“Not Terrible, But Not So Teariffic” – Review of Teariffic

BY SARAH IP

Teariffic
51 Mott St.
Chinatown
212- 393-9009

Fresh from a weekend trip to Boston, my friend and I arrived back in the brusque city streets of Chinatown where the scents of fish markets, dumplings and automobile exhaust accost you from every angle and the food is plentiful. Famished (notice how most of my entries mention my hunger pangs), we trudged along to Mott Street, my wheeled luggage jolting up and down over crooked sidewalk cracks.

Destination: Teariffic.

Squid Balls & Shrimp Balls Noodle Soup. Photo by Sarah Ip.

I had the Squid Balls & Shrimp Balls Noodle Soup ($4.85) and small hot Honey Green Tea ($2.55). I liked the squid balls, which had a chewy give, but for some reason I couldn’t get into the shrimp flavor. It was off-tasting. Perhaps this was a subtle hint to me that shrimp should stay in its original form and not morph into a ball. Ever.

The udon noodles were overcooked and lacked any al dente buoyancy. Lucky for me, I was too hungry to obsess over the texture, so long as I had sustenance in my belly. Also, the hot broth worked wonders in clearing up my nasal congestion. For brisk fall and winter nights, hot stews and soups are just what the doctor ordered.

Hot Honey Green Tea. Photo by Sarah Ip.

The green tea was steeped too long and had a bitter quality, despite tasting like a sugar pill – no shortage of honey in here! Generally, for green tea, the tea leaves should remain in the pot for no longer than two minutes.

Service lagged, and the waitstaff seemed inattentive and unenthusiastic. Our waiter looked indifferent – or maybe just tired. I think the restaurant was short on staff, in general. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait too long for our food. As for the décor, it was very much like Saint’s Alp, except transported in a Chinatown setting. Small wooden tables with low, square stools. Each party sat in close proximity to one another, enhancing the convivial atmosphere.

Steamed White Rice with Marinated Pork. Photo by Sarah Ip.

My friend had Steamed White Rice with Marinated Pork ($4.85). As always, Taiwanese cafes serve boiled tea eggs with their hot meals. I happily chomped on mine, but my dining companion does not enjoy boiled eggs. The pork was plentiful, however, and a sufficient amount of sauce covered the hot rice.

Prices were very affordable, as are most of the restaurants on this strip of Chinatown (Mott St.). The café was 80% full, which, on a weekday at 5 p.m., is saying a lot. It seems people aren’t cutting back on their bubble tea anytime soon. I didn’t try the boba, but I hear the ginger black tea and mango with green apple and aloe vera are a thumb’s up.

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