| Author |
Message |
    
growler
Citizen
Username: Growler
Post Number: 394
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 10:16 am: |     |
Last night the family decided to deviate from the Sampan and Hunan Wok craze that we have been on and try Ling Lings again. It's been a while since we've had delivery from them. Now I remember why we stopped. Here's the recap on what we ordered:
1. Scallion Pancakes. They were ok. The dipping sauce was Soy Sauce with sugar. Yuck.
2. Vegatable Spring Rolls. There was more oil on these then when the Valdez crashed. And there was NO taste to them. The insides all soggy.
3. Vege Wonton Soup. Nothing to write home about.
4. Shrimp Toast. Where the heck was the Shrimp? There was NO shrimp flavor in these at all. And no shrimp bits.
5. Shrimp Ho Fun. The noodles were bland (would have been good if I had an ulser), there was no flavor so to speak and the shrimp was so-so.
6. Teryaki combo. This was the only dish that was palatable. The skewers were good and the vegies were steamed to perfectioin.
7. Kids Lo Mein. Ketchup helps everything. Right?
8. Chicken Fried Rice. What the heck was this? The rice seemed to have only been boiled, twice, and if that was chicken then I'm going vegetarian again. This was by far the grossest dish I have ever tasted in my life.
Here's the clincher: $62 with tip. What the F?!?!
This was by far the WORST meal I have ever eaten in my entire life including the time I tried Sea Urchin at a sushi bar. At least the Urchin had flavor! We threw all of it in the trash which I hate doing but there was no way on God's green earth that we were saving this. If Sampan "Ginger Taste" could move into Ling Lings location then they would be a bigger hit. And Ling Lings should move to where Ginger Taste is b/c their food belongs in an old IHOP. |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5115
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 10:20 am: | |
One meal is all it takes at Ling Ling's to never go back again. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 2919
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 10:30 am: | |
I must be demented ... reading Growler's post left me craving chinese food! |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1667
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 10:57 am: | |
algebra2: you would only be demented if you ordered from Ling Lings after reading his post.
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shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2119
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 10:58 am: | |
Last night I ordered from Hunan Taste on SA.
For the girls: egg drop soup, shrimp toast and white rice, for us: singapore mei fun (shrimp & veggies only, no meat) and curry shrimp. With $4 tip for delivery, it was $25 and came in less time than expected.
It hit the spot, was tasty and cheap, and I have leftovers for lunch! |
n/a
Citizen
Username: Judieh
Post Number: 111
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 11:53 am: | |
2 people gave Ling Lings a good review on my "Resturants the deliver?" thread. We were thinking of trying this place since they deliver but maybe not! |
growler
Citizen
Username: Growler
Post Number: 396
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 12:33 pm: | |
Save your taste buds and money. Ginger Taste or Hunan Wok. Hands down. |
Copperfield
Citizen
Username: Copperfield
Post Number: 111
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 12:40 pm: | |
Your mistake, Growler, was ordering what you did.
Ling Ling does a respectable job with basic Cantonese dishes like chicken & broccoli or old standbys like Mu Shu.
I mean there's got to be a reason they've been in business so long are are always fairly crowded. |
joecool
Citizen
Username: Joecool
Post Number: 139
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 12:48 pm: | |
Doesn't seem like Growler ordered anything that unusual. Lots of restuarants stay in business with only so-so food. Could be that they have a great location, could be that folks that like Ling Ling's - like food with no flavor! Geesh look at Neelam's in South Orange, it's been around a long time and their food is terrible.
Carribbean Cuisine is really great and they struggle because of a poor location. |
growler
Citizen
Username: Growler
Post Number: 398
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 12:48 pm: | |
True enough. Maybe we ordered the wrong things however if they offer it on the menu, it should at least be palatable.
I think that Ling Lings is so busy b/c people do not want to try someplace new. To afraid. If they did then maybe Ling Ling's would not be as busy. I find other Chinese places have extremely better quality and taste. I have yet to get a dish from Sampan/Ginger Taste that was horrible tasting. And the price is better.
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Melonious
Citizen
Username: Melonious
Post Number: 36
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 2:39 pm: | |
SAMPAN SAMPAN SAMPAN!!!! |
Copperfield
Citizen
Username: Copperfield
Post Number: 112
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, January 30, 2005 - 1:17 pm: | |
Out of business! Out of business! Out of business!
Sampan had great food when they first opened, but went through a phase where it was really, really greasy. They lost of lot of local business at that time because it really was awful. In the last few months they seemed to get back on track with the food, but it was too late. They were also terrible about marketing- no ads, no menu drops here in Millburn.
Ling Ling does well- not because of location- it's off the beaten path a bit, the parking is horrible, and there's nothing resembing a view- but because they advertise heavily and becuase they tout their "healthy" menu- low fat oils, no MSG and lots of options for steamed dinners- something that appears to go over locally here. |
Taurus5208
Citizen
Username: Taurus5208
Post Number: 25
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 31, 2005 - 9:46 am: | |
I haven't eaten at Ling Ling's in a long time, but I always remember it being really good. I thought their Sesame Chicken and General Tso's Shrimp were the best I've ever had. Things must have changed for the worst. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5309
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 31, 2005 - 6:56 pm: | |
Ate at Ling Ling around the time we moved to Maplewood, June 2003. It was super bland. Haven't been back.
Is Sampan really closed? Too bad! But not surprising, as they didn't have enough customers.
Now that Waterlilies is closing or closed, who is good for Chinese delivery? |
suzanneng
Citizen
Username: Suzanneng
Post Number: 244
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 31, 2005 - 7:43 pm: | |
We use East Garden in West Orange. They deliver to South Mtn School (at lunch time -- we order from them 1-2x a week)... not sure if they would deliver to Maplewood. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 45
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 11:28 pm: | |
Sampan just changed names to Ginger Taste. Same place, same food as far as I know.
I'm vegetarian, so I was excited and desperate (cause Chinese food in Jersey is unbelievably bad compared to NYC) to try out Ling Ling. My wife and I were unbelievably disappointed with the rave reviews that MOLers gave it -- I almost gave up trusting anyone's food advice on the board due to that horrendous meal. Ling Lings just tastes bad and I won't be back. |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5155
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 11:32 pm: | |
You apparently missed my review.  |
cookiecutter
Citizen
Username: Cookiecutter
Post Number: 10
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 3, 2005 - 9:31 am: | |
Waterlillies in Summit is excellent. Nothing like the now closed Maplewood "Waterlilies Too".
Beautiful dining room, attentive staff, great prices and of course excellent food.
It's below street level near the train station.
They deliver to Maplewood. |
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