China Chalet   

Strip-mall locale aside, China Chalet is a very handsome restaurant. Dressed in hunter green, dark wood, carved Chinese panels and white napery, this is not your neighborhood takeout joint. Yes, the menu is as gigantic as any other Chinese place around the corner, but it also incorporates some authentic regional recipes. If you're a Hunan or Szechuan fan and a lover of spice, try the Hunan beef or the Szechuan lamb; some Hunan preparations are actually spicier than their Szechuan counterparts, and the beef here has a lot of heat. The tender slices of beef fillet are cooked with whole chilis, ginger and garlic. The lamb is just the right texture -- tender but not too soft -- and happily mixes with the Napa cabbage in a spicy sauce. If you're more partial to the cuisines of Canton or Beijing, there's enough to keep you busy for years, from the Peking duck to the moo shu chicken to noodle dishes galore.