Great Wall Restaurant — Restaurant in East Lyme

I absolutely love trying different Chinese restaurants and recognize that there are differences between them in terms of how items might be prepared, with sauces, spices and even with respect to the quality of products used. My experience with Great Wall was very disappointing. I only ordered four items so take that into consideration as there may be other menu creations that are significantly better. I ordered shrimp fried rice, chicken lo mein, General Tsao's chicken and Sesame Chicken.

To be honest, I was fine with the Fried Rice and the Chicken Lo Mein. They were not the best I have had but were tasty and if they were the entire basis of my review, the rating would be higher. However, both the General Tsao's and Sesame Chicken (which start out the same before sauce and spice) were inedible. I don't mean that they were just bad - I could not break them down by chewing. The pieces were not in the least bit tender, had almost no chicken within the thick and leathery coating and were even difficult to cut. I tried four or five different-sized pieces and for the first time in my life, threw out the rest of both meals. I had ordered the Sesame chicken for my son - to be heated up later - but tossed it before he could even try it and explained why.

I understand that these are not the healthiest items but folks like me who go to most Chinese restaurants and order these kinds of foods know that going in! If these two particular items are prepared this way and start out this way, then one could expect the same from the orange chicken...etc. Perhaps there are some sauteed items, not fried first, that would be more tender and flavorful but I will not be finding out. If i find out that this restaurant changes their products or preparation of the items in which I am interested, I would try again and adjust my review as might be appropriate. Until then, I will not be going back for another bite of the apple.

I would like to mention that I thought that the owner (I think she was the owner) seemed very nice and friendly and the prices were reasonable on their face, for the portions offered. I would actually find better products for the items I referenced and increase my pricing...

this is an update to the following review. The woman who answers the phone speaks very quickly with the heavy accent so I recommend going there in person and placing the order and circling things on the menu and writing things down because her communication abilities are not as good as they should be. You might end up with a lot more food and paying for food that you don't need. That said the food was still good but they were busy and the vegetables that I asked for soft came out Al dente. However everything after this is still true the food is still good. Every time I go to this place it's consistently delicious. I usually order the chicken with bean sauce and choose my own vegetables they never charge me extra and the white meat is always tender and the vegetables are cooked to perfection! Every single time. This place is one of the most consistent Chinese restaurants I have been to in the state of Connecticut. This place is always clean and their service is great and their prices are fair the portion sizes are also very good. the rice is delicious. Most Chinese restaurants I barely even eat the white rice but somehow they have perfected the art of cooking rice and their rice is never dried out like many Chinese restaurants. Their pork fried rice is very good also. The wonton soup is also good. You will not be disappointed it is the best Chinese restaurant anywhere on the shoreline from Old Lyme to Groton and inland all the way to Norwich. I doubt if he will find a better Chinese restaurant than this. The only problem is that it's take out only. They also are still social distancing with a clear plastic barrier at the counter. If you have a hankering for Chinese food this is the...

I liked this place. It wasn't my absolute favorite in the area, but it had good flavor, and the food was fresh; it didn't taste like it had been sitting in the cooler an 'extra day' like a lot of places. (all over).

(FULL DISCLAIMER: THIS FOLLOWING WAS ONE SINGLE TIME AND MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE CASE)

My beef lo mein was a little extra heavy on the garlic though. Listen, i love garlic, (who doesn't?) but just maybe take it back about 10% there cowboy. It was still good, it still hit the spot, don't get me wrong, but it just wasn't what i necessarily thought i was signing up for. I'll definitely be back, and you guys are super awesome, but seriously i could have metaphorically impaled a vampire with...