Food / Tony Tantillo

Dining Deals: A Pan-Asian Experience At Ruby Foo's

NEW YORK (CBS) ― New York restaurants are bracing for leaner times. But Friday's Dining Deal includes a pan-Asian favorite that has recently cut prices on their menu to meet the needs of the city's dining customers.

Ruby Foo's has been an Upper West Side staple for nearly a decade. The energy of bustling Chinatown is reflected in the kitchen and in the Asian influenced décor.

"We decided to lower prices, decrease portion sizes a little bit and try to stir up what's going on with the economy because things are so bad out there right now," said Executive Chef Shawn Edelman.

The average price on the menu now, says Edelman, is between $10 and $12.

CBS 2's Tony Tantillo sat down with Edelman at the bustling Upper West Side fixture and experimented on its famous dishes.

"This is a wok seared filet mignon with mixed vegetables in a peanut sauce," said Edelman, "and it's only $10."

"This is a vegetarian option. For people who want vegetables, this is a stir fried Asian mix and the sauce on that is a spicy garlic sauce, and it's only a $10 dish."

Also on the sampling table was the shrimp and mixed vegetables, served with a coconut curry sauce, with a side of rice to soak it all up.

Another popular dish and one of Ruby Foo's best sellers is a general cho's chicken, called general Ruby's Chicken. Edelman said it's a stir fried chicken with mixed vegetables and a spicy garlic sauce.

As Tantillo found out, make sure you save room for dessert. They feature an item that Edelman describes as a "play on a spring roll."

"We put a banana with chocolate chips, wrap it into a spring roll with two different sauces, a chocolate and caramel sauce."

Ruby Foo's provides dishes full of flavor and wonderful presentations, and all at an affordable price. 

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