Ginger (Chinese, Harlem/Upper East Side)

NY Sidewalk Review
Menupages Review

Location:
1400 5th Avenue at 116th Street

Cuisine:
Chinese

Let's start with a look at what TONY has to say about Ginger, which won their 2006 Eat Out Reader's Choice Award for Best New Upper East Sider (God...that's a long award name):

Big-name developers aren’t the only people breaking new ground in East Harlem. What’s novel about this recently opened organic Chinese restaurant—aside from the fact that it’s on East 116th Street—is what executive chef James Marshall (Vong, China Grill) won’t do to the food: There will be no deep-frying, no excessive usage of oil or salt. Instead, fresh vegetables and lean meats are doused in citrusy sauces; the menu lists a pineapple-and-mango-glazed pork chop as well as an apricot-glazed chicken. The decor mixes traditional with modern. Is it authentic Chinese cooking? You don’t care when the food is this good—and healthy. —

Unfortunately, we must agree to disagree. My co-diner and I did care. I have a feeling that TONY didn't have the chance to send an actual reviewer, judging from the fact that they only mention the menu selections, which certainly do look tasty on paper, as opposed to actually mentioning or recommending anything specific.

Upon being seated we were informed that it was, indeed, "authentic Chinese cuisine." If by that they mean "shockingly bland but good for you by virtue of its blandness because the fact that it's bland means that there's no bad stuff in it because everyone knows that anything bad for you tastes freakin' awesome", they're certainly not lying. I don't really know what else to say about the restaurant; bland pretty much sums it up. The atmosphere and decor are decent and it isn't difficult to get a table, but if the food stays the same I'd be very surprised if it ever is.