China Cafe

07/17/2008 Posted by Jenmason74

I absolutely love the food here!! They need to open more locations so I can go there more often. Kelly & Suzanna are so welcoming and friendly. They will prepare any dish that you like, even if it's not on the menu. Clearly the people that wrote negative feed back... must be jealous that their business is not doing as well as the China Cafe!!!

Pros: Best chinese food I've had!!!

07/10/2008 Posted by dontlikechinacafe

I used work nearby for 2 years and HAD to go to this place a number of times. I can't understand all the hype about this place. I have tried almost every dish on the menu and can definitely say that it doesn't deserve it. Service is not impressive either. The decor is good though and the place does not stink.

Pros: Ambience

Cons: Everything else

06/22/2008 Posted by therightwinger

Don't go out of your way. The rambling and subjective reviews are written by vainglorious locals who think Novi is the culinary center of the universe. In one sentence: if you think the Lions are going to win the Super Bowl, you'll think the food at China Cafe is great.

Pros: Nice little Asian Market nearby

Cons: All the Rambling 5 Star Reviews written by Locals

06/21/2008 Posted by Scott625

Can't say enough about China Cafe. The owners Kelly and Susana personally greet their guests and make everyone feel welcome. China Cafe is such a wonderful resprit from the national "cookie cutter" chains. Great food and warm smiles always await you at China Cafe.

Pros: The owners as well as the food are a winning combination

Cons: Lack of signage(city by-laws) makes this gem difficult to find for travelers

06/13/2008 Posted by wigbomber

Please ignore the supercilious jerkoffs who've given China Cafe a 1 out of 5 here. It's ridiculous to call this restaurant "lower than the average" typical neighborhood spot, or whatever the Einstein who made that comment said. It's always possible to have a less than satisfying experience at an otherwise consistently great establishment. Like the character who judged this place on the basis of having sat next to a table of people drinking too much. Poor baby. Did you ask for another table? Or to have the people asked to keep it down? Or did you just sit there and fume? China Cafe has a very atypical menu, though you can still get standard, boring Americanized favorites if you're a standard, boring American. They're just better here than at most chinese eateries. But the specialities this kitchen turns out are often exceptional. And in ten years of dining here - or however long it's been open - I have rarely ordered from the menu. Grab some imagination, fellow reviewers, and ask for something that hasn't already been thought up and mapped out for you! In turning Kelly, co-owner and head chef, loose with just a few parameters, he's produced some of the most amazing, one of a kind dishes I've ever enjoyed. Did you even try something adventurous from the Korean specialties menu? If you eat at a restaurant with the capacity to turn out remarkably good, unique meals and only order predictable westernized "chinese" dishes, you have no one to blame but yourself if that's precisely what you get. To anyone contemplating a first visit to China Cafe, by all means go and order something you've never heard of. Ask Susana, the hostess and co-owner, what's especially good tonight? Ask her to recommend something customized, not from the menu. One of my favorite dishes, Ching Dao Shrimp, has never been on the menu, but I've ordered it dozens of times. China Cafe is not a below average, not a good, but a great Chinese restaurant, the best, for my $$, in town.

Pros: Ambience much nicer than average strip mall spots, owners are charming and friendly.

Cons: Not much to complain about. It isn't as ritzy as Mon Jin Lau, nor is it as pricey.

05/12/2008 Posted by backatchadave

I know why this restaurant is popular!!! The people at the table next to me were so drunk they could have been eating dog food. I'm not kidding. They kept ordering round after round. Drunks will scarf down anything just to keep drinking. And the waitress could not bring them drinks fast enough. Everyone was really happy. Thrilled. That has got to be it. And they will roll into here time after time... as long as the well does not run dry. Oh, the food? Who you kidding?

05/10/2008 Posted by cumberbun2you

Did not care for the food or ambiance. Do not understand all the hype. It is on the low end (very low end) of typical suburban Chinese fare. There is a bar scene but that is not why we drove 15 miles. We will not return to The China Cafe in Novi.

Cons: Did not care for the food or ambiance

05/03/2008 Posted by novivince

We have no affiliation with any other local resturant. Don't own one. Don't work in one. We work hard and don't like to be conned when we spend money eating out. From the looks of the other people who have written reviews stating they don't care for this place, the owner comments on the poor reviews.... This time tou can save your time, Pal. The food in this restaurant is indefensible. It's a total con job. Try serving good food rather than good excuses.

04/20/2008 Posted by glockautomaticpistol

Just went there tonight and I was impressed! I was skeptical due to some of the bad reviews on here but was persuaded to go check it out and was pleasantly surprised! Orange chicken was great as was the fried rice soup and the service was great. Orange chicken was 10.95 for a TON of all white meat chicken and I loved each piece so much I appeared pregnant on the way out haha. Check this place out!

04/10/2008 Posted by KatFuller

I'm looking for a Chinese restaurant where I can eat: I have an MSG allergy. Not this one! I asked for steamed tofu in Genreal Tso's sauce and steamed vegetables in rice with some kind of tasty sauce with no MSG and no oils. They say "we don't add MSG to anything" whch means, if you question them closely, that their sauce ingredients are purchased ready-made from outside and all contain MSG. I was clearly told "There is nothing you can eat here." OK... I'll go to Hong Hua on Orchard Lake Rd where they will make me food from scratch without MSG. China Cafe is closer to where I work, but if they are going to feed me out of jar... oh well...

Cons: Can't make a meal without using bottled sauces and MSG... how sad...