Mandarin Garden, Crestline

I am a huge advocate of people patronizing this area s small, locally-owned businesses instead of going to a chain or, worse yet, down the hill. However, I sadly just cannot recommend Mandarin Garden in Crestline. In its favor, the small dining room is clean, the service is friendly, the ingredients are all fresh with the exception of the shrimp they use, and it is all served fresh and hot from the kitchen. However, the food is so painfully bland that I will never go back. Not only is the food of every type lacking in any significant flavor but the dishes marked as spicy didn t have ANY heat in them at all. Frankly, there are Chinese express places that have more pizzazz in their food than here. While I am grateful for anybody that tries to make a go of it up here in the mountain communities with their own business, I m sorry but going here is a waste of one s money.