Editor’s Note: Our columnist is not a trained or paid professional, nor does he get complimentary meals from the restaurants visited. He and his party arrive unannounced and do not reveal that they will be doing a review. Comments or questions may be sent to Sam Geati, greengeezer9@comcast.net
Definition: Mongolian Grill (barbecue) is a stir-fried dish where meat, seafood, and vegetables are cooked on a large iron griddle at extremely high temperatures nearing 570 degrees.
After returning from several months in Florida, it was time to catch up with three of my grandkids. I invited our 14-year-old twin grandsons, Jack and Nick, along with their sister, Sophia, age 9 (going on 20), out for a special treat: dinner at one of the recently opened restaurants in Algonquin Commons called Jiang’s Mongolian Grill. Unfortunately, my wife Judy was not well and missed out on this fun evening.
Jiang’s proved to be a winner with all of us and is a great place especially for the seemingly bottomless appetites of teenagers. They met their match at Jiang’s, as the volume of food was even too much for them to finish. In fact, all of us had plenty to take home and enjoy another day. I could barely finish my leftovers – that’s how much food we had!
Nestled in the section of the Commons that is most restaurant-laden, Jiang’s has a contemporary look about it. At one end of the restaurant is a full bar with a big-screen TV, where you can eat your dinner if you desired. In the center are all the ingredients to build your own dish. Just off that section, there is a circular grill that is viewer friendly. Diners may watch as the chef prepares their orders. A surprise to us was a full salad bar plus two soup selections. Drinks are extra, but reasonably priced at $1.65, including free refills.
We hit the salad bar first and almost overdid it there, as there was a wide assortment of fresh salad ingredients and dressings. The two soups, clam chowder and chicken noodle, hit the spot on a cold first day of spring. After the soup and salad, we took our bowls to the two areas where we would build our own dishes. The kids really like this part.
The main course ingredients included shrimp, scallops, fish fillets, mussels, and two versions each of beef, chicken, and pork. Every item was fresh. Next, we piled on a variety of veggies that included an assortment of delicious mushrooms.
The final station included the sauces and noodles. There were about a dozen different sauces, from mild to spicy to exotic, many of which were new to me. I played it safe and went with the teriyaki. The restaurant suggests that you go easy on the additional spices.
Lastly, we were given another plate for the noodles. I piled on the rice and Chinese-style noodles. The server gave us two cards with matching numbers: one for our place at the table and the other for the chef so the server could match the finished dish to its owner. The kids thought this was very “cool” and enjoyed watching the chef prepare their meal.
At home, I asked the kids to rate their experience at Jiang’s.
Each said they loved it and looked forward to returning. Here’s how we rated Jiang’s:
Ambiance
Very high, especially because of the ability to watch the chef do his magic.
Quality of food – very high, we all agreed the food was excellent and very fresh.
Value
Again, very high, especially because of the salad bar, the quantity of the main dish, and the soft drink refills being free. Dinner prices – Kids 3-6 years – $5.99, 7-9 years – $6.99. Adults – $10.99.
Service
Excellent. We were allowed to move at our own pace, and the server explained how to enjoy our dining experience.
Final Comments
Definitely give this place a try. This is also a great place when it comes to not having to wait for dinner if you have any youngsters along. Additionally, there is a menu that includes appetizers and a variety of prepared dishes.
