Xi'an Restaurant Review: On a sunny day, the sidewalk patio at Xi’an abounds with fashionable people doing lunch. Named for the ancient capitol of China, this sleek Beverly Hills restaurant serves food geared for the California palate, and in many cases, waistline. About one-third of the dishes are preceded by those telltale American Heart Association icons, including a pretty tasty chopped chicken salad. Top appetizers range from steamed chicken dumplings with a ginger-soy dip to roasted barbecue pork spare ribs and minced chicken in lettuce cups with jícama and crispy noodles. Other favorites are the crispy Peking duck or cod filet in a spicy sauce. From the Xi’an Garden, choose string beans, spinach with garlic, and eggplant and basil casserole. Power Zone Rice is made with brown and wild rice, egg whites and mixed vegetables. Sorbets in flavors like peach and coconut make for a light completion to the meal, and there is a lengthy selection of specialty martinis.
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