(This venue is closed.) If you have a taste for it, you may as well get a good version of American Chinese.
This pan-Asian restaurant is the progeny of Ching's Table, which is well-regarded in New Canaan, Connecticut, but whose flavors are outshouted by many of New York's regional Chinese joints. In one important way, that's to Water Moon's credit: the sesame chicken and General Tso's chicken (above and below; lunch special, $6.50 each) don't come slathered in sweet sauce, and the sesame noodles ($5), the least Americanized of the bunch, aren't mired in peanut butter.
Water Moon
467 Columbus Ave. (82nd-83rd Sts.)
212-595-4300
I checked this out on MenuPages. I think it might be closed?
Posted by: James | March 02, 2010 at 08:46 AM
At the time of this post, Water Moon is apparently closed, briefly, for renovation. Not that there aren't many other dining options nearby, but if you have your heart set on General Tso, call before you go.
Posted by: Dave Cook | March 02, 2010 at 09:57 AM
Chinese American food is a legitimate style American cuisine, don't preface writing about it with an apology. I travel frequently to China and love to eat there, but it doesn't diminish the goodness of Orange Beef, or Chicken with Broccoli. I think you'd be surprised how many dishes I've come across over there that I thought existed only in the states.
I mean no hostility, but someone has to defend it... RIP Water Moon.
Posted by: nick | March 17, 2010 at 02:47 PM
I certainly didn't intend to suggest that American Chinese cuisine is beneath consideration or consumption. I've had a taste for it many times, and I'm sure I will again!
As for those seemingly American Chinese dishes that actually are Chinese-born, I'd appreciate being surprised by your examples.
Posted by: Dave Cook | March 17, 2010 at 09:42 PM