Chain eateries are bringing local Hangzhou specialties everywhere

Eggplant clay pot (left) is one of the stars at Green Tea, while Longjing shrimp is a favorite at Grandma's Home.[Photo provided to China Daily]

In search of a vegetable side dish, our eyes kept coming back to the sweet green peas, in part because we like them and in part because there was a line of approving red stars beside them on the menu and similar raves on dianping.com. Wild raves ... for peas? We took the bait, and while the peas were brilliant in color and taste, they were, well, peas. Tasty but fundamental.

We finished out meal with ma ci, a firmer version of rice cake that's served as a roll with brown sugar, sesame and peanuts. It's a popular local snack, often on offer in selections of dim sum.

The beverage selection includes rice wine, Chinese white liquor (baijiu), local beer and Carlsberg, and a variety of teas and fruit juices.

The restaurant only accepts reservations for groups of 10 or more; to avoid the typical wait of more than a half-hour, go before 6:30 pm or after 8 pm, but note that most Grandma's Home restaurants－and many other restaurant, in Hangzhou－close at 9 pm.

If you go

Green Tea

250 Jiefang Lu; 571-8606-1777; 571-8608-5777.Multiple locations.

Grandma's Home

3 Hubin Lu; 571-8515-3911; multiple locations.