Bites Nearby: Chan's Fine Oriental Dining

My oldest son graduated from High School this past week so I thought a quiet lunch together, just the two of us, would be fitting. We decided to go to and it proved to be the perfect choice for some one on one, mother and son time. At about 1 p.m. on a Friday afternoon Chan's was quiet, intimate and very cozy.

We were greeted by a friendly waitress named Carla who was quite attentive and seemed generally happy to be there. This was definitely a plus, for me good customer service from waitstaff combined with a positive attitude can really set the tone for a good or bad experience, regardless of the food.

We started out with a diet coke for me, an iced tea for my son and our favorite appetizer, spring rolls. This was the first time either of us had tried the spring rolls at Chan's and they did not disappoint. Chan's serves them up hot, fresh and crispy, they were absolutely delicious, probably the best I've had.

When having Chinese food for lunch we more often than not tend to choose from the luncheon specials, but we decided to try something different this time. Rather than the typical fried rice and sweet and sour chicken finger dish I usually go for, I ordered the oriental chicken: fresh tender chicken breast cooked in a flavorful sherry wine, ginger, fruit and hot mustard. My son, eager to try something different as well, ordered chicken with crispy noodles; a stir fried tender chicken, fresh Chinese vegetables over crispy pan fried noodles.

Our food arrived promptly, the portions were quite substantial and both our dishes were reasonably hot and pleasing to the eye. My son's meal, the chicken with crispy noodles, was excellent according to him, there was not a single complaint.

My dish on the other hand, was not so great. I have to say there was so much ginger in this dish that I could not even force myself to eat it. Now in fairness to Chan's, I have never had this dish, nor have I ever had any meal that listed ginger as the main ingredient. So the question is, was it overpowering because too much ginger was used or was it just a taste that I personally disliked? I cannot say for sure either way, but what I can say is to me it tasted awful.

The good news is that when I sent the dish back I was offered another dish of my choice, I didn't feel like I was putting them out, as sometimes happens when you complain. In fact, they were quite gracious about it. I quickly looked over the menu, chose chicken with broccoli, and it was fabulous. It was also timely enough that we were able to still eat together.

I was very impressed with the way this was handled and more than pleased with the customer service we received. Nobody is perfect and what really makes the lasting impression is how we handle ourselves under pressure.

I would highly recommend Chan's to anyone looking to have a quiet meal during the day with friends or family. They offer a very extensive menu that includes several types of Chinese cooking: Cantonese, Szechwan, Hunan, Mandarin, and Shanghai.

In addition, Chan's seems like a great place to have a business lunch, and certainly a place a native would feel proud to take an out of town lunch date.

My son and I really enjoyed our lunch at Chan's and will definitely be returning soon, if not just for the awesome spring rolls!

Oriental chicken = $8.75

Chicken with crispy noodles = $8.75

Spring rolls = $3.50 for an order of two

Two soft drinks = $5.50

Fortune = free

Replacement meal of choice = free

Total bill with tax = $28.50