Golden City, A Point Place treasure, in operation since 1965, has been owned by four generations of the Wong family. Jimmy Wong took over operations four years ago after his aunt’s retirement, and he has 30 years of memories from working in the restaurant.
Wong proudly showed us the original menu — early patrons might remember that the establishment was called The Lighthouse Inn before storm winds demolished the iconic lighthouse mounted on the roof in the 80s. Looking at the prices, then realizing that the decor for the restaurant and bar is still very mid century, made us feel like we had stepped back in time. In addition to the decor and archived restaurant memorabilia, Golden City honors their roots in other ways
Tso much chicken
“A lot of customers like the old style of almond boneless chicken we prepare,” says Wong. “Not many restaurants do the traditional gravy and chop suey we serve.” He says the chicken has a batter that is different than most, with a gravy that is darker and thicker than that prepared at other Chinese restaurants.
The gravy for the almond boneless chicken is very thick and rich— quite a bit different than this classic dish tried in other establishments. The chicken is battered with a crunchiness, then smothered in brown gravy and served on a bed of shredded lettuce and white rice with an eggroll on the side. It’s easy to see why this is one of their most popular dishes.
Another favorite dish, General Tso’s chicken, is fried and coated in a sweet sauce that fans of honey chicken will appreciate. It also had a spiciness to it that both delighted and surprised us.
Sides and sauces
Our dinner came with tea to sip during the short wait for our food, and we opted for fried wontons as well. The sauce at the table was ideal for dipping egg rolls and wontons — a sweet, mildly fruity mixture that balanced the savory appetizers.
The dinners included soup, and we chose a hearty wonton soup and a chicken and rice soup, both of which were quite tasty. New items diners can look forward to for summer include a vegetable spring roll and a mango roll for dessert.
Pleased with the food, I will certainly come back to have a drink or two at their bar, a throwback to the slightly kitschy 60s motif that I’ve always been partial to. Golden City already has a loyal following from Point Place residents and neighboring Michiganders; with decades of stellar service and traditional Chinese cuisine, the restaurant has withstood the test of time.
Open 11:30am-9:30pm, Monday through Thursday
11:30am-10:30pm, Friday and Saturday | 4-9pm on Sunday
Golden City | 5051 N. Summit St.
419-726-8221 | goldencitychinese.weebly.com
