[REVIEW] Northern Manor Restaurant, Little Neck

Northern Manor Restaurant Review

Last night, for the first time in like, umm, Never, I didn’t post a review of our Quest on the same day that we went.  I needed some time to digest my thoughts in order to write a cogent review.   However, the food went down easy.

We strayed just across the Nassau County border in to a little town appropriately called Little Neck and dined at Northern Manor Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant that was recommended to us.  Please keep those recommendations coming!!

 Northern Manor Restaurant is located at:

251-15 Northern Blvd.

Little Neck, NY 11362

Parking is available either on the street (metered until 7:00pm), or they say around the back (but I never found that lot).  There was a gorgeous saltwater fish tank you see as soon as you walk in the door, and the restaurant was very tastefully decorated, and the bathroom (at least the Men’s room) was gorgeous and immaculately clean.

They stuck us in a corner, tucked away from the view of the other diners.  I think they knew we would be talkers and they didn’t wish to disturb the other patrons (all two or three other tables… and the restaurant was HUGE… lots of different seating areas to accommodate private parties and reduce noise.

The menu was pretty to look it, but I must admit I never opened it.  We asked our waiter to serve us an authentic Chinese banquet style meal.  He offered some general suggestions, but wasn’t confident it seemed in his selections.  Perhaps he wasn’t sure of what we would like or not.  We got an assortment of dishes covering each of the basic food groups (including chocolate.  Ok, that was a stretch.  But, the fortune cookies were chocolate flavored ones.  I’m not sure that fortune cookies are authentic, per se, but that’s what makes the world go around).

There was lots of wine to go around (as suggested by Mee Har Vee, we each brought a bottle of wine to compare and contrast, and see how they paired with each dish… though half the wine was consumed prior to the first dish being served).  Seven bottles shared amongst the six of us.  Reds, Whites, and even a bottle of Poison (did he fear we wouldn’t like our meals, and wanted the easy way out… or, that we couldn’t afford to pay the bill, and his was another alternative.  Though the bill was extremely reasonable, especially considering all the dishes we ate, and umm… oh yes, it was actually called “Poizin”, which was a Zinfandel).  As is his usual wont, Mee Tsu Yan will provide a technical analysis of all the dishes and wines that we enjoyed.  I will however list everything that we ate and offer a summary judgment of all:

• Spare Ribs – These were extremely tender, juicy, and practically fell off the bone.  The BBQ was quite delicious
• Crab Meat Fish Maw Soup – I liked this soup.  There was tiny chunks of crab meat and perhaps a little fish.  Some found this too gelatinous, but it grew on me the more I had of it.  I could have had another serving.
• Pan Fried Lamb Chops – Nice dish.  The lamb was perhaps a little dry, the few little veggies on the side added a nice flavor to it.
• Soft Shell Crab w/Garlic – This was one of my favorites.  I have never really had soft shelled crabs.  I would order this dish again.  Not a lot of meat, but it was good.
• Crispy Chicken w/Dried Garlic – Nicest thing to say about this dish is that it wasn’t dry.  but it was just ok in my book
• Yang Chow Rice (Combination Fried Rice) – The rice was good, but dry.
• Seafood w/Bean Curd – The seafood was wonderful.  I’ve never had bean curd before.  Didn’t have a lot of flavor, but I don’t think it’s supposed to have.  Again, I’m no expert in that realm.
• Jumbo Shrimp w/Black Bean Sauce – Nice sized shrimps.  Black bean sauce was so so.

Being a Cantonese restaurant, we weren’t expecting to be blown away with different flavors and spices, but it could have used a little bit of something to kick to it up a notch (but I guess that wouldn’t have made it Cantonese).  Call me a rebel if you must.  But, I like what I like.

In summary, it was a nice restaurant.  I’ve heard that Dim Sum on the weekend is most excellent.  Perhaps I would come back to try that.

With our bill came a lovely platter of fruits (cantaloupe, pineapple, and honeydew), and the aforementioned fortune cookies:

It is a silly fish that is caught twice with the same bait.

It is not the outside riches but the inside ones that produce happiness.

It would be best to maintain a low profile for now.

You only treasure what you cannot posses [sic].

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Here is our rating:

Humbly submitted for your consumption,

—Mee Magnum (“Chop!  Chop!”)