12-03-08
Chinese dinner very fortunate
On a recent Thursday night, staff writer Jeff Wilen — and his wife, Shannon — visited Leanh’s Chinese Restaurant in South Daytona. The restaurant has an impressive menu of beef, pork, poultry, seafood and vegetarian entrees, plus some popular Vietnamese offerings.
Q. What was your visual impression of the place? Leanh’s isn’t like the rushed, overwhelming feeling you get when you dine at a Chinese buffet. This family restaurant was clean, and we felt welcomed despite a short wait for seating and very heavy traffic for takeout orders the entire evening.
Q. What stands out on the menu? To begin with, the soups come in pints and quarts. The appetizers are best for two people, so you should order more if you have a crowd.
Keep in mind that only the combination dinners come with an egg roll, roast pork fried rice and a choice of soup. Thus, you’re missing out and paying extra if you don’t get a combination dinner.
Steamed rice accompanies the restaurant’s suggested entrees, along with the beef, pork, poultry and seafood meals. There’s also a children’s menu for those 12 and younger.
Q. What kind of entrees did you order? We walked in with an appetite, so we started with an order of crab rangoons ($5.75). The cream cheese and crabmeat wonton concoction, which we dipped into sweet-and-sour sauce, was a great starter. It went nicely with the complimentary fried wontons, with homemade duck sauce, and tea.
For entrees, I chose the sesame chicken ($11.75), which didn’t disappoint. The accompanying broccoli really made this meal. Shannon chose the sweet and sour chicken ($9.75), which was served with roast pork fried rice. She also got a delicious egg roll and a satisfying cup of egg drop soup — both of which you should not miss.
The restaurant doesn’t offer Dessert; just as well because we went home with doggie bags — which we enjoyed the next day.
Q. No fortune cookies? Oh, of course. Mine said: “Each day, compel yourself to do something you would rather not do.” Maybe my suggested lotto numbers will be a winner.
Q. What about the drinks? Leanh’s offered a respectable selection of beer and wine. You’ll find something to your liking if you go that route. We both got sodas. At $1.75 apiece, tax and a tip, our bill came out to an affordable $39.34.
Q. Would you dine there again? I wouldn’t pass up an invitation to visit Leanh’s again. With more than 100 entrees to choose from, it’ll be easy and fun to try something else the next time around.
Q. What’s this I hear about them relocating? Yes, that’s true. But they won’t be at their new Portofino Square location in South Daytona until spring 2009. So check out the Beville Road location while you still can.
Leanh’s Chinese Restaurant 581 Beville Road, South Daytona
WHERE:
ACCESSIBILITY: Parking is plentiful and handy, and wheelchair-users should have no problems.
HOURS: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
MISCELLANEOUS: Major credit cards accepted
PHONE: 386-756-3578
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