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| - As hopelessly overpriced as the other authentic Chinese restaurants in Pittsburgh, because, I guess they figure they can be. But Sichuan Gourmet definitely hits the spot for my (constant) craving for spicy Asian goodness.
I've been here a couple times in the past year, most recently for Saturday lunch with a party of 3. This location was BUMPIN'--I was almost worried upon walking in that I hadn't made a reservation, but they were able to seat us right away in the pretty much full dining room. (Full with like, 95% Asians, I might add--always a good sign in a place like this.) Service was slow and harried throughout our meal--it would have been an issue had we been in any sort of hurry.
We ordered the CHINESE BROCCOLI QUICK-FRIED IN BLACK PEPPER, MULTI-MUSHROOM W. VEGETABLES IN FLAMING PAN, LAMB IN SPICY SAUCE SICHUAN STYLE, and a SMOKED PORK BELLY that was on special but turned out to be pretty much the standard double cooked pork in a black bean sauce.
There wasn't anything I wouldn't order again. The Chinese broccoli was crisp with a great balance of mala flavor, the mushrooms in the flaming pan were meaty and umami (though that dish turned out much smaller than expected), and the flavors for both meat dishes were oh so delectable. Everything was swimming in much more oil than I would have liked, which was the only thing that kept it from tasting completely like home. But yes, this place will do for satisfying my Sichuan itch in Pittsburgh. If it weren't for the price gouging, I'd be back much more often.
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