“The Absolute Best Chinese Food”

Interviewed by Cuiyin Zhang  Written by Pam McElory

Tucked next to a small shopping center with a large parking lot, conveniently near a high traffic area, Lake View Chinese Restaurant has been promoting Chinese cuisine since it first opened. The 1,500 square foot dine-in and take-out restaurant is known for serving the “the absolute best Chinese food,” according to an online reviewer.

Accessible Chinese Culture

The dining room at Lake View Chinese Restaurant is kept tidy, simple, and warm. Dark red booths align the walls of the room and green desks and chairs are neatly arranged around the space. Additionally, there is a big screen television for customers to watch sports and the news. The walls are adorned with the Chinese water. However, the most appealing aspect of the décor is the ceiling, which is a garden style trellis with decorative grapes and strawberries. While eating, customers are sure to learn a little about Chinese Culture at this restaurant.

In fact, Lake View Chinese Restaurant will even host a traditional Chinese New Year dinner and celebration to those who request it in advance. Customers surely have great, memorable time. This is a great way to promote both Chinese culture and the restaurant itself.

Over the last ten years, owners Mr. and Mrs. Tang have redecorated the interior décor quite a few times. But no matter what changes, a few things always remain the same; the restaurant is always kept comfortable, approachable, clean, and bright. “The décor expresses a feeling of home and relaxation,” says Mrs. Tang.

Memorable, Homemade Food

Lake View Chinese Restaurant offers an array of Americanized Chinese cuisine at popular prices with a healthy dining concept. All of the sauces are homemade, not too bold in flavor, and cater to the locals’ taste. The most popular sauce is the Sweet & Sour sauce, which is prepared with the perfect combination of ingredients and cooking time.

The most popular are the General Tso’s Chicken, Pad Thai Chicken, Chicken with Broccoli, and Steamed Shrimp Dumpling. While General Tso’s Chicken is a common dish in American Chinese restaurants, at Lake View Chinese Restaurant the chicken is well-marinated in a secret sauce with carefully selected ingredients and seasonings. As for the Pad Thai Chicken, this is a dish that Mrs. Tang personally recommends.

“My husband and I have years of cooking experience and we are still interested in studying and innovating our menu so, while the choices are limited, each item is carefully developed and selected catering to the customers' taste,” boasts Mrs. Tang.

And when it comes to the quality of the food, both Mr. and Mrs. Tang are especially particular about freshness. They purchase their ingredients from a reliable, trustworthy food supplier and even though the cost of high quality ingredients is rising, they still insist on maintaining their high standards. According to Mrs. Tang, “When you are involved in the food service industry, you need to provide only the best food to customers, and this is something I guarantee.”

Every dish is prepared with just the amount of flavor and seasonings and served piping hot. The dishes are prepared fresh and made to order and the woks are cleaned after each use. The kitchen uses 100 percent vegetable oil in all of the food preparation and they use it moderately to protect their customers’ health.

Happy Staff and Smiling Customers

The number one priority of Lake View Chinese Restaurant’s staff is to treat customers perfectly; the customer is always right.

According to Mrs. Tang, the kitchen staff is extremely reliable. They are all well experienced and coordinate seamlessly together and treat each other with respect. They are creative, hardworking, and smart and can handle the orders during even the busiest shifts. In fact, all of the staff members at Lake View Chinese Restaurant have similar attributes. When hiring new staff members, Mrs. Tang only looks for easy going, diligent people with a solid direction. And because the staff members get along with one another so well, it creates a happy environment, which in turn results in happy customers.

Mr. and Mrs. Tang themselves have good relationships with both the staff members and the regular customers. And to show her appreciation to the regular customers, Mrs. Tang will add fruit to their take-out orders. Her favorite fruit to give is the apple, as to Mrs. Tang the apple stands for safety and wellness.

About the owners…

When Mr. and Mrs. Tang first came to the United States and began their business, their new life was much harder than they had expected. They lacked experience in the restaurant industry, funding, and new ideas. It took quite a few years of struggles and pressure, but now the happy couple is back on top. “I am lucky to be busy everyday. I’m happy to see customers come in with a smile and leave satisfied,” says Mrs. Tang.

As for the future, “I will always look for new ways to improve the restaurant. I am eager to learn and to keep following the latest dining trends. I have plans to remodel the restrooms, the kitchen, and the dining room eventually and I may even add a BBQ grill in the kitchen. The grill would allow me to expand the menu to include Southeast Asian and Japanese cuisine,” says Mrs. Tang.

Another online reviewer confirms, “Wonderful: This is the BEST Chinese restaurant in Olean. If you love Chinese food, go to Lake View.”