Restaurant Round-Up: Empire Asian Bistro
We've got a quick and dirty little Restaurant Round-Up for you today, which is incidentally two words that can be used to describe many of the Chinese restaurants in Central Pennsylvania. Nen Q. Zhang, owner of the Jumbo Buffet in Swatara Township, recently opened Empire Asian Bistro in the building left behind by the eminently awful Ruby Tuesday's on Union Deposit Road. The goal is to create a more upscale, pan-Asian dining experience. Spotobeing Katie checked it out last Friday and here's what she had to say.
Empire Asian Bistrio
Name: Katie T.
When: Friday, 6:30pm
Been Before: No
Ordered: My husband ordered some hot and sour soup and the roasted duck and we split a Dragon Roll. I ordered a salad and chicken stir-fry.
The Food: 8-out-of-10
The Ambiance: It used to be a Ruby Tuesday, but the place is still very nice inside. Not surprisingly, it was Asian-themed with a large dragon-shaped boat in the lobby. The lights were dimmed and there are several other small details that added to the ambiance. It was very pleasant overall.
Company: My husband
Did Others Like Their Meals: Yes
Cost: I think it came out to about $15 per person.
The Service: 8-out-of-10
Notes: The ambiance was relaxing and we can’t wait to go back and try some of the other specials. The Chinese food was solid – it had good flavor without being too oily. My husband liked the duck, but it was a little chewy. What really stood out was the fantastic sushi. We did not have any alcohol, but they have a full bar with beer, liquor and wine.
Recommendation: Yes
1 comment so far. Okay.
I have not tried this place yet but it sounds like another run of the mill place trying to do too many things. These fusion places all have the same quality of food and do not excel at any one cuisine. We shall see...