No. 1 Rochester Chinese Restaurant - Egg Roll, Egg Drop Soup, & Schezuan Wontons

Chinese restaurants are a dime-a-dozen in the Greater Rochester area. Chances are, no matter where you live, you're within at least delivery distance of steaming, hot sesame chicken and greased-up fried rice. While this is incredibly convenient to many Rochester area residents, this also does not ensure that every place around these parts is going to serve quality, delicious, or at times, even edible fare. So many Chinese restaurants seem to get by simply by taking advantage of the fact that we Americans are fat and love anything swimming in exotic sauces (trust me, you can't deny this). Normally, these places slapping the phrase “Best Rochester Take-Out Food of Chinese” or “Number 1 Super the Best Chinese” is enough for us – we completely ignore the glaringly, grammatically-incorrect Engrish and dive headfirst into a platter of beef lo mein. While I'm sure I'm just as guilty of this folly as many of you, I can confidently say that No. 1 Rochester Chinese Restaurant is quite deserving of the abbreviated “number 1” rank they have added to their title.

Despite operating almost directly across the street from Wokery (also quite good – review coming soon?), No. 1 has managed to maintain a solid foothold in the Tops plaza in Gates, dishing out gargantuan portions for affordable prices, and doing so within only 15 minutes of ordering, no matter how outrageously big the order. Needless to say, Morgan and I have made this our No. 1 (see what I did there?) pick when we're too lazy to cook and want to overload on Chinese take-out. Each time, the food has managed to remain consistent in quality, and service has been quick and efficient. The unbelievably low bill is always a nice touch too. College kids in the area on a budget, tip of the century: order from here.

On this particular occasion, I decided to order a few of my favorites, which included an egg roll, a quart of egg drop soup, and some Schezuan wontons. All this only came to a little over $7. Talk about stretching your buck.

It took only 15 minutes from ordering for our food to be ready, and we eagerly rushed out to pick it up. On the way back home, I don't think my mouth stopped watering for a second.



Onto the food: Morgan and I consider No. 1's egg rolls to be some of the best in Rochester. Crispy outside, perfect, steamy inside, and not too greasy, these things are gone in a matter of seconds, despite being rather huge. The inside is a delicious blend of delicate pork and shredded cabbage. The combination is savory and hearty, and the crunch from the cabbage adds incredible texture to this Chinese meal-starter.



My quart of egg drop soup could not have been better – delicious, light strands of egg white swam in a slightly salty, appropriately thick container of broth. The portion may have been a bit unnecessary – I basically was given a bathtub of egg broth for only $2.50. I probably could have saved the container to use as a dog house or maybe even a swimming pool in the summer. Ridiculous.



My main course actually came from the “Appetizers” portion of the menu, but unless I had decided to share this with my entire extended family (including deceased relatives), this was far too much food for a single person. Twelve wontons, stuffed into a round, metal container didn't look like a lot at first, but once I ate one of these delicious bundles of amazing, I instantly compared them in weight and size to a pool ball. If you can eat an entire rack of pool balls, then this may seem like just an appetizer to you, but to the average non-freakish human, this is a daunting (yet completely delicious) task. The brown Schezuan sauce these are prepared in is salty-sweet, with a hint of spicy kick. The flavor is robust and full, and is complemented perfectly by the soft noodle outside, and the tender beef inside of the wonton. While this is undoubtedly my favorite item from No. 1, it does tend to get a little one-note in flavor after tossing down a few wontons, due to the simplicity of the dish (which is probably why it's considered an appetizer to begin with).

All in all, Morgan and I enjoyed yet another great meal from No. 1, and could not be happier to live so close to such a great establishment. Somehow, Chinese restaurants have become almost as commonplace in America as burger joints, and unfortunately this over-saturation of the market – much like burger joints – has brought in its' wake the acceptance of low-quality food in line with our low expectations. Fortunately, standing out in this sea of muck are a number of businesses that have not allowed themselves to fall or fail, and it is within these businesses that I am glad to take shelter. No. 1 Rochester Chinese Restaurant has stood strongly by its' belief in quality service, and has yet to disappoint me. I highly suggest the next time you're in the neighborhood to try it out.

