China Garden Restaurant — Restaurant in Southport

COVID-19 UPDATE

I ate at this very good restaurant tonight (1/22/21), but they lost three stars because of their newly hazardous seating.

Every restaurant in the city is currently fighting for customers in the midst of this pandemic by offering safe seating and leaving every other booth or table unoccupied for the health of their customers. The last time I ate at China Garden, they too were observing this practice of spacing their seating.

While there is nothing posted except for the standard "you must wear a mask" sign, it appeared like the seating was still the same. However, after being seated for about 10 or 12 minutes the hostess seated someone in the booth directly behind us, which was neither safe for them nor us.

A few minutes after that, a party of six or seven came in and was seated at a round-table directly next to us! I understand that there are limited options for seating large groups, but there were other table options available in other spots in the restaurant and I became very uncomfortable having people so close. As soon as I felt unsafe I asked for a to-go box and got out quickly.

In the future I will be calling ahead to make sure that they have returned to their more safe seating plan, otherwise I won't be eating there in person. There's too much death and sickness all around us to risk our health for some chicken with mushrooms and steamed rice.

This is a very disappointing move from a restaurant that was, until recently, adhering to the state's Health standards.

Below is my original review from a time when these precautions weren't necessary.

I always leave China Garden full and happy!

My tastes run to chicken usually, so I can only speak for those dishes (garlic chicken, General Tso's and chicken & mushrooms), and they're wonderful.

They serve Pepsi products, so I'm thrilled to get a Mt. Dew! Coke people will not be as happy. The cola war rages on.

If tnere was one needed improvement, and I had to think hard for one, it would be the egg rolls (that come with the dinner specials). They are fine except that the inside appears to be nothing but cabbage and no flavor at all, but a little soy or duck sauce can remedy that. I'd love an egg roll with pork or shrimp and a few veggies, but you can't have everything.

While there I saw perhaps 1/2 a dozen Door Dash deliverers, so if you want to stay in and safe, that's a great option.

Beautiful Linda and the other servers are fast, courteous and they know their menu! Great...

The average quality of Chinese restaurants in Indiana (and the U.S overall) has historically been mediocre. And that being benevolent. Anyone who has traveled to China, or even to countries in Europe where there are decent Chinese restaurants, will be able to verify that the ranch served in restaurants here does not have much to do with the authentic food of that amazing country, one of the most splendid in the world. Luckily, there is Alexe’s China Garden!

Here, they have food for everyone: From dishes that you will never see in China, but rather have come more from the eastern immigrants in the United States (Yes… the rice, not to mention the three delicacies! The rolls, the chop-suey and the sweet and sour). Of course, it is only for people like us, but I can proudly say that I love it ALL. (By the way, their Mongolian beef is my very favorite. Not to mention the hot and sour soup! You must try it - please do -).

Then, of course, they also offer the really good and delicious things — the “real and authentic,” the Chinese delicacies of regional foods that are not even seen in paintings at the Chinese. (I must confess, though: I can’t seem to let go of the Mongolian beef, so I have never tried any of the “real and authentic.” But trust me when I say, that every time that I see a full table of Chinese customers eating fancy dishes (which appear to be thousands of varieties of soups and noodles), I can tell you for certain that they love it (just like I love my Mongolian beef, I am sure). If Chinese customers love the food, it must be to the standards of authentic, you know?

Overall, I can say that it is definitely the best Chinese food I have ever had. If you want delicious, great-quality, and fresh Chinese food, look no further (not to mention at a great price). The owners are very, very, friendly. The service is always attentive and they always take good care of customers. They certainly “treat strangers like friends, and friends like family,” a lot more than...

Very Disappointing, straight from the freezer food do not recommend. Positives: The staff is very friendly and treat you like family. Cons: We ordered 4 dishes and all were low quality and the servers messed up every order. All dishes came with egg roll. 3 of the eggrolls were still partially frozen in the middle. -Beef LoMein had 3 small pieces of beef in it.. The only flavor was soy sauce which made it so salty it was inedible. -Shrimp and broccoli in lobster sauce was brought out in oyster sauce not lobster sauce. When addressed with owner she apologized but would not correct the mistake. There were 6 pieces of small shrimp in the massive plate of broccoli, just six! -Cashew chicken was literally a processed chicken patty with a gravy sauce poured over i and 4 cashews dropped on top. -Sweet and sour chicken had 9 pieces of chicken in plate swimming with sauce. 9 small pieces of chicken for $6.45. When we received the check all four dishes were 70-90cents higher than the listed menu price. The correct bill was only provided after pointing out this discrepancy directly on the menu. Overall this was one of the most disappointing chinese restaurants we have visited. Despite the friendly service the straight from the freezer food and small portions do not justify eating here. There are much higher quality...