Colala Restaurant Opens Just In Time for the Holidays

For those of you considering options for where to dine out or order in from tomorrow, you'll be glad to hear there is one more name to add to the list: Colala Chinese/Japanese Cuisine.

Located on Washington Avenue between Lincoln Place and St. John's, Colala's "Grand Opening" sign, paper lanterns and penant garland are hard to miss as they rock and flutter in the wind. But step inside and you'll find a much more muted oasis of calm.

A small buddha greets you at the door. Traditional framed Chinese illustrations are hung along the interior walls above high-gloss wooden tables set with chopsticks. Servers, dressed all in black, speak in hushed Mandarin as they dart between customers. Meanwhile, owner Sandy Chen floats though the room, offering her friendly smile to newcomers and making periodic inquiries to ensure you're enjoying yourself.

And how could you not? There are two separate—not to mention extensive—menus to satisfy your cravings. The first offers an emperor's banquet of classic Chinese dishes: General Tso's Chicken, Sesame Shrimp, Vegetable Egg Foo Young and dumplings à gogo. If you're on lunchbreak at your job at the Brooklyn Museum, you might consider the Special Combinations ($5.95) available between 11 and 3:30 p.m., which include your choice of various entrées from Beef with String Beans to Ma Po Tofu plus a choice of rice (roast pork, chicken-fried, vegetable, brown or white) as well as an egg roll or soup of your pick.

All dishes are identified as being spicy or mild. But special requests are honored too. "We can always make a dish spicier, if you'd like," says Chen.

But perhaps you're in the mood for sushi? Best to sit in the back of the restaurant then and watch the dynamic chefs perform their culinary choreography behind the bar. Selections range from typical Spicy Tuna and Eel Avocado to more inspired creations such as the Flatbush Roll (lobster salad, layered with red clam, asparagus, avocado and seaweed, kissed with a touch of soybean) or the Mexican Dream Roll (spicy, crunchy yellowtail, rolled with green pepper and topped with jalapeño).

If you'd prefer to just space out while dining, a flatscreen television perched above the kitchen door offers Food Network favorites and FX comedies too. The point is: Colala wants you to be comfortable.

"We're open every day and we deliver for free," Chen adds. "We hope to see a lot of people on Sunday."

Colala, 791A Washington Ave. bet Lincoln Place and St. John's, is open Mon. - Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10: 30 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday 12 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. 718-399-7999.