Forbidden City in Middletown, Connecticut Offers Great Chinese Fusion

Try This Trendy Restaurant

In recent years, the downtown area of Middletown, Connecticut has come a very long way. Not that long ago, the Main Street business and retail section in Middletown was a downtrodden place. Abandoned store fronts and forgettable restaurants combined with a lack of pedestrian traffic after dark to form an area that few really had a reason or desire to visit.

That condition, however, has changed, dramatically so, in recent years. Downtown Middletown today is an area with boutique shops, eclectic dining options and a sense of life and, dare I say, a dash of hip style that was really never there before.

One of the things I like about the area now is the variety. There are family oriented Italian restaurants, college bars (Wesleyan University is nearby), brew pubs, a famous diner, and plenty of choices for excellent ethnic food of all sorts.

One of the best culinary additions in recent years is Forbidden City. Forbidden City offers Chinese fusion fare in a stylish and hip atmosphere. Located at 335 Main Street, Forbidden City is in the middle of the entire downtown Middletown scene, but once inside, you might think you're now in a trendy New York City restaurant. The inside of Forbidden City features Chinese art by rising Chinese artists. The lighting, the layout and the furniture is all done with Chinese authenticity in mind, while also "fused" with contemporary style and an eye towards comfort and accessibility.

Forbidden City's owner, Eric Leong, who has another successful restaurant, Char Koon, in nearby Glastonbury, says on Forbidden City's website that he wanted to create a Chinese restaurant that would defy the stereotypes of fast food and unhealthy preservatives. I would say that he has succeeded with Forbidden City.