Xi'an Gourmet House wins with simple menu and excellent taste

• You've got noodles, soups, burgers, dumplings and some simple appetizers. All of which taste excellent.

I opted for the vegetarian noodles dry with stir-fry potato, carrot, king mushroom and tofu. I also added an order of veggie spring rolls, and I sampled my friend's order of scallion pancakes.

• The latter was less decadent than what you'd find at Gaja's and Ok Yaki. That subtlety was delightful.

Yes, but: My friends opted for the beef noodle soup. Everyone loved their meal and the spice level.

• The peppercorns made my mouth tingle but didn’t make me sweat or see bright lights.