I had secured opening night tickets to the Delacorte Theater to see the adaptation of Shakespeare’s Merry Wives. For non-New Yorkers, the theater is outside in the middle of Central Park. We decide to try a Chinese restaurant on the Upper West Side that was only half a mile walk from the theater. That’s because I’ve been looking for restaurants that are a mile or less from the stage to recommend for The Public Theater’s Patron program.

As we were seated at Tri Dum West on Columbus Avenue, our server placed some pickled radishes to nibble while persuing the menu. We first chose our apps, of course getting some dumplings, specifically the steamed shrimp ones ($8 for four). In addition, we had their Chicken Soong ($12) with little cubes of chicken, diced veggies and pinenuts served with lettuce leaves and hoisin sauce plus their hearty portion of BBQ spareribs ($15). The former was our favorite; we filled the lettuce cups with the flavored chicken then drizzled it with the hoisin sauce. Sadly, the spareribs, although amazingly meaty didn’t taste fresh, instead they tasted more like leftovers kept uncovered in the fridge. Our waiter immediately took them off the bill.

We liked the Beijing prawns ($25) with snow peas and water chestnuts in a white wine sauce. My dining partner had been in the mood for Moo Shu Pork ($18), which we found on the menu under “oldy but goody,” and ordered that.

We opened our fortune cookies before opening our umbrellas and walking to the Delacorte, with fingers crossed that the rain would stop. It didn’t. An hour later they canceled the performance.

Will seek out another UWS restaurant when we finally get to see the show.

Tri Dum West
Upper West Side
467 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10024
212-585-1398