Another great not-so-hidden gem of Sichuan cuisine. Cafe China is located in midtown on 37th between Madison and 5th.

Ambiance
It has that 1920s/1930s Shanghai feel. I guess it would be the equivalent to that 20s in Paris feel, but in Shanghai? Very chic and classy. The tableware and utensils were really cute and charming—really added to the overall oriental vibe. They have a full bar that serves cocktails. I personally would not recommend any cocktails, as they suck and taste terrible. I would stick to wine and beer—a much better complement to all the oil and spices anyway.

Food
I've lost count of the times I've eaten here. Mostly through Seamless at work. If I were to guess I'd say at over 20-30 times. The food overall is authentic. I used to be a huge fan of Szechuan Gourmet, but my opinion has evolved over time and I'd say Cafe China is now my go to spot. It is a bit pricey relative to its peers but the variety and consistency makes it one of the best in its category. I've never gotten sick unlike a lot of other Chinese restaurants in the city.

A few of my favorite dishes:

1) Pork dumpling in chili oil—it's slightly different from the one at Szechuan gourmet but also very good

2) Mung bean jelly—Szechaun gourmet still makes the best one, but this is not bad either

3) Mouth Watering Chicken—the seasoning could have been better. It tasted slightly watery but definitely not bad and enjoyable

4) Husband & Wife Special—it's pretty authentic in my opinion. The flavors are really nice. If you can eat tripe then I definitely recommend!

5) Cold Noodles Szechuan Style—the flavors and seasoning are almost the same as the pork chili dumplings. It's not too spicy but just enough with a hint of sweetness.

6) Steamed Soup Buns—surprisingly pretty solid. The flour was sturdy and thick enough to support the soup inside. It's very fresh and pretty delicious

7) Shredded Beef with Green Chili

8) Steamed Eggplant Szechuan Style—one of my favorite dishes. The flavors were amazing and has that spiciness with a slight hint of sour. Very well made

9) Snow Pea Shoots—a great complement to the entire meal

10) Pumpkin doughnuts—the insides were filled with red bean. It's not too sweet and the small portions are a perfect way to end the meal

Quality
What makes Sichuan cuisine good, isn't the the quality of food, but the spicing, obviously quality contributes to food in general but I don't think anyone will be serving farm to table organic Sichuan food anytime soon. The precision on the balance of spicing is key. I would say the quality food is a few notches higher than Szechuan Gourmet.

Price
You are definitely paying a premium for the ambiance. This place is great for a casual date night where you can slightly dress up. For two people along with cocktails, expect to pay about $40-60 per person including tax and tip. If you are looking for great taste and value, I'd recommend Szchezuan Gourmet, but Cafe China is really lovely for the ambiance and mood setting.

Wait
I went during the week around dinner time and the wait was about 20-25 min. You can no longer make reservations for parties under 6. However, walk-ins are fine and the wait is manageable.