Cafe China

The night is quiet on 37th street. The heavy steel doors on Cafe China guard their secrets in coats of dark rust. Inside, strange things are happening. The financial crisis of 2008 hasn't occurred. We are not fighting the war in Afghanistan, or Iraq, or Vietnam, or Korea. In fact, World War II is yet to hit the newspapers. It's the era of new opportunities, of romance, of indulgence. It's the...

Cafe China evokes another era and its dining room will transport you to 1930s Shanghai. While an eclectic wine list is available, we suggest opting for a Tsing Tao beer or one of the restaurant's creative cocktails and ordering the fiery pork dumplings in chili oil, pork ribs and sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, or the pressed tofu and celery salad to cleanse the palate. Dive back into the...

"You don't need to eat under fluorescent lights" to enjoy "authentically spicy Sichuan" fare thanks to this "inviting" Murray Hill Chinese, which offers "outstanding" specialties in the guise of a "circa-1930 Shanghai teahouse"; "moderate" prices make some amends for "spotty service."

Stunning Chinese cuisine in Midtown, with an atmosphere evocative of 1930s Shanghai. The menu of fine traditional items includes a five-spice beef, duck tongue with peppercorn, a perfectly curated selection of dim sum, and entrees that range from Chungking braised fish in red soup to a tea-soaked duck to pan-fried lamb.

Some Sichuan-food fanatics would roll their eyes at Café China. It looks far too pretty for a place serving a cuisine renowned for its chile-powered ability to make eaters teary-eyed and sweaty. But this quaint, demure restaurant serves uncompromising Sichuan food that can stand with Manhattan’s best. The kitchen can dance a proper ma la two-step, intertwining the heat of chiles and the numbing...

Savor the zesty flavors from the Sichuan region at this intimate restaurant in Midtown. A distinct old-world vibe greets diners as they enter the dining room. Cafe China's decor is an ode to a thriving 1930s Shanghai. Ornate lanterns and sconces punctuate the dimly lit space, done up in vibrant hues. Vintage photographs and Chinese-inspired artwork adorns the walls. The menu offers an extensive...