Red Maple Chinese Cuisine

He said:

The Red Maple restaurant was a pretty straightforward place, with simple furniture and décor. Even so, it properly conveyed a Chinese vibe. The staff appeared equally capable of serving in English and Chinese. On the way to our table, we passed several statues of Buddha, each clad in so many dollar bills (as well as bills of various Asian currencies) that we could hardly see the statues themselves. We also passed several tanks full of live crabs and lobsters.

Red Maple offers an extensive menu that encompasses both the Americanized Chinese cuisine and the more authentic variety. We were certainly able to recognize and find typical dishes that we enjoy, but we also noted a variety of the more exotic fare. If I had a knowledgeable guide, I might be more adventurous with these options. The menu included both lunch and dinner combinations, with the latter available all day, as well as plenty of “Dinner Ala Carte” options. They even had a “Dim Sum Any Time” menu.

We chose the “Red Maple Chinese Cuisine for Two” option. This four-course meal offered two soups, one appetizer, two entrées, and cheesecake to share. I started with a Hot & Sour Soup. Actually, I enjoyed two of them because they mistakenly brought one for Kathy before correcting their mistake by bringing her the Egg Flower Soup she prefers. The Hot & Sour Soup was thick and savory, with plenty of carrots, mushrooms, and ground pork, among other ingredients.

For our appetizer, we enjoyed some of the largest potstickers I have ever seen. Generously filled with ground pork, scallions, and ginger, the potstickers were steamed and then pan-fried on one side, giving the dumplings two distinct textures.

Kathy wanted to try the Sweet and Sour Chicken, while I had my eye on the French Style Beef Steak, which added a few dollars to the bill. Both dishes impressed me. The Sweet and Sour Chicken consisted of large chunks of tender white meat in a thick breading, smothered in sweet and sour sauce with bell peppers, carrots, onion, and a little bit of pineapple. The serving of chicken was generous, but I would have also enjoyed more vegetables and pineapple.

The French Style Beef Steak was simply incredible. It consisted of steak medallions and grilled onions in a French sauce, served in a lettuce-head “bowl.” Again, they provided a generous portion of meat, which was succulent and tender.

I enjoyed our entire meal and prepared to wrap up and leave, but the waiter reminded me that we still hadn’t received our cheesecake. Since we boxed our leftovers to take home, I decided I still had room for dessert. The cheesecake was both firm and creamy. Not fancy, but definitely quite enjoyable.

She said:

The Red Maple was an understated kind of restaurant. It had heavy-looking wood beams in the ceiling, brick accent walls, weathered-looking gray wood floors, and pretty, upholstered seating in shades of red. It boasted casual comfort.

As Brian mentioned, the menu was quite extensive, and it was nice that in addition to the lunch combos, the dinner specials were available all day. Choosing the dinner for two was a good move. The French Style Beef was flavorful, tender, and delicious. The Sweet and Sour Chicken was also seasoned just right. I have to agree with Brian, though, that it would have been enhanced by a more generous helping of vegetables. I do love vegetables.

One thing that impressed me was the potstickers. These were obviously handmade and not fried from a frozen state. They were large and filled with generous amounts of moist ground pork. Plump, juicy, and served with a tasty potsticker sauce, they hit the right spot. I really enjoyed them.

The cheesecake was rather plain, but it was pleasantly creamy and dense. I just wish that there had been an option for adding a raspberry or blueberry topping.

Conclusion:

We enjoyed good food with excellent service. The waitstaff was friendly and obliging, but they did follow what we understand is a traditional Asian approach to wait service. That is, they are happy to help, but they will often wait until you wave them over to approach your table.