3 Restaurants to Open at Cheng Du Location [IMAGE GALLERY]

In a market crowded with Asian restaurants, Cheng Du is attempting to distinguish itself through high-quality food and unique offerings. Kuo-Rung Tang (known as Tang), who co-owns the restaurant with his wife Sundi (known as Fong), told Westborough Patch, "Business was running fine, but the excitement was gone..."

In response, Tang decided to, "... stir the water."

Out of the reboot, a renovated Cheng Du will open on June 28 with three separate endeavors at its location: Akamon, will feature a Kushiyaki grill, sake bar and sushi; an updated Cheng Du will maintain its original menu plus more Szechuan offerings; and 157 Bin, a wine bar and lounge will offer more than 40 wines by the glass and western fare.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for these new spaces will be held on June 28. Another event will be scheduled for later in the summer.

Tang, who can be reached at 508-366-7489, said that he needs to hire about 10 more employees.

31 Years in Westborough

Tang said that he emigrated from Taiwan to the US on Christmas Eve, 1977 along with his wife, Fong, and the rest of his family. Having been in the recycling business in Taiwan, Tang said that he and his family had few job options in the US. He started out as a dishwasher at Chopsticks in Worcester, eventually moving on to chopping vegetables, busing tables and then waiting tables. Tang, his parents, wife, and siblings all saved their earnings.

According to Tang, Cheng Du opened at in 1981. Tang and his family opened two other Cheng Du Restaurants — named after the capital of Szechuan Province, China — in Mansfield, and Stoughton.  According to Tang, in 1981 his family decided that he and Fong should solely run the Cheng Du in Westborough.

Time to Shake Things Up

Tang has worked with chef Paul Mustacchio since 1984, with a 6-year break from 2004 to 2010. During his break from Cheng Du, Paul worked in R and D and as a food designer.

Paul, who was born in the US but raised in Taiwan, said, "We (at Cheng Du) decided that we're not going to sit here and wait to see an American chain restaurant sell Asian foods."

In recent years, Paul offered some western dishes and worked on wine pairings. Paul said, "I want to change the stereotype (of Asian restaurants)."

Akamon - Meaning Red Door in Japanese

Akamon will strive to be an Izakaya, a type of after-work gathering place found in Japan. Seating about 60 people, the sleek space will house a wide assortment of sakes, sushi, and Kushiyaki, skewers grilled over high heat on a smokeless 800° Higo grill, imported from Japan. According to Paul, Akamon will be the only restaurant in Massachusetts that will offer Kushiyaki. Negima, described by Paul as a typical Kushiyaki dish, is made of marinated chicken cubes, skewered with fresh scallions, grilled ("to perfection" according to Paul), and served with an Akamon sauce.

Cheng Du

Tang said that many of Cheng Du's dishes are based on recipes handwritten by his mother. With seating for about 100, and a banquet room seating another 30, Tang said that he and Paul are working hard to source higher-grade, organic meat. "We try to hit to healthy - great flavor - we are not sacrificing taste." There are gluten-free and vegetarian items on the menu.

New menu items will feature traditional Szechuan selections, such as Chungking Spicy Chili Chicken. Paul described this dish as having, "... a nice aroma from peppercorn, Chinese rice wine, garlic, chili and cilantro." 

157 Bin

Named after its address, 157 Turnpike Road, 157 Bin, a wine bar and lounge, is the biggest departure from the original Cheng Du. Located in the back of the restaurant, 157 Bin is bathed in oranges, and features a huge floral wall mural painted by Fong and Paul's sister in 1981. Tang said, "People think that this is new, but it's been here." There's a piano, lots of seating and long bar with glass temperature-controlled wine cases. Music is planned for the future.

Tang said that he likes wine, and he and his staff would do tastings and food pairings. He commented, "We are going to go crazy. Right now we'll sell 47 wines by the glass. Every time we serve a glass (our) machine (La Verre de Vin) will suck out the air and fill the bottle with CO₂. We are told that the wine is good for least a month, but we'll go for one week."

Customers have responded favorably to Paul's pairing of western food with wine, according to Tang. As a result, 157 Bin will offer salmon gravlax, fois gras, steak, a vegetarian "Mediterranean Delight," among other offerings.

Green light, orange light, red light - bring it on . Patch readers want to know what you'll think!

Cheng Du, Akamon, 157 Bin

157 Turnpike Road

508-366-7489

Mon. to Thurs.: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Sat. to Sun.: 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.