5 Spice China Grill

(Credit: Philip Dickey / Special to Metromix)

Photos:

I like Chinese food that doesn’t make me feel sick. Usually that means ordering all white meat and staying away from the buffet. Or it means spending a little more money and eating at a gourmet Chinese restaurant like 5 Spice. But is it worth the price? I think so and here's why. 

The Food:

Before I tasted the food, I fell in love with the menu.  It’s divided into these categories:

1. From the sky (Chicken and duck)
2. To the Land (Beef, pork, and steak)
3. Into the Sea (Shrimp and sea bass)

I wish all menus were like haikus. Anyway, all the Springfield classics were represented (cashews, gross!) and then there were fusion dishes I’ve only seen on the Food Network.

My dining buddy and I started out with the Lobster Wontons ($7.95). They’re basically Crab Rangoon with a fancier name and sauce. I probably could have filled up on them, but there were only five, so we eagerly awaited our entrées. I ordered the General Chicken ($11.95). It wasn’t as spicy as other recipes I’ve had in town, but it was as good as it looked and super fresh and filling. My partner thought her shrimp ($16.95) was a pleasant surprise. Because she ordered “Ruby Shrimp” she thought the shrimp would be red and the flavor would be super sweet (like those weird dessert bananas you can get in a typical Chinese buffet), but she got it because the waiter said it was the best. Instead, they were a delicate yellow and contained only a hint of subtle sweetness that contrasted nicely with the seafood. Both dishes came with a substantial amount of rice and vegetables. The amount of food was plenty adequate, but you’re definitely paying for quality, not surplus quantity. For cheaper alternatives, try the lunch menu. Dishes that cost $12.95 at dinner are usually $7.95 at lunch. Or you could splurge on a Peking duck ($32 full duck, $17 for half). Dessert options include cake and specialty doughnuts. We got a piece of chocolate cake and then immediately decided to get a to-go box. What were we thinking?

The Drink:
The drink menu is equally impressive, with plenty of specialty cocktails and wines to choose from. Our waiter was especially helpful with suggestions and told us the martini menu is regularly updated. I ordered the Raspberry Champagne Cosmo ($6) and sipped it away quickly. Maybe too quickly. Next time I’ll try a dessert martini. Also, there’s a bar in the back room.

The Scene:
Fusion describes more than the cuisine. It looks like the interior designer tried to combine Las Vegas, a country club and a Chinese antique store in two really small rooms. Maybe it’s an illusion and the rooms would look really big if you took a few tables out. If so, maybe someone should do that. The tables are so close we could easily hear other conversations, even when we didn’t want to. And that means everyone could hear our conversation too. So my dining partner and I ate dinner in paranoid silence. I kid, I kid. Despite my complaints, this is a pretty classy and welcoming space. The friendly and helpful service made sure it felt that way.

The Bottom Line:
5 Spice isn’t a five star restaurant. If it was, I’m pretty sure I would have overheard people raving about their food. But I didn’t overhear any complaints, either.

Still, I think 5 Spice is a top tier Chinese restaurant in a city with a lot of competition and an unhealthy obsession with cashews. It’s locally owned, which automatically makes it better and more authentic than P.F. Chang’s, right? Actually, I’ve never been there. And I’ll probably die before I visit every Chinese restaurant in Springfield. But one thing is for sure: I’m definitely going back to 5 Spice.

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