New York City: Zest Szechuan (March 2018)



My spouse and I dined at Zest Szechuan for lunch on a Saturday afternoon in late March 2018. Zest is open daily from 11:00 am until 10:00 pm, with lunch specials available on weekdays. You can make a dining reservation using their website. The restaurant offers complimentary delivery with a $15 purchase. 

Zest Szechuan is located in Midtown East on West 39th Street near Bryant Park. It is located among storefronts that include other Sichuan restaurants. Inside, the long space offers seating at both booths and tables. Neutral décor creates a calm atmosphere.

From a little research that we did, Sichuan cuisine is one of the four “traditional” cuisines of China; Chuan, Lu, Yue, and Huaiyang, represent West, North, South, and East China, respectively. Similarly, there are eight “modern” cuisines of China: Sichuan and Hunan are hot and spicy (Sichuan is also called “Szechuan”); Cantonese (also called “Guangdong”), dishes often feature sauces; Zhejang and Jiangsu feature light and sweet flavors; Fujian and Anhul use wild mountain ingredients; and Shandong cuisine is fresh and salty with an emphasis on seafood. 

We shared a few dishes, including the poached chicken with peanuts and chili, steamed pork soup buns, and cold sesame noodles, with sesame rice cake for dessert. Zest Szechuan serves beer and wine to accompany their food. 

We enjoyed our lunch at Zest Szechuan; although we often eat mainstream Chinese food in our hometown, we do not often have the opportunity to try Sichuan cuisine.









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