Spice workshop 椒房 — Restaurant in Town of Brookhaven

Take Out Review: Tasty food, unique choices for the area. Trying out Spice Workshop for the first time, I wasn't sure what to expect. I anticipated that the food would be very spicy! While most of the dishes are spicy, you can definitely find dishes that have little/no spice.

Located on Middle Country Rd, there's a small lot in front of the shopping center where this restaurant is located. Inside, it's fairly large.

The prices are good. The portions aren't huge so some might think this place is on the pricey side. Some of the orders come with white rice. I personally didn't mind the prices.

The service was friendly but there is a large language barrier. Nevertheless, my order was 100% correct...and it was a very large order. I was able to order online and pay cash upon arrival which was super convenient.

The food was tasty! If your not a spice lover, you should still be able to find something you like. I loved the unique choices. It's hard to find other restaurants on Long Island that serve so many different dishes. I will be reviewing what I tried:

-Steamed Spare Ribs in Rice Flower: Really underwhelmed by this choice. The ribs had a very odd texture and lacked flavor. I was very unimpressed. 0 out of 5 stars

-Beef Tripe & Tongue in Hot Pepper Sauce: This was a little spicy but nothing crazy. I did enjoy the taste of both the tripe and the tongue but I wasn't in love with the dish as a whole. 3.5 out of 5 stars

-Spicy Duck Tongue: If you read my reviews, you know I try anything & everything! Duck tongue was on my list. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan. The tongue was very hard and had lots of bones in it. It was almost inedible. 0 out of 5 stars

-Kung Fu Fatty Beef: Hands down my favorite dish of the night! The beef had such great flavoring and it was almost melt in your mouth tender. 5 out of 5 stars

-Spicy Chicken Wings: Yes they are spicy and get progressively more spicy as you work your way to the bottom of the container. The wings were nice and crispy but they were salty. I would still get them again. 4 out of 5 stars

-Steamed Dumplings: Downright delicious an a must order! 5 out of 5 stars

-Dumplings in Chili Oil: They were good but I suggest the steamed dumplings over these. 4 out of 5 stars

-Thinly Sliced Pork with Garlic & Chili Sauce: Odd texture, very gelatinous but had a great garlicky flavorful overall. 4.5 out of 5 stars

-Hunan Stir Fried Beef: If your a spicy lover like myself, your going to love this! It was so flavorful. The meat was cooked perfectly. 5 out of 5 stars.

Overall, I'm happy I got to try a new place and support another local business. The food choices are definitely different and might take some getting used to, but the...

This is hands down the best Chinese restaurant in the area of Stony Brook University, especially when it comes to Sichuan cuisine (which is known for its spice). And I have traveled to Sichuan so I have a point of comparison. Even if not everything is 100% what you see in Sichuan (there are limitations to what ingredients are available in the US), the variations are still delicious.

Many people have written about the food itself and I wholeheartedly recommend it, especially ordering things that you won't find in "American Chinese Food" which is typically oversweetened mimics of Cantonese food. Below, I'll list some of my favorites.

But I first want to say that the story of this restaurant is truly inspirational. It is a family-owned restaurant where the family in question immigrated from China to the US, having no prior experience as chefs. Yet, they mastered Sichuan cooking and through hard work and determination, set up this place. They are committed to a life in the US and though their English is in progress (have patience with them!), their food speaks volumes. While I was a grad student at SBU, I often got lunch and dinner at Spice Workshop. In the acknowledgments in my dissertation, I name Spice Workshop as a place for great food and also a meeting place for me and my research collaborators.

Here are some of the dishes I enjoy; regrettably, I do not have photos.

西湖牛肉羹 - Xihu Beef thickened soup 鸡茸栗米羹 - Chicken corn soup 青花跳水肥牛 - Sautéed fatty beef with peppercorn 湖西小炒黄牛肉 - Hunan stir fried beef (so they have a typo in either the Chinese or English) 重庆水煮鱼 - Chongqing sliced fish in hot oil 炝炒莲藕 - stir fried lotus root 玉子豆腐 - sizzling egg tofu 地三鲜 - stir fried eggplant, potato,...

This was absolutely the best Sichuan restaurant my family and I have ever eaten at. As a short recap, the food has one of the highest quality of restaurant food we’ve had and has thorough and delicious flavors and every dish, as well as distinct and matching textures. The lamb was moist, plump, and well seasoned with great garnishes and the flavors were spot on. Nice spice. The cabbage had a great cook on it and was crunchy and fresh. The fish in chili oil was so tender and succulent-you could just sense the immaculate quality of food and cooking. I want to compliment the chef. The green beans were outstanding-just crispy, well cooked, and fresh, but what really made it shine was the crumbs of garnish you see in the photo. They’re these salty, crunchy, tasty bits on the beans that bring a new spin to the dish. The soup was hot and fresh with a good amount of ingredients; a standard dish but good nonetheless. We finished all these dishes so cleanly. Unfortunately, the restaurant didn’t have a lot of business, which is likely because of its location. If it was located in more of a hot spot, it would thrive with such great food. The atmosphere is alright; I like that there are lamps over each table; it gives a warm feel while you eat. Not sure while this restaurant has some negative reviews; maybe some dishes are better than others, but these were fantastic! The prices are reasonable (80 something for 4 people)and service is great. The waitress was attentive and nice and the chef clearly is skilled and experienced. If we lived in the area, we’d keep coming back for sure. The food is obviously authentic-take it from a Chinese family. We recommend...