Fred's Szechuan Chinese Restaurant

We were walking around and wanted Chinese food. Fred seated us, helped us decide on what to order. Food arrived fairly quickly, fresh made, tasted very good.

We had sizzling shrimp soup, spicy basil chicken, and shrimp noodles. All very good, and some left over for later.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 4

Order food to go. 2 po po player to go and 2 different lunch special. Only got one order of the appetizer po po plater for 2 in the order. There was only one order in the container.
When I called to inform them what happened. She completely doesn’t understand the menu. Lunch special 12.95|2 each. Po po platter the same.price. Got charged 52.05 . How does it add up first and last time. And every time I’m next door I will not recommend them. Really disappointed in her customer service

I had high hopes, given I’ve seen Fred’s here in downtown Nevada City for many years. I found the experience underwhelming. The restaurant was likely renovated in the 90’s and not updated since. Greeted by no one, after a few awkward minutes milling about we were led past a big round table in the front stacked with restaurant supplies (splenda boxes,etc) and to a booth not far from another table piled with table cloths and napkins. It was a cool night but it was noticeably stuffy in Fred’s. At the last renovation mirrored recessed lights were put into the ceiling - the bulbs and functionality are long gone but the skeleton remains, giving an unsettling feeling about dedication to service and quality around here, unless you managed to visit in the 90’s. Service was decent if not awkward, like we may be interrupting some other activity. Positive - they are connected to the mineshaft next store so a full bar available including ice cold draft beer. Ordered spring rolls, which hinted at being very tasty save they had that oil-logged look and taste that is usually the result of a fryer that needs its oil changed. Chow mein entirely serviceable, nice meat portions, especially two big shrimp in the mix Pretty standard fare for white people chinese but the “mongolian chicken” took that concept to a new level - the sauce was literally barbecue sauce! Sweet, lots of onions, again good meat portion but was not a fan. Also asked for extra spicy and it was not spicy in any way. Next time I need Chinese in Nevada city I’ll do the pro move I noticed on my bathroom trip - get it to go and sit in the Mineshaft’s garden at the back of the bar.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 3

I know it’s been about 6 years since that last person reviewed, so things have changed. We asked the server if there was fish sauce in the chow fun and he said there’s no fish sauce in any of the vegetarian options. We got that and the mushrooms and bamboo shoots and added fried bean curd (tofu) and it was delicious! Definitely recommend stopping by for dinner if you’re in NC.

We ordered a bunch of different dishes and everything was delicious! We had takeout and dined in the saloon next door. Such a good option !

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 5

Fred makes anything happen! Always a favorite place to gather before heading to Nevada Theatre for a show! Family style is the way to go here!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best chinese food I've ever had.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best Kung Po I've ever had!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

So, so good! The food was gone before I could take a picture. You won't be disappointed!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Love their beef and chicken chow mein!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best Chinese in town! We love Fred and his family!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food, awesome service and clean. The soup is bangin’ and the general’s chicken is one of the best I’ve tried.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Soup

This was by far the worst Chinese food I’ve ever been served. I should have been tipped off by the fact that my wife and I went in at 5PM on a Friday and there was no one in the restaurant. We were greeted by some young family member playing a video game amidst a table of half eaten food presumably by staff. The service was terrible, unfriendly and inattentive. The food was horribly prepared and served cold. A nightmare. All this for $75. The best choice locally is Asian Garden in Grass Valley. At the end of the meal we left almost full plates of uneaten entrees to which when asked if we needed boxes to take home we politely declined.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Recommended dishes: Soup

The best of the best when it comes to Chinese food, highly recommended if you're in the area.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My eating schedule is all messed up. I don't eat breakfast and I don't do lunch. My first meal is normally after 9 and I eat right before I go to bed. After a dinner in Nevada City and dessert at a Choco shoppe I knew I would still need a late night meal and decided on Chinese. Fred's was there to make it happen.

The restaurant has a small front opening and looks very much like a classic chinatown type establishment. It is not as refined in presentation as many of downtown's eateries are, but if you are Chinese Food restaurant eater, this is a visual 3 out of 5 and you know what that means. It is connected to the neighboring bar and if you want to use the bathroom at the restaurant, you actually have to go through the door inside the restaurantt hat connects the bar and the Chinese food and are actually using a bathroom in the bar's space... what happens if you need to go and you are not 21...?

I ordered the Black Bean Chicken with a side of rice and it is now 11:56 PM as I type this and am eating the food now. In terms of flavor, it is good. On the lighter side and not as punchy or strong. I think that is better for American palettes but I would think Asians would want it stronger. The chicken strips are cut flat and there is a significant volume of veggies in it. Onions, bell peppers both red and green, water crests a plenty. I did feel that the chicken to veggies ratio was decent enough and the veggies were not just filler but I would prefer my chicken ratio a tad higher.

Based on this one dish, not bad.

My wife dropped her Chocolate Shoppe candy after heading to the bar restroom and a patron found it, brought it to the counter and I overheard the cashier tell her it was not theirs and identified it as a bag from the choco shoppe. I intervened and saved my wife's candies. She did not even know she had lost it.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 5