SCP's Crustacean Will Now Be Called AnQi & Slated to Open Winter 2009

• I was there last week and it was so underwhelming it inspired me to write this piece: http://www.aldenteblog.com/2010/01/shopping-mall-cuisine.html And, Edwin, you are right on. With Little Saigon so close by, cheaper and better, I don't see the <em>raison d'etre</em> for AnQi. The runway, I guess.

• Went saturday nite...Party of six, All adults over 35yrs.old. Waited with seats at bar, service extremely slow..Ordered 4 appts. & 2 rounds of cocktails.. Bill $180+ (shock) No personality or SCP Vipe or Sexy feel.. Very cold and pretentcious. All of us had been to LA & Las Vegas locations so we were quite put off by attitude from bartenders & Hostess' Employee's attitude "Big Favor" by letting us in...PAID BILL.. Went to Charlie'P Re-Ordered Appts.& Drinks and stayed 3 hours. WE all commented on service and friendly vibe Decided to go back to ANQI when they go out of business.. Overpriced. Shortpour. Attitude

• Went saturday nite...Party of six, All adults over 35yrs.old. Waited with seats at bar, service extremely slow..Ordered 4 appts. & 2 rounds of cocktails.. Bill $180+ (shock) No personality or SCP Vipe or Sexy feel.. Very cold and pretentcious. All of us had been to LA & Las Vegas locations so we were quite put off by attitude from bartenders & Hostess' Employee's attitude "Big Favor" by letting us in...PAID BILL.. Went to Charlie'P Re-Ordered Appts.& Drinks and stayed 3 hours. WE all commented on service and friendly vibe Decided to go back to ANQI when they go out of business.. Overpriced. Shortpour. Attitude

• Okay - let me start by saying there was no one more excited than I for the "Crustacean Orange County" opening. I am a big fan - so the thought of not having to drive to Los Angeles to enjoy some of my favorite treats was particularly exciting. Unfortunately, AnQi disappointed - however, it was difficult for me to put my finger on why. And then I realized, AnQi is a restaurant without a clear sense of itself and without a true and meaningful vision. All of the advertising is that this restaurant is "Crustacean" coming to Orange County. And yet - it clearly is attempting to differentiate itself from Crustacean. Consider that it does not even serve Crustacean's signature dish - the unbelievably great roasted crab with garlic noodles. In speaking with the waitress and the general manager, they conceeded that almost everyone asks for this dish - and yet it is not on the menu. As an explanation, they offer that AnQi is "not Crustacean" and is striving to be different. And yet - everyone involved and all the advertising is quick to establish the link with Crustacean. One is left to wonder why they are so intent on differentiating themselves from a restaurant that they seem so keen on linking themselves to? Adding to this confusion is the fact that AnQi does serve the famous garlic noodles and a roasted lobster dish which is supposed to envoke memories of the crab (it is good but does not even come close to the crab). But if AnQi is truely trying to be different - then why remind the Crustacean fans of what they are missing? Frankly, AnQi seems stuck in the middle of trying to be different and trying to cling to the Crustacean reputation and menu. At some point a decision is going to have to be made to move one direction or the other. AnQi either needs to differentiate itself as a completely different restaurant from Crustacean with its own point of view and own menu; or it needs to decide that being Crustacean Orange County is not such a bad thing and bring us the dishes we all crave and love. One or the other - not the middle. Finally, I for one did not love the "vibe" of the restaurant. This was not fine dining. It was somewhere in between a Pho noodle shop and a very nice restaurant. Again, it seems stuck in the middle searching for an identity. All the beautiful wood paneling is on the wall and the existence of a "secret kitchen" (another link to Crustacean) cannot change the fact that for fine dining the restaurant right across the walkway (Charlie Palmers) is a much more elegant and meaningful dining experience. AnQi is a really nice place - but it is not Crustacean to any meaningful extent. If it wants to be Crustacean - then be Crustacean. If it wants to be something different - then it needs to develop its own vision and personality. I would give the restaurant a 7 out of 10 at this point. It has potential but someone with a clear vision needs to take charge.

• Just hope this new restaurant is not as bad as the others. The An Foods are based on frozen and processed products. Be careful with the Seafood...Did you ever see a live crab in any of their restaurant? As for the noodles, you can get them anywhere in chinatown or an asian market. Their garlic noodle is not fresh...it is a product made from a chinese company..Try New Hong Kong Noodle and it is exactly the same. Also, they use a lot of microwaves for their cooking...This is one of the secret that they do not want anyone to know. Good Luck New Chef..just be prepared for a major disappointmnent

• &#64; Bill: You must be referring to my brother, who is the new Chef there. I couldn't be more happy for him, this place has an all new Menu, it's not just a "new name". I've seen pictures of the kitchen during construction, spotless! The Grand Opening will be Dec 10th. Can't wait to read reviews on AnQi!

• My close friend is the new chef from Florida, he is 27 years young, and has a strong passion with cooking and experience to back it up.

• What are you just saying? So what if Little Saigon is a few exits away. This restaurant is awesome. I'm sorry you had a bad experience --- Maybe its because you have a problem with Vietnamese food or people. I think the Newport hords will love it.

• I am going to disagree. The food served by the An Family is Euro Asian and is a great treat ( .. and it is a family from the Grandmother's recipes ( when they fled Vietnam) to the youngest hip daughter who all work in the restaurants The prices are about right for the Bev.Hills crowd and being located off Rodeo Drive. The SCP location will allow South Orange County the opportunity to enjoy the cuisine without the Bev, Hills price. There is no restaurant like it in OC .. so it will be packed and you may find yourself making return visits for their special taste.!

• I know the opening chef. he is an east coast import and they are doing it in the fashion of a whole new concept. which also means all new food. sure the garlic noodles will still be there but that is almost it many new flavors and new touches and the restaurant is beautiful. i was at bloomingdales and they had it open during construction. its a must see

• The secret kitchen of theirs reminds me of "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!" And the garlic noodles were alright, but I remember paying the price of a steak for them (my memory of that night is thankfully fading), which goes against the very idea of noodles.

• Yeah, uh, the Back Bay set aren't going to be caught dead in a Viet place in Little Saigon. I've been to Crustacean in BH and it was so, so, SO overpriced, pretentious and uppity. Maybe the SCP branch (how the hell do you pronounce it? Like Mandarin? Like Klingon? 'cause that ain't tieng Viet right there) will have a takeout window for the two edible dishes at Crustacean, the garlic noodles and the stir-fried crab. If that's what you're after, though, and you're not afraid of the inland 714, Tan Cang Newport Seafood or King Harbor do it so much better, and cheaper.

• Uh yeah. Just sayin. O_o

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