Mr. Wok — Restaurant in Winter Park

I was not sure where to start this review so I am going to just go down from the top starting with the menu.

As a native of the state it is claiming inspiration from (which I have lived here for a few years now, so definitely NOT a snow bird, besides that I LIKE snow so why would I leave it willingly?) this location states it is "New York Style" on the front of the menu, however much like how I have that in quotes it is not really the case, as the quality was closer to a chain restaurant like Panda Express rather than Chinese food restaurant.

We ordered the Shrimp Lo Mein w/ white rice and an egg roll, and the sweet&sour chicken w/ white rice and egg roll dinner meals.

While the Lo Mein noodles where okay the shrimp was bland and seemed to have been tossed in after the Lo Mein had been cooked leaving it no time to absorb any flavor, the same could be said for the strips of cabbage which where basically raw and incredibly hard and unappetizing.

The sweet&sour chicken was plain and rather bland, with the sauce being little more than a large condiment cup which is barely enough for even the chicken let alone the rice.

Speaking of the rice, both came with two huge scoops of rice and a "moderate" amount of the actual meal, while the rice was good it was an overwhelming amount compared to the actual chicken or noodles.

The egg rolls where wrapped in what seemed to be spring roll papers as they where thinner, longer and had much less crisp while having a greasy feel to them.

While the service was quick and friendly, the atmosphere felt more like stepping into an old diner or Pizzaria Uno.....because the walls are literally still the same from the Pizzeria Uno that was a year ago. All they really seemed to do was put up their store sign, a plant, a booth bench with no booth, "new" chairs that are just gray instead of black, and an oriental themed cabinet behind the counter. I almost wonder if they changed much of the kitchen at all.

Overall this location doesn't meet their claims of being "New York Style" by a long shot, and I question how/why they are even open considering they have yet to complete their final inspection, something that I would think is required before you can serve food to people or even operate as a whole.

In addition they list entirely different hours on google from what is on their menus website and storefront.

Edit: Further Addition - Upon searching further I discovered they have TWO websites. The one for this location specifically lists multiple reviews praising it despite the location having only opened within the past week. All of these "reviews" have the same kind of phrasing and all of them sound very scripted and generic when read aloud. Furthermore none of these reviews seem to exist anywhere except for their website. The more I search the name "Mr.Wok" the more odd and confusing it gets, such as finding things with their name and logo on websites for a seafood company that specializes in...

I’ve had a few meals at Mr Wok since they recently opened and I love it! Ignore the snowbirds complaining that it’s not up to their standards of what “New York Chinese food” should be. They make delicious American Chinese food - like you’d find in a mall food court but much better. Everything I’ve had has been hot, fresh, and flavorful, the woman taking orders and working the cash register has been very friendly, and the prices are great! This is going to be the perfect spot for when my partner and I need a quick, delicious, filling, and affordable dinner.

Pork fried rice was awesome, very flavorful and I couldn’t get enough of it!

Broccoli beef was delicious, full of flavor, lots of meat, and tasted very fresh.

Orange chicken was some of my favorite I’ve had; piping hot and fresh, delicious strong tasting sauce that tasted like fresh orange instead of orange syrup, and a very large portion for a dinner combo plate.

Their pork egg rolls are pretty dang perfect.

Moo goo gai pan with white rice was a great dinner; healthy and filling, mild but delicious flavor, and the chicken and vegetables tasted fresh.

The only disappointing dish I’ve tried to date has been the wonton soup. The broth was tasty but a bit too mild, it tasted like it needed to be cooked down a bit more to concentrate the flavor. The wontons were also a bit underdone and bland leading me to believe they just hadn’t cooked the soup long enough. I’m sure it’ll be better reheated! I’ll absolutely give them a pass for one bland dish since everything else has been so good.

I’m grateful that there’s an awesome new Chinese takeout place so close to home and I’m looking forward to many more meals...

I got the Bourbon Chicken combo platter with Pork Fried Rice. Pork "Fried" Rice is anything but fried. The chicken was okay but nothing special and the Egg Roll uses the Spring Rolls wrap as the Egg Roll is shorter and fatter and the Spring Rolls wrap is significantly thinner. Also, somehow it tasted somewhat greasy? Which is weird but Egg Rolls aren't usually greasy. And there was more rice than the MEAT THAT I ORDERED

Also, the final inspection hasn't been finished and it is somehow running? I thought all inspections needed to be done before it operates fully.

Also, aside from the stock slap-on decal of it looking like a Chinese Restaurant, the appearance IS STILL Pizzeria Uno, the PREVIOUS Pizza place that was in that location.

Also, it's NOWHERE near as New York Style that it claims to be, which in itself is practically false...