Late one Wednesday evening my coworkers and I were only half way done with what we set out to do. This meeting was taking forever and we were all starving. My office, being located near Baltimore's Inner Harbor, was convenient to local dining destinations - but we wanted to eat somewhere that had a variety and that we could get in and out of relatively easily.
We almost passed by Uncle Lee's Szechuan Restaurant without entering. It is located in an old bank or theatre building so does not look like your average restaurant. Also, Uncle Lee's is not commercialized like other Inner Harbor area restaurant's so does not stand out with bright lights and flashing signs. My coworker saw that Uncle Lee's was still open at this later hour, so suggested we try it. Our party was all very hungry, so very agreeable to this suggestion.
Once inside Uncle Lee's, our party of eight people was promptly seated at a large circular table in the back. This restaurant was not busy at all - I think only one other couple was dining at the time. This could be because of the late hour or the fact that it was Wednesday night - but it did not seem like a very busy location at all. This worried me slightly, but not enough so I wouldn't give it a try.
The menu at Uncle Lee's is traditional Chinese food with an emphasis on hot and spicy dishes. My coworkers all started their meal with wonton or hot and sour soup - both of which they said were so spicy they almost had to take breaks as they were eating it. Most people in our party ordered chicken or beef dishes for their main course - most of which were very spicy with exception of the sweet orange chicken.
I am a vegetarian, so I ordered an unusual tofu dish (the name I cannot recall) with boiled tofu with a spicy glaze. It was fantastic - but I was happy that it came with a side of rice so I could eat something that wasn't so spicy to cleanse my palate. Everyone in my party seemed very happy with their meals.
Looking around at the interior of Uncle Lee's it seems as if they have room to host functions in the large space. It must have once been a bank or theatre - by the looks of the subdued lighting fixtures and high ceilings. It seems like this restaurant has somewhat of an identity crisis between a function hall and a place for a quick bite of Chinese food. Anyways, this is a minor complaint and should not be taken as a detraction if you are thinking about eating here.
The prices at Uncle Lee's Restaurant are reasonable - most entrées were under $15. The service was warm and courteous. I would recommend for any Baltimore traveler or local alike.