If there is one thing that I was planning to try for a long time it was the Szechuan Style Tofu Curry from China Gourment on Eighth Ave in Midtown Manhattan.
Finally on a Saturday afternoon, I managed to find the time to drop anchor at China Gourmet.
Eschewing the meat dishes, I ordered Szechuan Style Tofu Curry ($5.20) and Hot and Sour Soup ($1.75).
Szechuan Style Tofu Curry ($5.20)
Serving size of my items were large.
And Tofu Curry came with medium size serving of Jasmine rice (see below).
Set in medium thick gravy, China Gourmet’s Szechuan Style Tofu Curry was hot, tangy and yummy.
Hey, what more do you want from a Szechuan dish.
Intoxicated with its delicious taste, I heaped more hot Tofu Curry on the Rice and fell upon my plate like a pride of hungry lions on a fallen wildebeest.
My only regret was waiting so long to visit the place.
These guys certainly know their Szechuan Style Tofu Curry.
No stranger to Tofu Curry, I have prepared it at home on several occasions.
But good as my cooking is, it pales before China Gourmet’s kitchen.
Szechuan Style Tofu Curry on Rice
During my visit, I found the restaurant doing a brisk takeout, phone-orders and dine in business.
No complaints with Hot and Sour Soup too, folks.
It included plenty of vegetables and came piping hot.
Great value for your money, guys.
Hot and Sour Soup ($1.75)
F on Hygiene
If the food at China Gourmet deserves hosannas and an A-grade, the ambiance and cleanliness deserves an F-grade.
The tables were dirty, with remnants and napkins from previous diners’ meals. No one bothered to clean the tablets.
Also, there’s a cockiness bordering on rudeness from the counter staff.
But the quality of the food and the low price partially make up for China Gourmet’s weaknesses in hygiene and customer service.
China Gourmet
877 Eighth Ave
(Between W.53rd St & W.52nd St)
New York, NY 10019
Ph: 212-246-818
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11:00AM-11:00PM; Fri & Sat: 11:00AM-12:00AM; Sunday: 11:30AM-11:00PM
Subway: A, C, E to 50th St; 1, 2 to 50 St; B, D, E to 7 Av