Hamptons hotspot Red Stixs opened last night in the old Chin Chin space, bringing Chinese food back to East 49th Street after a two month absence. Owners Michael Reda and David Lee are determined to keep the celebrity clientele they drew out on the Island and that Chin Chin was known for. There's a VIP dining room for guests who want a separate, undetectable entrance, and another private dining room, which is entered by walking down a "runway" (ahem, open space) through the middle of the main dining room. The space is largely the same, but did get a refresh. Now the outer walls are lined with tan leather banquettes instead of the wooden booths, and the art on the walls was swapped out.
The lengthy menu of Beijing-inspired fare from Chef James "Skinny" Mei is broken into categories like a Chinatown menu — poultry, seafood, noodles and dumplings, and a whole section of lettuce wraps. There's also a chef's tasting option, but that requires a six person minimum.
Meanwhile, Chin Chin owner Jimmy Chin is looking for a new home for his restaurant, somewhere downtown.
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