Stir Crazy - Crazy Good

            Located inside the Palisades Mall in West Nyack, NY there are a slew of restaurants to go to eat. Stir Crazy Fresh Asian Grille is just one of the many options, but has the curb appeal to draw in a crowd. The décor of bright reds and golds with accents in black and Asian inspired cultural artwork drew me and my dinner guest to the entrance.

At the entrance there was a hostess ready at the post to seat me and my guest. There was no wait and we were seated in the dining area quickly, but it was fairly early for dinner. The ambiance in the dining area would be considered bustling. Even at the off hour of 4:30, there was a small crowd in the restaurant creating a decent noise level. The stir fry station with four su chefs was visible behind a clear barrier to the restaurant goers so that some could watch as their meal was prepared.

The atmosphere inside the restaurant made one forget that they were actually eating inside a mall. The interior design was very intriguing with all of the Asian cultural influences in the design. One noticeable aspect was the overhanging artwork of the modern enlargement of chopsticks. The dining area certaintly was visually entertaining.

The waiter came by our table quickly and asked if we had ever eaten at Stir Crazy. When we responded no, he gave us a detailed description of a unique feature at Stir Crazy called the Market Bar. The Market Bar is a create your own stir fry station where you choose the fresh ingredients to be incorporated into a stir fry.

The waiter was a knowledgeable resource on other fronts as well. When asked to explain the Szechwan Chicken, the waiter was able to explain that szechwan was a type of spicy sauce made of chili peppers and other bold flavorings. He was also able to explain that a spring roll and rice came with the Sweet and Spicy Chicken when asked what else came with the dish.

After our questions were answered, we ordered one appetizer and two entrees. The appetizer was the Chicken Pot Stickers ($6) and arrived under 10 minutes.  The presentation was clean and simple using a simple white rectangular dish and garnish. The pot stickers came with two different types of dipping sauce placed on either side of the dish with the six pot stickers lined between; one was sweet with a tang to it while the other was a more classic soy sauce flavor. The pot stickers themselves were cooked well, hot, and had a nice flavor. They had a nice crunch and combined with the sauces were delicious.

After the appetizer was cleared, it took roughly around 15/20 minutes for the entrees to arrive. One of the entrees was the Seared Miso Sea Scallops ($14). Once again, the presentation was nice in a clean white dish. The dish was armotic, especially the garlic spinach which was atop of brown rice. The miso broth and rice were rich in flavor from the red peppers and the shitake mushrooms.

The scallops were cooked well and were not rubbery, but there was a lack of uniformity between them, meaning there was a noticeable difference in size between a few. The real shining part of this dish would definitely be the spinach. Not only did it smell amazing, but it was tender and juicy to eat.

The second entrée was the Sweet and Spicy Chicken ($9.88) also served in a pleasant and clean presentation style. The chicken was crunchy and covered in a deliciously sweet chili sauce. The rice was cooked well and the spring roll contained a mix of vegetables and came with a duck sauce for dipping.

After the main courses, my dinner guest and I ordered a dessert, or actually desserts. Stir Crazy offers Just Right Bites ($2 ea. or $6 for all three) which can come in a sampler platter. The three mini desserts included in the sampler are Good Fortune Ice Cream, Asian Apple Pear Crisps, and Mango Crème Brulee. As the others before, the presentation was unique and clean. The simple white dish really made the colors of the strawberry sauce and the rich chocolate sauce stand out vividly on the plate.

The Apple Pear Crisps was the highlight of the sampler. The warm tart apples and cinnamon in the dish mixed with the brown sugar on top was a wonderful experience to taste. The Crème Brulee was also quite a good twist on the original with the fresh, sweet mango as nice touch. Finally, the Good Fortune Ice Cream, which is a vanilla ice cream rolled in almonds and crushed fortune cookies and baked, was also a nice treat. It was interesting to eat a type of “fried” ice cream.

In all, the meal at Stir Crazy was found to be quite delectable and the service was well-mannered and knowledgeable about the menu. Plates were served in a timely fashion and the silverware and platware were both clean. No problems were found with any of the orders and other people in the restaurant seemed pleased with their meals. Each dish was tasty and unique and I would return again since I had a pleasant experience at Stir Crazy.

To find a Stir Crazy near you, visit there website www.stircrazy.com.