We may be doing a disservice to those diners in the know of Red Pine Restaurant & Bar letting everyone else know where this standout Chinese restaurant is.
Nestled in the lobby of an office building in Boca Raton with no exterior signage, the spacious eatery (named to symbolize longevity, health, and wisdom in Chinese tradition) enjoys an elusive location. Upon entering though, it was clear the secret was out.
The beautiful interior features high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling walls of glass, several dining areas with sumptuous red banquettes, and bustling bar packed with an after-work, happy hour crowd snacking on cheap bar bites paired up with discounted craft cocktails and wines by the glass.
Red Pine’s menu is designed to be shared, and each dish is served family style.
There are familiar classics like General Tso’s chicken and Dan Dan noodles, but the chef’s creativity really shines in flavor-filled dishes like Black Bean Pepper Beef (tenderloin tips served with baby Bok choy, and charred peppers and onions) and a spiced-up Kung Pao Chicken made even better with three chili and Sichuan pepper tossed with fresh snow peas, peppers, and peanuts.
The menu here focuses on serving up a wide selection of dishes, inspired by recipes collected from Chinese restaurants throughout the world. What also makes Red Pine so unique is their integration of the freshest seasonal ingredients designed to make every dish stand out.
For example, their half-roasted Peking duck is served two ways – traditional with a side of Mushu pancakes, cucumbers, pickled Daikon radish and scallion, and house made plum sauce and hoisin sauce; as well as Peking duck lettuce cups. Be sure to allow about 30 minutes prep time for this entrée that can be shared between two to three diners.
Dim Sum, Dumplings, Soups, Vegetables & Greens, Noodles, Fried Rice, and Big Wok categorize the easily approachable menu.
Start off with a shareable sampling of Dim Sum like the steamed bao buns topped with Char Sui pork and spicy cabbage slaw, or their famous sticky spareribs served with an addicting hoisin soy glaze.
Moving right along, the pork long dumplings served traditional style should not be missed.
They also offer chicken dumplings served with a unique chili cinnamon sauce and an indulgent Wagyu beef offering with black garlic soy sauce, onion crunch, Chiu Chow chili and truffle oil.
Other dishes we look forward to trying next visit include Hong Kong style noodles, “angry pig” fried rice, Maine lobster fried rice, chili garlic shrimp, and spice braised short rib.
Be sure to save room for dessert. The milk tea sponge cake featuring a vanilla cake soaked with jasmine tea infused milk accompanied by brown sugar milk tea ice cream was large enough to share, but so good you may not want to.
Red Pine Restaurant & Bar is located at One Town Center Road in Boca Raton.
