Farewell to an Old Friend: Princess Garden

When we moved to St. Paul 25 years ago, we discovered that the Como neighborhood wasn't exactly a restaurant mecca. But one of our early discoveries was a nondescript Szechuan restaurant in a strip mall near Rice and Larpenteur: Princess Garden. Over the years, our family (along with friends and relatives) has eaten many dozens of wonderful takeout dinners from PG. We were guilty of not being very adventurous in trying new menu items... but once we were hooked on our favorites, why change a good thing? Kung pao chicken with a nice kick; the droolworthy plum sauce slathered on thin moo shi pork pancakes; and some of the best eggrolls ever. To top it off, there was Maria, one of the co-owners--a whirling dervish hustling between the kitchen and tables, and one of the most gentle, courteous hosts imaginable. When I called in my phone orders, she rarely had to ask my name. I was surprised when I called in an order last week and Maria didn't answer. I was more surprised when I drove up to the restaurant and saw a "Grand Opening" sign. Inside, I learned that Maria and her husband had retired and turned PG over to new owners. Of course I wish the new owners well, although it'll never be the same. And certainly I wish Maria and her family the best in a well-deserved retirement. But mostly, I'm trying to figure out how to move ahead without Princess Garden's stand-bys (and Maria's hospitality) to look forward to, especially on winter evenings. So, although PG wasn't a University Avenue business, Christian and I offer a BARF-SUAVE salute to Princess Garden's decades of service to hungry patrons.