Wong

Wong is yet another West Village super hyped restaurant that I had impatiently waited to try.  Plans were cancelled, the restaurant was closed for a paint job, etc...Finally, we had the chance to check it out with our good foodie friend from Cali.

Did it live up to the hype?  A few dishes did (see below).  But I was underwhelmed with the Lobster Egg Foo Young, rated as one of the best dishes of 2012.  It came out as a hodgepodge of ingredients that competed against each other, and left me wondering what was so extraordinary about it.

Wong didn't/doesn't have air conditioning, which was more than a bit stifling in the summer heat.  The service was friendly at first but wholly inattentive throughout our meal.  We sat with our finished dinner plates for at least a half an hour and then had to beg for a check.  Also, I was a bit underwhelmed by the sparse wine menu.  Luckily, there is a wine store around the corner so you can pick up something you want to drink and just pay the corkage fee.

What to Eat:

Start with the Duck Buns and don't agree to share these!  The duck buns are listed under a small plates so if you want this for an entree, maybe order 3 servings for 2 people.  I promise that you will NEED more than 1 duck bun per person.  The duck buns are practically overflowing with black bean marinated, delicately shredded duck breast, and then topped with Chinese celery.  Wong's doughy buns (it's hard not to chuckle reading that) are worth abandoning a carb free lifestyle.  Just writing this makes me want to go back and order more.  We tried at least half of the menu at Wong, and if it wasn't for the Duck Buns, I certainly wouldn't return.

The other standout at Wong is the Crispy Cauliflower, a spicy side dish. The pan fried cauliflower is tossed in a hot peanut sauce and is a generous serving for a side dish.

Craving duck?  Wong will satisfy that hankering (even if it doesn't satisfy others),

Your foodie friend

Insider tip:

Wong offers a Duckavore Dinner for 4 people, which consists of several different duck preparations (e.g. Duck Bun, Duck Noodles, Duck Meatballs, etc...).  It is pricey, at $65/person, but after snarfing down the Duck Bun, I would consider trying this feast.  In order to secure the Duckavore Dinner, you must give Wong 48 hours notice.