Have you ever heard the phrase, “presentation is everything?” In the world of food, this statement is only half true. You can be surrounded by the most beautiful settings and feast your eyes on the most gorgeous steak you’ve ever seen, but if the steak is tough and putrid, your experience could be considered jaded.

What do you have, though, if all elements to the equation are present? First-rate food. MA. T. 888, The China Bistro, located at 5636 Vogel Road, envelops patrons with a calming atmosphere; the fare is dressed with exquisite garnishes. And not only is the cuisine delicious but the owners take great pride in providing healthy meals for clientele.

So, first we will discuss the ambiance of MA. T. 888. The main dining area has been professionally decorated with a fresh spread of oranges, reds and wood grains. Upon entering the bar area, you instantly feel like you have left Evansville and penetrated into an intimate, yet trendy bar in New York. The bar is private, but open enough to really enjoy a conversation. The best part of this restaurant is, however, the private dining facility. There is nothing like it in Evansville. A room fit for royalty, complete with a large flat screen TV, lounge area, and seating for seventeen, this room has got to be on your list for your next party or corporate event. And, there is no charge for this elegant room, only a minimum food purchase of $380. This includes an appetizer, soup, main entrée and dessert.

We began our late lunch with seafood war-bar soup. This soup was thick and crunchy. Every bite had a bigger taste to it, and a different flavor. It was packed with sweet snow peas, straw mushrooms, eggs, scallops, shrimp and crab. Accompanied by hot green tea, this soup was a great start to the meal but could also be a meal in itself.

Next, out came the appetizers. We are used to a heap of fried junk at buffets, but at the MA. T. 888, you can really taste the flavors swirled together and the freshness of the ingredients. We started with the spring roll. It was thin and meaty. The crab Rangoon was very velvety and the cream cheese tasted almost a bit smoked. Finally, the coconut shrimp were huge! They were hand-breaded with a cracker crumb breading and a tropical coconut dipping sauce. These were defiantly my favorite.

We experienced two main entrees including the House Combination with XO Sauce and Lemongrass Fish. The House Combo, or “Ling’s Special,” was chicken, beef, pork and a mixture of vegetables and sided by fried or white rice. It was a bit spicy and tasted heavily of ginger, but the combination was so well put together, it was flawless. The Lemongrass Fish was fresh tilapia with a lemon grass spice and pan-fried. Cooked to perfection, this fish was full of flavor and freshness.

Finally, we finished our meal with vanilla bean cheesecake. Rich, cold and creamy, and though not very Chinese, it was the perfect end to the meal.

While talking to co-owner Ling Ma, China Bistro MA. T. 888 only uses white meat. It enhances the flavor of the meal and is much healthier.

MA .T. 888 is the ideal Chinese food experience, and the character of the atmosphere exceeds far beyond expectation. Book the private dining room now for Christmas, as it is filling up fast by calling 475-2888.