Looking for a cool place to take friends from out of town? Looking for a fabulous date spot? Need a place that caters to kids? Looking for specials during the week with plenty of choices? Like things a little spicy? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions than WEI FUN in East Hampton is the place for you!

It was a pleasure to drop in for dinner with a friend on a Monday night - the atmosphere is very chic and modern but comfortable at the same time. The main dining room and the large bar areas are separated by frosted glass walls with color-changing lights. The white space seems to glow pink, then blue, then green and so it goes all night long. High ceilings and large-scale circular sculptures on the walls keep the eye moving while the music was an amazing mix of standards, new wave, instrumental, and techno that created a fun mood.

After we were seated by the very friendly hostess we asked her about her favorite dishes. With a smile she immediately exclaimed, "Spicy Chicken Dumplings, we all love them, and the Crispy Orange Beef!" After such an enthusiastic suggestion they made the top of our list of delicious things to try. The menu has just about everything you'd expect from an Asian restaurant with a few American items like Roasted Sea Scallops, Murray Farms Chicken, and Roasted Filet Mignon to keep the unadventurous at the table satisfied.

The dining room faces the patio with the bar to the rear. Large sculptures and great music set the mood for a fun evening.

To start we sampled the Crispy Chicken Spring Rolls with a choice of three sauces – plum, sweet pepper, and teriyaki. Crispy on the outside and packed with delicate flavors these were fabulous alone or in any of the dipping sauces. The Spicy Chicken Dumplings packed a punch with a chili oil sauce. It is good to note that most any dish can be made less spicy with the sauces on the side.

Moving on, and increasing the heat, we enjoyed the Mango & Green Papaya salad with tender pork and chilies. So fresh and crisp – this is a must for those tired of the same old salad. The chili sauce is hot but the green papaya and mango cool it down, the combination is delicious. If you prefer noodles and rice as a starter, try Ants Climbing Tree with Beef (be sure to use those chopsticks) and Pork Fried Rice with Scallions and Bok Choy.

Between courses we spent some time with General Manager Denise Volpicello, who showed us the proper way to use chopsticks. We noticed her giving the same lesson to a few other tables. Denise explained that the glass doors of the dining room open in the spring and summer for patio dining and live music. Talk about a great spot for a party!

We simply had to try the Crispy Orange Beef which came so highly recommended. To our delight we were not disappointed and while there was a bit of a kick to the sauce the sweetness of the orange left us wanting more. Denise suggested that families with kids can skip the sauce and swap beef for chicken making delicious chicken fingers. Since everything is made to order you can add a bit of this, swap for a bit of that, and control the heat. Other entrees include Daufu with Pea Shoots, Thai-Style Chili Prawns, Chicken & Broccoli with Garlic, Kung Pao Chicken, Roasted Red Snapper with Spicy Black Bean Sauce, and Roasted Filet Mignon with Gai Lan (Chinese broccoli) in a Shaoxing sauce.

Vegetarians and those counting calories will enjoy that there is so much more than plain veggies on the menu. Crispy Vegetable Spring Rolls and Edamame are great starters. A Sesame Wakame Salad is interesting, Hot & Sour Soup warms you up with chilies, and Asparagus with Garlic is delicious.

Unique cocktails and delicious dishes will keep you coming back.

WEI FUN has a full wine list but try the specialty cocktails. Start the night with a Xi Shi Pamapolitan – a mix of citron vodka and Pama liqueur that is not too sweet and a great pallet cleanser. The Singapore sling is a twist on a classic with Bombay Gin. Mai Wei is fruity and sweet similar to a Bay Breeze with rum, apricot and blackberry brandy, and three juices. Looking for a great martini? Try the Kama Sutra (Absolut Apeach, orange juice, and Peach Schnapps), Pear-Fection (Grey Goose Pear and St. Germain Elderflower liqueur), or the Ku-Coo (TYKU sake and Bacardi Watermelon rum).

After a full meal, be sure to save room for dessert and tea. I highly recommend the Caramelized Mango, Vanilla, and Lime custard with Dragon Pearl Jasmine tea. Another delicious pairing is Carmel & Coconut Custard with Jackfruit and Pomegranate Oolong tea. Need to settle a tummy after too much spicy food? End the night with Chocolate Pudding with Crystallized Ginger and Formosa Oolong tea. There is also quite a collection of after-dinner drinks and cordials including Grappa di Amarone from Allegrini, Sambuca Molinari, Warres Vintage Port, and Lustau Fino Sherry from Spain.

The guests at WEI FUN are a mix you don't find at other restaurants. There were young families with small children early in the night, ladies out for a girl's night, mature couples, teenagers, and even a few business meetings going on during our visit. This place caters to its guests, especially families so bring the kids. They are prepared with fun kiddie chopsticks, highchairs, and amusements to keep the kids happy between plates.

From their weekly newsletter we found that you can enjoy Happy Hour every night between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and sample $3 draft beers and $5 chardonnay and point noir. Guests at the bar can take advantage of hot snacks – think delicious dim sum – and a $6 Cocktail of the Day (right now a Cosmopolitan). If you're looking for a small bite try the Dim Sum & Draft Beer special. You pair four draft beers and four dim sum for only $17 at the bar – available all night every night. Delicious and very way fun!

Photos by John Musincki