Fred's Szechuan Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Nevada City

My eating schedule is all messed up. I don't eat breakfast and I don't do lunch. My first meal is normally after 9 and I eat right before I go to bed. After a dinner in Nevada City and dessert at a Choco shoppe I knew I would still need a late night meal and decided on Chinese. Fred's was there to make it happen.

The restaurant has a small front opening and looks very much like a classic chinatown type establishment. It is not as refined in presentation as many of downtown's eateries are, but if you are Chinese Food restaurant eater, this is a visual 3 out of 5 and you know what that means. It is connected to the neighboring bar and if you want to use the bathroom at the restaurant, you actually have to go through the door inside the restaurantt hat connects the bar and the Chinese food and are actually using a bathroom in the bar's space... what happens if you need to go and you are not 21...?

I ordered the Black Bean Chicken with a side of rice and it is now 11:56 PM as I type this and am eating the food now. In terms of flavor, it is good. On the lighter side and not as punchy or strong. I think that is better for American palettes but I would think Asians would want it stronger. The chicken strips are cut flat and there is a significant volume of veggies in it. Onions, bell peppers both red and green, water crests a plenty. I did feel that the chicken to veggies ratio was decent enough and the veggies were not just filler but I would prefer my chicken ratio a tad higher.

Based on this one dish, not bad.

My wife dropped her Chocolate Shoppe candy after heading to the bar restroom and a patron found it, brought it to the counter and I overheard the cashier tell her it was not theirs and identified it as a bag from the choco shoppe. I intervened and saved my wife's candies. She did not even know she...

I had high hopes, given I’ve seen Fred’s here in downtown Nevada City for many years. I found the experience underwhelming. The restaurant was likely renovated in the 90’s and not updated since. Greeted by no one, after a few awkward minutes milling about we were led past a big round table in the front stacked with restaurant supplies (splenda boxes,etc) and to a booth not far from another table piled with table cloths and napkins. It was a cool night but it was noticeably stuffy in Fred’s. At the last renovation mirrored recessed lights were put into the ceiling - the bulbs and functionality are long gone but the skeleton remains, giving an unsettling feeling about dedication to service and quality around here, unless you managed to visit in the 90’s. Service was decent if not awkward, like we may be interrupting some other activity. Positive - they are connected to the mineshaft next store so a full bar available including ice cold draft beer. Ordered spring rolls, which hinted at being very tasty save they had that oil-logged look and taste that is usually the result of a fryer that needs its oil changed. Chow mein entirely serviceable, nice meat portions, especially two big shrimp in the mix Pretty standard fare for white people chinese but the “mongolian chicken” took that concept to a new level - the sauce was literally barbecue sauce! Sweet, lots of onions, again good meat portion but was not a fan. Also asked for extra spicy and it was not spicy in any way. Next time I need Chinese in Nevada city I’ll do the pro move I noticed on my bathroom trip - get it to go and sit in the Mineshaft’s garden at the...

THE WORST PLACE I HAVE EVER EATEN. I normally never take the time to leave a review, good or bad but since I was SHOUTED AT by the owner when I returned my "vegetarian black bean" dish , I am writing this while I await my check. The dish came with what looked like beef. I asked if there was meat and the server told me "its gluton" sorry what? "From a can" she says... I said well I would rather just vegetables if that's possible, can I send it back? I am 30 years old , pretty well travelled and have probably sent back two dishes ever. She came back to tell me that the owner refused to take the plate back. I then hear the owner shouting at the server "YOU DIDNT TELL HER ABOUT THE GLUTON" , which she did originally but I thought it was in the sauce , which would have been fine! I asked to speak to the owner, she then told me that it's not possible and what is she supposed to do with this dish now "I can't sell this again!!" Wow... the star is because the server was nice and "Has has to put up with this for 4 years so is used to it". Upon leaving I told the owner that it was the worst I was ever treated in any restaurant ever, which is true! She yelled at me while waving me out the door "YOU TALK TOO MUCH" !!! Double wow... I won't even get started on my husbands dish... you name it, they have...