Szechuan Garden

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

The Szechuan chicken is nuts! I've never had anything so hot before. I was completely drenched with sweat after eating it. Tasty though.

Dec 14, 2011 

4.5 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  2     

Visited the restaurant for lunch with a group of 8. We ordered the $30 per head banquet, sad to say, most of the dishes were way too salty. Chef might have been to heavy handed with the soya/oyster sauce with the San Choy Bow filling. The szechuan chilly chicken was dry and soaked in vast amount of oil.

The service and ambience is tolerable, but with the quality of food at such extravagant prices they are charging, there will not be a second visit. Save your money, you're better off heading to the Vietnamese restaurant Songnhi 1 block down the road.

Sep 02, 2011 

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  6     

First visit to their new location. Started with Lamb Pancakes which were sweet and tasty. Followed with an excellent Mongolian Lamb, not at all sweet and with a definite bit of heat. General Tso chicken which also was quite hot and tender meat but lacking a specific flavour and Hunan braised pork, which had beautifully tender pork but unexpectedly didn't have the chilli in it that I am used to in this dish. A special of fried string beans was also very nice.

The service was prompt although not particularly friendly. The ambience was just that of a large room. The tables were covered and the chairs comfortable and probably would have felt better had we not been sat in the middle of the room and, therefore, the foot traffic. And whilst the food is better than normal it needs to be to warrant some of their prices which can be up to double what you would pay for the same dish elsewhere.

Jul 23, 2010 

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  6     

This is classy Chinese with fast, professional service. The salt and pepper calamari was light and seasoned beautifully. Fresh bok choy and tasty Peking Style lamb left us very satisfied. Pricey for a weekday lunch ($75 for two, no wine), but they cater for the local business crowd, so they have plenty of customers. Good to see a restaurant with carpet and soft wall furnishings allowing normal conversation.

Dec 22, 2009 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

Expensive but well worth it. Our family have patronized this restaurant since before the move to St Leonards. Wonderful service and the food is what we keep going back for. Very clean bathrooms even an accessible one as our family has members with mobility and sight problem.

Street parking is available and usually easy to get at night. For spice lovers, the chicken in a wok is a must. The pork ribs are a signature dish and great for those who like to play it safer. The eggplant dishes are a must for any not just vegetarians. Service has always been great and family friendly.

Oct 30, 2009 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

A regular eater at this restaurant it never disappoints. Took a while for the wait staff to warm up to me but because I go there alot now, they always smile and serve fast and quickly. The food is amazing, full of flavour and never leaves you feeling sick or nauseas like some chinese restaurants can leave you when you stuff yourself. I always come here with close group of friends or for an occasion. The atmosphere is really nice and professional and I always have a nice night out.
I just hope the prices don't go up any more.

Jul 20, 2009 

5 Average

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  5     

The food is excellent, such a change from the normally dull chinese food. Although the staff could learn to smile, and maybe speak. Majority of staff could not understand english, just kept nodding their heads when you asked a question about the menu.

Jun 30, 2009 

5 Average

Food  3      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  3     

After reading the strong reviews on this site, I have now given Szechuan Garden 2 chances. I am sad to say there won't be a third. The first time, I ordered take away. House Crispy duck and Buk Choy with oyster sauce. The duck was quite good (about average compared to what I've had in Sydney), but the Buk Choy had not a single trace of oyster sauce in it. Not one drop. And at $13.90 for a container of steamed Buk Choy, I was not impressed. Luckily I had some oyster sauce in the pantry at home, and I was certainly left wondering why I hadn't just picked up a $1 bunch of buk choy at woolies and made it myself.

Forgiving this oversight, a few weeks later we decided to dine at the restaurant on a Sunday evening. Again we went for the house duck, and also ordered the house special fried rice. Needless to say the buk choy was not ordered. Again the duck was quite good, cooked well and with nicely balanced spices. But the fried rice was the blandest I have ever tasted in a chinese restaurant. It actually seemed as though the kitchen staff had forgotten to fry it, it tasted like steamed rice with some prawns and egg thrown in.

We pointed this out, and it was taken back to the kitchen, and a few minutes later it was returned to the table with no changes. Simply a warmed up version of the same steamed rice with a few extra bits thrown in. Now I am not sure if this is how they intend their fried rice to be, but I strongly suspect it was simply a kitchen mishap.

The service and ambience is quite good, but at the prices they are charging there is simply no excuse for these sorts of slip ups. Certainly not twice. I don't think I will be going there again.

May 31, 2009 

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  4     

Food was excellent with good service and presentation. The Hunan style pork ribs was excellent. The venue itself was befitting of the fine dining prices being charged on the food. However, the menu itself was only offering typical Chinese takeaway type food with unflattering Chinese takeaway names. It gave me the feeling that I would have had far better value going to a cheaper Chinese restaurant in the city or Beverly Hills.

Apr 28, 2009 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Definitely the best Chinese in Sydney. This place is great value for money, the service is great and the food just amazing. I dine here often and have never ever been disappointed.

Apr 19, 2009