In Orland Park's kingdom of burger joints and casual mall chains, Ginger Asian Bistro was the well-dressed newcomer this time last year -- now they're celebrating more than a year in the business.

Aiming to fill the need for a higher-end Asian restaurant in the south suburbs, husband-and-wife team Kai and Esther Chow searched for almost two years for the right stand-alone location. Their 6,000-square foot space has morphed into a soothing, Zen-cool eatery -- a far cry from its previous incarnation as a Damen's Steakhouse. The Chows envisioned the restaurant reflecting each of the four seasons, from the paprika-painted autumnal bar to a private party room decorated in icy gray and warmed with a fireplace. The dining room boasts a tropical art-gallery feel, with vivid photographs of Hawaiian flowers decking the walls.

Esther admits there's been a bit of confusion about the spot's name. "When people come in, they say, 'Are you Ginger?' And I say, 'No, I'm Esther.'" The Chows chose "Ginger" because it has the recognition-factor of a first name, but also reflects their use of the Asian spice in everything from ginger creme brulee ($6) to a ginger martini ($12)

The pan-Asian menu aptly suits the Chows, who are both from Malaysia. Because the Strait of Malacca serves as a major gateway for trade between Europe and Asia, their home country has historically been a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. Their dishes also borrow ingredients and characteristics from the cuisines of Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and India.

Starters include sake-steamed mussels, crispy panko-crusted shrimp and surprisingly, smoked salmon pizza ($8-$9). The kitchen staff hauls in fresh seafood every morning for dishes like Chilean sea bass cooked in maple syrup and sake and served with citrus-miso sauce ($20). The most-ordered dish on the menu is beef short ribs marinated in Chinese tea, glazed with ginger and served with wasabi mashed potatoes and stir-fried bok choy and shitake mushrooms ($18)

Since the restaurant opened last August, the Chows have been fervently focused on personal interaction and making sure their guests feel taken care of. Case in point: when a couple and their three children came for a Sunday dinner, the Chows ended their meal on a sweet note with an on-the-house chocolate-chip cookie egg roll -- their most popular dessert, served with vanilla, chocolate and raspberry sauces ($6). When they later noticed one of the kids crying, they rushed over to see what was wrong. As it turned out, tears erupted when Mom and Dad said it was time to go home. "That's a good kind of problem to have," Kai says.

Lisa Arnett is a metromix special contributor.

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