Szechuan Opera

I managed to get tickets to Jon Batiste (thanks Dad!!) back-to-back in Toronto and Montreal on a Tuesday and Wednesday and I planned a roadtrip from home in Central Vermont out to Niagara Falls and then Toronto, Montreal and back down to Hartland.
My plan was to leave directly from work on the Monday at like 3pm and drive to Niagara Falls.
I figured that was about as far as I could make it that first night.
In hindsight I think I probably could have made it to Toronto that night.
But I guess, better safe than sorry.
I was making such good time across the NYS Thruway that I decided to find a spot opened late to get something to eat (I had snacked my way across New York…). Rochester was the only place with anything open late and really wasn’t a detour of any consequence.
I had no idea there was LEGIT Szechuan food in Rochester?? I mean, I guess, how would I know? It’s been a few decades since I lived in Upstate NY. Szechuan Opera was open until 10pm and I pulled in shortly after 9.
The menu is huge.
Excellent variety of all sorts of things, including Dim Sum.
My problem was I didn’t have a plan.
I hate not having a plan when I’m going to a restaurant.
I’m THAT person! I read menus and choose items ahead of time.
Which probably seems ridiculous.
I own a restaurant and I have a somewhat absurdly large menu at my own place.
Yet I am one of those people that just does not like to go into a new spot “cold.” I always feel like I maximize my dining experience if I review the menu before. My other “issue” is that I don’t really ever want to try one thing.
I want to try as many things as possible and that does require a plan of attack! Service was really good and everyone was very friendly.
Although they don’t allow anyone to sit/eat at the bar? So I had to sit a table by myself.
I am just not a fan of that.
But, last minute dining choices late at night… Got my water, got tea, got truly horrible sake.
HAHAHAHA That was my fault.
They’ve just got one terrible sake they serve hot (NEVER drink hot sake my friends). It was a little tricky to find menu items that did not have beef, pork or poultry (which I don’t eat).
I decided to focus on appetizers and Dim Sum so I could try a few, different things.
Because I just couldn’t convince myself to commit to one or even two items! LOL FYI: All portions at Szechuan Opera are huge.
Regardless of whether they’re called “appetizers” or something else.
I wound up with a ridiculous amount of food! What I Ordered: Chengdu Style Mung Bean Noodle: Look, when the waiter tells you it’s spicy and you’re in a Szechuan restaurant.
Believe them.
Delicious, but your taste buds might need some time to recover… Wood Ear Mushroom with Garlic: OMG!!! First these Mushrooms were the biggest I’d ever seen.
I could eat this dish all day.
It was so insanely delicious.
Wow. Crispy Cucumber with Garlic: gorgeous, beautiful fresh, delicious. Crispy Shrimp with Tofu Roll Dim Sum: I think this might be the best fried food item I’ve ever eaten.
Hot and crispy right from the oil.
Paper thin tofu wrapper.
Everything about this was perfection. Pan Fried Chives and Shrimp Dumpling: Also wonderful and delicious. Black Truffle and Mixed Mushroom Dumpling: Skip these.
Meh.
Not so tasty and I didn’t love the wet, gummy consistency. IMO I ate an impressive amount of what I ordered.
Because some of these were just so good I didn’t want to stop.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Don’t get the sake.

If you come here, prepare to be adventurous and delighted by the bold flavors that you can discover.
I will say almost everything I tried was interesting and had a unique spice that quickly brightened my day after work.
If you don't feel like being adventurous, stick to the Chinese menu.
However if you are up for an adventure make sure you try a little bit of everything.
We had such a good meal and fun here.
I can't wait to try the next thing in the menu that I never have heard of or thought of ordering before. The place is clean.
The food is quick and service was top notch.
I will say one of my favorite Asian cuisine in Rochester.
From the soup dumplings to the dry fried spicy shrimp, our meal was anything but ordinary.

We stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant and it was clean and neat.
The service was prompt and courteous.
Our meal was freshly prepared and delicious.
I had toasted rice tea for the first time, but it won't be the last. I was visiting from out of town and will tell my local friends to visit for a very nice meal!.