Eat Like a “Wok” Star
Located in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, Oriental Wok is an upscale, exquisitely furnished restaurant that features three magnificent dining rooms, embodying nothing but class and elegance. The semi-private room overlooks the restaurant and holds up to 14 people. For those who prefer a closed-off environment, there is a private room available, which is perfect for board or private meetings.
The main attraction of the restaurant is the tropical paradise banquet hall that holds up to 200 people. It is ideal for holding weddings, anniversaries, company functions and Christmas parties. The banquet hall is always booked around the holiday season because Oriental Wok caters a buffet at the events that includes a hybrid of Chinese and American cuisines, giving it an East meets West vibe. Oriental Wok is so popular that they once held a congressional campaign fundraiser for George Clooney’s father, Nick Clooney, a Democrat who ran for his 4th Congressional district seat. Other big companies that host functions at Oriental Wok include Toyota, Wild Favor and the Northern Kentucky Chambers Business Association.
Oriental Wok is your one-stop destination for exquisite Chinese cuisine. It prides itself in providing fresh, high-quality food. Oriental Wok’s menu offers a wide variety of delicious dishes such as Lemon Chicken, Moo Shu Chicken, Peppercorn Beef, Sweet and Sour Pork, Sesame Shrimp and Teriyaki Salmon. Signature entrees that stand out from the rest are the General Wong’s Chicken, Chinese-style Asparagus, Sea Bass, Kobe Steak and “On the Way to the Olympics” dishes.
“We offer nothing but the best here at Oriental Wok,” said Owner Mike Wong. “You will get top-of-the-line beef, pork, fish and shrimp here. We put quality over quantity.”
The General Wong’s Chicken is Mr. Wong’s signature spicy dish, featuring snow peas, onions, baby corn and mushrooms.
“Everyone likes white meat chicken. It is the most popular selection here at Oriental Wok,” said Wong. “It amounts to 40 percent of sales revenue.”
The Chinese-style Asparagus is covered in a light coating of seasoning, and is stir-fried in garlic black bean sauce with chicken, steak, pork, shrimp or scallops. Another popular entrée at Oriental Wok is the Sea Bass. Customers are given the options of having it steamed, stir-fried or grilled. The steamed Sea bass is prepared with bamboo steamers, cooked with moist heat to lock in the flavor and topped off with aromatic ginger-green onions, soy, or black bean and garlic. Stir-fried Sea Bass is prepared by flash cooking in a hot wok, giving it amazing flavor and an authentic taste. Grilling the Sea Bass gives it a crispy yet tender taste for customers who prefer more of a Western-style preparation.
Steak lovers will fall in love with the Kobe Steak entrée. This entrée features high-grade filet mignon with onions and mushrooms, topped with a sizzling peppercorn sauce and served on a hot sizzling platter.
“This dish is popular because you are getting the best type of steak in filet mignon, and it is served on a hot sizzling platter, which you don’t get at other restaurants,” Wong said.
In preparation for the excitement of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Wong created a new entrée called the “On the Way to the Olympics,” which features fresh vegetables steamed with fish or chicken stir-fried with potatoes in a nest shape.
“I want it to be in a nest shape because the 2008 Olympic stadium in Beijing will be shaped like a nest,” Wong said.
When asked about healthy options on his menu, Mr. Wong said: “Although we have a vegetarian menu, all of our products are healthy to begin with. Our chefs use a small amount of vegetable oil, sodium, and prepare all of the meals with a lot of fresh vegetables.”
Oriental Wok has been in business for over 30 years, not only because of their delicious eat, but also largely due to Wong’s philosophy of providing excellent customer service.
“We care about our customers and treat them like a king. We never say no to customers and treat them equally with respect. Our staff tries its best to take care of every single customer,” says Wong. “I told all of my staff members that without customers, we don’t need to cook, we don’t need waiters, we don’t need the restaurant, and that everyone can just go home.”
When asked about the other secrets to his success in the Chinese restaurant business, Mr. Wong replied: “There are two things a restaurant must have, which is good food and reasonable prices. We want people to feel like they got what they paid for.”
Oriental Wok
317 Buttermilk Pike Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017
Tel: (859-331-3000)