In Peter Lilienthal's consumer guide feature, he talks about his experiences at Ryan Ran's restaurant in Chanhassen, Minn. Serving authentic Szechuan and Mandarin dishes, Lilienthal was not disappointed with the entrees.
Based on how Lilienthal has structured his article, he not only rates the restaurant, he also adds a lot of color to the feature by describing his experiences at Tian Jin. I thought his narrative was interesting because through the details he provided, you felt as if you were experiencing the food and the atmosphere along with him.
He starts out by giving a description of the scene and atmosphere at the restaurant. The walls were painted red, assorted lanterns hung from the ceiling, and ornate dark wood tables filled the restaurant.
After taking in the scenery, Lilienthal indulges in more than 12 entrees. What was served was not the typical kung pao chicken. He sampled "mandarin beef with golden garlic, chung king chicken (light, colorful, and bursting with spices), head cheese-style ma la beef, herbal cumin lamb, and boiled fillet of sole served in a piquant Szechuan sauce."
Although Lilienthal's overall experience was an enjoyable one, he wants the readers to be aware of the inconsistent pace of service. "At times the pace is too swift and at others it can be on the slow side. It's a small price to pay for a truly memorable experience," Lilienthal said.
His other recommendation? Leave the ordering up to the waiters and waitresses, and prepare your palettes for some amazing Chinese cuisine!
This was a great feature because it highlights a restaurant that many residents of the Twin Cities may not be familiar with. I personally had not heard of this restaurant, but after reading the review, I think I might give it a try.
I liked how the author described the atmosphere and the food. The food could be amazing, but if the atmosphere is distracting or unenjoyable, then the food is not going to be noticed.
I would actually have liked to read a review on the basic Chinese dishes that he skipped. While it's always a good thing to try new dishes, some readers might not be adventurous and might want to stick with the traditional dishes that they are used to seeing in other Chinese restaurants.
The only part of the bloggers review on the feature was the part about feeling like the reader was experimenting the restaurant with the reviewer. I thought the article might have been a little high class for the common reader, and that feeling made me feel distant from the experience.
I think this is a pretty good piece as a feature story. The article goes in first person and free style, makes the reader feels more like reading a story rather than a restaurant review.
I do like the first part of the feature, the scene description,it was interesting and, as the blogger said, colorful.
I agree with the good points of the feature the blogger commented that the feature provided many useful and detailed suggestion besides rate the food.
But i think it would be better if the author could add pictures of the dishes in the feature instead of just lists those long entree names.