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Joy Luck Place's general manager, Stanley Kong, left his position at Hong Kong Flower Lounge in San Francisco to take over the new restaurant.

Joy Luck Place set to make a big entrance

The area's largest Chinese restaurant hosts banquets

By Justin Berton

Just about everything about the Joy Luck Place, Cupertino's newest Chinese restaurant, is big.

The more than 10,000 feet of floor space make it Cupertino's largest Chinese restaurant. In fact, it's two restaurants.

The dining room area for upscale cuisine and dim sum seats 300 people for lunch and dinner. On the side of the building, a smaller kitchen prepares food for "people in a rush and on the go," said executive manager Bailey So.

Located in the Cupertino Village at N. Wolfe Road and Homestead Road, the Joy Luck Place held its grand opening June 24. More than 600 people attended, including Cupertino Mayor Michael Chang.

The expectations for the restaurant are big, too.

The project, So said, is the creation of six investors who have spent more than $1.2 million. Everything from the Italian hand-crafted chairs to the pricey paintings from Hong Kong art galleries has been carefully selected to create an innovative atmosphere for a Chinese restaurant.

"Everything is unique," So said of the detailed aesthetics. Above the center of the dining area, a rotunda-shaped skylight allows sunshine to fill the room. An 18-foot-long fish tank that holds crabs, lobsters, clams and other seafood bubbles near the back of the room. "[The dining room] is to be simple, clear, and make you feel warm," So said.

Another large task the Joy Luck Place will take on, he said, is hosting banquets and weddings. "In this area, there really is no [other] choice," he added.

To accommodate the large gatherings, the restaurant maintains a service staff of 70 people and a cooking staff of 26.

The executive chef, Lee Kwong Chung, learned his trade in Hong Kong. Later, he spent several years in the Bay Area honing his craft.

The general manager, Stanley Kong, left his position at Hong Kong Flower Lounge in San Francisco to take over the Joy Luck Place.

"Many people came together to make this work," So said.

The restaurant does not serve any specialties, So said, because "to me, everything is a specialty."

The highlights on the menu include cold crab in liquor ($20), a sliced crispy-skin roast chicken ($30) and sweet-and-sour crab with vermicelli ($20).

For the next two weeks, large bouquets of flowers will greet customers as they enter the restaurant. So said the offerings are for good luck and best wishes for the new establishment.

"We're the new kid in town," So said.

And the biggest.

The Joy Luck Place is located in Cupertino at 10911 N. Wolfe Road in the Cupertino Village. Hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for dinner; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner. For information call 255-2788.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, July 1, 1998.
©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.