A waiter shows fresh lobster at Chopsticks, a restaurant which offers excellent Chinese cuisine experience.Saudi Gazette veryone needs time to reconnect with friends and family amidst their stressful and fast-paced lives. In search of a calm and stress-free atmosphere and a restaurant where I could enjoy great food along with quality time with loves ones, I found Chopsticks, a Chinese restaurant located at the corner of Prince Sultan Street, next to Ruby Tuesday. The restaurant offers a contemporary ambience. For a brief moment you may think you are dining in Tokyo or Singapore. You will find a brief description of the characteristics of each Chinese Zodiac animal and the year each one corresponds to, so you can find out which year you belong to, according to the Chinese calendar. From the high, airy ceilings to the rich woods and grey and red accents that comprise the dining area, Chopsticks distinguishes itself from other restaurants with its elegant aesthetic. The waiters are friendly and eager to please. We were served with an apple and mint Italian ‘welcome shot' as soon as we were seated. When our waiter came to take our order, instead of the traditional note pad and pen, he had a touch screen hand held device like an I-pod. I am very slow when it comes to new technology, but the waiter patiently explained how it functions. The entire menu is stored on the device with options to adjust the taste or make special requests. As soon as he fills in our order, it appears on a screen in the kitchen and the chef instantly gets to work to create the meal. “This device is very useful. It saves us time and effort so I can serve my customers better and faster. Orders for soup are taken first and if I am serving a big group of customers, the hot soup arrives at the table while I am still recording orders for the main course,” the waiter explained. For starters we ordered spring rolls that were long and full of sautéed vegetables, unlike the miniature spring rolls served at most Chinese restaurants these days. Our waiter told us that customers' favorite appetizer is the ‘Shrimp Blast', which is basically crunchy fried shrimps with spicy sauce. The comprehensive menu encompasses vegetable dishes, noodles, beef, chicken, and a variety of seafood dishes. In order to suit your own palate, you may modify the ingredients of any dish, select the quantity of sauce in any platter,or adapt the level of spiciness to your taste. Chopsticks also aims to please health conscious guests with a range of tasty, low-calorie dishes. Main course selections cover a varied range of dishes. Sizzling vegetables with black mushrooms cooked in oyster sauce were delicious and were a great combination with steamed white rice. Don't miss out on the signature dish at Chopsticks which is called ‘Jing Do Crispy Beef'. The beef is coated in a flour mixture to give a crispy texture when stir-fried. The seasonings used are slivered carrots, coriander, dried chili, and sweet chili sauce. For me, the taste was unfamiliar, an interesting mix of sweet with spicy, which tasted pretty good. As an ancient Chinese proverb says, ‘Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one.' The hot beverages page of the menu that listed over 14 types of Chinese tea that I couldn't even attempt to pronounce, but our waiter recommended Cha Sen Tea for late evenings because it is caffeine free, soothing, and aids in digestion. Cha Sen Tea is flavorful in a subtle way and definitely one I would like to drink again. For a wholly new Chinese cuisine experience in Jeddah, Chopsticks will appeal to discerning diners who prefer a full dining environment, in which all of their senses are stimulated and satisfied. __
