Chop Stix Open For Dine-In On Nostrand
Nostrand Avenue’s Chop Stix Stir-Fry, Asian Noodle, Sushi, & Grill cafe and restaurant officially opens for dine in service today.
The restaurant still had building permits posted on their windows when we visited this past Sunday. Surprised to see people coming and going from the place and feeling the need for some Chinese food, I and a friend decided to stop by.
The new building’s design is fresh and modern, inside and out. There is a take-out waiting area, sushi bar, waterfall, pond, and and dine-in seating. The cashiers told us that there was no dine-in seating available, since the restaurant is not open, yet. For a restaurant that wasn’t open, there sure was a lot of hustle and bustle going on behind the counters. There were three people milling around at the sushi counter area, six cooks stir-frying in the open kitchen, and about seven others putting packages together and ringing up the orders.
Since there were a few customers enjoying their freshly prepared meal at the sushi counter, we decided to do the same and settled on Shrimp Fried Rice and Beef with Mushrooms. When we asked about cleaned shrimp before placing the order, the counter people said a few things: “What do you mean? The shells?”, “Oh, the intestines?” , “Well, these are baby shrimp. They are hard to clean.”, “We can’t guarantee that they are cleaned.”, “They are cleaned. We have people who do that in the basement.”
Despite the little confusion, we’re happy to say that the shrimp were of a decent size and cleaned well. The Fried Rice was soy-sauce brown, with more than six decent-sized shrimps, onions and bean sprouts. Having forgotten to ask if the Beef with Mushrooms dish is prepared with fresh or canned mushrooms, it was a pleasant surprise to find that fresh mushroom slices were used. The beef, tender and recognizable as beef, was in a tasty brown sauce with bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and carrots.
Our package was prepared in a jiffy and given to us in a paper bag in a plastic bag with foam plates and one fork. Counter people quickly obliged our requests for more cutlery and condimients. The meal though small and simple, was tasty. It was probably not the meal to order to get a true feel for what the famed chef and owner, George Wong, has put on his menu.
Other customers seated at the sushi counter were raving about their Egg Foo Young and Fried Chicken Wings with Fried Rice, while the friendly staff made conversation. The counter person said that he is the owner’s son and that this Chop Stix Restaurant is an expanded version of the Peking Kitchen which was in the same Nostrand Avenue spot for 13 years. Chop Stix is also a younger twin of the Bay Ridge restaurant with a similar name and good reputation.
We have high hopes for Chop Stix, since the owner has received numerous culinary certificates and accolades, many of which grace the wall of the take-out area. A few of Chef Wong’s impressive wins: the Gold Medal of the Academie Culinaire de France – U.S. Group; a check for $500 by the Société CulinairePhilanthopique for Centerpiece In Cooking; and, 2006 Big Apple Chef Member of the Year Award.
Based on the etched glass wall in the foyer of the restaurant, Chef Wong appears to have a good relationship with those he has worked with in the community. Listing everyone from the architect to the sign maker, he uses the wall to “sincerely thank the following friends and companies for their inspirations and contributions to make this Cafe come true.”
Should Chef Wong want to add another name to his thank you list — “Sheepshead Bites, First Media Community Welcome / Clean Shrimp, Fresh Mushroom Review” — there is still a little room on the glass.
Below are photos of the restaurant, including some taken a month ago during the construction:
Chop Stix Restaurant
Stir-Fry, Asian Noodle, Sushi & Grill
3790 Nostrand Avenue (Between Avenue Y & Avenue Z)
(718) 891-0391 or (718) 891-0392