Restaurant Review -- Panda Express

So today I had some errands to run and my mom decided to go with me and my daughter. It was getting to be lunchtime and my mom was hungry, but Lilly and I not so much. Nonetheless we decided to get something quick to eat. We had every intention of going to Quiznos, but when we got out of the truck a very yummy smell seemed to be coming out of the Panda Express that is just a few doors down. Since neither of us had ever been there, we decided to check it out.

We walk inside and the atmosphere is very nice--food smells good, everything looks clean, and the decorations are very appropriate. As my daughter would put it, "Look mommy, they have those same things from Kung Fu Panda!" meaning the paper lanterns. We grab a menu and sit down to check it out.

To me they didn't seem to really have a whole lot to choose from in the way of actual entrees. I wasn't expecting as many choices as an actual Chinese takeout restaurant, but I was expecting more than what I saw. I did like how they had a children's deal that offered smaller portions of the regular entrees, along with a side, a drink, and a cookie. My mother and I opted to share a meal since I wasn't really that hungry. We chose to try the Beijing Beef and my daughter got the String Bean Chicken Breast. Now according to the menu out Beijing Beef was supposed to be both sweet and spicy. To me, it wasn't sweet and it wasn't at all spicy. Now, I know I can handle a lot of heat--thanks to years of taste-testing hot sauce for my dad--but I didn't even detect a hint of heat. Many times when I order spicy food one of two things happens: 1) there is heat but no flavor, or 2) there is flavor and not enough heat. In this case, I didn't get either flavor or heat. The meat just tasted kind of blah...

Now I tried some of Lilly's green beans and they had good flavor, and as in many Asian dishes, the green beans were nice and crunchy. Lilly seemed to be very happy with her meal. I on the other hand, was less than impressed. I'm the kind of person that is willing to pay a little more for a better product, especially when it comes to food. I was so unimpressed I doubt I will be going back. I think I'll just stick with going to the awesome Chinese takeout place down the street from my house :-)