With nearly eight years under its belt as an Eastside hotspot, the reputation of The Ambassador Restaurant & Lounge continues to grow. Conveniently located at 4744 N.E. Sandy Blvd., this venerable institution still serves some of the tastiest Chinese cuisine in town. The friendly staff and low-key ambiance make this a distinctly comfortable point any day of the week.

The restaurant side of The Am-bassador serves a wide variety of well prepared Northern and Szechuan dishes. The extensive menu features dozens of seafood, beef, poultry and vegetable options for the hungry connoisseur. Many standout choices abound, with daily specials available for the adventurous eater. Inexpensive luncheon specials are offered, with food service starting at 11 a.m. Full service menu selections are available until closing seven nights a week. Each evening after 11 p.m., low-priced late night snacks specials are available in the bar area for those looking to explore new tastes or to stave off those "midnight munchies."

Entertainment abounds at The Ambassador. Attached to the main bar area is the Game Room, featuring pool, electronic darts and other modern electric games. The bar area also offers the full range of Oregon Lottery games for those of you who are feeling lucky. There is even a special party booth that seats 20 available for reservations.

The main attractions, however, are nightly Karaoke sessions. Led by a revolving team of friendly hosts, the action continues non-stop from 9 p.m. until closing. With an extensive collection of laserdiscs and CD+Gs, singers have literally thousands of song choices at their fingertips. The singing area features a massive light show and a half dozen strategically located video monitors that allow the entire crowd to follow the words. The audience is quite supportive of beginners and veterans alike, so the atmosphere is conducive to encouraging the shy and inexperi-enced. First timers are made comfortable from the moment they are greeted by a most informative doorman named Kevin. The ac-commodating hosts keep the crowd lively and help make every singer feel like a star.