12/16/08

It is better to avoid this place then walk in

by austinadam

i went there in the mood for a nice dinner. The prices were a bit steep but quality is always worth it. I started with a good drink almost worth its 10 bucks a rum cocktail . the place was slow . my waitress i think went home cause i never saw her again. I ordered calamri with a "spicy sauce" . . . it actually was more vinegary and may even have been goin bad. i had to flag someone down in a slow restaurant to get a different sauce. sad . My new server instead of asking how my appetizer was was in stead ready to take my dinner order. this place couldnt get an appetizer and drink right. the menu they handed me had leftover food on it. it was a paper menu with a sauce spot right through it you couldnt miss.Quality control was obviously not evident here so being 23 dollars down including tip i decided against dinner this area seems to thrive on tourists but has overall poor dining options. I wasnt expecting the Ritz Carlton which is down the street and dreaded the fact i chose this place instead. Its relly a shame when you try to support local business and get screwed.

• Pros: if your down town its cold and dont wanna walk else where
• Cons: see above review

11/26/08

NOT Vegetarian Friendly

by JaneBeee

I've been dragged here for lunch with various friends five or six times in the last couple of years. The food is very pretty, but somewhat overpriced, in my opinion. The decor is "black laquer chic".

My biggest complaint is this: How can a Chinese restaurant only have one vegetarian dish?! There's not a single meatless appetizer or soup, either.

Granted, the mixed vegetables with tofu IS pretty tasty, although it's not really a substantial amount of food (at least at lunch) and they tend to use the big, tough asparagus pieces. However, I asked a few days ago if I could substitute noodles for the rice (just to have SOME variety) and was told absolutely not!! Another time, a friend wanted to make a simple switch on his order and was told "no", as well.

Now, I'm not picky, but I often ask for menu substitutions at restaurants and I have ALWAYS gotten what I wanted. Some restaurants add a small extra charge, which is fine, but I've NEVER been told "no".

I will not "vote" for this restaurant again when I'm eating downtown with friends.

• Pros: Clean
• Cons: Limited menu, overpriced for what you get...

09/03/08

Great any day of the week

by fashiondiva16

I really don't know what all the complaints are about. I love this restaurant. I can go anytime any day. I love the salt and pepper calamari. It's not healthy for you, but hey, it's definitely worth it. The staff is very friendly. I mean, some are Asian, and they might come off wrong, but they mean the best. They just don't know how to speak English that well, but its not like you can't understand them.

08/01/08

Overpriced and average food...

by atlguy35

We visited Hsu's this evening and I am less than impressed. The interior is clean but the restaurant looks like it is has not been renovated since the 1980's. The menu selection was very limited - no favorites such as Shrimp with Lobster sauce or Chicken and Brocolli, and the prices were very high for Chinese cuisine- with an average dish running about $18.00. There are many other dining options Downtown and I would steer clear of Hsu's unless you are ready to spend a hefty amount on a less than average meal.

• Pros: Good service
• Cons: Overpriced average chinese cuisine

11/22/06

Surprisingly authentic Chinese fare trapped in a touristy atmosphere downtown.

by Contributor

The Scene
The faux-Chinatown exterior of this downtown restaurant gives way to a dimly lit, carpeted interior straight out of "Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen." Popular with the business crowd during the day, convention-goers and visiting families have the run of the place at night. Servers are friendly and helpful, if a tad over-attentive.

The Food
Venturing beyond the generic General Tsu standards, the menu offers some true flavors of China. Szechuan-style string beans with ground pork are spicy and slightly smoky from high-heat cooking in the wok. Peking Duck is a pricey splurge, but is served in three delicious courses and feeds a small crowd. Chicken salad with peanut sauce and a soft noodle cake is perfect for lunch. Bananas Foster served tableside brings the meal to an appropriately kitschy close.

10/03/04

Horrible service

by airlonnie

At the prices they charge, their food should be much better. I can easily find a whole duck that is both cheaper, and better tasting than the one here. The servers had a bad habbit of asking me "have you paid?" every 5 minutes. I was clearly still eating. Even worse, I went to the restroom and when I returned, my food was gone. Servers here have a tendency to snatch things such as plates, and bills. Finally, one of the waiters was chewing with her mouth open while serving us. Very disgusting.

• Pros: Nice atmoshpere
• Cons: , Terrible Service, Less than avg. Food.

10/18/02

Great duck!!

by tenny982

I was looking for a special place to celebrate my anniversary. He decided on a place we'd never been: Hsu's. We had the peking duck which was amazing! Everything we ate was terrific. It was an wonderful dinning experience with a great staff.

• Pros: validated parking, friendly, sea bass
• Cons: expensive

10/07/02

Amazing XO jumbo shrimp!

by kiki119

If you love spicy, and you love jumbo shrimp, you must try Hsu's Jumbo Shrimp with X.O. sauce. It's amazing! I love it!