New Szechuan Restaurant 新四川飯店

New Szechuan resembles what one would find at a small local town village in China, straight down from the decor to service. The cream coloured walls with four paintings on the wall, sanitary disposable tablecloths (which I prefer), and two staff members sitting at the counter staring at you without offering a table; only happens at the smallest village in China.

MINCED CHICKEN SWEET CORN SOUP ($6.95).

The soup tastes like cream of corn and has a strong gamey egg flavour which could have been hidden with the use of green onions. The corn soup tastes average and is decently priced for five bowls. Although if anything, there is not much chicken if that matters (five to six tiny pea sizes).

BEEF AND BEEF TRIPE MIXED WITH CILANTRO, PEANUTS IN SPICY SAUCE ($9.95).

The beef shank and tripe are marinated and sliced in house rather than packaged. The slices of meat taste tender, flavourful as well as light, and refreshing because of the cilantro. In addition, there is a bit of texture from the crushed peanuts. This is definitely recommended despite the lack of spiciness, where there is practically not even a hint.

SHREDDED CHICKEN IN CHILLI AND GARLIC PEPPER SAUCE ($9.95). 

The sauce tastes extremely thick and has a Szechuan light chilli bean sauce flavour. Furthermore, the slices of chicken (dark meat) taste tender but the sauce does not taste appealing and kind of ruins the dish. Also, like the above dish, the peanuts provide some crunchiness and the cucumbers taste refreshing, but that sauce...

SHRIMP AND BBQ PORK FRIED RICE ($7.95).

The fried rice tastes too simple, like a fast stir fried rice. In addition, the rice tastes like it was cooked from steamed rice rather than cold and has a mushy texture. Asides from the mushy rice, the ingredients for yeung chow fried rice are there (peas, egg, BBQ pork, green onion and shrimp) and if anything, the portion is small and there are only six small shrimps. However, this may be justified by the slightly cheaper price? Also, the rice has a few clumps of salt which did not taste very pleasant.

SAUTEED PORK WITH CHILLI AND GARLIC SAUCE ($10.95).

Two dishes labelled the same in English, but different in Chinese; a problem for those who do not notice or cannot read Chinese. Unfortunately, we did not want the slices of pork and wanted pork belly. Oh well… the sautéed slices of pork taste tender and have a hot and sour soup flavour. The dish really tastes like someone scooped up all the ingredients from a pot of hot and sour soup! In addition, there is perfect hint of spiciness as well as tanginess, and the dish consists of green pepper, thinly sliced bamboo shoot and fungus. I am not a fan (personal preference), but the dish is well executed.

SAUTEED PORK WITH CHILLI AND GARLIC SAUCE ($10.95). 

Ah… pork belly, something I can always eat. The cook who sliced the pork belly has amazingly professional knife skills, seriously. The slices of pork are sliced extremely thin and perfectly consistent. As for the taste, the pork tastes tender as well as fatty, and melts in the mouth because of the thinness. Furthermore, the sauce does not have a hint of spiciness but tastes light and not overwhelming.

POSITIVES
- Sanitary disposable tablecloths
- Professional knife skills with the pork belly
- Not bad for the area

NEGATIVES
- Food is average
- Disposable tablecloths are not environmentally friendly
- Spicy dishes do not have a hint of spiciness

LITTLE THINGS
- If in the area, I would only grab the beef shank and tripe, along with the pork belly to go (3.5/5)
- Okay, so... no surprise I eat a lot but some of the portions here are kind of small. As in only suitable for three people which is somewhat a problem for tables of four or more

Food: 2.5/5
Service: 2.5/5