Peony Pavilion, a new restaurant in West Windsor, celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 17. Lisa Shao, a resident of West Windsor and the owner of Szechuan House in Hamilton, is the owner. The restaurant is located at 15 Farber Road, the location of the former Sunny Garden and Hanami restaurants.
Following a $2.5 million renovation, Peony Pavilion presents a subtle peony theme woven throughout and design references to China’s most famous opera, “The Peony Pavilion,” a timeless love story written in the 16th century. There are carved wood patterns and more than 200 different images.
“All rich cultures are filled with myths, symbols, and legends as early mankind tried to understand and explain natural phenomena,” says Shao. “The peony, which symbolizes good fortune, peace, prosperity, and nobility, is interwoven throughout Peony Pavilion’s interior design.”
“I redesigned the interior so people will not have the image of the old Sunny Garden restaurant,” adds Shao.
Peony Pavilion will serve lunch and dinner and has seating for 196 patrons. Balancing the influences of Japanese and French/Thai-inspired cooking with locally sourced ingredients, master sushi chef Yoshi (formerly of Sakura in New York City) has created a menu featuring both traditional and new culinary creations that are a combination of various Asian cuisines.
Menu items include sushi, tempura, teriyaki, udon, pad Thai, miso glazed Chilean sea bass, basil filet mignon, and sesame tuna. There are also soups, salads, appetizers, a lunch menu, and Bento boxes. Although Peony Pavilion does not have a liquor license, patrons may purchase bottles of wine from Milford-based Alba Vineyards. “It’s a wonderful marriage of two local businesses,” Shao says. It is also a BYOB restaurant.
A private dining room with state-of-the-art video conference capabilities is available for banquets, conferences, parties, and meetings. There is a 1,000-piece crystal chandelier in the private dining room with each crystal hand-strung onto the base. The first big event was the 50th anniversary party for the Koos of West Windsor. “It is a big event for them,” says Shao.
“We respect time-honored traditions while embracing modern technology. The ordering system is tailored to our needs,” says Shao. “At the front of the house (dining area) we type in orders in English and then the system translates that to Chinese for our back of the house (kitchen).”
Shao was raised in the Szechuan Province of China, where her parents are both middle school teachers. She studied computer science in college, where she met her future husband, David Hu, now an IT architect in Newark.
Shao came to the United States 17 years ago as a consultant to a Princeton pharmaceutical company. The family moved from Long Island to West Windsor close to seven years ago. “It is a beautiful place and a good place to raise children,” she says.
Shao left her job as a project manager for a pharmaceutical company in March. Now she can devote her time to the two restaurants.
Shao and Hu’s son, Michael, 12, is a seventh grade student at Grover Middle School. He plays the viola in the chamber orchestra, is on the Excel Swim team, and practices kung fu.
Their daughter, Lucy, 17, is a senior at High School South. Now applying to colleges, she is a leader at the Plainsboro Chinese School, sings in the choir at school, and does community service within the Chinese community.
Shao dances once a week with the Lion Dancing Troupe at Princeton Ballet School. She danced as well as hosted and was emcee for the Chinese New Year gala at Lawrence High School earlier this year.
Her husband, a member of the Happy Singers choir group, is the former principal of the Plainsboro Chinese School.
Three years ago Shao purchased Szechuan House in Hamilton Township and fell in love with the restaurant business. “The owner of Sunny Garden had asked for my help, but I had just purchased the Hamilton restaurant,” says Shao. “I liked the structure and waited until it was available again.”
“It was time to change, and I wanted to do business and use what I learned in school,” says Shao. “I purchased the restaurant and became the sole owner.”
“It is well known in Chinese communities, and we host many parties for people coming from New York City and Pennsylvania,” says Shao. “Most of our customers are from Princeton, and we also have contracts with companies for delivery, lunch, and dinner.”
“I love Asian fusion food,” says Shao. “The food is leaning more towards Japanese fusion. We’re trying to be different. The art of food is presentation.”
Peony Pavilion, 15 Farber Road, Princeton. 609-580-1850. www.peonypavilionprinceton.com.
