“There’s this great Chinese Soul Food restaurant you gotta try.”
WHACK
“No really. It’s Chinese Soul Food.”
BAM
“I’m serious! It’s called Betty’s Wok & Noodle! Over by the Symphony! It’s Chinese Soul Food!”
SPLORK
And then I thought to myself…could he be serious? My two favorite things, Chinese and Soul Food, combined?I decided to check things out for myself.
After stepping over my friend’s unconscious body, I headed out.
Betty’s Wok & Noodle didn’t look like much from the outside- small, unassuming, next door to an art supply store. But still, I gave it a chance and went inside.
Over the speakers blared Barry White’s “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe”. The lights were dimmed, the tables lit by candles. Pictures of Soul and Motown’s greats hung on the walls. The table clothes were a crisp white, the walls were a deep red, and the booths were plump and leather. I practically sunk into my seat.
When I got the menu, I was dumbfounded as to what to order. Since it was my first time, I figured I’d try the Mondo Bongo Combo Sampler- it had a bit of everything from the appetizer selection. I’ve never eaten anything so amazing- you’ve got a selection of beef “Juan” Tons, Shrimp Rangoon, and Veggie Egg Rolls with four different dipping sauces at your disposal. I made sure to try each food with each sauce- they all go perfectly together, making a delectable start to any meal. I could’ve been happy just eating another order of the Mono Bongo Combo Sampler, but I felt obligated to at least get a dinner, too.
I chose to customize my dinner plate. You get your choice of rice or noodles (Egg, Shanghai Wheat Flour, Big Rice Chow Fun, and Soba); you get your choice of meat (Chicken, Beef, and Shrimp); you get your choice of veggies at the salad bar; you get your choice of sauce (Fiery Kung Pao, Cantonese Hoisin, Asian Pesto, Red Thai Coconut, Madras-Curry, Cuban Chipotle-Citrus, Thai-Tiki, and Sweet & Salty). You also get the option to have your dish as a noodle-soup, which I chose not to do since I hate noodle soup. I sampled all of the sauces before ordering my dinner, and here’s what I found:
The Fiery Kung Pao is a harmonious marriage of heat and spice
The Cantonese Hoisin will please anyone’s sweet tooth
The Asian Pesto reminds me of chewing Double Mint Gum after eating a bag of peanuts
The Red Thai Curry is delicious but incredibly mild
The Madras-Curry is nutty and spicy
The Cuban Chipotle-Citrus combines tart and sweet flavor
Thai-Tiki is a fancy name for your average sweet and sour sauce
The Sweet & Salty is more sweet than salty
These sauces are all high quality and worth trying- I’m no fan of overly minty or sweet sauces, but each to her own. The waiters are more than happy to bring you these samples, too- don’t be afraid to ask!
My dinner consisted of Soba noodles, beef, and asian cabbages. Soba noodles, for those not familiar, are somewhat tough and nutty. My sauce of choice was the Cuban Chipotle-Citrus. The food was superb- the plating beautiful (even if it was in a bowl), the tastes and scents delightful. And the bowl and quantities were not small by any means- there was plenty of “bang for you buck.”
Luckily, since I have a practically insatiable appetite, I had room for dessert. While the dessert menu isn’t large, the selections on it were all tempting: Betty-licious cheesecake, Banana Bomba, Chocolate Cake (with the option to make it ‘a la mode), and Ice Cream or Sorbet. This was perhaps the hardest decision I had to make all night- everything sounded promising! I needed an expert opinion- I asked the waitress. She recommended the cheesecake, as it comes with a choice of cherry-sake sauce or hot fudge. I took her advice and got the Betty-licious cheesecake, choosing the hot fudge topping. The cheesecake was smooth and rich, the crust buttery and crumbling on my fork, and the hot fudge was thick. It rivaled the Cheesecake Factory.
I highly recommend Betty’s Wok & Noodle. The innovation of the concept and menu will tickle your fancy, and the atmosphere will blow you away. Perfect place for a date, perfect place to enjoy some comforting rich food and tunes. Dinner plus the appetizer and dessert came to a total of $40 minus tip (Appetizer= $16, Dinner= $14, Dessert + Drink= $10). Pricey for a college student on a budget, but definitely worth every penny spent. A great place for older couples; a terrible place for children under the age of 15. Because of the fairly open-ended menu and cramped space, parents should avoid bringing their small children because the experience can be both overwhelming and boring for them. If there was a Barney statue near the bar, then perhaps small children could go.
Things to note:
1) Because Betty’s is conveniently located near the Symphony Hall, many Symphony-goers are at the restaurant on performance nights. Those nights are most crowded, and you’ll wait up to 25 minutes for a table, as opposed to no waiting if you go on a non-Symphony night. Also, Symphony-goers are demanding if the time of their show is approaching before they’ve paid the bill- the waitstaff can be busy, so sometimes you’ve got to wait longer for your food and beverages.
2) Do not go to Betty’s before going to the Symphony unless you arrive at least an hour and a half before the show- otherwise, you’ll have to leave before dinner even gets to your table.
3) There is no waiting room or area at Betty’s. If you have to wait, you must do so outside because of the small size of the restaurant. I would suggest taking a walk over to the Christian Science Center across the street from the Symphony Hall- it’s a beautiful area, especially at night. Throw a coin in the reflecting pool, or stroll around and admire the dramatic architecture.
Betty’s Wok & Noodle is located on 250 Huntington Avenue in Boston, MA. The restaurant website is http://bettyswokandnoodle.com- check there for the online menu and a map of the area. The easiest way to get to the restaurant is by taking the Green Line T, E Heath Street train, to the Symphony Stop. Please consult Betty’s website for driving directions and more general information.
