It's immediately clear that pingpong is not your standard neighborhood Chinese joint: The style is minimalist, with white walls and flared-back chairs set against accents of orange and green; the white patio chairs and grass-filled flower boxes lend outdoor dining a space-age feel; and the music playing inside is more appropriate for club-dancing than elevator-snoozing.

Luckily, the attention spent setting the ambience is matched by the attention spent creating the Pan-Asian menu, divided into sections such as Share (appetizer), Untangle (noodles) and Indulge (dessert). Though prices are a tad higher than you may be used to paying for mu shu pork, they're still on par with other restaurants in this area and well worth the price. The sesame chicken ($10.95) is one of the most popular dishes, as is the Pingpong Chicken, loaded with honey-roasted walnuts and stir-fried vegetables ($9.95). You can travel the globe with maki, pad thai and bulgogi, and then opt for green tea ice cream or, oddly, cheescake for dessert.

Though there's often a wait during peak dinner hours and the waitstaff is known to be a bit diva-ish, the light, delicious dishes and cool, modern decor will be what you remember of the meal. BYOB.

Centerstage Reviewer: Kate Rockwood