P.F. Chang's
3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd Unit #63, Metairie, LA 70002, USA
Metairie 2: Orleans Line To Houma Blvd
Backstory
Paul Fleming--a native of Franklin, Louisiana--left the oil business during its tough times in th 1980s. He got into restaurants, franchising some Ruth's Chris locations. In 1996, he and chef Philip Chaing created P.F. Chang's in Arizona. The Metairie restaurant was one of the earlier ones. Fleming went on to open Fleming's Steak House, a Ruth's Chris wannabe.
Dining Room
The premises are spacious and handsome, and generally avoid cliche Chinese decoration or design. I keep thinking what a terrific environment this could be for the Mr. B's-style Creole bistro that Metairie needs so badly. The service staff is well-trained and intelligent.
Why It's Essential
One of the more prominent national chains, P.F. Chang's concept is to serve the simplest, most familiar dishes from decades of Chinese restaurants in this country America, but in a completely American style in good-looking premises. Those who have never eaten in a Chinese restaurant before may like it. Those who have will be less impressed, and perhaps even outraged by how much the flavors have been sterilized for the mainstream.
Why It's Good
P.F. Chang's cooks with ingredients of reasonably good quality, and the plates are attractive and served fresh and hot. My problem with it is that it doesn't taste Chinese to me, even after factoring in the galactic range of Chinese cooking possibilities. I wouldn't even recommend it to a first-timer, because he'll get the wrong idea about the cuisine, which doesn't really have Bonefish-style blam-blam shrimp or cheesecake. (I will give the place credit for not having spinach-artichoke dip, even in disguise.) The menu is much more limited than it seems to be; many dishes are just ingredient shifts from others.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> »Chicken lettuce wraps <br /> Vegetarian lettuce wraps <br /> Crab wontons <br /> »Dumplings (steamed or pan-fried; pork, vegetable or shrimp)<br /> Seared ahi tuna<br /> »Northern style spare ribs (dry-style)<br /> Barbecue spare ribs <br /> Fried wontons <br /> Egg rolls<br /> Fried green beans<br /> Spring rolls <br /> Salt and pepper calamari <br /> Dynamite shrimp <br /> Edamame <br /> Egg drop soup <br /> »Hot and sour soup <br /> Wonton soup <br /> Chicken noodle soup <br /> »Chicken chopped salad <br /> <em><strong>Entrees</strong></em><br /> Spicy chicken <br /> Crispy honey chicken <br /> »Kung pao chicken, pork, scallops or shrimp (peppery) <br /> Sesame chicken <br /> Sweet and sour chicken <br /> »Orange peel beef, chicken or shrimp<br /> »Almond and cashew chicken <br /> Ginger chicken with broccoli <br /> Moo goo gai pan (chicken, shrimp (!), mushrooms, vegetables)<br /> Mandarin chicken <br /> Chicken with black bean sauce <br /> »VIP duck (roasted, then flash-fried)<br /> Moo shu chicken, pork<br /> Mongolian beef <br /> Beef with broccoli <br /> Pepper steak <br /> Szechuan chicken, pork, scallops or shrimp (peppery)<br /> »Chengdu spiced lamb <br /> Wok-seared lamb <br /> Wok-charred beef <br /> Sweet and sour pork <br /> Crispy ("crispy"="deep-fried") honey shrimp <br /> Shrimp with candied walnuts <br /> »Shanghai shrimp (broccoli, snow peas, garlic sauce)<br /> Shrimp with lobster sauce <br /> »Salt and pepper prawns (black bean sauce, mustard, ginger)<br /> »Hunan-style hot fish <br /> Oolong tea-marinated Chilean sea bass<br /> »Asian grilled Norwegian salmon with asparagus* <br /> Norwegian salmon steamed with ginger * <br /> Mahi-mahi, lemongrass garlic sauce<br /> Fried rice (beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, vegetable, or combo)<br /> Lo mein (beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, vegetable, or combo)<br /> Singapore noodles (shrimp, chicken, vegetables, curry sauce)<br /> Double pan-fried noodles (beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, vegetable, or combo)<br /> Dan dan noodles (wide noodles, ground chicken, garlic; peppery)<br /> <em><strong>Vegetarian</strong></em><br /> »Coconut curry vegetables <br /> Buddha's feast <br /> »Ma po tofu <br /> Stir-fried eggplant <br /> <em><strong>Desserts</strong></em><br /> »Banana spring rolls <br /> Chocolate layer cake, chocolate chips, berries<br /> Flourless chocolate dome <br /> Cheesecake <br /> Tres leches lemon dream<br /> Triple chocolate mousse<br /> Apple pie<br /> Carrot cake<br /> Tiramisu<br /> Red velvet cake
Deficiencies
They should take a risk now and then. Or offer special menu of ethnic Chinese specialties for those of us who know. Maybe send the cooks to China? Or even San Francisco or New York.
For Best Results
It's probably best not to order your favorite Chinese dish here. Ask the waiter what he's high on, noting that you're not interested in what's most popular.
Bonus Ratings
2
Attitude
2
Environment
2
Service
1
Wine