P F Chang's China Bistro   

Guests of all ages standing outside the entrance and crowding the foyer, patiently awaiting a table in the large, soothingly lit and somewhat noisy dining room, should be evidence enough of this national chain's well-deserved popularity. Start with the house signature chicken lettuce wraps, a dish ample enough to make a fine, light meal on its own. Two of the best entree salads are wild Alaskan sockeye and warm duck spinach, with mandarin oranges and almonds in a citrus soy dressing. Choose brown or white rice to accompany favorites like orange peel beef, wok seared lamb or crispy honey chicken. There's also a long list of noodles dishes and plenty of vegetarian options. Watching what you take in? Check the Training Table Menu, which breaks down nutritional information for a number of dishes. That aside, a couple of desserts truly shine. With six cakey, gooey layers, The Great Wall of Chocolate rises to its adjective, and deep fried banana spring rolls with pineapple ice cream are sinfully ambrosial. Servers tend to be informed and almost creepily cheery -- it must be something they sneak into the special sauce they mix up tableside. By the way, you may be able to bypass the wait for a table if you're willing to sit at the bar.