Description
Stepping into the Buddha-graced entryway of Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen, it's clear that Pham has a better design sense than the space's previous occupants, most recently two sushi restaurants and an Olive Garden. The sprawling, multi-room restaurant and bar are decorated with several striking Asian murals and decorative antiques from Pham's collection, including a few 1930s-era pieces from the Nankin, Minneapolis's storied Chinese restaurant. That energy can sometimes feel a little sports bar-like if you're seated near an overhead television set, but the space is vast enough to host cozy twosomes in its lounge as well as large groups in its banquet areas. The menu at Wondrous draws on recipes from Pham's grandmother and old-school Chinese classics like the Nankin's original egg foo young. There's also an extensive sushi list, several favorites from Pham's most noteworthy restaurant, Azia, such as the walleye with jalapeños and the cranberry cream cheese wontons. Wondrous is a good spot for large groups to share Peking duck, whole fish, giant racks of ribs, and a fishbowl cocktail called the Wondrous Punch in the Face. But its best feature may be its dim sum brunch, which is all too hard to find in these parts. The shrimp shumai, fried bean curd skin, tarot buns and the chiu chow dumplings are all delicious.
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