LIM College

Longing for real deal Chinese food, but not the trip to Chinatown? Evergreen Café is on the Upper East Side (1228 1^st Avenue & 69^th) but casual, cozy, quiet, and spacious enough to accommodate a large party without a reservation.

For college student and other moderate budgets, they offer a luncheon special: soup, egg or spring roll, white friend rice with vegetables or brown rice (with no extra charge for any rice option) for $6.95. Service is OK, but if you want your appetizers to be served before the main course, make that clear.

One of my favorites is the dim sum, especially vegetable, shrimp or shark’s fin. The Shanghai soup dumplings are also a treat, and are filled with chicken and warm soup. They burst in your mouth when you take a bite! Don’t even think of cutting them open and spoiling the magic. 

The sesame and chicken and broccoli main courses have good texture and are not the typical greasy fare. Thin-sliced tangy Hong Kong steak with piquant onions is also memorable. Evergreen delivers orders that cost more than $15 if you are feeling too lazy to go in person.

-- Sharon Pizzola

Links:

Evergreen Café
http://cafeevergreenchinese.com/

A review
http://cafeevergreenchinese.eat24hour.com/

Nutrition and Chinese food                http://www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese_food_nutrition.htm