Lindon is located just north of Orem along the old "State Road" that linked Salt Lake City with the string of settlements to the south. Today it is in the heart of "chain restaurant territory" in the bedroom communities north of Provo. Among the franchises, however, can be found China Lily, an upscale Chinese restaurant that serves quality food.

On my first visit to China Lily in 2003 I was very impressed with the vegetable dish I ordered. I thought the best part of the meal was the sauce-- always a critical element of Chinese dishes. The ingredients also tasted fresh, and it was just an all-around good meal.

When I returned in 2006 I asked for the House Special Bean Curd with ginger sauce substituted for the normal brown sauce. Although ginger is usually one of my favorite sauces, the one here was sickly sweet and was a definite letdown after the first meal I had eaten here.

Although the restaurant uses high quality ingredients, the menu selection and some of the sauces are definitely "Americanized." My first visit convinced me that there is definitely some good food here; my second visit convinced me that you do not always get your money's worth.

China Lily had the "distinction" (if you can call it that) of being listed on the Chinese Restaurant News "Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the U.S." in 2004. For the most part this seems to be a bogus list that includes many buffets and the most "touristy" restaurants in the country. Although most of China Lily's menu seems to be Americanized, it does have good quality food and some good dishes.