after dinner sneeze

t says:  We checked out two cool Asian-centered eateries that somewhat-recently opened.  Here they are in lightning-round style …

Jane G’s.  September 2012, Restaurant Week (and some a-la-carte), Party of 3.
Props:  The mains were sizable and quite tasty.  Check ’em out!

hunan lamb – think of it like the best Chinese-takeout-beef-and-vegetable-stir-fry ever (except that this was way better because it was tender yummy lamb) – the sauce had a nice balance of savory and sweet, and the veggies were a nice texture … but the greens on the right were pretty dumb though – they had no purpose!

crispy half duck – it was actually crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and the largest amount of duck i’ve ever seen a restaurant put on a plate ever! (and it was for restaurant week).  the sweet potato was pretty much an afterthought, and the veggies were “ok”, texturally.

The popcorn rock shrimp was pretty solid (it gets rave reviews online) – but to be honest, it really is nothing more than some fried shrimp and wasabi aioli.  Be that as it may – it’s still pretty tasty.  Dumplings are similarly solid – not earth-shattering, but good!  The tiramisu … once again – not “great”, but it was pretty good – with solid tiramisu flavors and a format more reminiscent of a cake than a real tiramisu – we ate it!
Slops:  The service was W-E-I-R-D.  Our dude checked on us every two minutes in a very direct in-your-face manner.  And it’s not that he was impolite – it was more of a lack-of-politeness.  For example, instead of asking, “would you like another drink?”, he pointed at my empty glass from a few feet away and stared at me.  He was a little too intense for us.  On the flip side, whenever we had a need or want, it was accommodated.
Take-home:  I’m worried about Jane G’s.  On one hand, they have “good” food – not mindblowing, but good.  On the other, their service needs some work, and their prices on the normal menu are pretty high!  If Jane G’s is trying to be “fancy Chinese”, then I think they are unsuccessful because all of the “garnishes”/accompaniments were mediocre at best.  But if it’s trying to be “one step above Chinese”, then I think we’re right-on.  I’ll keep it in mind for future restaurants weeks …

Spice28.  August 2012, Friday Dinner, Party of 4.  No pictures of this one – just words.
Props:  Excellent cumin lamb – as flavorful as Han, but even more tender.  Duck crepes were nice, too!  Furthermore, the total bill was as cheap as Han when you share among people (seriously – our bill was $20/pp including tax/tip).
Slops:  Cold sesame noodles – not as flavorful as Han, and mooshier.  Pineapple fried rice was a little boring.  No longer BYO.  The desserts seemed uninspiring (but that’s ok – Capogiro’s closeby!)
Take-home:  It’s an interesting alternative to Han Dynasty.  Definitely a different vibe to the restaurant (a little more “modern” – riding that line between “cool” and “too cool”), but at least there are less undergrads.  I’d definitely check it out if Han’s booked in the future!