Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Uncle Tai's: Boca's best for classy Asian dining

Uncle Tai’s CLOSED
5250 Town Center Circle
Boca Raton, Florida
Lunch, Monday-Saturday: 11:30-2:30 p.m.
Dinner:  Weekdays 5-10 p.m., Weekends, 5- 10:30 p.m.
Take out and delivery available
561-368-8806

By Jane Feehan

I’ve been to Uncle Tai’s in Houston (now closed) and was happy to see the same people open one in Boca Raton. It’s elegant dining, with a broad array of Hunan, Szechuan and other familiar styles of Chinese cuisine.

Operator Howard Tai (Chi Hwa), the consummate host, works hard to please patrons. He’s also good at remembering people. My sister hadn’t seen him for more than five years back in Houston when he called out her name at a Chinese New Year’s event at the Boca Town Center.

Since that fortuitous encounter, we’ve dined at Uncle Tai’s for special occasions. We usually begin our visits with a glass of wine in their cozy, wood-paneled bar. The columned dining room dominated by an expansive Chinese mural, and tables draped in white and red set the mood for what’s to follow.

The menu provides an impressive choice of typical and not-so-typical fare for a Chinese eatery. Venison and lamb join fresh fish and lobster, beef and poultry as meal possibilities.  Dishes are prepared beautifully with the spices that make Chinese cuisine one of the world’s most acclaimed. Sesame fried bananas with ice cream is my choice to top off a meal and clear the palate. Servers deliver all with the cool precision of professionals.

Uncle Tai’s draws corporate types as well as shoppers at lunch, where the patio is a popular spot. The patio is also available at dinner and just as welcoming as the indoor dining room.
Service: excellent. Reservations suggested on weekends.
  
Tags; Chinese restaurant in Boca Raton, fine dining in Boca Raton, upscale Chinese restaurant in Boca, South Florida dining, Asian dining, lunch in Boca