Anise

Ahhh, the epitome of Ghost Town, or Gui Cheng as they say in Chinese.

I really, really, feel bad about Anise. It has by far, one of the best interiors I've ever seen at any Chinese restaurant. A great hall of chairs, padded seats, tasteful wall decor, nice looking bar, and... No one in it. I went on a Tuesday night on an offal tasting bit, and after eating tongue, pig ear, and a few other things, I can say that the ingredients were fresh, the tastes were bold (mouth numbing), and surprisingly edible. I'm giving them an extra star if only because they're so uncompromising with their menu, something that I have to respect.

So give them a shot some time, although try not to let the emptiness get to you. Maybe on a Friday or Thursday....

And yes, the bathroom is quite sketchy when compared to the rest of the restaurant's interior... But can I really hold them down for that?

A very nice and relaxing environment. Very tasty spicy szechuan which was plated beautifully. Pork dumplings w. rice vinagar were delicious! Food was very clean and not greasy. Loved the spicy chicken with cucumbers. An very attentive cute waiter. It was a holiday and was mid afternoon and no other customers. Not sure as of why.
Poor bathroom which is in some scary basement.
Boo for charging $10 for a pot of oolong tea.

Very good food, but a bit inaccessible. Not really catering to ordinary Western palates. However, the atmosphere is wonderful, plating is excellent, and the mixed drinks are awesome. If you're not accustomed to Szechuan food, maybe take it slow--order some drinks, ask the bartender for a popular appetizer, etc. Oh, I forgot to mention: expensive.

(6/28/07: Have not been here in awhile...Perhaps it's on its last legs given these reviews. Reports on Chowhound about a decline in the food suggest that's the case. A pity.)

This is not meant to be a swinging bar but rather a really fantastic place to eat - If you want to go to a really trendy, hot spot - then go to a crowded bar - don't go to a restaurant and get pissed that it is - well - a restaurant. I have thoroughly enjoyed every meal I have had here - and also appreciate that I can get in without a fuss and can hear my friends when we dine here as a group.

I find the food absolutely wonderful - the last time I was there was in May. I also especially love their tea, which is served in a glass tea pot and opens as a flower...it is artistic as well as wonderfully yummy. I agree that the food is not typical or Americanized - but that is one of the things I liked about it...also, they have a sister restaurant in Medford, and I think this restaurant beats Medford out - which was previously a favorite.

I also like that I can park at the garage and get a validation - so, it is easy to get here and get out...

I do understand why some people would be freaked out that there are few people there...I can say from my experiences eating there that it is not in any way indicative of bad food - just perhaps bad marketing. So, I hope it picks up - because I love to eat here, and I want them to stay around for a while.

Anise is a great place to satisfy your adrenaline-rush need for spice - straightforward chili heat and the hard to find numbing pleasure of sichuan peppercorns. And it's perfect pre-movie din-din before going to the Kendall theater a few steps away.

As for the food - Vinegary scallop soup featured many of the flavors of a good hot and sour soup. Loved the salt and peppercorn crusted beef tenderloin (my mouth drools as I write this), double-cooked pork belly and both the wontons (sauce more vinegary) and other dumplings (sauce more numbing).


Despite fantastic food (on one visit, mind you), I feel this place won't make it. Kendall is a little bit of a ghost town at night. Apparently Anise has a bigger lunch crowd. But we were one of just three tables in a pretty large and well appointed space. So visit now, while you can. Hopefully these guys can stay in business long enough to build up a following.

I recently changed my rating from five to four stars, because I went back and had some different menu items that were not quite as good. I think my five-star rating might also have been a result of my server's totally hot ass. Nonetheless, my original review below is still appropriate:

My roommate and I wandered into this place when Cambridge Brewing was overflowing with people and we had a movie to catch in an hour. What an experience!

Completely refreshing menu (sorry, no Gen Tso's Chicken here), serene atmosphere, attentive staff... My roommate lived in China for several years and this was the best Chinese meal he's had in the US. I completely agree, this may be the finest Chinese I've ever sampled.

I think Allix T. was expecting something like Avalon--I can understand her disappointment. I will be returning to Anise very soon.

I took out some food from Anise today. After a long St Patty's day outing I was still feeling a little undernourished, so today I really needed some noodle soup goodness. Wisteria is a little far away for pick up and I think Mulan is closed on Mondays. So, this was my first visit to Anise even though I've wanted to go many other times. In addition to the noodle soup, I ordered the Sichuan beef dumplings in sweet hot sauce.

Yum.

For take out, it was excellent. A tupperware full of soft wheat noodles in spicy savory broth with chunks of beef (the beef wasn't great) was exactly what I needed. Next time I might ask them to leave the beef out, though. Unlike some takeout, the soup was combined with the noodles, etc. in one tupperware. After some time, it would probably sog up, but I was able to enjoy it quickly. The dumplings were superb. Simple and delicious with a hint of spice and the sauce: garlicky. I liked it.

Anyway, it hit the spot for an $8 lunch. I'd get it again. But their lunch menu appeared limited. And their dinner menu is a little expensive.

I'm babbling. It's Monday after St Patty's day. I think I'm allowed to babble.

Side note: $20 minimum for deliveries + $3 charge.

Not in Kendall Square!

OK, so I'm the new-to-Boston guy who just assumed that a place that is in Kendall Square would be near the T stop just like so many other places I frequent in Davis or Porter Square.

Not the case. Anise is at One Kendall Square which is actually a bit of a walk (and I can't exactly tell you which way) from the Kendall T.

Nevertheless we made it and were pretty happy. Considering the reviews here seem to be either STELLAR or POOR, I was pleased with everything.

The food was all tasty, not too pricey, and came out really really fast. OK, there was only one other table on a Friday night , which did bother me a bit but perhaps everyone else also got lost.

Try the Dan Dan Noodles. I was excited to see these on the menu and they were garlicky and great! Too bad they were just an appetizer portion. Yum.

Anise is a very awkward restaurant. On one side of the story, there's an amazing decoration, from the tables and chairs to the silverware and glassware and even the walls, floors and atmosphere. On the other, there's the food. That was the problem for me. Way too spicy, not savory or meaty enough and overpriced, I left disappointed but charmed by the fact that there is hope. If only they were to tweak their menu a bit and were to reduce the heat from the spices, they could be a hit! You can't replace flavor with heat.

Had lunch there recently with my partner. The prices for lunch are very reasonable and the food was ok, though mine was pretty bland and boring. I did like the brown rice, though, and my partner's dish was much more tasteful/spicy. The waiter seemed a bit absent-minded, but was nice enough. It's certainly a good option for a quick and cheap lunch.
Had lunch there again and was pretty disappointed. We explicitly asked for "very spicy" and the food was still bland. But it's nice to be able to sit outside. Still, the food is just boring.