Silver Pond (Lauderale Lakes)
***** Silver Pond, 4285 North State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 33319, (954) 486-8885.
Back on December 13, 2006 Jeff Eats did a “story” on Silver Pond a Lauderdale Lakes Chinese joint…suffice it to say, I absolutely hated the food. Well! Almost 6-years have come and gone since that initial-review and during that time Jeff Eats-received numerous positive written and verbal comments about Silver Pond. Many who corresponded, insinuated that Jeff Eats was crazy and that Silver Pond was one of the best, if not THEE BEST Chinese restaurant in South Florida…I will tell you included in THEE BEST group was Brother Jeff Eats and Brother Jeff Eats’ wife, Sister-In-Law Jeff Eats. Now nothing for nothing, Jeff Eats is one tough-cookie…despite that “toughness” last night I finally gave-in and gave Silver Pond another try.
Applying my Brooklyn-Jewish-Chinese taste-test circa 1959…I “sampled” wonton soup, roast pork fried rice, bbq ribs, pan fried dumplings, sweet & sour chicken, sweet & sour pork chops, general tso’s chicken, lobster in garlic sauce, roast duck…
Here’s my “current” take on Silver Pond…the wonton-soup was good, but not great—the roast pork fried rice was good, but I’ve had better—the bbq ribs were delicious, right up there with best of breed—the pan fried dumplings were delicious—the sweet & sour chicken was very good—the sweet & sour pork chops were delicious—the general tso’s chicken wasn’t too good—the lobster in garlic sauce was delicious—the roast duck was delicious.
Would I go back? Absolutely! Can’t really give you an answer as to why my 2006 and 2012 “opinions” are so diametrically opposed. What I do know, is that when I ate there in 2006 the food stunk…I also know, that last night’s meal was very-very good. Go figure!
I think, actually I know that if you do a simple Silver Pond “search”—you will find numerous “comments”—that the joint has 2- menus, one in English and one in Chinese—that this is a “real” Hong Kong Style Chinese Restaurant—that this is an “authentic” Chinese restaurant not some Cantonese fast food joint—that the joint is always jammed with Chinese people eating there…for what it’s worth, Jeff Eats learned a long-long time ago that South Florida is loaded with balmalochas (for those who don’t know, balmalochas is the sarcastic yiddish term for “experts”)! For what it’s worth, most people (Jeff Eats included) don’t have a clue as to what good Hong Kong Chinese food is all about. Hell! I can’t even figure out how to use a pair of chopsticks. What I do know, is that my Brooklyn sensibilities tell-me, that I enjoyed almost every dish I had, the prices were “mom & pop” Chinese restaurant reasonable, there was a ton of food, the service was just fine, that I enjoyed eating with my family and that Brother Jeff Eats picked up the check!
In closing, Jeff Eats is really glad that he was “talked” into trying Silver Pond again.
Silver Pond is open Monday, Wednesday-Friday 11:30am-midnight, Saturday-Sunday noon-midnight, closed on Tuesday.
Jeff,
Silver Pond is very good.
It’s always busy and the prices are right.
You are right, it has Hong Kong style food as well as a full Cantonese menu. Being originally from the BX I’m with you on eating and likeing the standard stuff.
JEFF – We are snowbirds – Can’t wait till January to get our Silver Pond ‘fix’ – The Peking Duck is also GREAT – We eat there weekly from January till April – LOVE THE PLACE!
Jeff,
Silver Pond is good.
On 5/1/11 you wrote up Dragon City in Hollywood. Dragon runs huge circles around Silver Pond.
You spotted Dragon.
I urge your readers who think that Silver Pond is great to just give Dragon City a shot. I gurantee if you like Silver Pond you will love Dragon City.
Silver Pond is good.
Isnt the greatest as many would have you believe.
It does very well, but the service often leaves a whole lot to be desired.
I have also eaten in Dragon City.
You are 100% correct that its food is better than Silver Pond.
Jeff: Just thought you should know that Silver Pond is closed on Tuesdays.
Jeff:
Personally I think that Silver Pond is a hit or miss proposition.
I love their ribs and sweet & sour pork chops.
Their General Tso’s chicken is horrendous.
I like the food at China Dumpling so much better.
You missed the Lobster in Black Bean Sauce. What a shame. Stellar.
Food is very good.
Prices dirt cheap.
Really diversified Chinese menu.
My favorite in S Fl.
Silver Pond offers very good food at a fair price. The staff were friendly and the service was good. By Gregg L. Friedman MD, Psychiatrist, Hallandale Beach, FL
The food sucks.
The service sucks.
I don’t like the food.
Very greasy food.
Real Chinese food.
Love this restaurant.
Terrific food.
I’m going to have to agree with your first post….Silverpound taste likes dog crap with a little fish sauce on top.
However according to your “new” update post I can tell you don’t know crap about food.
My husband and I ate there last night. The food is excellent as is the service.
Love the food.
Ate there this evening.
Food is fair at best;
Can’t say Ill be back because I won’t.
Jeff,
I have eaten in and taken out from there many times.
Sometimes the food is terrific and sometimes pretty lousy.
I can’t explain that.
Last week I took out and the General Tso’s chicken and it was TERRIBLE while the sweet & sour pork chops were delicious. Go figure.
Very inconsistent.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Florida.
Love the good there. Service is very spotty.