FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
Confucious say, What's in a Name?
All is not what it seems at Ming
by Patrick RenggerOnce upon a time (no, don't worry, this isn't a fairy story), when I was travelling in China I came across a restaurant called Micky Mao's, festooned with Mao kitsch and some very odd morphing of Disney's first character and the Great Helmsman himself. This was only a year or so after Tiannenmen Square, so I was more than a little surprised to find such a place in the heartland of the People's Republic. It just goes to show you that things are never quite what you expect.
Walking for the first time into Ming (520, 17th Avenue S.W.) I was again reminded that it is always foolish to leap to unsubstantiated suppositions. I had assumed from the oriental-style writing of the title, not to mention the name itself, that Ming would be some sort of Chinese restaurant. I was wrong. What it is, in fact, is a lounge bar complete with leatherette padded bar, fireplace and more comfy leatherette corners and tables than a mob boss would know what to do with. It is small, cozy, intimate and - for now, at least - uncrowded. I have to say that decor and atmosphere-wise, I liked it immediately.
As far as the food goes, they offer a small but interesting menu of the salad and sandwich variety. I elected to opt for the lamb sausage roll up in warm pita bread ($8) while my companion had the Thai glass noodle salad with peppers (also $8). The lamb sandwich was a delight, the lamb itself seasoned well and balanced with a spicy yogurt as well as peppers and lettuce. The pita bread was not warm as promised, unfortunately, but I soon got over that. The only disappointment was the sweet potato fries, which were overly salted, at least for my tender palate. As for the Thai glass noodle salad, this was spiced up with chilli and ginger and was definitely on the spicy side for a salad, but since my companion and I like things that way, this is hardly a criticism. We washed these dishes down with Henry Weinhards (on tap) and the new brew from the Wild Rose Brewery.
Since this is not primarily a restaurant but a bar, an extensive menu is not to be expected and the limited one is about to receive some changes, but the owner, Mr, Ming, who is in fact of Irish descent, (who knew the Irish made such good vases?) isn't sure what may change. Nonetheless, Ming is a welcome addition to the watering holes of 17th Avenue, providing a stylish and pleasant alternative to the clubs which have become far too popular and crowded. Doubtless the large picture of Mao - soon I am told to be joined by others such as Churchill, Roosevelt, and Chiang Kai-Shek - is concealing a well-merited smile of satisfaction.
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