The decor, much like the cuisine here, shows innovation. Art deco lamps and snake sculptures hang along side a funky animal-shaped chandelier made of glass. Red candles and strings of firecrackers complete the effect. On the menu, Northern Chinese offerings include appetizers like vibrant Firecracker Soup(shrimp and vegetables in a clear broth with golden rice chips) and Crab Rangoon(creamy crab meat baked in crisp wraps). As an entree, Phoenix and Dragonis is always popular, with chicken (phoenix), shrimp (dragon) and Braised Eggplant in spicy Plum/Citrus sauce. Don't miss house specials like the gorgeous Shanghai Salmon Noodle (chilled salmon in a sweet marinade, stir-fried with shitake mushrooms and peppers, served over a bed of rice vermicelli). Dishes like these make the wait for a table on weekends alarmingly long. Of course, they also make the wait worthwhile.
• Hours: Brunch: 11:30a-3p Sa-Su, Dinner 5:30p-10:30p Tu-Th, 5:30p-11p F-Sa, 5p-10p Su