MessyCuisine

P.F. Chang’s (Again)

This PF Chang’s is located at Stony Point Shopping Center, in Richmond, Virginia.

P.F. Chang’s demands your attention with the smell wafting out from the building, and the decor and drama of the place. Everytime I’m disappointed on some level, even though I want to love it and make it a favorite.

“But it’s a chain!” they remind me.

“I know… but…”

So, early enough on a weekday night, it’s not crowded, but the appetizer (pork stuffed dumplings) takes forever to get there, and while the waiter was excellent at refilling sodas, the entrée took even longer to appear. Both entrées featured only protein. They are not “complete” meals, with vegetables. I was disappointed, despite the great taste of both (orange beef, and sea bass).

All in all, nothing was terrible at P.F. Chang’s, save for the wait. And why is that? It’s a chief complaint I have. The waiter took 3-4 minutes doing the sauce-pouring. Mustard. Vinegar. Soy sauce. “Soy gives the sauce saltiness.” Doh! What do we look like, first-timers at a Chinese joint?!

That sauce sits there the whole night. Not one thing we ordered uses that sauce. Why do they do it? What mysterious food are you to dip into this sauce concoction? And why do they insist in mixing these three ingredients together? Argh!

P.F. Chang’s has some tasty dishes, however inauthentic they are. But the “chain” restaurant characteristics, from the table sauces, to the long waits, turn me off. How about you?

Filed by MessyChef at June 6th, 2007 under Asian, Restaurant Review