A restaurant known for spicy Chinese cuisine has moved from Newton Centre to a larger space in Newton Highlands, a Chowhound user notes. Sichuan Gourmet House has been open at 1203R Walnut Street since the beginning of July.
The small, original eatery opened in a strip mall at 1138 Beacon St. about two years ago. The new location, located right off Rt. 9 next door to Walnut Grille, is a much larger space, said Helen Zhao, whose parents, Benjamin and May Zhao own the place. The restaurant can seat about 100 guests, compared to the old space that was crowded with 40 or so people, she said.
"That was definitely a big problem for us in the last restaurant. People would wait for hours to eat."
There is also now a semi-private dining area that can seat about 14 guests, she added.
Sichuan Gourmet House shares parking with the adjacent vegetarian restaurant, and on busy nights, it can still be tough to find a spot, Zhao said. The restaurant is located close to the Newton Highlands MBTA station.
The new Sichuan Gourmet House offers a full bar, whereas the original location was BYOB. The menu has gotten larger, too. Corkboard specials from the original location, including pork stir fry with Chinese lettuce root; lamb meatballs in Napa cabbage and rice noodle soup; and frog in hot and spicy pot, are now permanently on the menu. The restaurant offers new seafood dishes, new dim sum-like offerings, and entrees like curry chicken now, too, Zhao said.
Sichuan Gourmet House is open daily from 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. on Sundays.
[Photo: Yelp]
