Cafe 101
I’m going to hurt all Cafe 101 fans by saying this place is so overrated. I have spent most of of my life eating authentic Chinese food in China and Asia. I grew up eating real Chinese food — spending summers and extended vacations in their part of the world. Therefore, my standard definitely isn’t the Americanized version (read: dumbed-down). Having said that, I wouldn’t go out of my way just to eat here and get food that is, at best, 2 notches above Panda Express. Don’t get me wrong, though, most people are okay with westernized Chinese food — it’s suited for their palates and it’s what they are used to. Nothing wrong with that.
When it first opened, I really liked their Dan Dan Noodles — thick, chewy noodles doused with a hoisin-peanut sauce and topped with steamed watercress. It was fantastic. Was, being an operative word here. These days, Dan Dan Noodles have evolved to a super salty sticky mess. Four times in a row (and all within 2 months), I’ve had to leave the noodles untouched, or worse, throw them in the trash when I got it to-go.
The shredded beef and Chinese celery is pretty decent in the Panda Express-kind of way which is nothing out of the ordinary. The celery outnumbered the beef 12-to-1 so all you taste is celery. The beef, however, was tender. For lunch, you get a cup of hot and sour soup and their version is on the watery/bland side. The Salt and Pepper Pork Chops is a decent choice. You get strips of deep-fried pork laced with jalapeño peppers. Last complaint, they really need to do something with their steamed rice. I know the price of rice has tripled in the last couple of months but it’s still no reason to serve 3rd-class brownish rice.
Bottom line, the decor is better than the food. If you want authentic Szechuan cuisine, don’t waste your time here, head on over to Sichuan House instead.
More pictures here.
Insider tip:
Located in the round building (that used to be Tofu House) along Buford Highway just inside 285.
The pickled radish is fantastic.
The scoop:
Cafe 101
5412 Buford Hwy NE
Doraville, GA 30340
(770) 458-8883
Technorati Tags: Cafe 101, Szechuan cuisine, Chinese cuisine, Buford Highway
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5 responses so far ↓
1 marc // Oct 2, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Most of the restaurants in the Virginia Highlands and Emory area will be offering coupons on www.ATLCoupons.com. I read about this site on PRWeb. I can’t wait for it to official launch. The site says it will later this year.
2 Chloe // Oct 2, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Thanks for the heads up, Marc. Will be checking the site often for some deals
3 BuHi // Jan 3, 2009 at 2:40 am
I have an aversion to westernized Chinese (won’t touch the stuff) and I have always really enjoyed this place. I think if you are looking at it as true Szechuan, you will be disappointed. Cafe 101 is more of a Taiwanese restaurant. Dan dan is definitely Szechuan, but many of the other dishes have origins from all over China, which typifies Taiwanese cuisine. (e.g., san bei ji - 3 cups chicken - originates from Jiangxi, but is now considered a Taiwanese staple). My ex (born and raised in Taiwan) has always commented on how authentic the food was here.
4 David B. // Mar 11, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I would have to agree with BuHi’s comments. Their Taiwanese dishes are not to be beaten anywhere on Buford Hwy.
5 Cafe 101 Restaurant Review: Oh How The Overrated Have Fallen – Doraville, Atlanta, GA [First Impressions] | Atlanta Restaurant Reviews | Atlanta Food Blogs | Dining in Atlanta // Nov 30, 2009 at 5:14 pm
[…] Chow Down Atlanta on Café 101 (09.30.08) […]
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