By Susan Baldani

Szechuan Delight, located in New Providence, has been in business for 28 years. It’s known for authentic Chinese food, specializing in Cantonese and Shanghainese food.

According to the owner, it is the only Chinese restaurant in the area that serves purely Chinese food; there are no other Asian dishes, such as Thai or Japanese, on the menu.

Much of the staff, including the main chefs, have been with Szechuan Delight from the very beginning, and have been using the same authentic recipes for all those years. A few of the most popular items are the steamed whole fish and soft shell crabs, and of course, traditional favorites like pork fried rice, lo mein, chow mein and chow fun can also be found.

Their specialties include many well-known dishes such as General Tso’s Chicken, Hunan Triple Crown and Mongolian Beef. There are also plenty of seafood dishes such as Shrimp with Lobster Sauce, Scallops with Mixed Vegetables, and Fillet of Sole with Ginger and Scallions. For those looking for vegetable-based choices, there are Moo Shu Vegetables with Pancakes, Hot Spiced Bean Curd, and Shanghai Bok Choy with Black Mushrooms.

The most unique offerings of Szechuan Delight are the casserole dishes, like Seafood and Tofu, Braised Lamb with Bean Curd Skin and Roast Pork, Chicken, and Shrimp with Tofu. Besides being an authentic Chinese restaurant, offering these dishes is something the owner believes makes them stand out from other similar dining establishments in the area.

The restaurant itself is casual, with a roomy and open dining room with seating for 70 customers. Diners are free to bring their own wine and other alcoholic beverages to accompany their meals. There is also a private party room available, or they can put together party platters to be enjoyed elsewhere.

In addition to dine-in, Szechuan Delight does a brisk take-out business and offers free delivery within a five mile radius for any order over $15.00. Easy and convenient online ordering is also available. Besides dinner, they offer a full range of luncheon specials such as Kung Po Shrimp and Chicken, Singapore Mei Fun, Barbecue Spare Ribs and Salt and Pepper Pork Chops.

The restaurant is conveniently located right next to the New Providence Post Office on the main thoroughfare of Central Avenue. It’s also close to many businesses and the Murray Hill train station.

Szechuan Delight is open seven days a week; from Mondays through Thursdays from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm, on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 to 10:30 and on Sundays from 12:30 pm to 9:30 pm. For more information, please call 908-464-0100, go to www. Szechuan DelightNJ.com, or stop in at 598 Central Avenue in New Providence, NJ 07940.

Written for The Showcase Magazine, in Warren, NJ.