A popular Red Deer Chinese restaurant is moving a few blocks south.
Red Star Chinese Restaurant is preparing to open at 3301 Gaetz Ave. — premises that were occupied by Cities Gastro Pub until it closed in November. Red Star has been operating at 3731 Gaetz Ave. since 2009, sharing the building there with Shiso Japanese Restaurant and Post Time Lounge.
Owner-operator Sunny Deng said the new location, which is east of the Sheraton Red Deer Hotel on the city’s busiest street, provides Red Star with better exposure than it previously had. He’s renovated the former Cities site and expects to open by this weekend.
Deng said his new premises have a more modern appearance, and he expects to use the patio there when weather permits.
The menu will remain the same, with Red Star specializing in authentic Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine. It also serves North American-style Chinese food and has a large selection of dim sum items.
Deng said he has focused on traditional Chinese food, and attracted a large Asian clientele.
“I have lots of Western people too, because they want to try a different thing. I want to change their minds, that Chinese food is not only the buffet.
“We do something different.”
Red Star’s head chef and dim sum chef are both from Toronto, said Deng, with these having about 40 and 30 years of experience respectively.
Open Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Red Star offers dine-in, take out and delivery service.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com