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Mystery Diner

Mystery Diner in St. Charles: Szechwan Restaurant prepares Chinese favorites

In its spacious, second-floor setting inside a riverstone building in the heart of St. Charles, Szechwan long has been a popular destination for indoor dining. But like so many fellow restaurants in these unsettled times, it has smoothly sharpened its focus on providing delicious takeout.

When we decided we were in the mood for something distinctly different from our own home kitchen's output, Szechwan came to the rescue. Its website notes that staff members offer curbside pickup as well as contact-free pickup in the upstairs lobby, accessible by stairs or elevator. An expansive parking lot adjoins the building for easy access off Route 31 at the intersection with Route 64. It was simple for us to phone our order in and provide credit card information so that within 20 minutes, our food awaited us at the upper lobby with no contact needed. The aroma in the car made us even hungrier, and the packaging kept everything steaming hot. (Shaw Media)

By MYSTERY DINER

When we decided we were in the mood for something distinctly different from our own home kitchen's output, Szechwan came to the rescue. Its website notes that staff members offer curbside pickup as well as contact-free pickup in the upstairs lobby, accessible by stairs or elevator. An expansive parking lot adjoins the building for easy access off Route 31 at the intersection with Route 64. It was simple for us to phone our order in and provide credit card information so that within 20 minutes, our food awaited us at the upper lobby with no contact needed. The aroma in the car made us even hungrier, and the packaging kept everything steaming hot. (Shaw Media)

We shared an excellent appetizer of butterfly shrimp, featuring a half dozen large shrimp delicately battered and fried to a light crunch with lots of flavor in the seafood.

We had spent some time poring over the large menu, whose main influences are Chinese, Mandarin and Cantonese cuisines. I landed on the Crispy Sesame Chicken, which featured large pieces of chicken in a substantial breading, presented in a slightly sweet, generous sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The restaurant has plenty of menu options for people looking for gluten-free and vegetarian dishes.

My dining companion picked something new to him, Mu-Shu, and requested the beef version. The meat, which turned out to be flavorful and tender, was sauteed with tasty, crunchy vegetables. Together they provided the filling for thin Mandarin pancakes, accompanied by a savory hoisin sauce on the side that I swiped a portion of to lavish on my rice. It's a personal favorite with its barbecue-glaze vibe. The Mu-Shu can be prepared with chicken, shrimp, pork or only vegetables.

We indulged in a rich side order of pork fried rice, which included green onions, scrambled eggs and bright seasonings. The dishes' portions were generously sized, and we had lots of good leftovers to look forward to, always a treat. The restaurant's name pays homage to Szechwan province, known for spiced dishes. A chili pepper graphic helpfully pinpoints the hot dishes on the menu from the various provinces. In these days, when travel is curtailed, it's nice to use a little imagination sparked by ethnic cuisines to transport at least your taste buds.

• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at the Kane County Chronicle. The diner’s identity is not revealed to restaurant staff when ordering or picking up the food. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a review. IF YOU GO WHAT: Szechwan Restaurant WHERE: 117 W. Main St., St. Charles PHONE: 630-513-1889 INFO: www.szechwanstc.com