Start Of A New Dynasty

Restaurant Comes Under Ownership Of Accomplished Chef

By Robert Rizzuto rrizzuto@post-journal.com
A local restaurant has recently come under new ownership, and the owner knows much more about running a restaurant than just keeping track of the books.

Michael Chen is running the show at the recently opened Dynasty Restaurant and is also an accomplished chef.

After moving to New Jersey from his homeland of China at the age of 15, he worked as a part-time bus-boy.

As he recalled, it was then his journey through the restaurant business began.

After four years in the Garden State, Chen was offered an apprenticeship at the famous East Buffet in Queens, N.Y.

‘‘Looking back, I was not too serious about learning to cook,’’ Chen said. ‘‘I was more looking to have fun.’’

He explained that he used to work only to be able to spend his money having fun in the city. What changed his mentality was a day that changed a lot of things: September 11, 2001.

‘‘When the sun darkened from the ashes of the burning towers, and the smell of burning jet fuel and rubber permeated the air, the city was engulfed in chaos and uncertainty,’’ he said. ‘‘It came to my mind that this must be the day of reckoning.’’

Chen said that upon that thought, he began to analyze his life, and looked closer at what he had accomplished to that point.

‘‘The answer was nothing. I had nothing to show for it all,’’ he said. ‘‘I had no plans of what I wanted to do and nothing to show for. I was living day-by-day looking for fun.’’

Chen’s epiphany led him to take a closer look at all the positive things he had in his life, and work to make the most of them.

When he returned to work at East Buffet, he said he began to take his apprenticeship much more seriously than before, and decided that one day, he wanted to run his own restaurant.

‘‘I was promoted up the ranks and I became second chef,’’ Chen said. ‘‘I stayed there until I got an offer to work at Chopstick Buffet in New Orleans.’’

Chen said that he earned enough money to open up a restaurant in The Big Easy, but then his plans were changed again.

After two years in New Orleans, another disaster changed his life: Hurricane Katrina.

After the storm and the flooding which followed, Chen said he was at a loss about what to do next.

‘‘It was very scary when the hurricane hit the city,’’ Chen said. ‘‘The water was so high, up to the second floor in some places.’’

He said that although he wanted to open his business in that city, it was destroyed and people were more concerned about survival than eating out.

So after spending a few days at home without electricity or any other utilities, he decided to move to Texas, where he would stay for two years.

‘‘This was a very important time in my life,’’ Chen said. ‘‘I learned a lot about business while I was there.’’

After he was wiser for the wear, Chen moved on to Chicago, and then Canada, where he met the woman who would become his wife.

And then one day, Chen’s phone rang as opportunity knocked, and dreams began to come to fruition.

‘‘My friend Tom called me, and told me about this restaurant in Jamestown,’’ Chen said of the former Chan An Chinese Buffet. ‘‘He said that the man running it had went out of business, and that I should open it back up.’’

Chen said that although he had never been to Jamestown, he had a feeling that the whole deal was right for him. He said that once he saw the building, he knew he was right.

‘‘Tom spent a lot of money and time to make it look this beautiful,’’ Chen said of the exterior of the business, which is modeled after true, ancient Chinese architecture.

‘‘All I want is for people to come in, give us a try and let me know what they think,’’ Chen said. ‘‘Quality and cleanliness are very important to me. I just want the customers to be happy.’’

The Dynasty Restaurant, located at 816 Foote Ave., is open daily and offers hungry customers the option of choosing one of the speciality meals on the menu or enjoying a little bit of everything from the extensive buffet. Customers can dine in, grab something to go or call for free delivery.

For more information or to place an order, call 484-8238.