Score (out of 10): 8

Location: 2317 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY 14624
Phone Number: (585) 247-9220
Website: N/A

Agatina's - Rigatoni with Fra Diavolo (Red) & Chicken Pastina Soup

Italian food is pretty easy to find throughout the Greater Rochester Area. However, good Italian food is somewhat harder to stumble across. Fortunately for Morgan and I, an Italian restaurant called Agatina's is located incredibly close by, and they have managed to provide quality food in huge portions time and time again. Agatina's looks small and quaint at first glance, and if you're cruising down Buffalo Road, it might be easy to miss...if it wasn't for the substantial number of people packing their parking lot to the brim regularly. After meeting the friendly wait staff, taking in the casual yet refined dining atmosphere, and (most importantly) sampling homemade Italian specialties from their rather extensive menu, it wasn't difficult to see why it's been an area favorite for over 26 years. Great for a fun dinner on date night, a family-friendly outing, or just a heaping plate of hot, Italian comfort food, Agatina's appeals to any occasion; it even boasts a fully-stocked bar, if you doubt the inevitable food coma is not going to be enough to make you a bit groggy.

I was in the mood for something with a little spice and zing, so I chose a dish I had tried before - Rigatoni with a red Fra Diavolo sauce. Now, for those of you unfamiliar with this particular dish (I was too, until about a year ago), Fra Diavolo is a sauce that can be prepared any number of ways - the two basic preparations are "white" (oil-based, with minced garlic and pepper)and "red" (tomato-based, with minced garlic and pepper). Agatina's prepares this sauce by request, as either mild, medium, or hot. Being a chilehead of sorts, I always order the "hot" variety, and this night was no exception. I had previously ordered the "white" variety of sauce, and found, while delicious, that it lacked the heat I so craved. As such, I ordered the "red" style sauce on this occasion, hoping to find a difference between the two preparations.

Despite ordering what I knew to be a kiddie pool filled with pasta as an appetizer, a soup and salad were included with my meal. I ordered ranch dressing with my salad, and chose a cup of Chicken Pastina Soup to start off with.



Chicken Pastina is one of my favorite soups from Italian cuisine - the finely chopped pieces of carrot, celery, spinach, and onion soak up all that great, salty chicken broth flavor, as does the pastina pasta, while the chunks of shredded chicken add some great texture and (obvious) chicken flavor. Morgan (who got New England Clam Chowder) and I hardly had to wait to have our soup served to us, and it came out of the kitchen fresh, hot, and went down incredibly easy (I very well may have drank mine).

The salad was typical and unsurprising (not that this was a terrible thing), consisting of fresh onions, chickpeas, tomato, lettuce, and black olives. Great nibble-worthy, rabbit food to tide us over while we waited for our main dishes (although I am quite a sucker for chickpeas - they're just plain awesome). The only thing noteworthy about this salad was that there were no croutons, which was forgivable, as Agatina's provides fresh loaves of bread as an additional starchy side.

Next came our main courses - my Rigatoni with Fra Diavolo basically was a huge, red swamp, with helpless pieces of pasta drowning in it. Fortunately, my fork was there to help fish them out.


Sorry about the awful pictures. The lighting in Agatina's is not conducive to the cellphone camera-wielding blogger.

Let me start out by saying that if you enjoy spicy food, and also enjoy Italian food, you must try this dish. The Rigatoni were cooked to perfection, while the Fra Diavolo was a perfect blend of sweet tomato, bold herbs and garlic, and peppery heat. Chunks of stewed tomatoes made their way into this sauce, adding a real heartiness to this dish that I did not expect, although enjoyed quite a bit. As far as the spiciness of the peppers (the waitress told me they were cayenne), I found the dish to put some surprising fire on my tongue, and a slight dew of sweat on my brow. It was the kind of warmth that spreads throughout the inside of your mouth, and for a heat fan like myself, it was really quite enjoyable.

