Eastside Vibe Review 1

Challenging your notion of Chinese

When you think Chinese do you think about chowing down on msg laden buffet food until your belly’s blue & bloated then end up violently blowing up the bowl an hour later? Do you ever say “Hey let’s get a baby sitter, call a cab, make a night of it and party all night at Sizzling Wok? No, at least I hope not, although it would be such fun to shake up the folks over at Sizzling Wok by shot gunning all their beer and table dancing topless until they throw you out.... “you no come here anymore... why you drink soo much... you go now!” You might even manage to projectile vomit right on the cash register for good measure as your being ushered out. Hilarious thought indeed.
As much fun as pulling a drunken savage burn on Sizzling Wok may sound there is a more viable solution to having a good time and eating your favorite Chinese dishes at the same time...Rong Tans Bistro & Lounge.
Rong Tans is fun Chinese. The lounge is always littered with locals and the food is always right on par. The Beechmont bistro takes a decidedly American approach to Chinese cuisine.
First off how many other Chinese restaurants even have a bar? I’m not talking about some tiki topped porta bar stuffed in the back corner stocked with four dusty bottles of Kummingatcha vodka & Ron Rico rum. I’m talking about a nice well stocked, very popular local lounge that comes complete with TVs, mega touch and a friendly bartender at your service. How many? None I think. Wait take that back... yes, it’s definitely none, I’m certain. I’d say almost 1/2 of Rong Tans customers sit at the bar. After all, what better place to “Eat the Chinese and drink the beer” (Rong Tans official slogan).
The fact that it’s Chinese sort of throws you off. Who would think that the weekend nights get crowded with cuties & booties on the dance floor and that at 11:00 the party is just getting started?

Who would have thought your dinner buffet experience would come complete with great non-msg Chinese treats and live music (6-10) by “the piano man” ? He busts out like a mad man all night long with hits from the great classic rock & roll bands like The Beatles, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Rolling Stones and just about any request you can yell at him. Let’s not forget the afore mentioned late night karaoke/ dance party people.
Driving by you might think “ooh a nice Chinese buffet, let’s eat there before we go to the club” Fact is after your meal you might not walk out until 2:30. And for good reason.
I know some of you are too old and too slow (or too married) to be booty shakin’ with the ladies. Your still not left out if you love good Chinese. Rong Tans serves it up right proper. In fact if your one of those “we’re just going to stay home with the kids and watch some Disney movies” Rong Tans still has you covered. They even deliver their beautiful boxes of Chinese delights right to your door. That way you can all sit down, dig in and skip the dishes. For those “all American” appetites that spoil the whole “I want Chinese... but I want burgers” argument, they still have you covered. They serve big meaty burgers fresh off the grill.
Like I said, Rong Tans is not your typical Chinese joint. With all this attention to entertainment don’t think for a minute they skimp on the food. Just look at these dishes we ordered. Now you tell me, isn’t that lovely Lo Mein meaty? Thinking about some succulent spicy Szechuan shrimp? I bet you are now. Two of us ordered three dishes and tore it all up in under twenty minutes, it was divine (no gastronomical surprises afterward I might add). Rong Tans serves fun Chinese, and that’s what it’s all about. Skip the silly hack joints, go for the good stuff, their menu is loaded with it.

Eastside Vibe Review 2

Chinese food is mysterious. I’ve tried many recipes at home, but never is it anywhere near what I get at a good Chinese kitchen. So when I crave the creations of the far East I order out. Rong Tan’s is a long time Eastside Chinese connection. Owned and operated by Milford native Rich Williams, his brother in law Rong D. Tan and his father Chang Rong Tan. Rong Tan’s is a family success. The Rong Tan family honed their chef kinks and cooking skills razor sharp in the Guang Zhuo provence of China. Fortunately for us they have long since made the Eastside their home.
I’m sad to see so many Chinese restaurants abandoning the authenticity of the the cuisine in favor of an “American appeal” style of cooking. I test the waters of authenticity and judge a Chinese Restaurant by their Lo-Mein. An awesome dish; Lo-Mein is made up of spaghetti like noodles. (Some restaurants actually use spaghetti: a very bad sign.); fresh veggies and your choice of meats, and a special Lo- Mein sauce. The sauce is the key ingredient. Great sauce has a grilled smoky flavor. Rich Williams explained how the sauce must be incorporated into the dish, not just merely added to the finish.
I was invited into the kitchen to see the sublime and simple dish created before my very eyes. Using real Chinese noodles, fresh veggies and mats the chef begins an almost “ceremonial” culinary technique. A magic combination of wok, oil, flame, shake and sizzle. Fire and sauce, shake and sizzle and BAM! It’s done and amazing to watch. My eyes were riveted to the flames and my toes almost tapping to the rhythm.
In the kitchen I took a moment to admire the makings of the nightly buffet: a feast of fresh shrimp, beautiful beef, choice cuts of chicken and pork, steaming crab legs, bright green beans being stringed by hand, fresh veggies being cleaned and chopped with precision and skill. I had my Lo Mein in hand otherwise I would have stayed for the buffet.
These people take pride in their work, pride in their family and are very proud of Rong Tan’s, and that’s the secret ingredient to their success.