Yesterday, my boyfriend and I decided that we would take my mom out for her first real bowling experience on Mother’s Day (especially since she had recently mastered bowling on the Wii and claims to average 270…). While browsing Google Maps for a restaurant that may satisfy my parents’ extremely picky taste near Funtime Bowl, he stumbled upon Grand China with its 110 reviews that averaged 4.5 stars.

Now, as someone who has lived in Atlanta for the past 14 years, I was honestly surprised by this find for a couple of reasons:

1. This restaurant is located in the heart of Buckhead, only 3 miles away from my high school and 2 miles from where I currently work. This means I must’ve driven by it hundreds, maybe even thousands of times by now…
2. It was started by a Taiwanese couple (I mention this point because it’s hard to imagine that there would be a Taiwanese restaurant that my parents did not know about or haven’t already tried).
3. The restaurant is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year!

So, what’s my final verdict? just like 158 Citysearch reviews have already stated. With an extensive drink and cocktail menu that includes Green Tokyo (sake + green tea + green tea ice cream) to start off your meal, you’ll know right away that this is not the typical Chinese restaurant. The food is nicely presented, not overly salty or greasy, and fairly authentic but slightly modified to appeal to Western taste buds. Definitely try the Peking Duck for a real authentic dish. If Chinese food is not your taste, a full Japanese and Thai menu is also included.

My only complaint would be the slow service and outdated decor. It was frequently difficult to get the server’s attention and they appeared to be short-staffed even though the restaurant was only at 50% seating capacity.

After our meal, the hostess gave my mom a beautiful scarf as a complimentary Mother’s Day gift (available to all mom’s dining at the restaurant yesterday) and that really sealed the deal for me. I’ll definitely be back.

I arrived at the Holiday Inn Select Pittsburgh University Center about an hour ago. Upon checking-in, Laura at the front desk hands me a couple of coupons for the Bridges restaurant & bar that is attached to the hotel. She was wearing an “in training” badge and elaborated upon every subject (e.g., parking deck, directions to my room, dining options, etc.) well above and beyond the typical schpeel, which I found pleasantly amusing. Anyway, when I travel for work, I try to avoid the hotel restaurants because they are a bit on the pricey side (why does it matter? because my expenses are billed to the client, not to my company). Tonight, though, I decided a free appetizer was incentive enough for me to give it a try.

What I ordered: “Chicago’s Finest” hand-made soft Bavarian pretzels, baked in garlic butter, and served with a LaBatt Blue Mustard for dipping ($7) and “Punxy Salmon” glazed with candied pecans served with a side of “Sweet Potato Hashed Browns” and “Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole” ($19).

What I got: 3 pizza dough breadsticks shaped like infinity signs, a dipping sauce that tasted like sweet sweet sweet honey mustard, a small piece of fresh yet bland salmon fillet that had one pecan half and little tomato cubes sitting on top of it, crunchy borderline-burnt hash browns that I initially mistook as barbecued shredded pork that had been flattened, and 4 tiny broccoli florets mixed in with mushy rice that had a hint of cheese and a lingering aftertaste of burnt pots and pans…

Total cost after tax, tip, and coupon: $25.