Driving back from a trip to Kelowna and Summerland we decided to stop in Merritt for a pitstop, as it had been two hours of continuous driving on me. We stopped in the heart of downtown Merritt and because I was craving Chinese food decided to make Bamboo Panda Chinese Restaurant our lunch destination.
Whenever I travel out of city, no matter how far I always crave Chinese food coming back, so this decision aligned with my tradition. Either way I knew it would be an interesting meal because I was with “Picky Diner” (the self proclaimed moniker of my guest, who specializes in Chinese cuisine. He is well educated and experienced cooking himself, so I knew he would have an interesting comment or two. He also runs Chinese food tours in Richmond, so the bar was quite high.
The setting looked authentic with all the traditional Chinese restaurant hallmarks. A live fish tank, waving cat statues, calligraphy art on the wall, and even an historic gate way with miniature stone lions at the entry way. They had banquet style seating with lazy Susans and tables wrapped in disposable plastic. We took a four top minute window.
We looked through their newer laminated menus and we were able to find two dishes that we agreed.
We thought the classic sweet and sour pork, would be a good telling of the quality of Chinese food, as well as chicken chow mein, which was more the Anglo-version of Chinese style noodles.
I should have known something was up when the staff didn’t speak Chinese and said her favourite noodle dish on the menu was the udon.
Plus the dish ware was plastic, not porcelain the teapot was glass and very Westernize, the cups were also way too large to keep your tea warm. The salt and pepper shakers also felt out of place. They were the kind that you would find out a 40’s diner, but matched with the glass soy sauce dispenser on the table.
As for the food itself, the noodles were a simple soy sauce with hardly any chicken or vegetables, to add to the mound of chewy noodles. They didn’t feel like a standalone, but a side to have with our chosen main.
The sweet and sour pork were thickly breaded for a crispy bite. They held their texture despite all the sweet, syrupy sauce that drowned the plate. I originally thought I was happy to see no large chunks of onion or coloured pepper, and just a generous amount of canned pineapple chunks. However without them the serving was one toned and flat. Too sugary from the fruit with no depth. My guest said he made out the flavour of pickled ginger, and I agreed it smelled like it.
At least together with the noodle they did what they had you to satisfy my Chinese food craving.
Bamboo Panda Chinese Restaurant, Merrit
1953 Nicola Ave, Merritt, BC V1K 1B8
(250) 378-8283
bamboopandachinese.com
