THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bamboo

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bamboo Restaurant Review:

Bamboo is both relaxed and relaxing, so much so that you may find yourself ordering round after round of Chef David SooHoo’s Asian countryside fare just to prolong the experience. The place is casual and even a little funky. There’s an appealing street-side patio outside, but we like the dining room---a small space appointed with an eclectic collection of antiques and artifacts from China and thereabouts, the tables covered with Chinese newspapers and the air circulated by fans undulating softly from above. Once you’ve settled into the easy vibe, start with the overstuffed Laughing Buns, then head straight to the gingery Hainese chicken and a platter of cashew shrimp served with asparagus and green beans so fresh that you’ll never tolerate the lousy Chinese take-out version again. Everything comes village (aka family)-style, and nothing we’ve tasted has been anything short of terrific. What’s more, there’s not an entrée on the menu over $9.95. The wine list is short but focused and reasonably priced. If dessert is in your plans---and it ought to be---put yourself in the good hands of Elaine Corn, SooHoo’s wife and the author of the James Beard Award-winning Now You’re Cooking series of cookbooks. Corn handles both front-of-the-house hosting and dessert duties at Bamboo. While her saffron, pistachio and rosewater Asia Minor ice cream may be a bit subtle for tastes that run to Ben & Jerry’s, her more Americanized offerings are knock-outs. Don’t miss the banana cream pie, a towering slab of bourbon-flamed happiness drizzled generously with fresh caramel sauce.