Don't you hate when a restaurant closes and you have no idea why? And about that time, just down the street, a similar restaurant opens and you think maybe there's a tie-in.
This is one of those stories.
Six months ago, Peter Fung opened a casual, fast-food-type Chinese restaurant in a long abandoned Arby's building at 4299 W. Ina Road near Oldfather Road. It's painted a dark, earthy green with rust-red accents.
Not long after Chinese Box opened, the Mandarin Grill a couple miles away on Thornydale and Cortaro roads pulled up stakes. It had lived in a comfortably small space in the Bashas' shopping center for five years.
Turns out Fung owned Mandarin Grill and had opened Chinese Box as a sister restaurant. But then the economy continued its slump and Fung realized it made no sense to keep up with two restaurants. So he closed Mandarin Grill as soon as the lease expired and is pouring all his energy into the new restaurant, which he is now calling Mandarin Grill. He is working with the town of Marana to change the signs.
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Fans of Mandarin will feel at home. Fung is cooking a menu heavily borrowed from Mandarin that features $5.99 combos for lunch or dinner that include a choice of 29 entrees that come with soup, rice, egg roll and drink. Entrees come in pork, seafood,chicken and beef with 10 vegetarian and tofu dishes. The most expensive thing on the menu, a so-called tour of China, is $15.75; entrees start at $5.95 and top out just under $10.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and Saturdays; from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays; and from 4 to 8 p.m. Sundays. Details: 797-6882.
Fung's restaurant is related to the 20-year-old Mandarin Grill on East Grant Road near First Avenue, which is owned by his brother, David Fung.
Cathalena E. Burch
