Five members of the New York City Thrifty Gourmets Meetup group and I dined at Big Wong on Tuesday, June 3 at 8 PM. A number of us, including me, had eaten at the restaurant before and become fans of its ample, tasty dishes. I sensed that the cashier recognized that my party of six offered the possibility of a sizable check. He arranged for me to be seated, before my fellow Meetup-ers arrived. A waitress promptly set out dishes and tableware and poured glasses of tea. When another large table, located farther away from the kitchen, opened up, the staff accomodated my request to move. A member of our party who speaks Chinese and is familiar with the cuisine ordered three appetizers (two congees and a plate of ribs) and six dishes on our behalf. Not one disappointed us. They seemed freshly prepared, were delivered promptly, and were flavorful. The newbies in our group were astounded when they were informed that the cost of our dinner, including a 20% tip, was $15/person.
Pros: Prompt service; tasty food; incredible value.
Cons: Dirty, smelly bathroom.
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