I don’t know who did it first, but slowly and surely casual dining restaurants are adopting Web 2.0 simplicity in designing a food ordering system. What is a Web 2.0 simplicity you ask? Have you been to web sites where all that you see are 3 extra large buttons say “Buy Now”, “Contact Us” and “Sign Up For Newsletter?” That simplicity is the end result of Web 2.0. Give the customer an easy, no brainer access to what he/she wants. Don’t hide your information. Casual dining restaurants are fast incorporating this simplicity into their menus. Chipotle is a good example, so is Aditi Bistro of Vienna, Café Metro in NY and now Pei Wei.

You can find Pei Wei in 5 different locations in Northern Virginia. I tried both Gainesville and Dulles 28 locations. They are both consistent. Comfortable seating area, all you can drink sodas and fortune
cookies. You order your food are given a number. Display it on your table and one of the friendly waiters will bring your order the table. Here is a review of what we have tried in both locations

SALADS
Name: Pei Wei Spicy Chicken Salad
Description: Wok seared chicken, assorted lettuce, Napa cabbage, vegetables, rice sticks, tomato and lime vinaigrette.
Verdict: Awesome. Can I have some now? The lime dressing has a perfect balance of spice and sweetness. The salad is crunchy and warm. Veggies
are balanced, not too bitter not too soggy. Perfect. You can still eat more after this salad, so order it to share.

NOODLES
All are served with Chicken, Beef, Shrimp or Vegetables and Tofu
Name: Lo Mein with Chicken
Description: Rice wine garlic sauce, scallions, onion, bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms. Carrot and egg noodle.
Verdict: The noodles are ok. Not too exciting, nothing reinvented. Good and satisfying.
Name: Japanese Teriyaki Bowl with Chicken
Description: Sweet soy glaze, onion, cabbage, carrot, spinach, scallion, toasted sesame seeds served over white or brown steamed rice.
Verdict: What a comfort food! Perfect combination of glazed sweetness, vegetables and chicken. You can have the same dish with Beef, Vegetables
and Tofu. Writing about this is making me hungry.

SIGNATURE DISHES
All are served with Chicken, Beef, Shrimp or Vegetables and Tofu
Name: Pei Wei Spicy (their version of General Chu) with Chicken
Description: Chile vinegar sauce, scallion, garlic, snap peas, carrot with chicken.
Verdict: Spicy as the name suggests, this dish is chalked full of fun ingredients and degrees of sourness. It is definitely one of our favorites.
Name: Thai Coconut Curry with Shrimp
Description: Green curry coconut sauce, ginger, Thai basil, red bell pepper, onion and long beans.
Verdict: This was our least favorite dish. We ordered it for my mother-in-law and she probably thought that was intentional. I crave Pei Wei regularly and I feel guilty for craving chain restaurant food. But who can argue with delicious food?

Virginia Gateway
http://www.peiwei.com/index.html
Lee Hwy. and Linton Hall Road Gainesville, VA
Phone 703.753.3880