Lee Garden Chinese Restaurant   

When it comes to affordable Chinese these days, it's either a takeout stand or buffet cafeteria. The character has been thrown out with the MSG. These stark and often generic eateries heap on mass quantities of foods with a lot of inconsistency in quality. Lee Garden, on the other hand, is an old-school standby with personalized attention, good if not excellent fare, and a campy appeal, from vinyl booths and intricate woodcarvings to big, round paper lanterns and deep red walls. Lee Garden looks like the place for a clandestine rendezvous, 'Christmas Story' dinner and 'Godfather' take-out. Actually, it's not a seedy crime boss hangout. Town 'N Country families have frequented the Chinese restaurant for nearly 20 years. The energetic and friendly staff serve up unique specials, like the Singapore Noodle, a rice vermicelli with curry, onion, pepper and egg; free drinks with evening buffet (yes, they have one too with non-Asian items like plantains and Hawaiian chicken); and half-off draft beer specials. Appetizers are very cheap and well-prepared; the portions are huge. --Julie Garisto