Red Lantern — Restaurant in California

The seating needs help. The tables are just to close to each other. It makes having a conversation with the person/people you're with almost a screaming match. There are basic factors used to cook the food at ALL Chinese restaurants that one would not think about when deciding what they want to eat. For example, fried rice. The rice should be basic cooked white rice put in a frying pan, wok or what ever it is that will be used to cook the fried rice and a little oil so you can Fry the rice and get it to be browned and then other ingredients are added. That's the time variations happen but ALWAYS the rice is browned at least a little bit to give it a cooked look, make it hot again, and to be able to meld the rest of the ingredients. What we got was white rice with an entire head of cabbage scrambled eggs and BBQ pork. The Birds Nest Singapore noodle was spicy with no other flavor. The Margaritas had WAY to much Sour in them which was pretty disappointing given the priced paid for them. On the way out after paying the bill we stopped to see what was happening with the FB game and started talking to a couple sitting at the bar about it. While talking to the couple or server approached us and said "hey you forgot something over there" with a look of confusion friend went back to the table. As we walked out I asked what we had forgotten and the response was "she wanted more money for her tip". I stopped mid-step dumbfounded at what I was just told. This lady had not done anything exceptional hadn't really cared about our dissatisfaction with drinks or food nor did she seam to care to check to see if we needed anything but felt like she deserved more than what was already given. Having been in the industry for a very long time made me shake my head at they way so many feel so entitled. Food wasn't great service wasn't great atmosphere was Meh. We should've went to the food court...

If you would like to take a nap while you eat, this is the place... it's so dark in here, I needed my phone flashlight to read the menu. The decor is incredible, and the place is screaming Asian tradition.

Anyone ever tried to roll a Romaine Lettuce leaf? Neither could I while I was eating the "Lettuce Wraps" maybe call it a taco, because it was definitely not a wrap. The meat in this dish was a good example of an oxymoron! It was over salted, and tasteless at the same time. Not my favorite on the menu. I understand you want to elevate a dish, however you gotta think it through...

When dining at a fine establishment, there is a certain level of expectation, especially when you pay for it. It's the small details that really make the experience. The Soup dumplings were okay as they didn't have much soup in them, and neither did we get a soup spoon to eat it with.

The highlight was the Honey Walnut Prawns, absolutely decadent and incredible, very well executed.

The Yang Chow Fried Rice was tasty, and big portion to share for a family of 4 or 5.

It made me laugh when I read the section on the menu which said "Vegetables" as I was thinking it was the Vegetarian choices. Nope, I was wrong, the Tofu has Oyster Sauce, the Green Beans have Oyster Sauce, the Green Beans have ground pork and shrimp, and the Greens could have Oyster Sauce if you choose it...

The best part of my experience was our server Fong, she made the afternoon a pleasure. She help me celebrate my dad's birthday with a free chocolate Mousse dessert, very delicious.

Overall, it was ok, just a lot of smoke...

Let me start by putting it out there that I'm part Chinese. That being said, I believe that my standards for Chinese cuisine are pretty high. The service is wonderful and everyone is friendly. Not your typical mom & pop shop w/o the customer experience type of training. Everyone who works here speaks English. Most of them are bilingual. I know this because I spoke to several of them in Cantonese as well as English. Now to the menu. Hands down my favorite is the smoked sea bass paired with the honey mayo & ginger. Moist, flaky, fatty & cooked to perfection. The bok choy and yao choy is good too. The noodle soups are filling on their own as a meal. The crab & fish maw soup reminds me of home cooked dinners at my parents. Yes, the sweet and sour chicken is tasty. Though not authentic but still good & includes fresh pineapple. Not that canned stuff. It makes a huge difference. My kids liked the BBQ pork fried rice. The fried fish w/sweet soy sauce is great. Especially with steamed rice & greens. Don't get me started on the roast duck & bao buns with hoisin sauce & scallions because that is my 5-yr old's new favorite. The flavor & crispy skin of the duck just makes you savor each bite. I can't wait to dine there again and try more dishes.

Even when taking items to-go, it heats up well and the flavors are...