Lazy Sister Chinese Opens in South Norwalk

Lazy Sister opens in SoNo. The newest restaurant owned by New Yorker Maxwell Weiss (by way of Greenwich, CT) opened quietly a couple of weeks ago in the space that was formerly Enchanted Szechuan. It was kismet - Weiss had learned that the owners were looking to sell, retire and move back to China and he was looking to open a Chinese restaurant in the area. “I’m totally obsessed with Chinese food and have been for about three years now,” he told me. Lazy Sister has its own take on the cuisine, offering a mix of Shanghainese, Cantonese, Szechuan and traditional American Chinese.  But let’s backtrack a bit.

The Cornell University graduate founded his catering company, Ten Homakase, early in the pandemic. A play on the word Omakase, (meaning Chef’s choice) Homakase offers the fine dining omakase experience in people’s own homes and remains popular to this day, serving residents in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. The young Weiss is also the co-owner of a New York City sushi counter. Hoseki, a six-seat counter located in Manhattan’s tony Saks Fifth Avenue. (Adding this to my restaurant bucket list)

Weiss had been wanting to open a Chinese restaurant, and more specifically, in Connecticut. Before doing so he immersed himself in the world of Chinese cuisine so that he could learn as much about it as possible. And so while Lazy Sister might seem to be a bit of a departure it really isn’t. He’s steadfast in his focus of offering the best in service, experience and hospitality. It should be noted that everything he does, he does with intention, and this includes his staff and service, food program, beverage program and the restaurant’s overall design.

As soon I walked through the front door I knew that this wasn’t going to be your average, run of the mill Chinese restaurant. I was instantly taken with the charming décor, the wit and whimsy of it all. Gone is the traditional red which moves aside for a modern and youthful pink and black. Little anime characters (the lazy sisters) grace the menu and the restaurant itself as they float (lazily) along in little soup spoons, bowls and (lazily) sipping cocktails from long twisty straws. The Branding is fabulous and so on point and really sets the tone. I asked Weiss about this, which too was intentional, and he praised the Burke sisters – dear friends – for sharing his vision. One is an interior designer and the other a graphic designer. 

I asked him about the name Lazy Sister which I find so wonderful and learned that Weiss has two sisters. He told me that he loves restaurants that pay homage to family, with the family connection. “It’s super inviting.” He also loves the lazy ethos – lazy Susan, lazy Sunday, lazy in terms of comfort and relaxation. “I want you to be lazy and to leave everything else to us.”

Now that we’ve set the scene, let’s get down to the good stuff – the food! 

We started our evening with a couple of cocktails. The Chili Crisp Margarita offers a fun twist on a favorite with blanco tequila, lime, chile crisp, cucumber and agave. The 3 Kingdoms Hemingway is made with Cane rum, St. Germain, grapefruit, lime and rosemary.

We began with some dim sum, and enjoyed our Soup Dumplings, and the flavor-drenched Peking Duck Buns.  In the Appetizer section let me recommend the nutty Dan Dan Noodle which gives off some nice heat that slowly sneaks up on you. You haven’t had a scallion pancake until you’ve tried the Beef Wrapped Scallion Pancake (which is also available sans protein) rolled up like pinwheels, crisp yet soft with tender beef that are best enjoyed when dipped into the smokey, tangy hoisin sauce.

Onto the entrees, the Ginger Scallion Fish left a long lasting impression – A generous piece of cod explodes with flavors of ginger, scallion, soy and lemongrass. Tender and light, this may be the one item on the menu that shouldn’t mess with your waistline. Packed with flavor, Beef with Broccoli is always a crowd favorite, and let me steer you over to the Mu Shu Pork, served with pancakes on the side. The mixture of pork, scallion and mushroom, packed with its sweet-salty flavor, this is a taste-bud titillator. We tried Water spinach, a favorite of Weiss’, a vegetable that’s unique and nothing like spinach, with a mild taste and a big crunch. 

We ended our meal on a sweet note, the Fortune Cookie ice cream. A fun soft-serve creation using Lindsay’s ice cream with a special fortune cookie crumble. 

Whoever said being lazy was a bad thing has clearly never been to Lazy Sister!

Lazy Sister, 120 Washington St, Norwalk, CT