On the second night in the snowy city, we stumbled upon the outpost of St. Marks’ Sichuan Mountain House in Hell’s Kitchen. Chinese Consulate is seriously pulling good restaurants into Midtown.
Right at the door:
— Kitchen is closing in 15 minutes.
The host managed to say this not in a rude or obnoxious way but quite friendly and light.
Honestly, we were grateful — it was the only place opened in the neighborhood in this blizzard.
Finally, after all the trips to various Sichuan restaurants, I got my favorite Chongqing chicken. I first tried it in Chengdu, made it a few times at home. But every time we go out here, my companions pick something else.
I know, I know — you’re not supposed to eat these peppers. But they are my favorite part: spicy, salty, crunchy, tasty after rubbing backs with chicken pieces in hot fat, numbing mixed up with Sichuan peppercorns. The best!
Nice garlicky eggplant, perfect wontons in chili oil. And tea, tea, tea! Amazing tea in a teapot to warm up the hands after a walk in the cold!
Our check arrived with two after dinner mints. So good they were, I asked for a couple of more and got a handful for the road. Nice! Thank you!
#food #diningout #outinnyc #newyorkrestaurant #hellskitchen #manhattan #blizzard #snowinnewyork #sichuanrestaurant #chinesefood