Café China

Café China is in a new spot just a five minute walk away from its previous location on 37th Street. The new dining room has checkered floors and chandeliers, and there's an upstairs mezzanine with vintage posters overlooking it. They’re still serving the same crowd-pleasing Szechuan food. Start with some dim sum. The har gow and vegetable pot stickers are great, but the best dumplings here are the pork ones in chili oil and oyster sauce. Out of the entrées, the platter of thick and tender cumin lamb is a must-order, and the shrimp fried rice and fatty short ribs with sweet soy broth are both solid. A lot of restaurants work well for groups, but that’s especially true for Café China. We consider it a requirement to come here with at least three other people.