By Heather McPherson
Sentinel Food Editor
February 20, 2009
Longwood's Imperial Dynasty has been named one of the Top 100 Chinese restaurants in the United States by Chinese Restaurant News. It came in at No. 25. Not a bad place to be from sea to shining sea.
I dropped in last week for an early lunch and was glad for my timing. By 12:30 p.m. the restaurant was packed with folks who appeared to be regulars. I opted for a bento box lunch ($10-$12). Yes, I know the bento box is a Japanese tradition, but Imperial Dynasty is an equalopportunity Asian treasure. Besides, I'm a bit of a bento-box fiend. Once I see it on a menu, I can't look away. I think it may have something do with eating too many compartmentalized TV dinners on shaky metal TV tables as a child.
(For the uninitiated, bento boxes are food containers that range from throw-away "plates" to nice hand-crafted lacquerware. But I'm digressing from the meal at hand.) The centerpiece of my elegant russet-and-black box was delicate and meaty shrimp tempura. At the top left were four California rolls (a beginner's sushi roll with cucumber, crab and avocado) and a large, mound of white rice. Tucked into the bottom-right slot was a simple salad of crisp and fresh iceberg lettuce and real tomatoes. Two crisp crab rangoon (fried dumplings) pinched into a nice flower shape filled another compartment, and my box was completed with a small bowl of miso soup. For dinner later, I took away a wonderfully fiery sesame chicken and fine but-no-surprises beef with assorted veggies (both $7.75) from the Chinese portion of the menu.
Both were lunch combinations, which is plenty for me and my husband at supper. Both entrees came with steamed or fried white rice or brown rice, your choice of two California rolls, two chicken wings, a spring roll or soup (egg drop, chicken and sweet corn, wonton or hot and sour) or a side salad. Imperial Dynasty also has a swell sushi bar, and I often forget that it is there as I am trying to negotiate the permanently busy traffic where Interstate 4 crosses over State Road 434. I am coming back soon for sushi. Unless the bento boxes stare me down like Geico's bizarre eyeballed money stacks. I must resist. I must resist.
By the way, Chinese Restaurant News, which started the competition in 2004, annually evaluates more than 43,000 restaurants in 50 states. To be included, 50 percent of the menu items must be related to Chinese cuisine. Results for the Top 100 are tabulated from a mystery-diner evaluation (60 percent), public votes (20 percent), media reviews and awards (10 percent) and an advisorypanel evaluation (10 percent).
Chinese Restaurant News also applauded two other Florida restaurants. Imperial Buffet International (810 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven; 863-292-9296) ranked No. 14 and
South Garden Chinese Restaurant in Miami was No. 90. Do you think Chinese Restaurant News has overlooked your favorite Chinese restaurant? Go to the Web site Top100.c-r-n.com and click on "Top 100 Home Page" in the upper left corner. Then click on the word "nomination," and you will see the instructions on how to nominate your top eatery.
Source: Orlando Sentinel
Sentinel Food Editor
February 20, 2009
Longwood's Imperial Dynasty has been named one of the Top 100 Chinese restaurants in the United States by Chinese Restaurant News. It came in at No. 25. Not a bad place to be from sea to shining sea.
I dropped in last week for an early lunch and was glad for my timing. By 12:30 p.m. the restaurant was packed with folks who appeared to be regulars. I opted for a bento box lunch ($10-$12). Yes, I know the bento box is a Japanese tradition, but Imperial Dynasty is an equalopportunity Asian treasure. Besides, I'm a bit of a bento-box fiend. Once I see it on a menu, I can't look away. I think it may have something do with eating too many compartmentalized TV dinners on shaky metal TV tables as a child.
(For the uninitiated, bento boxes are food containers that range from throw-away "plates" to nice hand-crafted lacquerware. But I'm digressing from the meal at hand.) The centerpiece of my elegant russet-and-black box was delicate and meaty shrimp tempura. At the top left were four California rolls (a beginner's sushi roll with cucumber, crab and avocado) and a large, mound of white rice. Tucked into the bottom-right slot was a simple salad of crisp and fresh iceberg lettuce and real tomatoes. Two crisp crab rangoon (fried dumplings) pinched into a nice flower shape filled another compartment, and my box was completed with a small bowl of miso soup. For dinner later, I took away a wonderfully fiery sesame chicken and fine but-no-surprises beef with assorted veggies (both $7.75) from the Chinese portion of the menu.
Both were lunch combinations, which is plenty for me and my husband at supper. Both entrees came with steamed or fried white rice or brown rice, your choice of two California rolls, two chicken wings, a spring roll or soup (egg drop, chicken and sweet corn, wonton or hot and sour) or a side salad. Imperial Dynasty also has a swell sushi bar, and I often forget that it is there as I am trying to negotiate the permanently busy traffic where Interstate 4 crosses over State Road 434. I am coming back soon for sushi. Unless the bento boxes stare me down like Geico's bizarre eyeballed money stacks. I must resist. I must resist.
By the way, Chinese Restaurant News, which started the competition in 2004, annually evaluates more than 43,000 restaurants in 50 states. To be included, 50 percent of the menu items must be related to Chinese cuisine. Results for the Top 100 are tabulated from a mystery-diner evaluation (60 percent), public votes (20 percent), media reviews and awards (10 percent) and an advisorypanel evaluation (10 percent).
Chinese Restaurant News also applauded two other Florida restaurants. Imperial Buffet International (810 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven; 863-292-9296) ranked No. 14 and
South Garden Chinese Restaurant in Miami was No. 90. Do you think Chinese Restaurant News has overlooked your favorite Chinese restaurant? Go to the Web site Top100.c-r-n.com and click on "Top 100 Home Page" in the upper left corner. Then click on the word "nomination," and you will see the instructions on how to nominate your top eatery.
Source: Orlando Sentinel
