On Wednesday I got a chance to try a different kind of
restaurant than our regular fare with Sarah Sparks. We visited China Blossom; a family style
Chinese restaurant and buffet in North Andover, MA about 40 minutes from
Boston. The restaurant was a bit fancier than most Chinese joints. The staff was very friendly staff and our waiter was jovial and helpful. I noticed the waiters interacting with the
patrons and being generally very happy throughout the busy evening.
We started with a few of their cocktails. The Fortune Cookie
($7.25) comprised of Stoli Vanil, Malibu Rum, Frangelico, Milk, and Disaronno sounded like it would be overly sweet, but it was quite subtle. The Asian Mary
($7.25) was a different take on the Bloody Mary. Sriracha hot sauce
and wasabi were used instead of Tabasco and pepper, which gave a different kind of bite. I’m
not a huge fan of Bloody Marys, but this one was very enjoyable.
Now I know some people will say the 18.95 is expensive for a Chinese buffet, but a few nice additions made it worthwhile and fun. The create-your-own noodle soup bar was a treat. They had a spread of raw meats and veggies that we threw together in a bowl and passed to a chef behind the counter who cooked it up in a broth. We then garnished it with a variety of spices and sauces. I added a dash of the chili oil and soy sauce to round it out. In addition there was a carving station with Prime Rib and Peking duck and sushi. The prime rib was tender, rare and juicy.
The rest of the spread was appetizing and fresh. It had all
the foods you love and expect such as chicken teriyaki, bbq spare ribs, eggrolls and
other appetizers, and a variety of dishes off their menu. Make sure to check
out their General Jor’s Chicken, a take on the old standard with a spicy
Sichuan sauce.
After the buffet we tried a few appetizers and meals off their dinner menu.
Our first appetizer was a Wonton Pork Dumping soup. ($4.25) This was no meager broth with a couple wontons thrown in. There was a generous helping of sliced pork floating in a broth with snap peas and wontons. The dumplings were hearty and the whole soup had a delicate flavor as opposed to the saltier broths you tend to find.
Our first appetizer was a Wonton Pork Dumping soup. ($4.25) This was no meager broth with a couple wontons thrown in. There was a generous helping of sliced pork floating in a broth with snap peas and wontons. The dumplings were hearty and the whole soup had a delicate flavor as opposed to the saltier broths you tend to find.
Crab Rangoon ($8.25) is a staple of Chinese appetizers and
they come in many varieties. We got an order of them alongside our meals. The filling had a strong meaty crab flavor mixed with very creamy and fluffy cream cheese.
The fried wrappers were crisp; these were some tasty rangoons.
You don’t normally think of sushi at a Chinese restaurant
but the Spicy Tuna Maki Roll ($5.95) was spicy, the mayo they put on
it gave a kick and I didn't even need to add extra soy and wasabi. The tuna was
fresh with a bit of cucumber alongside it and sesame seeds sprinkled on the outside of the
rice. I wouldn't necessarily come for sushi, but it was quality.
The Seafood Supreme ($16.95) had shrimp, scallops and
lobster with a mix of bok choy, mushroom and peas in a light wine sauce made
with ginger, garlic and soy. It was served in a fancy little metal pot and was
my favorite dish, being the most hearty and stuffed full of seafood.
One of their chef specials was the Guy Poo Loan Har.
($25.95) This is their highest end dish full of generous chunks of lobster,
steak, chicken and shrimp with vegetables over noodles. It was all delicious,
but the big surprise was how good the chicken was. The very moist white meat
covered with just a thin layer of batter was great. I would definitely try one of their
other fried chicken dishes another time.
I love Singapore Noodles ($10.95), then tend to be the one
curry dish some Chinese places have, and China Blossom definitely had them. Pork,
chicken, shrimp were mixed in with noodles and a mild yellow curry that left a pleasant
tingle on my tongue.
We finished our meal with the traditional fortune cookies
and pineapple pieces, a sweet end to a savory meal.
I have to say this is a cut above what you normally get at Chinese restaurants and is a great place for buffet aficionados. If you happen to be around North Andover and are craving Chinese, I highly recommend China Blossom.
China Blossom
946 Osgood Street
North Andover, MA 01845
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