You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, Garden City Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here’s this week’s choice:
THE ORCHID: Long before the current spate of Asian restaurants began infiltrating Garden City, there was The Orchid, the underground destination Chinese restaurant that has served residents – famous and otherwise—for nearly a quarter-century. The Orchid is perhaps the most popular take-out restaurant in town. The fact it does not deliver does not seem to have hurt the business, which has flourished since the 1980s.
The differentiator here is the quality of the ingredients. The Orchid uses all white meat chicken and the best part of the chicken breast – the tenders – for many of the dishes. Favorites here include General Tso’s, Candy Walnut Chicken, Veal Hunan, Shell Steak with Garlic Sauce (the priciest dish at $23.50) and Shrimp with Apples. Other popular dishes are Moo Shu, Pu Pu platter, Orange Beef, Lo Mein and Chow Mein.
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You could make a meal out of the appetizers as well. The Orchid’s barbecue spare ribs are among the best anywhere, and the fried rice and dumplings are favorites as well. The Orchid’s expansive dining area is ideal for birthday parties and other social events. The friendly and mature staff has worked at the restaurant for years, and it is that consistency of service – coupled with excellent food and selections – that keeps people coming back. 730 Franklin Avenue, 516-742-1116. Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, noon to 11 p.m., Sunday, 1 to 10 p.m. Entrees: $13.50 to $23.50
Found a great place to dine? Let us know about it in the comments section below.
