Bambu Asian Cuisine

Went there with a large group of 16, some being Asian. Seating upstairs which is perfect for a group, still being intimate , helping with sound and ease of entrance. Enough room to still stand and socialize as well.

I believe we had just one waitress but maybe a second helped a bit. All I do know was the service was amazingly fast and friendly. Drinks came quickly, had some time then to work thru the menu(s). I say menus because there is a menu in English and one in an Asian dialect. The menus really are different in that the Asian menu tends to be a little more authentic than the English.

Though I received several suggestions from some of the Asian guests I went with the Pad Tai from the regular menu. This is where I was a little disappointed. I was told the Asian menu items can be very hot. OK I like spice but not over the top. Have had authentic Asian Cuisine and it can be VERY spicy. I ask the waitress, she said there were 3 levels of spice and the lowest really wasn't spicy at all with the 3rd showing a hot spicy pepper so I went with two trying to get a feeling from the waitress of how hot that was. Well it was not really spicy at all. Not sure if it was made wrong or that level is just so easy to handle. Wish the waitress could have described better or maybe offered something at that spice level to try.

Otherwise the food came out quickly and hot, first some appetizers which were so so. Then the main course and the portions were great. Could have easily ate less and brought some home. It was nice to see the Kirin beer there as well as local selections.

Would go back, repeatedly, especially with an Asian friend to try the other menu. Easily the best sit-down Asian cuisine in the UP.

Good service and good food, but prices a little higher and portions are a bit smaller than other Asian eateries in the area. The atmosphere is modern and very pleasant compared to most Yooper joints. I would probably want to go more often, but I always end up at Hunan for my authentic Pork Belly and Eggplant on their special Chinese menu.

Being from the 4th largest city in the country, my expectations for Chinese might be a little high. I found the food here edible and pleasant, but not great. Hot and sour soup didn't seem to be freshly prepared (though it was good) and my chicken with garlic sauce, while cooked well, lacked flavor to say the least. I would be willing to give it another try because service was very good and our waitress was very attentive.