Mulan is not your typical Chinese restaurant. Elegance and serenity are the motif of this former 1900s two-story home. Gleaming dark hardwoods, a polished staircase, pillars and stained glass windows belie its Victorian past. Graceful additions include nature-inspired décor, refined bamboo wall inlays, warm rice paper lighting, and beautiful glass partitions encased with reeds and wooden antique figurines. Its namesake “mulan” is a dainty wood orchid, and the symbol of this lovely flower can be found throughout this upscale establishment.

There are several dining rooms in the house, each unique and creatively designed. One has a pearl curtain, another a red and gold swirled wall and still another is accented with calligraphy-decorated rice paper. The entry table on the right is one of the best seats in the house, with a great view of the street and a comfy banquette. Mulan also offers a private dining area upstairs, seating at the bar and outside on their open-air patio. The servers are astoundingly friendly and helpful, eager to please.

The menu offers inventive gourmet Chinese cuisine versus traditional takeout fare, with an emphasis on seafood. From 3-5pm you can also get a full dinner including soup and dessert for $12. Start off with the steamed pork dumplings with hot sesame sauce or the fried panko sushi rolls with scallops, shrimp and crabmeat. Entrée recommendations include the Thai-like pan-seared salmon with red curry sauce, Hong Kong Style filet mignon, Hunan flash-fried red snapper, peppered soft shell crabs, or Beijing duck with plum sauce, cucumbers and fluffy Chinese buns. For dessert, opt for the fried bananas and orange sherbet or coconut, mango and green tea ice creams with pound cake in favor of the taro pudding.