You want great Sichuan in Manhattan? Peep Legend on 7th Ave between 15th and 16th Street.
I’ve been four times in the past two weeks and can recommend almost everything that I tried. I especially liked:
Sichuan Cucumber
The Green Beans with Ground Pork
Sichuan Spicy Ma Pa Tofu
Dry Spicy, Tasty Diced Chicken with Ginger and Peanut.
Photo Credit: Serious Eats, from their fine slideshow of the place.
Four times in two weeks? Wow, that speaks for itself. I have great Sichuan options in my work area w/ SG and Lan Sheng, but this sounds like it might be worth the subway ride.
It is.
I've never been to the two spots you mentioned. And there's this one, too:
http://bit.ly/wmCbiw
hmm. this isn't too far from my new office. i'll have to give it a shot.
I don't really know from Tofu and the Tofu in the dish pictured above is not firm but very silky, like jello, but dude, the sauce it comes with, holy cow, it's sensational.
[2] I think you have been to Szechuan Gourmet (SG) on 39th right?
5) Oh, true, yeah, sure. I like I prefer Legend for some, but not all the dishes. The dumplings in hot oil is a little hotter and tastier at SG.