Chow Down at Chow's Garden

Chow Down at Chow's Garden

Interviewed by Cuiyin Zhang  Written by Elise Krentzel

Not limited to the label of 'buffet' restaurant, Chow's provides delivery, take-out and dine-in services. They incorporate authentic Chinese and Asian cuisines alongside ordinary yet popular Americanized Chinese dishes. The 4,000 square foot eatery has an advantageous location. Right alongside a McDonald's and the local university of Millville, New Jersey, traffic and movement is not an issue. The densely populated area guarantees plenty of daily traffic and ensures a steady stream of income.

Opened in 1990, this family owned operation was purchased in 2003. Mrs. Lin, the owner, with her husband, completed a thorough interior renovation amongst other improvements. She told ARN, “The only way to stay competitive, is keeping abreast with market demands and learning from the merits of other restaurants.” That's why she added a sushi bar, for example.

Diversity Rules

At Chow's Garden, the ingredients are topnotch, locally procured every other day, fresh. The reason that customers have been coming back for over twenty years has to do with the aromatic finger-licking choices and customized service. General Tso’s Chicken, Shrimp with Spicy Sauce and Mongolian Beef are worthy of the attention of newcomers and regulars in equal measure. Newly launched original dishes such as Coconut Shrimp and Singapore Chicken are well received. The owner recommends Sesame Chicken and Buttered Shrimp. Crab Legs are prepared and delivered to diners' tables in a multitude of styles. At the buffet and sushi bar, there is an assortment of 60 delicacies, including an assortment of seafood and sushi rolls.

Chow's Garden takes pride in serving all types of palette pleasers. Says Mrs. Lin, “You can imagine how hard it is to please everyone, to meet all their demands.” According to the owner, the menu is updated bi-monthly with one or two new additions. Only the popular items remain on the bar. In that way the chefs can experiment: creating alchemy of combinations, flavorings and spices. “It's no wonder that the young and old can find the type of food they adore here,” says Mrs. Lin. The dizzying array of appetizers, main entrees, sushi, salad and ice-creams pleases everyone. In fact, Chow's Garden has been voted as the Best of the Best Chinese Restaurants by local citizens.

Sweet Surrender

In addition to having their full, customers can also enjoy the and soft attractive lighting – part of the extensive renovation spoken about earlier in this article. Japanese ornaments align the walls against reddish blush colored booths. The welcoming hue induces a sense of relaxation. Customers are not rushed here. They can savor their meals, take a deep breath and exhale, with a sense of familiar warmth. The dark red carpeting in the dining area adds to the peaceful ambience as soft Chinese music is amplified in the background. All of the furnishings were purchased at one of New York City's top furniture companies. The actual design was left to a professional who created the interior architecture and chose the decoration. Mrs. Lin couldn't be more pleased with the results. To her, the visuals on the plate as well as the surrounding environment are equally indispensable. If her customer's feel good and what they see looks good then she is a happy manager.

At Your Service

The wait staff is polite, patient and unabashed offering smiles to all who enter. The chefs are experienced and cooperate well with the owner and wait staff. “They are creative,” says Mrs. Lin. The delivery driver is familiar with the neighborhood and that makes his job efficient. Customers so not complain about waiting long for their orders. Besides, delivery is free.

Says Mrs. Lin, no matter how difficult it is to fulfill the wishes of a customer we, do our very best. It is no exaggeration to say that Chow's customers treat the kitchen as their own. Since each patron is respected, they are able to create their own dish and Chow's chef will whip it up.

The excellent sanitary conditions add to the popularity of Chow's. Uncluttered and clean, spotless tables and table settings improve the ratings amongst the locals tenfold. The employees keep the engine oiled by providing a daily routine to their conscious efforts in maintaining a hygienic atmosphere. The staff are hard workers, notes Mrs. Lin. As such, each member is like a part of her extended family. “Since we live together, we sometimes hold parties like at Chinese New Year or other festivals,” comments the owner.

Meet the Owner

Mrs. Lin's secret to success is as she puts it, “When you open a restaurant you need sincerity and industriousness to keep it going.” “To conquer any difficulties you need a strong will and a positive frame of mind to face any of the daily pressures which confront you.” These personal qualities have kept her in good stead over the years.

ARN asked her about how she balances the workload between business and family. She laughed at the question because she doesn't have any children. Yet, she and her husband are still young so in their minds not ready to have kids just now. There's too much work to be done in the restaurant, more time to be spent building it up. She ruefully adds, “The baby plan will have to be carried out in years to come.”

“By that time, I will have employed more staff.” She says that family is as important as business however now is not the optimal time. Later when the timing is right she is sure that her additional staff will be able to help out. Her philosophy of staff as family will have paid off.

As to other future endeavors, the owner said, “There are none right now. We just completed the renovation. So I will focus on Chow's Garden for the time being.”