Peking

Well, that was weird (in a good sense). Took a friend to what was expected to be a quick and acceptably middle-of-the-road Chinese dinner, and it turned out to be an entertainment extravaganza. There must be new and hip ownership there; they’re obviously going for an upscale late-night lounge sort of atmosphere, with an incredibly good d.j. and then singers (all of them way too good under normal circumstances to be performing in a Chinese restaurant on a Friday night), a waiter so perfect he belonged in a movie, and now a 2 A.M. closing time for the place. And believe me, this was always just sort of a mediocre mid-sized Cairo chain until recently.

The food is still merely so-so in my opinion (except for the spring rolls, which ought to be entered into a contest). But given the investment and vision that seems to be pouring into it, the food will probably improve.