Diners, Dishes & Dyl: Star House Chinese Restaurant

By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor There’s a quiet confidence that comes from restaurants that have been around for decades - the weathered signs and deep cracks in their parking lots serve as a reminder that they’ve proved their excellence through passion, service, and years of feeding the community. If you’re looking for incredible Chinese food at an unbeatable price, skip P.F. Chang’s at the Natick Mall and take a trip down Waverly Street to Star House Chinese Restaurant. Located at 595 Waverly St., Star House is about an 8-minute drive from campus. The building is small and has minimal advertising, which makes it easy to drive past. But if you do miss it, turn around quickly - it’s worth it. Seating is currently unavailable, but their website offers fast and easy ordering options. You can also have food delivered to campus for additional charges. Star House has an extensive menu featuring the classic offerings of any American Chinese restaurant, along with traditional meat, poultry, vegetable, and seafood dishes. Staff at the restaurant are friendly and prompt, but what’s truly remarkable is the quality of their food and its freshness. After driving from Star House to campus, parking in Maynard Lot, and making the long trek up to your residence hall while your mouth waters, you can expect your food to be hot, flavorful, and worth the money. True highlights of their menu include the beef lo mein, which includes tender beef teriyaki, sauteed onions, and savory lo mein noodles. A small portion of beef lo mein costs $9.50 and is anything but small. This can be easily split up over two meals if you’re just one person. To accompany beef lo mein, an order of classic Boston-style chicken fingers pairs well. A small order consists of about 8 large pieces of chicken, with a light, crunchy coating and a mild, savory flavor. A small order costs $7.95. The quintessential part of any Chinese take-out, though, is duck sauce. This is often made in-house and varies from restaurant to restaurant. Star House’s duck sauce is light and tangy, with a strong amount of sweetness and a vague fruity flavor. It pairs well with chicken fingers. Star House is a must-visit for any college student looking for a quick and cheap bite. It’s nearly perfect. However, there’s one part of Star House that is out of the ordinary - their egg rolls. Two egg rolls will set you back $5.50, which for the size is an excellent price. Star House’s egg rolls are crispy and packed with a flavorful mix of cabbage and beef. When you take your first bite, you may think, “Why do I taste cinnamon and sugar?” There’s no explanation for it, but Star House’s egg rolls have a distinct, unexpected flavor. But if beef and cabbage for dessert is your thing, these are for you. Star House is certainly worth a visit if you’re in the mood for Chinese food. It’s a small business that may be overlooked as it's off the main path of Route 9, but the quality, service, and price make this a must-stop for Framingham foodies. The final word? Don’t knock their egg rolls until you try them.