Empress M @ Napa

After a long time in USA, we needed some comfort food that would soothe our palate, and that had to be Chinese. This was the highest rated Chinese restaurant in Napa Valley.

This was what was written on the first page of the menu, “Situated on the iconic Silverado Trail, Empress M brings to life an immersive experience of China’s regional cuisines. You’ll discover a wealth of classic dishes with innovative touches available for lunch or dinner, awakening a sense of wanderlust.”

What as interesting was that they kept their beer collection in a Chinese medical cabinet. No wonder we refer to beer as Ang Mo Cooling Tea 红毛凉茶.

The decor was inspired by the Tang dynasty, with lots of wall paper and trinkets to remind one of that period. But they were mainly modern interpretation of that dynasty.

The plating was one of the better ones in a Chinese restaurant. Then I realised that only the kitchen staff was Chinese, everyone else in the front servicing the guests were Westerners.

Shrimp Wonton & Noodle Soup 鲜虾云吞面 

Shrimp pork wonton, prawns and bok choy in a savory broth with noodles

When the wonton soup came, I was already overwhelmed by the size of the bowl as well as white bok choy in the soup.

The wontons did not have much shrimp in them, mainly pork. And the skin was more like dumpling skin. And the soup was just soy sauce water.

Chinese Broccoli With “Oyster” Sauce 蚝油芥兰 

With vegetarian “oyster” sauce

Next up, a completely vegetarian dish. The Hong Kong kailan was blanched and then served with a dipping sauce of vegetarian “oyster” sauce which was made usually from mushrooms. I never like vegetarian oyster sauce because they are just salty and do not have the umami of real oyster sauce.

Silk Road Big Plate Chicken 大盘鸡 

With bell pepper, scallion, spicy chilis, served with noodles

The Big Plate Chicken was not what I expected to be of this dish. It was simply sautéed chicken and there was not pasta on the bottom like the Xinjiang version.

Overall it was a very mediocre eat, and Americanised Chinese food. The taste was what the US folks imagined what Chinese food would taste like. Not recommended.

Empress M
221 Silverado Trail, Napa, California 94559
Tel : +1 707-927-5485

Visited Oct 2023