***DISCLAIMER*** Now, Morgan thinks my tongue is broken, and anytime I tell her something isn't all that spicy, she insists that I simply am more desensitized to the "hot" taste sensation many other people are more sensitive to. This very well may be true, and in the interest of keeping wimpy weenies who can't handle heat from being misled and consequently having a horrible meal, I do stress that you ask for a sample of the sauce before diving headfirst into a plate of the "hot" variety. Now, back to your regularly-scheduled blog post.

Overall, a great, hearty, and much more than filling meal, Agatina's also provides a great environment in which to enjoy your Italian banquet. The price of some of the dishes might seem a little steep at first glance, but keep in mind that bread, soup, salad, and a gigantic plate of food are all provided, with the friendly and accommodating service I've gladly become accustomed to seeing at most of my favorite local eateries. If you can't decide between the 5034958 Italian food joints in the area, swing by Agatina's and grab a bite of very real and very good homemade Italian cuisine - just be sure to bring your appetite.

Score (out of 10): 9

Location: 2967 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY 14624
Phone Number: (585) 426-0510
Website: http://www.agatinas.com/

Wimpy's Burger Basket - #13 Chicken Combo From Hell

Wimpy's Burger Basket is a great little burger joint in Gates, NY in Gates Center, right by Tinseltown, and seems to be a local favorite. Not only is Wimpy's an excellent choice for greasy and delicious food, but it's open until 2AM from Sunday through Thursday, and until 4AM on Fridays and Saturdays, making it an ideal hotspot for a late-night snack.

Morgan and I have eaten at Wimpy's a few times before, and decided to check it out again for some of the unique items they offer on their menu. On this visit, I decided to give the "Chicken From Hell" combo meal a try, named so for its fiery mix of jalapeno, habanero, and Wimpy's own "Evil Sauce."

Before I go on, I need to give a brief description of my tastes in the realm of spicy food: the spicier, the better. At home, I gratuitously lather my food with sriracha hot sauce (made from sun-ripened chili peppers), and when out dining I normally choose the spiciest food I can find on the menu. Normally, I'm disappointed by how mild it is.

The crowning jewel of the Combo From Hell is a grilled chicken sandwich (which can be substituted with a burger or hot dog "from hell") with jalapeno and habanero peppers, mozzarella and cheddar cheese, small strips of bacon, crispy fried onions, and Wimpy's Evil Sauce. Sides include Wimpy's homemade macaroni salad, and home fries.



Let me start off by saying that this sandwich is HOT. When I say "HOT," I mean if you find sesame chicken too spicy, this will most likely send you into shock or maybe a seizure; this sandwich is like biting into the sun (or, to humor Wimpy's naming abilities, hell). This isn't the overpowering type of spice that obliterates the excellent concoction of ingredients on this sandwich though, but rather a sneaky ninja heat that creeps up on you and uppercuts your tongue, just as you're about to utter the phrase "This really isn't that hot." The beauty of this meal is that it allows you to taste and enjoy the mix of flavors before punching you soundly in the mouth and gut.

The biggest downside to this intensely spicy treat is in the after-effects of eating anything this hot: heartburn, indigestion, etc. I don't have a weak stomach, but it felt like a depth charge had just gone off inside of me, right around the time I took my final bite.

As far as the sides go, the home fries were delicious, crisp, and fresh. The macaroni salad had small bits of carrot and celery in it, but was a bit bland. I also would've liked more celery in the mix, if only to add more texture, since it sort of felt like I was eating soggy, cold noodles. Don't get me wrong; the macaroni salad wasn't terrible, but it wasn't my favorite either.

Overall, Wimpy's once again proved to be a great choice for something different, although it does tend to run a little pricier than similar local burger joints ($7.99 for my combo, so be prepared to shell out some significant green if you're bringing out the whole family). Still, if you're in the area and up for a spicy challenge, Wimpy's Chicken Combo From Hell might be worth a stop.

Score (out of 10): 8

Location: 2160 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY 14624
Phone Number: (585) 247-3160
Website: http://www.wimpysbb.com/