New Capital Seafood

Last Friday, Feb 13, 2009, was also a rainy day. We decided to stay close instead of venturing out for something new. We decided to have authentic Chinese food, so we went to New Capital Seafood at 140 W Valley Blvd, #D44 (4th floor), San Gabriel, CA. This is as close to the real thing as you are going to get when eating Chinese. It isn't dumb down for Anglo taste buds, the service, however, is also as close to the real thing as you will get...which isn't necessary a good thing.

We arrived at 8:50 and had a table for 4(well 5, but one is a baby on high chair). They immediately served us hot tea, for those of you that must have tea sweeten, don't bother. We are talking authentic Chinese after all. I had brought a bottle of Camelot Pinot Noir with me(nice daily wine), and had to pay to get it open. So for 4 of us, T,Z, special guest star Ms. V and Mr. J, we were given 2 menus... wth, authentic service I see. Now I had been here before, and so had Ms. V and Mr. J. We proceeded to selecting, Ms. V wanted kung pao chicken, for Mr. V we had oysters in black bean sauce, to complete the selection, I decided we would have a spicy clam dish that had spicy black bean sauce, Kobe beef in oyster sauce, and live scallops in shell. We waited for 5 minutes before the waiter noticed we were ready, after ordering, they gave us a 3# lobster battered and fried with pepper and salt for free(you get a free lobster when you order over 30 dollars, good for dinner and late night meal). It wasn't packed, the rain definitely didn't help business, and they had about 4 waiters and a few bus boys, I was expecting better service, but what can I say, it is authentic Chinese food with what must be authentic Chinese service. I think anyone who's been to that region(Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, China) would know what I mean by that.

So to put it bluntly, service sucks. With lobsters and clams, they only came and change our plates once. Then again, I being used to it, didn't go there for service, I went for food, so how was it?

This is where they excel. Almost all the dishes were done to perfection. The Kobe, the oyster, the clams, even the kung pao chicken. Mr. J and I were busy putting food in our mouths while Z was taking her time being lady like.... and Ms. V was too busy catering to her rug rat of a daughter to truly enjoy the meal. Well she did ate most of the kung pao chicken which was her choice. We ended up each selecting our favorite dish. For Z it was the clam, she never had it with the shells before, and you should see her eyes light up as she tried it for the first time. Ms V, kung pao chicken. Mr. J and I were the garbage disposal service and we just ate and ate, though Mr J did like the oysters most. For me, I would have to say the scallop in shell, since everything to me tasted excellent, I had to choose it as it is by far the best in presentation as well as taste.

I had ordered a special dessert, which came in a whole coconut, for Z and Ms. V to share. They liked it, Ms. V already know what it was, but it was a complete surprise to Z. It is coconut with swiftlet's nest, of course I had to gross her out by telling her in laments terms...hehehe, if you want to know what it is, go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird%27s_nest_soup.

So Overall time:

Location/Parking*************************A, large lot, both surface and underground, with security guard.

Enviornment*****************************D-, bad service ruins environment

Drinks***********************************C, standard wine list, standard drinks(beer, soda), low to mid end tea selection.

Food************************************A, salute to the kitchen staff!

Price************************************A-/B+, about 25 per person, knowing what we ordered, in other places it could easily top 50. The free lobster was a nice touch!

Overall**********************************B/B-