Old Chinese restaurants never die. They just look and act older. This is a mixed blessing, but it is a blessing. The Great Wall is one of the three or four oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurants in the area. Its menu hasn't changed much since it opened, which is its greatest advantage. That was an exciting time for lovers of Chinese cooking, and many of the dishes from that era have become difficult to find. Peking duck, for example. Or River ("Yu") Shiang pork, among many others. The downside to the longevity is that the place is well worn, and food lacks a sharp edge.
The Great Wall is the oldest restaurant in "Skinny City," that stretch of old storefronts on Metairie Road just west of Bonnabel that has become a major restaurant row for the area. It opened in 1979, a time when Chinese dining in the area was being transformed by the introduction of Szechuan, Mandarin, and Hunan cuisines to local menus long dominated by Cantonese cooking.
The dining room is dimly lit and almost corny it its old-style decor. Ignore this. They keep the place quite clean for all the wear. The owner, who seems always to be there, is very friendly, and will get to remember your name after only a couple of visits.
This is one of very few New Orleans restaurants that still offers Peking duck, an amazing treat presented in two courses. You must order a day in advance; it takes a long time to prepare.
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