China Rose
3501 N Arnoult Rd, Metairie, LA 70002, USA
Metairie 2: Orleans Line To Houma Blvd
Anecdotes & Analysis
As is always the case when there is a whiff of authenticity in a restaurant's air, the China Rose is full of smug customers--few of them Asian--who are very proud to profess preference for the Chinese menu's contents. For many of them, the pleasure is not so much in eating it as in being able to say that they have eaten it. The actual Asians here don't make a big deal about it. The unspoken truth is that some of the Americanized dishes here are actually better than some of the Chinese dishes.
Backstory
The China Rose came into being in the late 1980s, when it took over the stunning Imperial Palace next to the Robert E. Lee Theater in Lakeview. It went on happily under the management of a British guy and his Chinese wife, drawing a strong regular clientele. Katrina wiped out everything. After a few years, the China Rose, with new owners, reopened in the former Ming Palace in Metairie. At first it blended the menus of the two restaurants, but it wasn't long before the Chinese menu took over and brought in a new clientele, with many more young and Asian customers.
Dining Room
The smallish, L-shaped dining room is neither grand nor shabby enough to attract your attention. The service is provided by a mix of employees and the owners' family, all in good moods and happy to explain the more unusual offerings.
Why It's Essential
The idea of asking for the "the Chinese menu" in a Chinese restaurant is a recent development. It was born of necessity, after the main menus in most Chinese restaurants evolved into more or less pure American food with a Chinese accent. The China Rose was the first New Orleans restaurant in modern times to employ a special menu if dishes with first-generation Chinese as its target. Before then, it was possible to get the food that the local Chinese people eat, but you had to a) know what you were talking about and 2) convince them to cook for you as they do for for themselves. The alternate menu makes a) a lot easier.
Why It's Good
You have come for the Chinese menu, so go for it. Although it's riddled with exotic items (intestines, duck feet, tripe, etc.), for the most part it's not all that far out. Nor will everything on it be new to you. It is written in Chinese, but with one-line English translations. The biggest challenge is in reading it all. Order a couple of appetizers while you explore it. The food on the regular menu is not bad, just very familiar. No reason not to have hot and sour soup or shrimp toast from the standard card.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em>The following is the "authentic Chinese" menu. Also available is a Chinese-American menu, with all the dishes you've eaten in Chinese restaurants forever.</em><br /> <em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> »Scallion pancakes<br /> Steamed dumplings<br /> »Pan-fried dumplings <br /> Small steamed pork buns <br /> Cucumber in minced garlic <br /> »Cold black fungi<br /> Thousand-year-old eggs and bean curd <br /> Suzhou dry bean curd <br /> »Spicy dry bean curd<br /> Special bean curd skin <br /> »Beef and tripe, spicy sauce<br /> Chinese tong cu ribs<br /> Nanjing salty duck <br /> <em><strong>Soups</strong></em><br /> »Shredded pork & pickle soup<br /> Vegetable soup<br /> Chicken and corn soup<br /> »Beef in West Lake soup <br /> Three delights soup<br /> »China Rose special soup <br /> Seafood & bean curd soup<br /> »Sliced fish & pickles soup <br /> Fish-maw soup<br /> <em><strong>Entrees</strong></em><br /> Kung pao diced pork<br /> »Shredded pork, tofu, bamboo shoots<br /> Shredded pork, snow peas & vegetables<br /> Shredded pork, green pepper<br /> »Shredded pork, hot garlic sauce <br /> Double cooked pork<br /> »Pork tripe, green pepper<br /> »Pork tripe & pickles<br /> »Shredded pork, Beijing style<br /> Sliced pork, black fungus<br /> Deep-fried pork intestines <br /> Braised pork, dry vegetables<br /> Dong-po pork<br /> »Hu-pi braised pork<br /> Mao's braised pork<br /> Soft tofu, pork intestines<br /> Pork intestines, pickles, tofu<br /> Sugar-coated pig's knuckle <br /> Shredded beef & green pepper<br /> Beef & rice noodle pot <br /> Beef & scallions<br /> Sizzling beef platter<br /> Beef in mild and hot peppers<br /> Beef tender in brown sauce<br /> »Stir-fried shredded beef<br /> »Beef & orange peel<br /> Kung pao diced chicken<br /> »Shredded chicken, hot garlic sauce<br /> Sliced chicken & scallions<br /> Sliced chicken & egg whites<br /> »Shredded chicken, mild & hot peppers<br /> »China Rose special duck <br /> »Duck and bamboo hot pot <br /> Bullfrog in mild and hot peppers<br /> Duck feet, mixed vegetables <br /> »Sliced fish & pickles<br /> Shrimp & green soybean<br /> Shrimp & bean curd<br /> »Shredded squid, snow vegetables<br /> »Shredded fish, hot garlic sauce<br /> »Sliced fish & minced hot pepper<br /> »Salt and pepper squid <br /> Sliced fish in vinegar<br /> Sliced fish, mild & hot peppers <br /> Seafood & tofu pot<br /> Jumbo lucky shrimp<br /> Colorful shrimp<br /> Crispy fish filet<br /> Colorful scallops<br /> Crispy scallops<br /> Vegetables and tofu<br /> Lettuce in oyster sauce<br /> Stir fried string beans <br /> Bean curd & spicy minced pork<br /> Green soybean & snow vegetables<br /> Mushroom and baby bok choy<br /> Eggplant in hot garlic sauce<br /> »Tofu home style<br /> Corn & pine nuts<br /> Pi-pa tofu<br /> Fried crispy mushroom<br /> Bean curd & combination veggies<br /> Seasonal vegetables<br /> <em><strong>Noodles</strong></em><br /> Spicy dan-dan noodles<br /> Special sauce noodles<br /> Vegetables & noodles<br /> »Kung pao diced chicken noodle<br /> Chicken & scallion noodle <br /> »Shredded pork & pickles noodle<br /> Shredded pork & snow vegetables<br /> Tomato & egg noodle <br /> Three shreds noodles<br /> Minced pork rice noodle<br /> »Shredded fish & pickles noodle<br /> Shredded pork noodle<br /> Shrimp noodle<br /> Seafood noodle<br /> Shrimp wonton noodle<br /> »Braised beef noodle<br /> »Shredded duck noodle<br /> Combination lo mein<br /> Combination panfried noodle
Deficiencies
As good as the food is, the China Rose operates under the widespread idea that Chinese food must be cheap and served in titanic portions. Some delicacy would be welcome. I'd pay half again as much for what they serve here.
For Best Results
Be brave and try the dishes on the Chinese menu. This is not the kind of place to order the same fried rice and Mandarin chicken you've limited yourself to in Chinese restaurants all your life. There is much more and vastly better here.
Bonus Ratings
2
Attitude
1
Environment
2
Hipness
1
Service
2
Value