Authentic Sichuan/Hunan eats w/ standout mapo tofu & lively vibe. Great for groups, dates, impressing visitors.
Arden Shore reviews Blue Willow, a Chinese restaurant in Midtown offering a scene and standout mapo tofu. It's a good option for corporate cards, date nights, and impressing visitors.
Blue Willow is a highly-regarded Chinese restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, known for its authentic Sichuan and Hunan cuisine. Reviewers consistently praise its vibrant atmosphere, making it suitable for everything from casual dinners to special occasions. Standout dishes like the mapo tofu and century egg clay pot receive particular acclaim, though some users note that the roasted duck may be pre-made.
Blue Willow serves authentic Sichuan and Hunan cuisine, with a strong emphasis on flavorful and spicy dishes. The mapo tofu is frequently highlighted as a must-try, praised for its authentic mala spice and texture. Other recommended dishes include century egg clay pot, cold sesame noodles, and dumplings. One diner noted a concern that the roasted duck might be pre-made, being served very quickly.
"Standout dishes frequently recommended include the mapo tofu, century egg clay pot, dumplings, and various spicy Sichuan/Hunan specialties. Crispy beef and cold sesame noodles also receive positive mentions."
Customers generally have a very positive sentiment towards Blue Willow, frequently recommending its authentic Chinese dishes and lively atmosphere for various occasions. A few isolated comments suggest potential issues with dish quality or preparation speed.
Important Note
One user expressed suspicion about the roasted duck being pre-made due to its quick service time. There is also some discussion about whether the restaurant primarily serves Hunan or Sichuan cuisine, or a combination of both.
"Blue Willow is recommended as a Chinese banquet restaurant option for larger parties, potentially suitable for a tighter budget."
Neutral"Blue Willow is recommended for century egg clay pot."
Positive"Blue Willow is recommended for century egg clay pot."
Positive"Blue Willow was suggested for its large menu, with most items fitting the specified price range, making it suitable for groups and sharing."
Neutral"This user frequently orders cold noodles and mouthwatering chicken from Cafe China for lunch."
Positive"Cafe China is recommended as an excellent option located relatively close to the original poster's location on West 56th Street."
Positive"The original poster mentioned that Blue Willow used to be very good, but their last order was a significant decline in quality, leading them to seek new recommendations."
Negative"The user found Blue Willow to be a great option, especially noting that their friends enjoy Asian food."
Positive"Blue Willow is suggested as a restaurant with a menu that offers adventurous options alongside more common dishes like sesame chicken and won ton soup. The commenter believes it would appeal to vegetarians and offers many meat-forward dishes, though not specifically steak. It also has a private room option."
Positive"Blue Willow is recommended as a restaurant with a transporting atmosphere."
Positive"Blue Willow is suggested as a Manhattan option, especially for groups, with good food and a potentially transporting atmosphere."
Positive"Blue Willow is mentioned as a sister restaurant to Red Sorghum in LIC, located in Manhattan."
Neutral"This user agreed that Blue Willow is a great place, recalling it fondly."
Positive"Blue Willow offers family-style dining. However, it serves Szechuan cuisine, which might be too spicy for children, although it could also be an interesting culinary experience."
Neutral"This user mentioned Blue Willow as a great place."
Positive"In response to Blue Willow being Hunan food, the user notes it's not as spicy and includes many traditional Sichuan dishes with 'ma' flavor."
Neutral"The user clarifies that Blue Willow serves Hunan food, not Sichuan, although it's similar. They note it's explicitly marketed as Hunan food in Chinese."
Neutral"The user agrees that Blue Willow is underrated, attributing this to its location in Midtown."
Positive"The user considers Blue Willow to be a good Sichuan restaurant, noting it's underrated possibly due to its Midtown location."
Positive"This user listed Blue Willow as a potential restaurant to consider."
Neutral
