Delighting New Hampshire

By Jun Wang

Oriental Delight

Location: 436 Central Ave. Dover, NH 03820-3425
Phone: 603-742-5611
Offers:  Dine-in, Take-out, Delivery, Party Room 
Cuisine: Oriental Cuisine (Chinese and Japanese cuisine)
Signature Dishes: Hot & Spicy Chicken Wings, General Tso’s Chicken, Red Dragon Roll
Year of Establishment: 2007

People think of restaurants as just being a place that offers tasty food in a comfortable environment. Frank Shen, owner of Oriental Delight made it his goal to provide a venue that would allow for the cultural exchange of food and ideas while also framing the experience with exemplary service and an unforgettably charming ambiance. 

This three-story multi-purpose building that houses Oriental Delight integrates dining and entertainment—also serving as a venue where people can exchange ideas about all aspects of Chinese culture including its cuisine and philosophies. The second floor will soon be a magnificent dining area and a stylish bar. Inside the restaurant, customers will find mahogany wood art work throughout, stained windows, brightly contrasted colors, and a refreshing ambiance that is further enhanced by soft lights and calming music. Another attraction is the gallery, a narrow window floor that gives visitors a glimpse into Chinese culture, what the restaurant to offer, and what is happening in food industry, guiding them on an exciting cultural journey while also providing them with a keen insight on China.

The dining area is described as being classic while patrons view the adjoining bar as being chic and contemporary. All the elements combine to create an exciting space where people can sip on a variety of soft drinks, juices, beer, wine and cocktails. It won’t feel like a library either with trendy music playing and the posh bar atmosphere.

“People need to have a place they can go after a busy day at work. My goal is to provide such a place where customers can relax themselves in a well designed environment. I’m very glad to hear people say that this is their favorite place. Right now I'm planning something big – a 4000sf space featuring a band stage, a dancing floor, a dinning area, bars, etc. to accommodate multiple functions of entertainment. ” told Shen.

As a business man who is conscious of market trends, Frank Shen points out that it is only possible to survive and outwit competition through knowing the market and who the target customers are. To cater more to his customers, the chef has tailored a menu that pairs Americanized Chinese cuisine with some more exotic fare. Deeply rooted in using the freshest seasonal ingredients and aromas that Dover has to offer, the menu is a reflection of the depth of Chinese cuisine but also features some Japanese delights. General Tso’s Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Crab Rangoon and fried rice are the symbols of Americanized Chinese cuisine and their ubiquitous presence proves more than their popularity but also the feasibility of using them to anchor a menu.

Channeling Szechuan Goodness
Chinese food aficionados seeking authentic and ethnic food will find what they are looking for at Oriental Delight, as it features a variety of tastes and styles including the numbing yet sensational flavors of classical Szechuan dishes. The Szechuan offerings arrived covered with different kinds of chilies and vibrate with bold flavors that are further brought out by the addition of Szechuan peppercorns. 

You may want to start your enchanting culinary adventure with Dan Dan Noodles or or Hot & Spicy Chicken Wings. One of its other must-try Szechuan specialties is Diced Fish with Hot & Spicy Sauce which is to Szechuan cuisine what General Tso’s Chicken is to Americanized Chinese cuisine. But it is only for the more adventurous patrons. Bursting with bold Szechuan flavor, this dish is loaded with red peppers and fish slices fully immersed in red oil.

The Chinese chefs have a bundle of experience and know how to turn ordinary dishes into extraordinary creations. Even with decades of experience, the chefs never rest on their laurels, and always keep up to date with the latest dining trends and concepts. In the midst of winter, a lot of people out there are looking for a warm and hearty meal and many end up ordering Lamb Casserole. This peppy dish is a medley of lamb, vegetables that is flavored with cumin powder, and wrapped in aluminum foil to retain its freshness.

There are also some sushi and creative rolls available. The sushi chef tries to infuse the Vietnamese sauce and Thai flavors into the sushi and rolls making for a number of inventive flavor combinations. Some rolls are highly acclaimed, such as the Red Dragon Roll, Dover Roll, and New Hampshire Roll. The Red Dragon Roll receives the loudest applause. It sports shrimp tempura, cilantro wrapped with tuna, jalapeno, and masago then is drizzled with Vietnamese sauce which delivers an exotic punch to the dish.

The logo used at Oriental Delight is "Happy in, Happier out". The philosophy used by the owner is: “Don’t apply what we don't like to our customers.” The restaurant revolves around several themes—quality assurance, cost control, hygiene and safety practices, and staff training. All these measures are geared towards providing customers with a more impressive dining experience. Shen and his team insist on only using the best and freshest ingredients available. Food is prepared using little oil or salt so as to reduce their calorie counts and fat content.
The care that the owner and his staff have for customers is obvious. Shen requires the staff to approach service with a personal touch. They make sure to acknowledge customers the minute they enter and are eager to assist them when needed. Attention is paid to every detail from when customers first walk in till they leave the restaurant after another great meal. At Oriental Delight, the staff is seen introducing dishes, placing orders, and refilling the glasses in a timely and friendly manner.

Starting from Scratch
Frank Shen opened his restaurant without having any formal culinary experience. Originally an engineer by trade, he happened to speak with a restaurant owner when looking for fund for his scientific research. He was intrigued by the idea of raising the fund via a successful restaurant business. Not a professional, he had to start from scratch. Learning as he went by reading books on restaurant management and current culinary trends, he quickly gained a basic understanding of current trends and began to make detailed plans. First, he needed to find an appropriate location; then he had to create a viable product. This meant brainstorming a menu, picking the decor, and then going out and hiring a group of experienced people that would be able to come together and form an efficient team. His efforts paid off and Oriental Delight has been making a good progress towards its goal, going from a new entrant to now being known as one of the best restaurants in town.