An exquisite taste of China
Chinese restaurant Red Peony

English text by Nadia Ghattas and Angela Feng
Photography by Ronald Ji
(The featured image courtesy of Red Peony)

Elegant, graceful, and known as the “king of flowers,” the peony is traditionally a symbol of good taste in Chinese culture. Red Peony, a new restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, lives up to its namesake. In a city where one can find Chinese cuisine around every corner, Red Peony sets itself apart with its elegant aesthetic, featuring grand decor, exquisite crystal chandeliers, and red velvet dining chairs.

The owners of Red Peony, Connie and Eric Zhang, are a dynamic young restaurateur couple. Despite their youth, they are both veterans of the dining industry. With Red Peony, their goal is to share authentic Chinese cuisine, from its traditional delicacies to creative dishes, with as many people as possible.

The owners of Red Peony, Connie and Eric Zhang.

Beauty lies in the details

Born in China, Connie and her family immigrated to America in the 1980s, where they set up a Chinese takeout restaurant. Since the age of 12, Connie always helped with the family business after school. She studied hard and her hard work paid off, she later went to the University of Maryland to study business management. Every part of Red Peony has been meticulously curated, from the interior design, to the workers’ uniforms, to the tableware. A painstaking amount of thought was put into creating the menu.

Though Red Peony’s business model was very much influenced by Connie’s Western education, she continues to maintain many traditional Chinese values. Family is of utmost importance to her; therefore, she strove to create an environment that would cater to families and their needs. That meant ensuring that the restaurant has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, and that the menu includes a diverse range of options suitable for all ages. It’s her hope that Red Peony becomes a place where families can come to create new memories.

Red Peony’s location plays a significant role in the restaurant’s overall identity and aesthetic. “We’re at the center of the city—everything is here,” Connie said. As a result, competition is high. Red Peony uses only ingredients of the highest quality. However, while flavor is of the greatest importance, presentation is also key. Therefore, the Zhangs made sure to hire a head chef with sophisticated cutting and carving skills. “Food must satisfy both the eye and stomach,” Connie explained. To satisfy the diverse tastes of New Yorkers, the menu includes an eclectic range of dishes from all over China—from Shanghai, to Guangzhou, to the Sichuan regions.

The exterior of Red Peony in Midtown Manhattan.

Explore the flavors of China

A customer favorite is the Shanghai Crabmeat Soup Dumplings, freshly made by hand using special elastic dough wrappings and stuffed with broth, pork, and fresh crabmeat. The Cantonese Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, meanwhile, are created using transparent sticky rice and potato wrappings. Mellow, sweet, and delicate, the dish is lightly seasoned so as to bring out the natural sweetness of the shrimp.

Shanghai Crabmeat Soup Dumplings. Stuffed with broth, pork, and fresh crabmeat, this dish is a customer favorite.

Another popular Shanghainese dish is the tender and flavorful Drunken Chicken, which is soaked in Shaoxing wine. The Peking Duck, the house specialty, is also definitely worth trying. Crispy, golden duck skin is wrapped in handmade pancakes and topped with cucumber slices, scallions, and hoisin sauce. An additional standout is the Whole Fish with Dry Peppers in Hot Spicy Oil, seasoned with Chinese peppercorns.

Whole Fish with Dry Peppers in Hot Spicy Oil. This dish’s Chinese peppercorn seasoning gives it a fiery kick.

For a light refreshment after the meal, make sure to try the Peach Gum Tremella. This sweet, amber-hued soup is made with Gum Tragacanth and dates, and is known to offer various health benefits.

For the coming holiday season, in addition to the general dining space, Connie has carefully created a private VIP room for customers which can seat 20. Whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, or even a birthday, come to Red Peony to create blissful new memories.