Gratin Resort and Casino630 Park Court, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
(707) 703-1955
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-11pm, Fri -Sat 11am-midnight
Parking: self parking in lot and valet parking
http://www.gratonresortcasino.com/dining/casual-dining
Last Visited: December 26, 2013
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$$$
I first heard about M.Y. China while reading San Francisco Magazine's article about best noodles. M.Y. are the initials for famous television chef Martin Yan. I was really excited to learn that Graton Casino was getting an M.Y. China so that I didn't have to go all the way into the city to try out their dishes. Enter M.Y. China and you have multiple options for seating - at the bar, regular tables, counter facing the stove with wok-fired dishes, and the counter adjacent to the noodle station (we watched as scissor cut noodles were being made). Dark woods and black napkins on square white plates give the restaurant a modern feel.
One thing to note is that when you look at the prices and menu on the casino website, it's not quite accurate. It's a little frustrating considering that the resort is so new that information shouldn't be out of date yet, but know that prices are higher than what is posted on the site.
- Pork Juicy Dumplings - Five dumplings are served over a thinly sliced carrot round in individual black Chinese soup spoons in a bamboo steamer. While the presentation is unique and attractive because of the individual spoons, this actually causes the dumpling skin to become soggy because it is sitting in the dumpling juices (most of the soup had leaked out too). The pork filling is tender and the soup is good, but the skin itself is not authentic in texture. It's good if you have never had a soup dumpling before, but it can't be compared to Ding Tai Fung. The good thing is that it comes steaming hot - so hot that the spoon is hard to handle. Red vinegar with thin ginger strands accompany the dish. One change to make is to eliminate chipped spoons - considering the prices at this place, everything should be near perfect. $10
- Beef Hand Pulled Noodles - A few slices of five spice seasoned rib eye accompanies fresh baby bok choy, red pepper strips, and chopped scallions over hand pulled noodles in a rich broth. The meat is tender and the vegetables add great color, however, the broth is a little too salty at first taste and a little too sweet at the end of each bite. Fortunately, the noodles have a nice al dente texture. The quantity of food for the price charged is definitely petite. This is one of the dishes with wrong pricing on the website (shows $14 on the site). $16
- Beijing Knife Cut Noodles - Diced pork belly is cooked in spicy bean sauce and is accompanied by shredded carrots, bean sprouts, shredded cucumber, mushroom, and corn. All of this sits colorfully on rice noodles. The presentation is colorful and when it arrives, you get to mix all of this together to combine everything. The meat pieces are a bit fatty. The vegetables add good crunch, but the corn is from a can and lacks flavor. The sauce is mostly spicy and sweet, overpowering the flavor of the meat and vegetables. $12Service was friendly, but had a few blips. When taking the bowl of soup away, the server grabbed the bowl instead of the saucer underneath it, but avoided the potential mishap of spilled soup. Since we sat in a row at the counter, the server picked up the check from one seat and returned it to the person furthest away from where it was retrieved. On the plus side, they clear plates frequently, and thank each patron on his or her way out.
M.Y. China is a good place for a business lunch or to go for drinks to appreciate the decor. The dishes are good for a first timer at trying more authentic Chinese dishes, but to those whom are accustomed to what it should taste like, unless you're far from home and haven't had a chance to enjoy it for a while, an hour's drive will bring you to more authentic flavors and textures for a better value.
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