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Printer-Friendly ModeRestaurants share corner, quality
August 24, 2007 —
Continuing the Vanguard's feature series on local restaurants, I went to a certain corner of Bay Road that is home to two top-notch restaurants, one serving Mexican cuisine, the other Asian.
The first, Los Cuatro Amigos, is an absolute necessity to eat at for those living in Saginaw. This is truly one of the best places around for the price. For meals ranging anywhere from six to 15 dollars, it's hard to find anything better.
When I visited Los Cuatro Amigos, it was very quiet and pleasant, with a somewhat muted and calm visual theme. Service is always good here, and food arrives very fast. I ordered the Burritos Verde, a meal that may not look too appetizing to someone that hasn't tasted it yet. Two large burritos covered in white cheese and a green, chunky sauce are framed by rice and beans. The color of the sauce is at first a bit disconcerting, but after taking a bite, the taste will force a change of mind. The somewhat shredded white chicken inside is of very high quality, as is the sauce and the cheese. I've never had cheese quite like the cheese here. The consistency and taste is unique and excellent.
What I always have noticed about Los Cuatro Amigos is that I always finish my plate there. The food tastes so good that it doesn't matter how full I am, I just have to eat it. This is most definitely the sign of an excellent restaurant.
One thing that is not quite as notable about Los Cuatro Amigos is the atmosphere. The food is flawless, but it very much has the feel of a place you go to, get food quickly, eat quickly, and leave. For a fast, no nonsense meal, it's a much better option than Taco Bell.
However, when it comes to atmosphere, Forbidden City - located directly behind Los Cuatro Amigos on Bay Road - may have the market cornered among the surrounding restaurants. The visual theme and lighting here is excellent. Serving a variety of Asian foods, Forbidden City is always an enjoyable experience. I stress the word experience, because it feels like a bit more than just a place to eat.
When I ate at Forbidden City for lunch recently, I was highly impressed, perhaps actually more so than when I lunched at Panda House over the summer. There were a lot of people present, and it made me feel as though I had stumbled upon some great place all the local people go to for lunch. Despite the numerous other eaters, it didn't have a loud atmosphere like Bennigan's or Damon's.
What struck me first upon looking at the lunch menu was how cheap it was. Unbelievably, most of the meals were around $5.75. That's cheaper than ordering a similar amount of food at a fast food restaurant. Since it was so cheap, I was able to order egg drop soup as well, which came in a very large bowl for only two dollars. This wasn't just a cup; it was like a full-fledged cereal bowl filled with tasty soup.
For the entree I had the Princess Chicken, which is a spicy, non-battered chicken in brown sauce with some nuts sprinkled on top. This was a quality dish, although not the tastiest food I've had at similar establishments. Still, it's hard to top for the price. And since I was already content due to the soup and the pleasant server and atmosphere, I was more than happy with my meal.
For the sake of comparison, I think I may prefer the food at Los Cuatro Amigos, but I look forward to going back to Forbidden City just as much, because I very much enjoy being there. That is a rare quality for a restaurant.
Los Cuatro Amigos is located at 4002 Bay Road., and can be reached at (989) 799-1700. Reservations are not required.
Forbidden City is located at 4024 Bay Road, and can be reached at (989) 799-9340. Reservations are not required.