Here’s To Ringing In The New Year With Ting
By The Foodies./ foodie@longislandernews.com

Ting Restaurant is kicking off 2013 with the wind at its back and enthusiasm in the halls.

Entering the New Year with three months to its name since an Oct. 1 grand opening, Ting Restaurant is bringing Asian fusion with European influence and a keen eye toward inspired presentation to their restaurant just outside Huntington village.

During their grand opening, Ting restaurant owner Yu-Mei Zheng offered an impressive sampling for guests on a three-course menu. We started with Thai Tom Yum Soup ($5), a satisfying medley of shrimp, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and scallions in a savory lemongrass broth that has a little kick at the end. The crab, cucumber and tobiko Kani Salad ($7) also looked impressive, and is on our list for a future visit. Those looking for something a bit smoother and cooler should look for the Avocado Salad ($7), served with mixed greens and ginger dressing.

Rock Shrimp Tempura ($12) is crispy and buttery with a nice kick at the end, striking a perfect balance between intensity and flavor. Chicken Lettuce Wraps ($11), a platter of diced chicken, mushrooms, peppers and jicama, are lighter, but never short on flavor. And Pepper Tuna Tataki ($14) is a standout on the sushi bar appetizer menu, boasting top-quality seared, peppered tuna with a chef’s dressing that’s full of intriguing notes.

The restaurant also boasts a large selection traditional sushi and specialty rolls. The sushi bar was dishing out countless specialty rolls, including their Tokyo Roll ($14), shrimp tempura topped with mango and avocado served with spicy mayo and eel sauce. Ting’s chefs, led by Executive Chef Ty Neoh and Executive Sushi Chef Bao Lian Zheng, are always at work concocting special weekly rolls for customers to enjoy.

On their dinner menu, Yu-Mei says the Peking Duck ($28), roasted crispy and served with scallions, cucumbers, buns and hoisin sauce, is an early favorite. She said many of the items have a continental European influence from France and Italy.

Keep an eye out for lunch specials, happy hours and prix-fixe menus in the first half of each week, as well as more dim-sum lunch specials for a more traditional style of dining. With a menu as deep as theirs, there’s something for everybody to enjoy.