I'm not quite sure why, exactly -. Beyond that, I suspect it may be as simple as the fact that General Tso's sweet-and-sour chicken, egg drop soup and other staples I associate with the fare just really don't do anything for me.
Perhaps Fulin's Asian Cuisine, the newest culinary addition to Beaumont Center, may be just what I need to get over my hang-ups. As an "Asian Cuisine" restaurant, Fulin's is not your typical Chinese joint - Chinese food is the specialty, but the menu includes Thai and Japanese offerings as well, including sushi and a Thai style casserole, served in an earthen clay pot. The restaurant is a franchise new to Lexington, with eight locations around Tennessee and Alabama.
While I tend to steer clear of franchises, it quickly became apparent to me when I visited that the restaurant has expanded to so many locations because the quality is high, the menu is diverse and the "Asian fusion" concept is a desirable addition to most culinary landscapes. During our visit, my guest and I started with a couple of beverages while we looked over the menu, which turned out to be a lengthier affair than anticipated -.
The sushi was delicious, and we were pleasantly surprised by the healthy garnish of crab meat on the plate, accompanying the wasabi and pickled ginger. As much as I wanted to see that potato nest, the Ginger Lobster was speaking to me - stir fried lobster tail with scallion, ginger and pepper in garlic sauce. Our entrees arrived quickly, before we were finished with our first course, but the food looked great so we readily embraced it. I tried a bite of both the Dragon and the Phoenix, and the meal was good, but I must say I made the right choice with the Ginger Lobster.
The lobster was still in the shell, though chopped into small, manageable pieces, and it was perfectly cooked, the sauce light but flavorful. I don't typically order lobster and was probably unprepared for how much time I would spend extracting the meat from the shell with a tiny fork, but it was definitely worth it - a manager later told us you could order it with the shell already removed, but it isn't nearly as tasty. Fulin's' decor is comfortable but elegant, with a full bar and seating available at the sushi bar.
