Steam — Restaurant in Greenwich

The first Steam became instantly the best Asian restaurant in Greenwich (the chef made his own noodles) and my wife and I patronized it very frequently years ago.

The second Steam, we stopped going to after a couple of very disappointing visits.

So for a long time we hesitated going to the third and present version, under new management. When we finally gave it a try, what a pleasant surprise it was: it is the best Steam of them all, and, like the first, arguably the best restaurant in Greenwich for Asian and Chinese food.

The place is spotless, the service impeccable, very fast and very courteous. The food is so DELICIOUS and the quality so high that we’ve decided to try everything on the menu and we’ve been going at least once a week checking off items on the menu, two at a time (we’ve had over a dozen dishes so far, each one making the experience so pleasurable: life is short and that’s the way a meal should be: delightful). We’ve had Kung Pao Chicken (great), Coconut Curry Chicken (wow!), Sesame Chicken (something else…), Orange Chicken (wow!), Thai Basil Chicken (sooo good…), Spicy Mango Chicken (took us straight to heaven with the first bite), Three Pepper Beef (another great winner…), Japanese Miso Ramen with chicken for one of us and shrimp for the other (it’s—by far—the best and most copious ramen in the area; but you have to go all the way to Mama Chow in Southport to discover what the ramen craze is really all about), the wonton soup is the best among the countless we’ve had, ditto for the spring rolls, etc. There is only one desert, but what a desert! Three very large balls of pumpkin cake: a Chinese classic in its best version (i.e., filled with red beans). If you’ve never had this masterpiece of Chinese cuisine (words fail me to describe the extraordinary taste and textures), you’re in for quite a revelation and quite a treat… All the portions at Steam are surprisingly generous and the prices more than reasonable: this has to be the best value for your money in this expensive town…

The location on the town’s Main Street (Greenwich Avenue) is the most convenient. The place is small but the huge windows make you feel as if you’re outside and they are great for people watching, if you’re alone. The decor is simple but tasteful. It’s all conducive to a very pleasant experience. We feel very lucky indeed to have such a wonderful place in town, because Greenwich is definitely not a...

We used to enjoy ordering takeout from Steam, but unfortunately, after my poor experience tonight, I don't think we will order from Steam again. The decore has changed inside and the prices have been increased, but they apparently reduced portions and made changes to signature dishes that just don't work. They are now charging $8 for 4 small dumplings (used to get 6) and $8 for what is basically a very small bowl of wonton soup. If I am paying $8 for soup in a Chinese restaurant, I expect it to be enough for two people. This was just enough for one. Sadly it just wasn't very good either. The soup broth is now a dark brown and tastes nothing like a wonton broth (I think it's mushroom-based, which just isn't right for wonton soup). And the wontons do not taste like wontons. They are something else. The $17 Szechuan beef dish is a small portion as well and contains lots of very large chunks of ginger that were not well-peeled. At least the spring rolls and vegetable fried rice haven't changed and still taste good. I understand it's new management, and price increases to make up for past challenges is understandable. But excessive price increases with reduced portion sizes and recipe changes that don't work well makes for a very disappointing experience for the regular customer. I don't know, maybe they are trying to change the customer base. Just sorry to see this Greenwich staple lose its...

This food stop on Greenwich Avenue is best described as an "artisan Asian" or "Asian fusion" cuisine which takes classic dishes and gives them small twists. If I were to comment on the quality of the food alone, I would give it a favorable rating: I had the general tso's chicken with white rice along with sides of dumplings and spring rolls. The chicken was good with a slightly candied hint to the glaze. The appetizers got the job done but I wasn't blown away in any way.

The seating is a little crowded and features one open dining area with many tables. Often you are sitting in very close proximity to fellow patrons which will make you uncomfortable if you were looking for a candid dining experience. It is also prone to noise pollution during heavy business hours given the large single open dining room.

I felt that the price I ended up paying for the nuance of the cuisine was a bit excessive. I did enjoy the food but I was left wondering if it was worth the price as compared to the other venues in town serving Asian cuisines. On the whole, I would recommend trying this place if you are in the mood for Asian food, but I wouldn't necessarily say that it is above and beyond the other Asian...