Salt 'N' Pepper Chicken Wings (sort of)

One of the things that I normally do when I go to places that serve things that are of the "Salt 'n' Pepper" type are ask them if they can make it with chicken wings instead of the often seen salt n pepper pork chops or squid.  The answer I've gotten time and time again is no.  I never understood that.  

It's not like they are marinating the pork or squid in something before they cook it ... or are they??? Hmmmm.  But I don't see what the issue is with them throwing some chicken wings into the wok and stir frying it with the salt n pepper as if it was the pork chop or squid???

Yesterday I had this garlic chicken from Nanking and saw on their menu that they had salt n pepper food too.  They also have these Drums of Heaven which are chicken wings marinated with herbs, chilies and garlic then wok fried.  

Nanking - Chinese and Thai
1643 Broadway (between 50st and 51th streets)
212-586-3100 www.nankingrestaurants.com

I went in there today with little expectations of getting that mix of the salt n pepper with the chicken wings, but just wanted to go to try this Drums of Heaven.  They had given me the lunch menu and I asked for the full menu instead ... OoooooOOO I know big shot huh!  I asked the manger (I think he was the manager?) if they would be able to mix the salt n pepper they used for the fish or squid with chicken wings instead.  He spent a few seconds staring at the ceiling and thinking if they could ... and he said yes they can!  I got so excited that I ordered some chicken satay too ... wish I didn't though it was too much food already and not that good.  

They serve the food pretty quickly and everything came out at once.  The manager told me that they had never mixed the chicken wings with the salt n pepper so he hopes they are good.  Well I tasted them and they are good, not as good as Royal Mandarin and not even in the same taste level, but they are good.  It was actually the Drums of Heaven with the salt n pepper mix on top, so it was double the taste which made it interesting and I liked it.  The chicken satay was alright but the peanut sauce they had with it didn't taste all that great.

One thing about this place that I did like was that it was a default of them having lemon in the water when they poured it out of the pitchers.  Another thing was that there were little cups of the sauce, one of chilli sauce, soy sauce, and vinegar with small peppers - yeah you know the last one made your eyes open a bit since Filipino's do like the suka (vinegar) with peppers!

I think I might have put too much of that vinegar + peppers on the salt n pepper chicken mix I ordered because it was a little spicey that my nose started to drip.  

Overall the place has a nice atmosphere, but the music is ... eh.  It didn't add to the feel of the thainess ... it made it like a weird club almost.  The food was good, and I liked the combination for me, I'll probably be asking for it again.  Their service was great too considering that they made what I specifically wanted.  

The total damage was $17+ ... the salt n pepper chicken mix I ordered was $6, the rice $4 and the chicken satay was $6.  Their lunch specials there are $10 ... so they are a little pricey, I think they might cater to tourists since they are in the theater district.

Good stuff and next time I'm just going to order my salt n pepper chicken mix, oh how I can't wait for the real thing!!!

Taste : 7.5 
Price : $$ out of $$$ 
Restaurant : 8 (good atmosphere, except for the music) 

+ mon