I didn’t think it was possible before last night, but apparently a venue does exist that I hate even more than the dreaded Container Store, and its name is P.F. Chang’s China Bistro.
P.F. Chang’s is a chain of Chinese restaurants. We have one here in Marin. You can’t miss ’em because out front they hang a red neon sign beside a life-size stone statue of a Medieval Chinese warrior’s horse. Not the warrior, just the horse. The horse stares your ass down when you enter the restaurant. It’s kinda freaky but in a cool way.
I went there for dinner last night to celebrate the blog’s birthday (before the party =), and I was soooo excited to go because a friend recommended the place, saying the food and service were great.
I worked on my cardio before dinner, so I was starving when I got to the restaurant and extra excited when the waiter warned me of their “huge, family style portions.” BRING IT, said my tummy.
Twenty minutes later, the friendly waiter brought out our food. Sadly, the portions were … not huge. There was barely enough to feed my right thigh! The kicker happened when he set down a teeny, tiny bowl of white rice in front of me — seriously, the little scoop of rice was the size of my eyeball. I wanted to say, “Um… sir, what am I supposed to do with this?” How do you stiff someone on rice at a Chinese restaurant?! It goes against all laws of nature.
I’d like to give P.F. Chang’s the benefit of the doubt in this catastrophe. Maybe last night was an exception. Perhaps they were running low on rice and had to cut back. I don’t know, but as far as blog birthday dinners go, that dinner so did not count! I think I’ll have to go to at least two more celebratory dinners to ease the pain. 🙂
What did you do before the blog’s birthday party last night? I hope it involved adequate amounts of rice, LOL!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Megan says
February 21st, 2008 at 3:44 pmLOL there’s a P.F. Chang’s down the street from me… LOL everything is down the street. Anyway I love it…and usually their portions are decent… I don’t know that I would refer to them as family sized… but one of my girls who is a light eater always has to take something home with her…me well I can finish my dinner 😉 They do sometimes seem a little stingy with their rice, but I’ve never had a problem if I asked for more. Did you ask for more?
Karen says
February 21st, 2008 at 3:49 pmI did! El Hub totally made fun of me because I gave the waiter a LOOK when he brought out the food … apparently I looked like I wanted to sock him. Seriously, I’ve spent many cumulative hours eating lots of rice over my lifetime (I’m so not low carb!) and I was *not having* the two tablespoons he brought out to me.
Gimme rice!
Dao says
February 21st, 2008 at 4:21 pmYeah, more rice please! One time my research group went to this swanky Asian restaurant where they served more food then rice. So after finishing my 4 teaspoons of rice I asked for more, then proceed to eat from the bowl (like we all do). Needless to say, all eyes were on me and the bowl, jeeze!
But I do hate it when Chinese/Japanese/Korean/Vietnamese restaurants serve less rice, it’s just not right!
kae says
February 21st, 2008 at 4:27 pmUGH! that’s what i hate about PF Changs! i think the food is good, not the best, but the portions are way too small! especially for the price! you can get 3 or 4 times as much for the same price. i like benihana for an asian dinner, though their portions are kind of small too. but at least they give more rice! hah. well i’m a new reader to your blog, just passing by and saying hello =]
Karen says
February 21st, 2008 at 4:49 pmHeya Dao,
Seriously, though! Both me and El Hub (who’s from Hawaii and thus has plenty of rice experience) and I were really shocked! I mean, c’mon, what’s an Asian food place without big bowls of rice for everyone?
What’s funny too was that while we were in Las Vegas this weekend, we ate at a few Hawaiian food joints, where the rice portions were HUGE. We kept joking that if any of the local Hawaiian folks were to eat at PF Chang’s there’d probably be a tussle because of the limited rice availability…
Karen says
February 21st, 2008 at 4:52 pmHi Kae,
I haven’t been to Benihana in years, but I do remember them not skimping on the rice. In all my years of eating, I’ve never left a Chinese restaurant hungry. It was just so wrong!
Anyway, all rice gripes aside, it’s great to meet you! Are you a makeup newbie? Or hopelessly addicted?
Megan says
February 21st, 2008 at 4:54 pmSo did they bring you more rice when you asked for it?
Karen says
February 21st, 2008 at 5:01 pmHeck yeah they did! I finished the first bowl in two bites and was sooo ready to lay the smack down if I didn’t get more.
