Spring Break
The Daily OrangeLocal Chinese food delivery restaurants battle for supremacy
By Ben Peskin
Posted: 9/19/05, 10:40 PM EST Section: Pulp
Nothing fills an over-studied, undersexed, hungry student tummy like Chinese delivery. OK, so maybe a lot of things can work instead, but overall, students on campus and off share in their taste for Asian.
On Sunday night, I set out on a mission to discover which of the three most popular Chinese food places that deliver to campus - Mr. Stirfry, No. 1 Kitchen and New Garden - is the reigning champ of late night munchies. In this highly scientific study, I was aided by two "prominent" freshmen taste-testers who reluctantly agreed to take time out of their busy tasting schedules and assist me in this service to the Syracuse University community.
The Team
Our crack team of experts in Chinese cuisine formed a sweet tripod. The legs consisted of myself, an infamous reviewer of things, Stephen Lofarro, a street-wise freshman with rice on the brain and Melissa Portalatin, a sassy city girl who claims no cuisine in the Big Orange can compare to the Big Apple.
The Plan
With an expense account that boasts a cache upwards of $29, I decided to break the bank and spend the entire 30 bucks allotted to this endeavor. Judging from the amount of menus left in the residence halls, we decided to sample not two, but an unprecedented three restaurants side by side. Allotting $10 to each restaurant, we decided to order the exact same thing from each restaurant: Wonton soup, an egg roll, pork fried rice and General Tso's Chicken.
No. 1 Kitchen
Price: 1 - Not only did they quote a higher-than-listed price over the phone, but the delivery guy showed up with no change!
Service: 2 - Fast, easy and efficient on the phone, they came nearly exactly when promised, no surprises. Melissa said it was the easiest she's ever had to order on the phone.
Wonton Soup: 2 - Not bad wontons. The dark broth was plenty salty and the wontons were big; however, they tasted like they were heavy on the MSG.
Egg Roll: 2 - Not bad. It was warm enough and full enough and fine on grease.
On Sunday night, I set out on a mission to discover which of the three most popular Chinese food places that deliver to campus - Mr. Stirfry, No. 1 Kitchen and New Garden - is the reigning champ of late night munchies. In this highly scientific study, I was aided by two "prominent" freshmen taste-testers who reluctantly agreed to take time out of their busy tasting schedules and assist me in this service to the Syracuse University community.
The Team
Our crack team of experts in Chinese cuisine formed a sweet tripod. The legs consisted of myself, an infamous reviewer of things, Stephen Lofarro, a street-wise freshman with rice on the brain and Melissa Portalatin, a sassy city girl who claims no cuisine in the Big Orange can compare to the Big Apple.
The Plan
With an expense account that boasts a cache upwards of $29, I decided to break the bank and spend the entire 30 bucks allotted to this endeavor. Judging from the amount of menus left in the residence halls, we decided to sample not two, but an unprecedented three restaurants side by side. Allotting $10 to each restaurant, we decided to order the exact same thing from each restaurant: Wonton soup, an egg roll, pork fried rice and General Tso's Chicken.
No. 1 Kitchen
Price: 1 - Not only did they quote a higher-than-listed price over the phone, but the delivery guy showed up with no change!
Service: 2 - Fast, easy and efficient on the phone, they came nearly exactly when promised, no surprises. Melissa said it was the easiest she's ever had to order on the phone.
Wonton Soup: 2 - Not bad wontons. The dark broth was plenty salty and the wontons were big; however, they tasted like they were heavy on the MSG.
Egg Roll: 2 - Not bad. It was warm enough and full enough and fine on grease.
