La Mei Zi Awards

La Mei Zi Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: A bright, cheerful spot at Asian Square, La Mei Zi specializes in Taiwanese food, which often absorbs cuisines from other parts of China but then gives them a local twist.

Food & Drinks: Thus, the menu offers spicy dishes "Sichuan style" as treatments for fish filets and chicken. Various hot pots are menu staples. Dumplings are very good, stuffed with pork and to be dipped in soy sauce. Perhaps our favorite option is the smoked duck Taiwanese style. Sweet, tender, rich and presented cold, it's a great starter for two to share. We liked the bok choy tips, stir-fried and served slightly crisp in a mild sauce. As Taiwan is an island, seafood is prominent, and the Taiwanese-style calamari, in an intriguingly spiced barbecue sauce with mushrooms and basil, made a compelling main, although we wished the squid tentacles had been used as well as the rings. Don't look for alcohol or dessert; you won't even get a fortune cookie with your check. But that's fine. This is a restaurant for the adventurous diner who might even take a chance on the "stink tofu." Several round tables are ideal for families or large parties, so gather a gang and sample the fare. A few banners hanging from the acoustical tile ceiling make an attempt at softening the space.