The Quick Review:
Tang Dynasty is the real deal. Come here for traditional chinese dishes with above average service and expect to shell out $20.00 - 25.00 on a meal (including tip).
A more Detailed Synopsis:
Tang Dynasty is now under new management. I can't really comment on how the food used to be mainly because the last time I ate here was many years ago.
With that said the food I received today was very well prepared and the presentation was spot on. It's obvious that the soup stock is made in house and not from a can. You can expect to pay somewhere in the 12-18 dollar range for entrees (mostly depending on how exotic the meat portion is). But don't worry, you'll have plenty to take home for a second meal.
Yes, you will find some "classic" American Chinese staples on the menu here. However you have to dig through 3 pages of the more traditional menu items first and search around on the back of the menu to find them.
I ordered a hot pot of braised lamb in the Sichuan style of cooking (food prepared in a hot chili sauce made of dried chiles in oil). The heat wasn't overwhelming and accented the individual flavors of the food.
A friend and I dined here on a Tuesday around 6 in the evening. The place quickly filled up but the service was still very good, the waitress made a few passes to check on our beverages, and to ask how we liked our food. And even the host came by and complemented us on our dining selections.
Things to Know:
Bring a shirt with a collar as the dress code is business casual. Silverware by request only. Chopsticks are the standard.
Don't be put off by some of the more "traditional" menu items. Tripe, Kidney, Intestine, Frog, and Eel are all available. But you can still find more familiar items like Beef, Pork, and Lamb.