The Dining Room Management Group, Inc.

102 Mott St (btwn Canal & Hester)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 925-6661

When you hear "Chinese restaurant," what's the first name that comes to mind? Jade Palace? Capital Seafood? Panda Garden? Some other random permutation from the bank of standard Chinese restaurant names? Well, perhaps you need to come dine at the most bizarrely named Chinatown joint: The Dining Room Management Group, Inc.! "Legal entity?" you accountants naively ask. Nope, a RESTAURANT.

Foodnalysis:


Baked Minced Beef over Rice with Cheese - These baked/cheese type dishes are popular at younger, more hip Chinese restaurants. Try not think casserole or Italian when you see "baked" and "cheese" in this dish. Think… Chinese paella. This dish is tasty for those who aren't quite ready to carp belly or other menu delicacies. The creamy sauce went well with the plump rice and peas, and there was just enough cheese to compliment the dish. A bit on the heavy side, but good for the price.

Chinese Sausage over Taro Rice - Served in a traditional stone rice pot. I particularly enjoy these pots as the bottom edges of the rice are browned and crispy, but not everyone likes their rice to crunch. Note for the health-conscious: Chinese sausages are served with about 60% fat. The dish was filling, but there was not enough meat and taro relative to the amount of rice. Not recommended.

Tea - Unlike most Chinese restaurants, The Dining Room Management Group, Inc. (man, that's way too long a name) does not leave tea pots at each table for diners to refill as they please. Rather, they give each patron one giant tea cup that holds about twice the amount a typical cup holds, then have waiters with giant kettles run around for refills. Very inefficient.

Salary and Wages:

Poor service. We had to flag our tea-runner down multiple times to keep our cups full. Also took about three failed attempts to get our check.

Property, Plant and Equipment:

Trendy for a Chinese restaurant. Booths line both sides of the corridor-like restaurant. Bright, colorful lights create a perky ambiance, but the roast ducks hanging in the front window will clear away any doubts you have: indeed, you are in Chinatown.

Let's take this moment to analyze the menu. Notice anything strange about the following?

Don't see it? Have a closer look.

I sincerely hope there are no law clerks being chopped up in the kitchen... I can see the lawsuit now: New York Paralegals vs. The Dining Room Management Group, Inc.

Statement of Cash Flows:

No tax. Always a plus!

The Bottom Line:

Average food, poor service. Much better alternatives down the street.

La Paella

214 E. 9th St. (btwn 2nd & 3rd Ave.)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 598-4321
www.lapaellanyc.com

La Paella offers two wonderful deals: a $12.99 lunch set (available from noon - 5 pm) and an early bird menu ($16.99/person available from 4 pm - 7 pm). The restaurant was suspiciously empty for a Sunday afternoon however, unlike so many times in the past, this was not a sign to flee. A neat taste of traditional Spanish cuisine tucked away from the deluge of Japanese restaurants down the street.

Foodnalysis:

Gazpacho Andaluz - One of two first course options on the lunch set. This tomato-based Spanish soup is served cold. Great for those humid summer days, a so-so choice for fall. The blended soup had a smooth consistency and the cool cucumber-tomato flavor was refreshing.

Mixed Green Salad - The lunch set's other option for a first course. An above-average salad with tangy dressing. Good for those who want to go light before indulging in the paella carb-fest.

Plato de Paella - Choice of meat or seafood. If you like peas, this dish is pea-riffic. Paella typically tends to be pretty pea-heavy, however La Paella's version was a tad much for me. Not the best paella I've eaten, but a fair choice. Large portions -- save room for ice cream!

Green Tea Ice Cream - Interesting menu option in a Spanish restaurant. Perhaps a failed attempt to blend in with the Japanese neighborhood? Pardon the picture (or lack thereof)… sometimes my stomach prevents the camera from getting its turn first. This ice cream is quite different from the typical asian green tea ice team, had a bit of a bitter kick to it. Not bad, just different.

It is also said that La Paella offers excellent tapas, but alas, you will have to see for yourself as I was too cheap to resist a set meal.

Salary and Wages:

Friendly waiter. Yes, that's singular. There was one waiter for the entire restaurant! Granted it was lunch and it was not that crowded, but let's hope they have more help at night. The waiter was fairly attentive, however, and managed to successfully carry several plates at a time during his treks up and down the stairs to the kitchen.

Property, Plant and Equipment:

Well decorated and cozy. A beautiful ceiling of dried roses added a romantic touch (although it did cross my mind that those could probably gather a disgusting amount of dust).

Statement of Cash Flows:

$12.99 + tax + tip. Not bad for a filling lunch!

The Bottom Line:

Decent Spanish lunch set that won't break your cartera. Cartera = wallet in Spanish (that AP class really paid off).