After moving in and settling into my new apartment, my first meal as a bonafide Manhattanite was at Grand Sichuan just around the corner. The 9th Ave. branch of this restaurant, for the Sex and the City fans out there, was immortalized as the dining spot guys take their dates who they're secretly ashamed of. But, as Mr. Big pointed out, the food is some of the best Chinese around.
I wasn't on a date, thank god, but my gal pal Shar and I were both hungry and wanted something different. We couldn't make up our minds on what to order and the waitress did not bother to hide her annoyance. Service was noticeably unfriendly thereafter.
The food, however, was abundant, cheap, and pretty damn good. Everything was served family style. The $3 pumpkin soup came in a huge bowl with plenty of pumpkin slices. The 5-spiced beef dish was a heaping platter of thinly slices. The Sichuan dan dan noodles also came in a big bowl with spicy scallion bits on top. The cucumber with garlic, another generously-portioned entree, was perfect for cooling down the palate.
Despite stuffing ourselves, we still had plenty of leftovers. And a satisfied stomach is nothing to be ashamed of.
Grand Sichuan
19-23 St. Mark's Place, East Village
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