I need my carbs, girl!
makeuplovesme says
February 21st, 2008 at 8:21 pmyou’re too awesome karen! you always make me laugh.
Lilan says
February 21st, 2008 at 8:59 pmOh gosh, I haven’t been to a PF Changs in years! About 7, if I remember correctly! I can’t believe they jipped you on rice – definitely a Chinese restaurant NO NO!! Booo…
For your blog birthday, I went over to a friends house and had plenty of rice – chicken fried rice to be exact, with lots of Chinese sausage, YUM!! And a couple of rounds of Guitar Hero on the Wii to further celebrate 🙂
So where are you going to celebrate round 2 of the birthday festivities?
Breezy says
February 21st, 2008 at 10:35 pmI’m with you Karen, the first time I went there I was like OVER IT! For a chinese food place they didn’t wow me at all. But I gotta say, I tried it another time a couple years later, pretty recently actually and they were pretty good. I had orange chicken and I don’t remember what else……yeah I kinda got tossed there with some friends so maybe that’s why I was like damn this is goooood lolol.
Karen says
February 21st, 2008 at 10:51 pmThanks Marina,
BTW, saw you on the NY Post vid – you looked great! (Esp. your hair!)
Karen says
February 21st, 2008 at 10:52 pmHi Lilan,
OHHHH I love that Chinese sausage. Damn, I wish I was with you guys instead of PF Chang’s getting shafted on my stupid rice, LOL. Wii sounds like fun!
We will probably go to this kick ass Puerto Rican restaurant in Marin. Ohhh, soo good. And maybe Baskin Robins will count as round three.
Karen says
February 21st, 2008 at 10:53 pmHi Breezy,
Oh yah, it seems like PF Chang’s is a good place to get your drink on…at the bar, especially. I was admiring it yesterday and it looked like a place I’d hang out. And then they brought out the meager sampling of food, BOO!
Amanda says
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 amoh no! I’m so bummed to hear about your bad experience-I love, love, love PFChang’s…and have *never* had a problem with the servings, especially the rice. hubby and I usually have some to take home. Hopefully this is just a fluke, and doesn’t mar you against another try. 🙂 so, what entree did you get? I love so many there-
EtherealPrey says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:35 ambabes, I HATE P.F.Changs. I went in once and had the worse experience EVER! The wait staff was aloof, the food took forever to get there, it tasted horrible. I almost tripped and fell in the damn bathroom due to the lack of a sign saying the just mopped during the busiest time during dinner, it was horrible! I know how you feel babes…but you’ll find a better place to go…less crappy…
Carla says
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:57 amhehehehehe guess you worth it Karen (0:
next time go to a resturant that you know fairly well otherwise you’ll get an eyeball rice scoop size (;
I’m just kiddin’ but the horse is great.
Lilan says
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:34 pmMmm, Baskin Robbins sounds yum! You can have a custom ice cream cake made with a picture of DJ Meow on it LOL
Happy Friday! (finally!)
kae says
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:06 pmhmm i’d say i’m somewhere in between. i love getting as much MAC as i can get my hands on, but i’m on a budget since money goes to my daughter first and i’m a SAHM (stay at home mom). so, i always have to convince the mister first x] but once i’m makin my own “cheddah” then no need to ask right? hehe 😀
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:34 pmHi Amanda,
Hmmm, maybe the one near you is better. I got the honey chicken and the spinach with garlic. 🙂 Maybe I’ll go back one day if I can confirm that the rice sitch improves. And girl, I’m not a big eater but when the waiter said “HUGE PORTIONS” I was so expecting enough to take home at least. I was really hungry!
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:35 pmHey EtherealPrey,
Yeah, it seems like it really varies because I guess some folks really like it!
I ended up going to dinner tonight, aka “Blog Birthday, Part II.” We went to a yummy Puerto Rican place and it was so delicious (and I got enough rice, ha)!
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 pmHi Lilian,
I love those cakes. My fave ice cream cake flavor is jamoca almond fudge…oh weee!
Happy Friday to you, too. Are you gonna spend the weekend becoming one with your Fafi loot?
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 pmHi Kae,
That’s right! 🙂 There will always be makeup around for you…and maybe when your lil’ girl gets old enough you can both share a makeup hobby (addiction?) together!
How old is your daughter? I’ve been noticing that kids have really cute clothes these days, especially the girls (matching accessories, cute!).