light cantine: more authentic than my comfort zone
Chinese isn’t usually the food I’d steer a table toward, but light cantine in Madison Heights had been on my list for a while, so on June 3rd we finally went. I dragged David G and Dave Roz along, partly for the company and partly so we could order across the menu and actually get a feel for the place. Rolling in, it already felt more authentic than the Chinese-American spots I’m used to, and that turned out to be the story of the whole meal.
The food
I started with the easy part, or so I thought, and asked our waiter for an egg roll. What showed up was two little spring rolls. Something got lost in translation. (Turns out the menu lists both as separate items, so I just ended up with the wrong one.) No complaints about the spring rolls themselves. They were fresh, crisp, filled right, and the dipping sauce was actually good and not drowning in sugar. They just weren’t the thing I came to try.
Here’s my thing: a proper homemade egg roll is my tell for a Chinese kitchen. If it’s crisp, fresh, and clearly made in house, I figure we’re in for a good meal. If it’s the frozen, shipped-in kind, that’s usually a sign the rest won’t be special. Didn’t get to run that test this time. Next trip.
For my main I’ll be honest, I froze. The menu was more authentic than I’m used to, so I panic-picked an American-Chinese classic, the Sesame Chicken with shrimp fried rice. It was genuinely good for what it is, glaze and all.
David got the Roast Duck Rice and it was the best thing on the table. Really flavorful, and not greasy the way I remember duck being, though it did look like some work to get to the meat. Dave’s Wide Rice Noodle With Beef tasted bland to me, but I’ll give it an asterisk. My sesame chicken probably wrecked my palate, so I didn’t have a clean read when I tried his.
The vibe
Our waiter was tough for me to understand, but super kind, the kind of service that makes you want to meet it halfway. The room itself is a step up too. The decor and cleanliness were top notch, with plenty of spacious seating to pick from. It’s on the pricier side for the area, but the food was clearly better quality than the other Chinese I’ve had around here, and I’ll happily pay a little more for that.
Wheels-eye view
Easy one here. I had no trouble getting in or rolling up to a table. Worth knowing the main entrance is around the corner, not quite where you’d expect it. There’s enough room that parking a chair was a non-issue. I didn’t use the restroom, but with how much space the rest of the place has, I’d be surprised if it were a problem.
The verdict
Honestly, Chinese food isn’t my favorite, and this isn’t a spot I’d hit regularly. But I had a good time. The quality was a clear step above the area’s usual, the room is genuinely nice, and getting around was painless. Two and a quarter wheels, which is better than my pickiness wanted to admit.