimp with vegetables--this was the best dish. Nice size and properly cooked shrimp and generally tasty.

Dessert--we looked at the prices. My first thought--Carvel was a better choice. Passed on the $4 a cup coffee and the $10-$12 desserts, all of which appeared to be more presentation than taste.

In sum-- don't be suckered in by the hype or the "cute" and meaningless little touches. i.e. the cotton candy brought at the end of the meal, or the white jumpsuits which the wait staff wears. Don't fall for the "organic" pastiche-- at best, the food is akin to PF Chang's or your local Chinese restaurant.

[cubanat]

we generally like it as a change of pace place, but can't argue with your review. HOWEVER the rice pudding is superb!

[Barrels41]

You make some good points but we also had the shrimp with veg and it was very good. Parking on Anderson Hill Rd.at night too scary for me. Cold noodles were great. The waitresses seemed terrified of the management and kept nudging us. Relax girls, do your job and leave us alone or we will be scared off. If I want another drink I will ask for it. (I don't need 2 drinks and a scary ride on a dangerous road). Wife sent her Mojito back due to lack of alcohol in it. I told her I always order beer so I know what I get. If I want a drink I go to my liquor cabinet or Candlelight.
Expensive but kind of worth it.

[menton1]

Worth it? Why? How is the $7 Hot & Sour Soup? Or the $28 Saute Prawns?

One can go to hotsy-totsy Greenwich CT and pay $2 for HS Soup and $16 for Prawns at Penang on Lewis Street... (And they are great, as good or better than at China White!)

[cubanat]

would you rather it be a 5 GUYS BURGERS? They are awesome and worth every penny! ;)

[Barrels41]

Thanks for the recommendation.

[MRS]

I will tell you that we ordered in from CW this week and while we do always enjoy the food, the Wok Grilled Prawns were awful. Not grilled to start, inedibly salty and not even a decent selection of vegetables in with them. Not to mention, they didn't look like the size of prawns to me. Last time for that dish, to be sure. Yuck!

[menton1]

So what happened to all the buzz about this place? People decided to save the money one would spend there for filling the gas tank?

[MRS]

Don't know about anybody else. We have continued to enjoy the food from there and I have been to the one in Greenwich, too. I found the food painfully spicy in Greenwich, however.

[BAFU]

So has anyone been here? I do hope it's not another "mediocre overpriced fusion in a fancy setting" as indicated below. But it wouldn't surprise me...

[menton1]

AT their prices, why would anyone go? (expense account?)

I'd rather go to the ultra-luxe China Grill in NYC...It's actually got similar pricing as this place!

Here's the menu:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/782870

[MRS]

I just posted like, a second ago. Funny. We ordered in from there last night and the food was terrific. I look forward to eating in the restaurant soon!!!

[AdamD]

I will wait to judge, but this has "mediocre overpriced fusion in a fancy setting" written all over it.

[cubanat]

agreed AdamD but am hoping that the bao, bings and/or noodles are just good! It does have flash written all over it but maybe there will be some sort of substance to the kitchen.

[AdamD]

The more they spend on the interior, the less I get excited. Fancy rooms mean high prices and squirt bottles on rectangle plates. But I will wait to review. The last thing this county needs is another restaurant that lacks a specific Asian identity. Just my opinion. Hope I am wrong and that you can get a great dish for $10-15.

[menton1]

Here's a lot of info:

http://harrison.patch.com/articles/ch...

The Creek was owned by the same people as the Cobblestone-- is China White the same owners as The Cobblestone just down the road?

[foodiemom10583]

My husband stopped by the Purchase location last night. He was told the following by someone who appeared to be the manager/owner:

They are opening next week.
They will be using organic meats.
They have chefs from Chinatown consulting with them (I'm assuming Manhattan Chinatown rather than Brooklyn or Queens) and are in the process of taste-testing menu items.

Despite the fact that they're in such an upscale neighborhood, I'm hoping they'll give the college students some sort of discount. I am a Purchase alum dating back 25 years and we used to love to treat ourselves to the restaurants on Anderson Hill Road.

[MRS]

A bit more info for anyone who is interested. This new restaurant is slated to open in Purchase and Greenwich, CT. Apparently revamped/designed by the same group that did it for Lolita's and the new Gabriele's Steakhouse. This was what Westchester Magazine reported in March.

[MRS]

that's very interesting to me b/c I noticed that Saito in Greenwich, CT has closed and in the windows are "coming soon" posters for something called China White. I couldn't find anything about it either.