Qingdao Garden reopening!

[red-liner.livejournal.com]

It's been several months since the Qingdao Garden on Mass Ave shut down for renovations, and I'd been getting worried that they might not come back....but I stopped in and chatted with the owners yesterday, and they're just waiting for approval from the building inspector before they fire up the wok again. The whole place has been re-done, and it's now much more of an eat-there restaurant than in the past. Also a shiny new kitchen.

If all goes to plan, they'll be serving next week. I, for one, will be eager for dumplings, sauteed greens, and that phenomenal hot-pepper fried chicken they make!

Comments

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

Oh Yay!!! I've also been wondering, and keeping an eye on the place for a while now. I plan to order from there as soon as I can!

[acidgalore.livejournal.com]

Great news, thanks! I thought, too, they were never going to re-open. Looking forward to dumplings and spinach salads (hot sinus-opening mustard-seed spinach salads).

[ursamajor]

Awesome! Dumplings dumplings dumplings. Can't wait!

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Aren't they the same dumplings as Wang's? I thought the places were related.

[enhf94.livejournal.com]

They're often mentioned together, since they both do excellent northern-style pastry (qingdao is rumored to have a slight edge but it's neck-and-neck), but I'm pretty sure they're owned by separate folks.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

You know, I have never been there, because I assumed it was just cheap fast bland food because of the decor. I will be sure to check it out when they reopen!

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Yessss!!

I've been wanting a bag of their dumplings. Plus they have some nice.. and -spicy-.. northern seafood dishes.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

Hence the makeover: The food has long outshone the decor. Which is fine with me. I'm going to guess that the food will continue to be better than the decor, because that food is AWESOME.

[alphacygni]

I've been dreaming of leek dumplings. I'm so glad to hear this!

[red-liner.livejournal.com]

Yep, to outward appearances there'd be no reason to go in! The new interior isn't anything super-fancy, but it's much more in line with being a legitimate restaurant that you could bring family or friends to.

In any case, it's well worth a visit. The menu has a "regular" section, with Kung Pao and Yu Hsiang and such, which they do well, but the real jewels are in the "House Specialties" and Northern-style sections of the menu, including the dumplings, which are rightly popular.

If you like heat, the Chongqing Fried Hot Chicken and Shredded Beef with Hot Pepper are wonderful; the Home Style Fish (a whole croaker) is delicious as well, as are the Squids With Salt and Pepper. They also do a very good job on Singapore Noodles (very thin rice noodles fried with curry, shrimp, and bits of pork).

Mmmmm, now I REALLY want them to re-open!

[real-green-tea.livejournal.com]

Best Chinese food in Boston! So glad this place is re-opening, was getting worried for awhile there.

[red-liner.livejournal.com]

In case anyone's still paying attention, the Qingdao website says they'll be open for business on Wednesday the 2nd - Singapore Noodles, here I come!

[ron_newman]

Didn't know they had a website until you posted this. Here's the link.