East Wok Opens on Springfield Avenue

East Wok—a new eatery offering eat-in or take-out Chinese food and sushi—opened on May 28, 2010 on Springfield Avenue.

On a recent visit, we found the restaurant is clean and the staff members are very helpful and pleasant. The decor is definitely a step above Panda Kitchen but not quite Mt. Fuji (we like the pretty curtain and well-dressed sushi chef, but are not nuts about the light-up menu board).

We found the miso soup and spicy tuna roll average. The reviews on MaplewoodOnline have been mixed (see the "New sushi/chinese on Springfield Avenue" thread under "Food, Dining & Travel"), but a beautiful redhead at the receptionist desk at Fringe Salon told Patch that the Fringe crew had an anniversary luncheon at East Wok and found the food "amazing."

Whatever the verdict on the taste, the prices are certainly reasonable. A la carte sushi rolls run from $3.25 (avocado) to $6.75 for the Futo Maki (crab/shrimp/egg/kampyo, gobo, cucumber and oshinko). The Chinese lunch specials include rice, drink and egg roll plus entree and run from $4.95 to $5.75. The sushi bar lunch specials—which include miso soup and salad—run from $6.25 to $8.95.

We saw no website on the menu. East Wok's phone is 973-763-6601 or 763-6602. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday, noon to 10:30 p.m.

The restaurant is a welcome addition on Springfield Avenue: The space it occupies sat vacant from October 2008 through May 2010. Cafe Meow was the last occupant. Across the street, posters proclaim that Kids Dominion is coming to 1877 Springfield Avenue (the former Beaded Path location). Kids Dominion looks to be a daycare/summer camp/party establishment. The number on the posters is 973-563-6008.

All those little children will be a welcome sight at Kari's Cafe, where flavored iced teas and lemonade are on the menu for summer.