THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Lai Lai at Mill Run

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Lai Lai at Mill Run Restaurant Review:

Lai Lai is what happens when you mix high-quality Chinese cooking with upscale European ideas of service and presentation. The chef’s freedom to devise seasonal menus in addition to the standard menu allows him to keep up with trends. Thus, he offers calamari lightly dusted with flour and crisped in a wok instead of a deep-fryer. On the traditional side, his current lineup includes a soup that carefully avoids using won-ton in its name but which is in reality the true, classy traditional Cantonese soup after which the dreadful imitations are named. This one uses fresh meat dumplings encased in very thin noodle dough. The rest of the menu blends European and Chinese concepts, such as the rack of lamb finished with a Szechwan cranberry sauce. Other items include glazed shrimp with a Grand Marnier sauce. This is not to say that the more traditional Chinese offerings aren’t worth eating; they’re done to the same high standards. Uniquely among Chinese restaurants, there’s even a dessert list. Presentation is excellent here, starting with fine china and place settings. Only the limited wine list hasn’t kept up with the kitchen’s creativity.