Some of the Peking Gourmet Inn's best customers first knew about the Peking Restaurant in Hong Kong, where the Tsui family has a reputation for serving especially fine and authentic Northern Chinese cuisine. Perhaps these customers were surprised when they pulled into the parking lot of the rather ordinary Culmore Shopping Center off Leesburg Pike in Falls Church, Va., where the Peking Gourmet Inn has resided since 1978. Well, yes, and it's good enough for former President Bush, who's had Peking Gourmet on his list of favorite restaurants for years. It's likely to be a dining destination of choice for President George W now too, who recently visited the restuarant with wife and First Lady Laura. Owner Robert Tsui, a Ph.D. organic chemist, prides himself on offering the only homegrown garlic sprouts in the nation, which he grows on his Purcellville, Va. farm from garlic cloves and micro droplets of water defused in air in the absence of light.
More surprises abound.
Recently, Tsui added lamb to the menu in recognition of the fact that Northern China is home to one of the world's largest Muslim population. The lamb chop Peking-style is certainly delicious, but it's hard to resist the Peking duck, expertly carved tableside and the best I've tasted anywhere. More favorites include Juo Yen Shrimp, Szechuan beef and the seafood asparagus soup. But no matter how many times you've traveled MacArthur Boulevard, chances are you've missed Makoto's modest sign and discreet exterior, unless, of course, it was your destination. The one thing that's not subtle at Makoto is the quality and flavor of the food.