Deciding at the last minute to get yum cha during a shopping expedition to Chatswood, we tried Chequers for the first time. The two of us were seated in a side (private?) room with two large groups. The secluded position meant we had to beckon the waitresses in to get any yum cha selections.
One helpful waitress offered a form to fill in what we wanted and she would bring it to us. In hindsight I guess this could bump up the price but $58 for two was a lot steeper than I expected. Overall, the spicy fried beef strips were good as well as the steamed dumplings. Anything with prawns tasted really fresh. I'd go again but with a group and sit in the main area.
Very helpful staff, food was delicious and fresh. Very accommodating with a 1 year old (might want to bring your own booster seat - they can run out of highchairs). Great yum cha - will definitely go again. Try peking duck, prawn and garlic dumplings and special steamed pork buns.
Nicer environment compare to other Yum Cha Restaurants I've been to in Sydney. But food was very average and not very good value for money. Won't be back again.
Even though we arrived at what I consider a peak time for Yum Cha (just past 12), I still expect a high level of variety and we didn't get it. What was on offer were limp vegies, a modest selection of dumplings, with 2 of the selected being very poor.
Although I cannot blame this on the restaurant as dumplings are made elsewhere and brought in. It is disappointing to bite into a dumpling and feel the gritty taste of poorly washed seafood. The servers continuously walked by our table without offering us more choices and in the end we walked away with a lack lustre appetite and a coating of tasteless oil lingering in our mouths.
I am not sure I would come here for yum cha again as I have had better experiences elsewhere. Prehaps the dinner menu and service are better.
I held a function here as the per head price was only $32. They seemed very anxious to secure and finalise the booking which made me nervous but the food dished out was met with ooohs and ahhs. I enjoyed it myself when I had a moment to sit. I'll definitely use these guys again.
Had to give this place another go after a failed first visit. The dumplings were ok but the prawns did not taste right. the place is overcrowded which might be ok if I were in Tokyo but it just didn't seem right to have to wait 35 minutes to be seated then another 35 minutes to get our drinks with an average feed, I doubt I would ever go back.
For Yum Cha, my wife and have been going for 10 years and the quality has been consistently very good. Even though we've moved further away(20km), we still go regularly few times a year.
The dumpling cart is our favourite. The selection ranges across delicious classic prawn dumplings to XO seafood, scallops dumplings, three yummy vegetable dumplings which my vegetarian wife loves. If you go at the right time of day, the black bean pippies is delicious.
I took a work lunch there recently and everyone was amazed at the range and flavours in the food. The freshness always seems a cut above other yum cha places.
This place is extremely noisy during lunch time. Be prepared to wait for hours before you get the hot water topped up. Mind you, you are charged per head for tea drank at this restaurant. This is Yum Cha. Food is ok but pricey. We paid $86 for 2 adults and 2 kids; and had gone home still feeling hungry!
I have to say that Chequers does a fantastic seafood yum cha. It's too bad I am never going there again. My husband booked a table for a Sunday and instead of saying 'there is no way you are getting in today, with or without a booking' as they should have, they duly took our booking. We packed up the kids, drove all the way there, parked, walked a couple of blocks there, to find that bookings mean absolutely nothing to these people. There was a huge crowd waiting and they were letting people without bookings in before us. After 1/2 hour of waiting during which time our baby was getting decidedly impatient, we came to our senses and realised the futility of it all. If you're busy, fine but as Seinfeld would say, "don't take the reservation if you can't hold the reservation". Disgusting service and will never go back again.
I am from Hong Kong and have been doing yum cha for almost 40 years. Chequers gives me a very standard "HK local" feel of restaurant - floor a bit dirty, low ceiling, noisy, crowded, people shouting and I don't like it. Most importantly, the food is not good. Service is almost not available but I could have been fine if the food is good.